Stud Muffin (Donner Bakery #2) - Jiffy Kate Page 0,95
a fucking boss.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” I say, feeling the adrenaline from the interaction begin to subside, leaving me feeling a little numb and tingly… or maybe that’s Cage being so close and whispering in my ear. I smile at a few familiar faces as we walk into the ballroom and scan the place for a place to sit, preferably away from all the assholes.
“I think Catalina forgets that I always came to her defense when people used to tease her about being a salad dressing back in fifth grade,” I mutter. “We actually did used to be friends, before all the bullshit of popularity kicked in and people started picking sides.”
When Cage’s lips brush my hair, I falter a little and he steadies me. “Every eye in here is on you,” he whispers.
“Nothing I’m not used to,” I tell him, feeling the familiar fortress I’ve built inside me close up the gate.
“And it has nothing to do with Mindy… or Asher,” he mutters, his warm breath hitting my neck and sending chills up my back. “But everything to do with how fucking hot you are.”
“Stop,” I say, swatting at him as I swallow down my desire and give myself a mental fist bump for my choice of attire. I’ve never been more thankful to be my own person and unattached from all the bullshit that came with having Asher in my life.
Mindy’s minions are so obvious as they flounce around in their prom dresses. It’s laughable.
“I’m serious,” he continues, his voice low and gravelly as we make our way into the main room.
“Okay, now I’m being serious,” I tell him as we approach an empty table. “Because every time you whisper in my ear or touch me all I can think about is having sex with you and it’s distracting and I’ve really gotta keep my wits about me and make it through this night.” My words spill out in a rambling mess, per usual when I get flustered, and Cage’s cocky grin tells me he knows exactly what he does to me… what he’s doing to me.
He laughs, biting down on his lower lip and I have to force my mind to stay out of the gutter.
“Think you can keep the vultures at bay while I go hunt us down some drinks?” he asks, those stunning blue eyes twinkling as he pulls a chair out for me. “Or do you want to go with me?”
“No,” I tell him, grateful for a moment of solitude. “I’ll be fine here… and you know what I want.”
If I didn’t have to interact with another person tonight, I’d be happy. I’d rather ride out the night, here at the table, with Cage by my side, and hopefully escape unscathed. If Mindy and her flock of fakes is all I have to deal with this evening, I’ll consider it a win for Team Tempest.
But of course I’m not that lucky.
Cage has barely been gone a few seconds when I feel someone walk up behind me and place a hand on the back of my chair, brushing my hair.
“Interesting choice of attire,” Asher’s familiar voice says from behind me, making me tense.
Taking a deep breath, I focus on centering myself before replying. “Last I checked, you don’t have a horse in this race, so what I wear shouldn’t concern you.”
He huffs a laugh, walking around and occupying the chair to my left, forcing me to look at him. “Come on, Tempest. We’re not strangers. You and I spent over a decade together. I’m always going to notice.”
“I think your wife would have something to say about that.”
Sighing, he pinches the bridge of his nose. “About her,” he starts and it’s crazy, but I know what he’s going to say before he even starts. “Could we keep it between us that I was at the bar last night? Old friends catching up. So, if we could let bygones be bygones, that’d be great… what do you say?”
“Bygones be bygones?” The laugh that escapes me is a little crazy, I’ll admit, but his audacity knows no bounds. “Are you kidding me? Oh, and let’s not pretend like that was a one-time occurrence,” I scoff, scooting my chair back to put some distance between us.
I need some fucking air. All of a sudden this huge room feels small and Asher is sucking up all the oxygen.
When he gives me a look, daring me to cross him, I hold his gaze and stare right back.