Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,33

each other it made me sick to my stomach.

“Come on, Wren. You’re my only single friend. You’re my only excuse to go out anymore.”

Rifling through my makeup bag, I pulled out my foundation and shook the bottle. “I don’t want to be used, Darcy.”

She laughed. “You’ll be using me. I’m the best fucking wing-woman you’ve ever had.”

I snorted, applying my foundation efficiently. “We can have one drink.”

“Yes! I knew I’d wear you down.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“Temptation in West Hollywood.”

I whistled through my teeth. “I hope you know someone who knows someone who knows someone because getting on that list is hard.”

“Oh, we’re on the list, babe. Don’t you worry.”

Applying some mascara, I asked, “How in the hell did you manage that?”

“Baron manages their books. All he had to do was ask.”

Fuck, I knew I liked Baron for a reason. “What time should I meet you?”

“Nine?”

“Done. I’ll see you then.” I hung up and finished applying a clear gloss to my lips. Taking one final look at my reflection, I decided it was as good as it was going to get. Besides, I was going to get splashed by shaking dogs all day, anyway. I looked as tired as I felt, but I wasn’t going to earn money without actually heading to work. I could worry about Hawk later. Hell, maybe this would be the wake-up call he needed to start getting his shit together.

Grabbing the keys from the hook by the door, I said over my shoulder, “Lock up the windows and door when you leave, please, and for fuck’s sake, don’t go getting yourself into any deeper shit.”

When I got downstairs, I turned to the right to walk the two blocks to my dog grooming shop. From memory, I had at least ten dogs coming in for a wash and another three for clipping. Then when I was done, I could look forward to going out with Darcy.

As I rounded the corner onto the street of my shop, I stopped dead and blinked. Bane Rivera was standing against the front window dressed in an expensive black suit and crisp white shirt. Sunglasses shaded his eyes, but I knew the moment when he saw me. I could feel his gaze on me like it was a visible caress. I began walking again, approaching him with my keys out.

“What are you doing here?” I pushed the key into the front lock and opened the door, not waiting to see if he would follow.

As I flipped on the lights, he sauntered into my shop, looking all sorts of misplaced while I turned off the security alarm.

“So this is where you work, huh?” he asked, amusement coloring his tone.

“If you’re here to make fun of this place, you can fuck right off now.” I went to move around the counter to drop my bag, but Bane stopped me by wrapping his fingers around my wrist. I glared at the offending digits then back at him. “Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”

His mouth turned up into a cocky smile. Like he was used to getting everything he wanted. Like the world would drop its panties for him. And why was I thinking about dropping my panties in his presence?

“What would you do to me if it is?” His question was a bare rumble of a purr, a buzz deep down low in his chest. I stared up into his dark eyes, my gaze tracking from his mouth to the tattoos on the side of his neck, back to his eyes.

I swallowed, praying my voice sounded strong when I answered, “I don’t know.”

His brows rose. “You don’t know?” Jerking me closer, I was forced to drop my bag and place my hands on his chest to stop me from crashing into him. He wrapped his arms around me, pinning my arms to my sides. Dipping his head to my ear, he whispered, “Don’t tease me, Little Bird. You will not enjoy the punishment, although I know I will.”

Shoving free of his arms, I tried to get my breathing back under control. My brain was firing a thousand different thoughts in a thousand different directions. Slowly, I scooped up my bag and walked behind the counter. I took a few minutes more than necessary to stow it, and by the look on his face when I stood back up again, he knew. He knew he’d messed with my equilibrium.

“What do you want?” I asked again.

“You.”

I blinked, sure my hearing was on