There’s Wild, Then There’s You (The Wild Ones #3)(41)
Author: M. Leighton

“Violet, are you all right in there?”

Even behind a closed door where no one can see me, I feel the blush sting my cheeks. “Yes. I’m nearly done.”

“Okay, well they just called and want me to meet them in the hotel bar for a drink first. Do you mind just coming down there when you’re ready?”

“No, not at all. I won’t be long.”

“Take your time. I’m sure we’ll just talk business until then.”

“Okay. Good luck!”

“Thanks,” he replies, and then I hear nothing but silence.

Even though I didn’t actually see him, it makes going back to my bathing all the more disconcerting. I know I can’t linger much longer, though. I need to be ready so they don’t have to wait on me.

Quickly finishing up my shower, I get out and towel off before smearing on a nice, thick coat of scented lotion. After I dress, I blow out my hair and heat up the curling iron as I put on my makeup. Twenty-two minutes later, I’m surveying my reflection, hoping that I made all the right choices for this thing. I’m technically here to support Jet, so I need to make a good impression on the execs, but what feels more important at the moment is looking nice for him. And that should worry me.

I drop a lipstick, a compact, some mints, and my room key into a clutch that matches my dress and head for the elevator. Once in the lobby, I glance left and right, looking for the bar. The lobby bends around a corner on both sides, so it’s impossible for me to tell in which direction my destination lies. I take a few steps forward, craning my neck to see beyond the curve. It’s as I’m straightening that my eyes pass the front desk and I notice that the young man behind the counter is watching me. I smile politely and he does the same. Then, oddly, he points to his right, my left. I feel myself frown in confusion, and he points again. I look to my left, wondering what he’s indicating. Is someone looking for me?

I see no familiar faces, so I look back to the clerk. He motions me over to him. Reluctantly, I go.

“The bar is that way,” he says, pointing to his right again.

“How did you know that’s what I was looking for?”

His smile gets wider. “The gentleman that came down a little while ago told me that a beautiful woman might need directions to the bar.”

“How did you know it was me?”

“He told me I’d know you when I saw you. And he was right.”

His eyes are glowing with masculine appreciation. My face warms happily as I nod. “Well, thank you very much.” I start to walk off, but before I do, I turn to add, “Thank you for the directions, too.”

The clerk winks at me and I smile. I’m pretty sure he’s watching me walk away. This couldn’t have happened at a better time, of course. My confidence is nicely boosted as I make my way into the bar.

I stop just inside the wide doorway and scan the faces for Jet’s handsome one. He’s easy to spot, as he’s by far the most gorgeous man in the room. His eyes flicker up and stop on me just as I find him, and he stands.

My breath catches in my throat. I’m not sure if I’m breathless from seeing him in the black suit, cut perfectly to hug his wide shoulders and trim waist, or if I’m breathless from the way he’s looking at me.

His eyes travel slowly down my body, so slowly I feel the heat of them as though they were his hands instead. I try to move toward him as naturally as I can, willing my feet not to tangle from his heated perusal.

When I stop at the table, Jet continues to watch me. Wordlessly. There’s absolute silence around us, and, for a few seconds, it’s easy to forget that we aren’t the only two people in the room. In the world.

THIRTY-TWO: Jet

I’ve thought Violet was hot from the first time I ever laid eyes on her, but I swear to God she gets hotter every time I see her. And tonight? She makes me ache. I would almost walk away from this meeting if it meant taking her back up to our room and licking every square inch of that beautiful skin.

I move to pull out the chair next to mine, indicating with a nod that it’s for her. She rounds the table and stops in front of me, looking up into my eyes. Her lips are curved in the barest hint of a smile. I bend to whisper into her ear, “You look amazing.”

And she does. She picked the perfect dress. Not just for here, but for her. It’s a form-fitting sparkly silver dress that clasps over one shoulder and stops about midthigh. Every lush curve is highlighted without looking trashy, and the color makes her eyes look like pewter. It doesn’t hurt that her lips are a dark, suckable red and her smooth skin has a sheen to it that makes my fingers itch to touch it.

I push her chair in when she’s seated then take my place beside her.

“So, this must be your associate, Violet,” Rand says from across the table. As hard as it is to tear my eyes away from Violet, I do, looking to Rand to reply to him. But he continues before I can, addressing Violet instead. “Jet didn’t tell us what beautiful people he has on his team.”

The big, toothy smile that Rand gives Violet pisses me off, but I figure he’s trying to schmooze. To a large degree, that’s what some of these guys do—they kiss ass. I’m not sure which act throws gasoline on my temper—the next comment he makes or the way he’s looking at Violet like he was wishing she was on the menu—but one of them definitely does. It’s all I can do not to stick my foot in his ass and stomp the shit out of him.

“I thought tonight was going to be all business and no pleasure, but I can see that there is plenty of pleasure to be had. Thank you for coming, Violet.”

Violet smiles prettily. “Thank you. And you are . . . ?”

“Randall Gregory, but I’d love it if you called me Rand.”

Violet nods. “It’s nice to meet you, Rand.”

I don’t think she’s flirting with him. She’s just being polite and charming and gorgeous because she can’t help it. But still, it aggravates the hell out of me.

Violet’s hand is resting at the edge of the table, so I reach over to take it. “I’m glad she could come. I can’t imagine being here without her.”

Violet turns a dazzling smile on me, which makes me feel a little better until Rand starts talking again and she looks back at him. It’s like her attention feels warm and the minute she turns it elsewhere, I feel nothing but cold air and the sting of jealousy.

“We know what Jet does, but we know nothing about what a stunning woman such as yourself does with her time. Tell me, Violet, do you model? Because I have a friend who is always on the lookout for talent. And he knows I have a great . . . eye.”