Boss Me (Private Listing #3)

“Yes,” Seth sighs.

“And now, you’re playing nice for your business connections?” Sara sets her fork on her plate.

“Yes.”

She blows out a breath. “Damn, this is juicy stuff. I thought I had it bad, but damn.”

Noah clears his throat. “I think it’s best if we don’t bring up anything more about this when Elizabeth gets back. While you might find it diverting, the clients that will follow Stiner are significant. This is a business dinner after all.”

“Of course.” Smiling at him like he hung the moon, Sara puts her hand over his. “I know how to behave at a business dinner.”

Madison’s gaze falls on their joined hands. Her face goes pale, but Coop must have touched her under the table because her eyes swing to his. He gives her a smile full of promise that has her melting.

Once again, my stomach flares with heat. I don’t know what the fuck is happening with me. She’s ours, not his. But everyone around us assumes she’s only his. It wouldn’t matter if I marked her and knew it was mine. They would all think it’s his.

When Elizabeth comes back to the table, Seth stands to hold her chair for her. She gives him a grateful smile that he doesn’t return.

I don’t know how we’re going to make it through this night.

Madison

The dinner conversation is a lot more tame after the drama. I actually felt a little bad for Elizabeth. If someone picked me apart and brought up something embarrassing I did when I was younger, I would have crumbled. Coop would have lifted me back up, but Elizabeth is in enemy territory here.

Sara and Noah talk about books they’ve read. Every soft laugh from her makes my stomach churn. Dinner should be delicious, but it tastes like sand in my mouth. Coop touches my thigh softly beneath the table, drawing my attention back to him.

He leans into my ear and whispers, “Do I need to show you again, goddess?”

My cheeks grow warm as his heated gaze meets mine. There’s a promise in those eyes. One I’m not sure he could ever keep. He desires me, but of all of them, I don’t think he could ever love me.

That makes me want to hold my heart away from him because I know he could do the most damage to it. Just by never returning my love.

His hand grasps the back of my neck, and his mouth claims mine. It’s so easy to fall into him. To let him lift me up. Our tongues tangle, and I taste the scotch he’s been drinking with dinner and a hint of mint. For a minute the world fades around us, and it’s only the two of us again.

“I hope they have ice cream for dessert, because I need to cool down.” Kayla’s voice breaks through the fog of desire, and I pull away from Coop.

At least as far as he lets me. He raises an eyebrow before his thumb comes up and smooths below my lip.

Blake clears his throat and Coop releases me. When I reach for my glass, I meet Blake’s eyes. There’s a possessive light in them that keys me up, reminding me of the time at Taylor’s when he dragged me into the office and later spanked me for every number of past lovers I still had in my phone.

I drag in a breath and take a large gulp of cold water.

Elizabeth glares at me until she notices my attention on her. Her face softens into a smile. While I don’t want her humiliated at the table, I can’t help but wonder what she’s up to. What angle she’s trying to pursue. Is she after Seth? Or maybe Coop still?

I set my glass down. “If you’ll excuse me?”

When I stand, Kayla stands and says, “What a coincidence.”

“I could powder my nose.” Sara stands and brushes her hand on Noah’s shoulder. “See you in a few.”

I clench my fingers but smile as we all three make our way to the bathroom. Fortunately, we seem to have made it there before the rush and three stalls are actually empty. When I sit, I release a breath.

I didn’t realize how difficult this night was going to be. I rub my temples.

Seeing other women claim my men. Not being able to do anything, not even a look that might reveal a longing for more.

“Noah’s nice, huh?” Sara’s voice comes through the stall next to me.

Noah’s everything. “Yes, he is.”