him. He’d insisted on putting the apps on her phone that would allow her to find him wherever he was. She had resisted looking, although she knew he had several times because he’d sent her over a dozen text messages that she hadn’t answered asking her why she was still in the kitchen and to get her ass out there.
Three women were escorted into the kitchen by Preacher. He introduced them. Two were old ladies and one was a sister of an old lady. They seemed embarrassed that they were all that were offering to help. They brought food with them though, and Breezy was happy she only had to be friendly with them while she struggled to feel confident.
Steele stomped into the room. “Woman. What the fuck?”
Anya laughed aloud. Lana and Alena snickered. Blythe, always sweet, hid her smile.
Breezy sent him a look. “It’s called working, honey. That’s what the fuck. I’m working. There aren’t that many of us to get the food ready.”
“Then I’ll round up some of the women and send their asses in here,” Steele declared.
“We’re good,” Blythe said hastily. “Everything is ready. If you’ll send in a couple of the prospects we can carry everything out to the tables. We’re serving buffet style. Czar said the meat was ready. The pig has been roasting all day, and he barbecued dozens of chickens.”
“Hyde, Glitch and Fatei are close. I’ll get them,” Steele said. “Miss Sassy can come with me.” He held out his hand.
Breezy knew better than to ignore him. She’d been raised in the life and knew how it worked. She wasn’t about to embarrass him. She dried off her hands and went to him. Steele swept her under his shoulder, walked her outside where the noise was deafening, and tipped up her face and kissed her. Hard. Possessively. Claiming her just as Lana had said he would.
“Missed you, baby. We’ve been together nearly every minute and then all of a sudden you weren’t there. I like looking at you. Knowing you’re close.”
Before she could answer, he whistled to get the attention of the three prospects. He pointed to the kitchen and all three obeyed without hesitation.
Steele kept walking her away from the picnic tables, around to the back of the building facing the ocean where they were alone. He kissed her again and again. Melting her. She couldn’t kiss him without her entire body catching fire. When he lifted his head, she had to cling to him to keep from falling, her knees were that weak.
“You okay with all this? As soon as I finish talking to everyone, we’ll leave if you’re uncomfortable.”
“Why would you think I was uncomfortable? I like parties as well as the next person.”
“Babe.”
There it was. That voice reprimanding her.
“I was watching you in the kitchen. I don’t mind if I never go again to another one of these parties if it makes you uncomfortable.”
The vice president couldn’t be absent for every single one of them. She forced a smile, hoping to reassure him. “For a minute I was insecure, and only because I still have baby body. I don’t think I’m ever going to get over baby body, so I’d better be okay with it.” She didn’t know what else to say. It was just a little humiliating that he saw she was upset. She tried to be the best old lady possible and worrying continually about something he had explained—and she’d accepted his explanation—was wrong. She had to let it go.
“Breezy, there’s no woman more beautiful than you.”
He meant it. She heard the sincerity and her heart melted. He could do that so easily. “I’m good, Steele, I promise. I just always want to be the best for you. It’s my problem, not yours.”
“I contributed by being an idiot. I swear, baby—”
She pressed her fingers to his mouth. “Everything is perfect, Steele. Let’s just have fun. We’ve been cooped up in the house and we get a night off. Let’s make the most of it.” Truthfully, there was a part of her that was excited. She was surrounded by Torpedo Ink. They were everywhere and when she looked at the other members, they were always watching over them. She might, for the first time, be able to relax and really have fun if she let herself.
“First, let me see the baby body you’re so worried about.”
There was pure seduction in his voice and she shook her head, laughing. “You’re so wrong. We have an entire club to entertain.”