“I wasn’t talking to you, Erica.”
“Rude much?” she adds, annoying me even further.
“Says the person I wasn’t speaking to.” I readdress my obsession. “You ditched your bodyguards.”
She crosses her arms over her ample, yet properly covered chest. Goodness, I’m grateful that she decided not to test my sanity with her outfit today. “I did nothing wrong.”
“You weren’t in Steeleville—you were in Dallas.” It’s not where she was, it’s her lack of concern for her own safety. She doesn’t comprehend the depths to which someone would go to cause her father and myself a lot of pain. Of course, she has no idea that it would obliterate me if something happened to her.
“So. Damn. What. I’m a grown-up.” Each word is punctuated through clenched teeth. “Besides, I told my mom that I was going shopping.”
“You’re still supposed to have security with you.”
Elsa tenses for a moment, understanding my concern until her loudmouth cousin speaks up. “Gosh, Miles, lighten up. Old and grumpy already.”
“You need to stay out of this; you’re already causing trouble,” I warn her accomplice. Their mouths fall open with shock.
“You’re rude,” my adorable princess reminds me, but it doesn’t matter how fucking rude I am because she could have been snagged up in a heartbeat by our enemies, and she has no idea how tempting of a target she is. I’d shown my cards at that dinner. They’d seen the hints of my obsession that has only grown since then.
“You know you’re supposed to be protected.”
“Well, maybe your guys should have done a better job.” She crosses her arms over her waist, lifting her chest. I kept my eyes trained on her face, but I wondered how many other men at the party noticed.
“Yeah, if you want her watched like a damn hawk, then maybe you should do it instead of chasing tail all day, okay?” her cousin continues. Chasing my own tail is more like it. There were matters I had to attend to that required my attention. I would have gladly followed her around, but Simon’s attack lastwinter left me with some business to handle earlier. Luckily, it’s all taken care of now.
“Now if you’ll excuse us, we have other people to talk to. Come on, Elsa.” Her cousin Erica grips her wrist and starts to walk, but then Elsa stops and smiles up at me.
“We’re safe here, Miles, so why don’t you go and be grumpy somewhere else. You’re killing the party,” Elsa says, patting my shoulder before walking past me. I want to flip her over my shoulder and out of this place and take her somewhere to spank her little ass.
They begin to move away, and I’m about to grab Elsa’s hand to stop her when my father calls out, “A word, Miles.”
“Yeah, Dad.”
“Let’s have a talk.” We walk side by side into the clubhouse’s security center where we can chat privately. He locks the door and then says, “Have a seat.” I don’t want to sit, but I also don’t defy my father.
I rest my ankle over my knee, attempting to appear relaxed. “What’s up, Dad?”
“Are you in love with her?” he asks.
“What do you mean?”
“Son, I’m not fucking blind. I know you take your word seriously and your duty seriously, but most of us have been in your situation before, and we know that look. You’re ready to rip Connor’s head off, and you know we can’t have that.” I understand the warning to back off Jackson’s boy.
I dip my head and lightly shake it. “Yes… Yes, I’m in love with her.” I run my hands through my hair. “At first, I wasn’t sure if that’s what it was or simply pure arousal… No, who am I kidding? I knew within hours, but it wasn’t the right time, and it still isn’t. She’s young and vulnerable.”
“So how long has this been going on?”
“Not that long at all. Right before his surgery. Still, I’m not even sure she really even likes me. Right now, she hates me.” I don’t even bother mentioning my lustful attraction a year earlier because that shit was inappropriate, and didn’t help my cause.
“I don’t think so, but if I were you, I’d tread lightly.”
“As much as I’d like to make things happen between us, I’m not sure she’s ready for what I want. She’s busy with school. Besides, there’s a little unrest.”
My father’s shoulders stiffen. “Do you need my help?”
“No. I just got to keep these sons of bitches away from her. I want to give in and make her mine, but I’m not sure if I should risk the distraction.”
He laughs. “Son, it’s too late. You are hooked and already distracted. Don’t worry about the guys here; they all got their warning already. Everyone saw. The warning has already been spread. Not a soul in this place will even try. You looked like a madman.”
