that her body is nothing more than skin, bones, and nerves. She feels no attachment to the men she’s hooked up with in the past, but it’s me whose arms she’s curled in now. Her tiny fingers are gripping my shirt for dear life, and fuck if it doesn’t make me want to sweep her away and protect her from ever feeling the embarrassment she’s suffering now.
After all, it’s me who has the honor of taking her out on a date. She didn’t throw on that sexy-as-sin dress, those mile-high shoes, and leave her hair and makeup simple the way she knows I like it, for them. She did it for me.
So fuck them. They reject her because Blake is a stupid piece of shit for walking out on his girl over a fucking year ago. That’s on them. Trix doesn’t deserve their judgment, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit here and subject her to it.
“I’m getting Trix out of here.” I glare at my team and shake my head, hoping they see the disappointment.
“Mason, you should stay,” Trix whispers.
“No, don’t go.” Layla pushes back from Blake, a friendly smile on her face. “Could you give us a minute?”
I squeeze Trix to me. “No fuckin’ way.”
“It’s okay, Mason.” Trix peeks up at me with violet eyes. “I deserve it.”
“The fuck you do.” I turn my anger to Blake. “You treat her like she’s the one who broke a damn vow, man. You walked out on your woman and showed up at a strip club.”
Blake cringes. “You’re right. It’s not Trix’s fault.”
Jonah steps forward. “Told you this shit would come back and haunt you, Blake.”
“We tried to tell him.” Raven shrugs.
“Alright, I get it, assholes. Shit.” Blake sets his eyes on Trix. “I’m sorry. This is my fault.”
She looks up at me, shock registering on her gorgeous face. “Is he serious?”
I run a hand through her thick silky hair. “He fuckin’ better be.”
Layla approaches cautiously. “Hey, I’m sorry. I could’ve handled that better. If you had any idea how many times I’ve had to come face-to-face with someone my husband has seen naked . . .” She shakes her head, laughing, then sets apologetic eyes on Trix. “I blame the breastfeeding hormones.”
The tension in the room dissipates and a couple of people even chuckle.
Raven steps up to us, grinning. “I saw you dance that night, when Jonah and I came to find Blake. You’re really good.”
Trix shrugs and I feel her skin heat against my arm. “Thanks.”
“Can I just ask you one thing?” Raven says.
“Of course.”
“Did you know a girl named Candy who used to work at Zeus’s?”
Trix nods. “Yeah, I did. She was a real bitch. We used to put Tabasco sauce in her pasties.”
Everyone bursts into laughter, and Raven pulls Trix in for a side hug. “Yeah, I knew I liked you.”
Layla joins in, and Gia follows until Trix is tangled in the arms of three women.
“What the hell did we miss?” Cameron’s voice commands our attention.
“Just me getting my ass chewed. Nothing new.” Blake throws back a healthy gulp from his beer.
Eve’s at Cam’s side, her brows pinched in confusion as she takes in my woman, who has just won over Raven and Layla.
My woman.
Sixteen
Mason
“How is it?” I fork a piece of steak into my mouth and chew through my smile.
From the second we entered Patrico’s, I’ve been captivated by her. At first, I could tell she was nervous, and when she whispered that she’d never been to a restaurant as nice as this one, I felt equal parts pride and anger. How a woman as beautiful and sweet as she is hasn’t been wined and dined to the point of boredom is beyond me.
She closes her eyes as she chews, and my gaze fixes on her long slender throat when she swallows. “That’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
I take a pull off my beer that’s in some fancy-ass frosty glass. “I can’t believe you’ve never had lobster before. Figured a San Jose girl would’ve at least given it a try.”
Her cheeks pink and she ducks her chin. “We were more of a bologna and mayo family.”
Dammit. I shove another bite of steak into my mouth to keep from reinserting my foot. Of course, she wouldn’t have had lobster.
She takes a long sip of her white wine and sets her eyes on me. “What about you? I bet you were raised on expensive dinners.”