Allegiance - Chiah Wilder Page 0,2

shook her head. “That isn’t going to work here. I’m on a strict schedule from the bride’s family, and if I so much as budge from that timetable, my staff will be overrun with a flood of guests, eliminating my chance of getting a much-needed referral.” Resting her hands on the table, she leaned toward him. “Do yourself a favor and catch one of the appetizer trays I’ve been shuffling out.”

The scent of her perfume wrapped around his libido, causing him to stand there, staring at her like a moron. Pushing his desire aside, he cocked his head to the side.

“Is that how you treat all your client’s guests?” Straightening, she held her head high. Sassy, defiant, and feisty. I like that.

“Only the ones who think I’ll bend over backward for them just because they’re good-looking and think they’re charming.” Licking her sexy lips, she held his gaze. “Do you need anything else, sir?”

“Well, you told me.” Tank chuckled as he snatched another glass of champagne from a passing waiter.

Her sharp tongue and quick dismissal floored him. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had come up against him like that. Usually, he was beating them off, so he had to admit, her cheekiness was a refreshing change. His eyes lowered, pausing at her throat where her pulse jumped like a frenzied rabbit, making him feel smug. Yeah, she’s fuckin’ attracted to me, and the feeling is sure as hell mutual.

“Drew?” A lilting, feminine voice chirped from over his shoulder.

Nearly choking on his drink, he turned, just as a sweet little blonde eased up to him, plastering herself to his side. Shit, he had no idea Quinn was going to be there, but he shouldn’t have been surprised. Of all people, she’d never miss out on one of the social events of the summer.

Flicking her long hair over her shoulder, she looked up at him and batted her false eyelashes. The heady scent of her perfume invaded his nostrils, forcing him to wrinkle his nose.

“Hey, Quinn.”

She pursed her lips in a pout. “Where have you been all this time? I’ve been dying for a dance.”

Quinn Fitzgerald—the Princess of Santa Teresita. Fuck. He glanced over at the fiery caterer and threw her a small smile, but she quickly looked away.

Tugging on his arm, Quinn snapped, “I’m over here.”

Tank hesitated before looking down at her.

“Did you really plan to make me wait all night before you came to me?”

“I didn’t see you,” he huffed, downing the rest of his drink.

“But you knew I was going to be here. You should’ve looked for me.”

“I didn’t know shit. Anyway, I’m gonna take off after I get some food.”

She side-eyed the attractive caterer while telling him, “They’re not serving it yet, and you know how I love to dance.”

Anger crackled along his nerves. Quinn wasn’t his date, and for the past six months, Tank had been keeping her at arm’s length. He was bored with her—plain and simple. Besides, she was engaged to Mason, a hotshot investment man in L.A., but at the moment, Quinn was acting like they were dating again. And the way she was sending the keep-your-hands-off-my-man vibes to the pretty caterer was pissing him off big-time.

“One dance and that’s it,” he muttered as he pulled away from her.

“Daddy isn’t here tonight, so relax.”

“That doesn’t change anything.”

Back in high school, Quinn’s father had ended their five-month relationship real fast once he’d gotten wind of what was going down between them. There was no way in hell he was going to let his precious daughter continue to see a kid from the other side of the tracks who rode a motorcycle.

Being the rebel, Quinn kept in contact, but he’d made it clear he wanted nothing to do with her in that way. He’d been dating Trish, and a couple of years later, the two of them got hitched. Quinn never stopped trying to contact him, but he always ignored her. Tank had his fair share of flaws, but being a cheating womanizer wasn’t one of them. He’d always been loyal to Trish, but he couldn’t say the same about her.

“Are you still with me?”

Quinn’s shrill voice dragged him out of his thoughts.

“Yeah. I was just thinking about something.”

She ran a pink-tipped nail down the side of his face. “About how good we are between the sheets?”

“Not exactly.”

“But you do think of me, right?” She brushed her lips across his jaw and stepped back. “Because I think about you a lot, baby.”

“Cut that