I laughed, even as both women gasped. Aspen smacked Weston’s arm and glared. “Weston!”
He looked down at his wife and gestured to me with a grin. “What? It’s no secret that Rhys doesn’t date. A few of us even have a bet going, either he’s really fucking bad in bed, or he’s still a virgin.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, man,” I remarked drily. I couldn’t help peeking at Macy to see how she was reacting to this conversation. She was watching our exchange thoughtfully, and most of her hostility seemed to have ebbed away. At least she didn’t seem scared of me anymore. The idea that she thought I could somehow hurt her had eaten away at me.
“You know this guy?” she asked Weston.
He nodded to her. “We grew up together and his firm manages my investment portfolio.” Looking back at me, he smirked. “Found someone worth breaking that dry spell for?” he joked.
I was completely serious when I turned my head and met Macy’s green eyes before answering. “Yes.”
“Smart idea to come in and pick up some education material. But, you could have just come to me, you know. I’m the motherfucking king in the bedroom.”
“Oh, for the love of—”
Aspen’s face was bright red and she loudly interrupted us. “What time do you get off tonight? I don’t want you closing up here alone late at night. The creeps come out in full force on Halloween.”
I’d forgotten about the holiday and it only furthered my worry over her working at a place like Dirty Players, and even more, late into the night.
Macy broke eye contact with me and waved off her concern. “I don’t need your husband to babysit me, Aspen. Go home and take advantage of his big. . .ego.”
“I’ll make sure she gets home safe,” I snapped, irritated at the idea of her mind on anyone’s prowess or equipment in the bedroom besides mine. All three sets of eyebrows shot up to their hairlines.
“I didn’t realize you two knew each other,” Aspen said at the same time Macy sputtered, “What the hell?” Then she barked, “We don’t.”
“It hasn’t been very long,” I told Aspen. When Macy snorted, I threw her a hard look before facing Weston again.
He didn’t say anything, he simply watched me with a speculative gleam in his eye. I met his stare stonily, making it clear I wasn’t going to budge on the issue of caring for Macy. He slowly moved closer to his wife, which meant closer to my girl. I couldn’t help the scowl that morphed onto my face. He tucked Aspen under his left arm and held out his other to drop around Macy’s shoulders for a hug. An involuntary growl clawed up my throat, every muscle in my body tensing.
“Hands to yourself, Weston,” I snarled. “Or I break them off.”
Both girls stared at me with wide eyes, but a smile broke out on Weston’s face and he laughed. Though, he quickly let her go.
“Rhys can handle things from here,” he murmured as he steered his wife towards the door.
“What?” Aspen squeaked, clearly shocked at her husband’s reaction. Weston bent down to whisper something in her ear and her eyes narrowed suspiciously on me. She looked like she wanted to say something, but she didn’t get the opportunity before Weston spoke up.
“Just remember, nobody ever finds the bodies I fucking bury.”
I nodded in understanding. “I’ll take care of her.”
Macy sighed audibly. “I can take care of myself!” she argued stubbornly. “You can all leave and stop worrying over me.”
“Out of the question.” My voice was banded with steel, making it clear that I expected her capitulation. To my surprise, and from the look on her face, hers too, she clamped her mouth shut and didn’t go on.
Weston threw Macy what could easily be interpreted as a look of sympathy before guiding Aspen out the door.
Alone again, I faced a very pissed off angel. Instead of putting me off, the fire in her eyes made my cock swell to painful proportions in my slacks. She was so fucking gorgeous, and I had no doubt all of that spark and feistiness would turn her wild with passion once I got her underneath me. Images of our sweaty bodies writhing against each other on satiny sheets invaded my mind. I could almost hear her screams of pleasure as I fucked her hard.
It took a great deal of effort, but I managed to push the images away before I tumbled her to the ground or worse, came in the pants of my three-thousand-dollar suit like a randy teenager.
“I’m not a child,” she sulked as she headed to the rows of shelves on the other side of the store.
I hurried over to her and caught her arm just as she was about to disappear down an aisle. I pulled her back to my front, my hands firm on her shoulders. She smelled like ginger and spice, and I filled my lungs with the intoxicating scent. I let my lips brush her ear as I whispered, “Trust me, angel. The fact that you are all woman hasn’t escaped my notice.”