He doesn’t care. He’s cockier than I am. That’s saying something.
“Someone’s gonna take a picture of this and it’s going to end up on Sportscenter.”
Pedro shakes his head. “Don’t give a shit. It’s beautiful.”
I sigh and look back at the happy couple. “Christ,” I whisper under my breath.
Pedro cracks a smile.
The rest of the wedding goes as weddings go. They light a candle and the officiant says a bunch of shit and they repeat things. For some reason, I can’t get Harlow’s face out of my mind. I glance back over there a few times, but she keeps looking straight ahead. I remind myself I do need to set up a meeting with her at some point. Dex says she’s a badass at digital marketing, and I’m about to acquire capital to expand my gyms.
Bet she likes it rough as hell.
Whoa, brain! Jesus Christ. I shake my head and stare at anything but her. No idea where that thought came from, but I need to get my shit together. If there is one woman in this building that’s off limits, it’s her. There are no gray areas there. None.
Dex and Quinn kiss, and thank God this is almost finished.
It’s about time to get drunk and do what I do best—other than kick the hell out of people in an octagon—talk to rich people.
The reception is well under way, and I’ve taken copious amounts of selfies with people and also shots of whiskey. Fuck, the Collins brothers can drink. I need to slow down a little or I’m going to act like an idiot. One thing is certain, I become much chattier when I drink. It’s almost like an out-of-body experience. Like I’m standing back, just watching the shit that’s coming out of my mouth, unable to stop it.
Finally, I catch all the Collins brothers together and head over there. Pedro is off at a table with three women around him, so he’s doing just fine. I may end up heading home by myself when this is over.
Dexter puts an arm around me. “Ready to blow your business up worldwide?”
He may be drunker than me, but I bet we’re pretty close. “Hell yeah, meetings all set?”
“Just about,” says Paisley from behind him, rolling her eyes at all of us. She’s pregnant and can’t drink, and clearly, she’s a little irritated about that. She and Dexter both work in finance and they’re handling all my business capital needs.
Donavan swoops in like a champ. I swear to God, he would follow Paisley off the edge of a cliff. He kisses her and she takes the rocks glass from his hand and sets it aside as their little PDA gets even more handsy. I have a feeling he’s done drinking for the night. He won’t give a shit. He’ll do whatever she tells him to do.
Pathetic.
“You need to set up a meeting with Harlow too,” says Dex.
Fuck. Harlow.
Why does him saying her name garner my full attention? And where the hell is Harlow? And why do I give a shit where she is?
I nod. “Definitely.”
I must say it a certain way because all the Collins brothers turn and stare at me.
Dex glares for a long few seconds and adds, “And business better be the only fucking thing you discuss.”
What the hell?
I laugh it off and shrug. “What else would I talk about?” I give him a condescending pat on the shoulder. “Take it easy, big guy.”
The four of them start to fidget a little. I get it, though. She’s like their baby sister. Still, she’s twenty-six for fuck’s sake.
“Did I hear my name?”
That voice.
Shit, she’s standing right behind me. I don’t know why my stomach tightens a little when I hear her speak. I’ve met her before. It’s always been friendly. There’s just something about the way she looked earlier; her tight, toned body in that sleeveless black dress, firm ass.
I need to stop drinking, or leave.
I turn to face her. “Was just saying I need to get something on the books with you. I hear you’re doing great work for Dex.”
“Goddamn right I am. Should’ve called weeks ago.”
Why is it so hot when she’s so damn arrogant? I’ve never been like this around her before. Maybe it’s the wedding and that dress and shit, but this can’t happen.
Nothing has even happened yet. And it’s not going to.
For some reason, I want to scream, “Hell yes, let’s get something on the books immediately,” but I don’t. Instead, I wince a little and say, “Meh. Not sure you’re ready yet. Company is still pretty young.” Maybe if I piss her off and get her to leave me alone, I won’t want to pull her into the coat closet and hike that skirt over her ass.
The look on her face is priceless, and I think I may like where this is headed even better than before. The eyes around us all go wide. Apparently, people don’t speak that way to Harlow Collins.
Challenge accepted.
Harlow folds her arms over her chest, and it pushes her tits together right in front of me. If she’s not careful my dick’s going to bust through the zipper on these slacks.
“Is that so, asshole?”
I take a sip of whiskey and raise my eyebrows. “Hell of a way to speak to a potential client.”
You could cut the tension in the air with a damn knife.
It’s awkward as shit, and fucking awesome.
“Well, dickhead, my company gets results. So go on down the road to a big ad agency, pay out the ass for antiquated shit you’ll waste a fuckton of money on, and I’ll accept your apology when you come running back to my inexperienced little company.” She turns on a heel and takes two steps, then glances back. “And the rate will fucking double, pussy.” She walks off.
Am I in love? Is this what love is?
I laugh to myself. That was maybe the greatest thing ever. Now, I’m intrigued.
First off, who the hell calls a former MMA champion a pussy to their face? Man, she’s hot. The whole time she was ripping into me, I wanted to grab her hair and kiss the shit out of her, just to shut her up. Just to knock her off her game. If her cousins weren’t standing around, I might’ve done it.
This shit is so damn dangerous. I can’t do this. The Collins brothers would murder me if I so much as even touched her inappropriately. I’m not too afraid of fighting them, if I had to, but I can’t beat up a damn bullet.
I look around at everyone in our little group, shrug, and laugh. “I think this meeting might happen.”
They all snicker, nervously, then go back to talking. I glance over, and Pedro has his arms around two of the girls from earlier, and he gives me the thumbs up. Yep, I’m rolling solo after this. It’s all good. He needs to enjoy being young and on top of the world. He’s a good kid and came from nothing.
Just as I start to head to the bar for another drink, I stutter step a little. My balance is all off. Fucking hell. I think I do need to get out of here. The shots are hitting me all at once and it’s getting harder to talk. I think I might be speaking in cursive soon.
I glance over and, fuck my ass.
Harlow’s right next to the ice sculpture. How appropriate. It’s like a goddamn metaphor. Harlow Collins, leaned up against a big block of ice, staring right at me.
I smirk at her.
She smirks back.
Fuck, if I was sober, I wouldn’t dare in a million years. But I’m not sober and she has the look. Everyone knows the look. I want to see more of it.