“His wing?”
Her lips curled up, and Jace found himself entranced by their dark red shade with just a hint of brown—a play on her hair color, which he started to find himself more and more obsessed with.
“Not technically,” she clarified. “But you should see his apartment, Jace. The thing is massive. It’s ridiculous. Like, I have a big house, don’t get me wrong, but at least there isn’t a serious land shortage in Georgia.”
“I kind of figured you guys had a bigger place than me anyway,” he said. “Why sneak out, though? Couldn’t you lie about where you were going?”
“I did. I told him I’m going back to Joslyn’s apartment. But I didn’t think he’d approve of my outfit if I was going to sit alone in an abandoned apartment.”
Jace frowned. “You don’t look suspicious.”
Emma raised a brow and brought her fingers up to the zipper of the jacket. Jace held his breath as she caught the zipper and lowered it farther and farther down. For long, agonizing seconds, more and more skin was revealed, but when she’d completely unzipped the jacket, he understood. She wore a dangerously low-cut halter top, and he would bet his entire payday that she couldn’t manage to wear a bra under that small amount of fabric.
He jerked his eyes back up to her face and struggled to keep his face calm. “I can see how that would be a problem.”
“Right? Since the only people I know in town are my cousins, I can’t really say I’m going out with friends. So sneaking it is.” She glanced to the still waiting cab. “Now, are we going or do you want to talk on the street all night?”
Jace stepped aside and held the door open for her. Two minutes in and the night was already throwing curveballs. Hopefully she would keep her jacket on all night and everything else would go smoothly.
Emma slid out of her jacket and hung it over her arm as she eyed the line to get into Drax.
“It’s freezing,” muttered Jace. “Don’t you want to keep that on?”
“I’d rather get into the club quicker.” She eyed the burly bouncer in front of the door. “Think I can flirt my way in?” Or was that something that only happened in movies?
“Why don’t you let me handle this?”
“Or we could bribe him to let us in! I only have a hundred. Is that too much?” Jase shot her an annoyed glance and she backtracked. “Too little?”
Jace shook his head and grunted as he stalked over to where the bouncer stood at the front of the line, and Emma had to shuffle to keep up with him in her heels. Not exactly the most dignified entrance.
Jace had been grumpy ever since she got into the back of the cab with him and she couldn’t figure out why. On the street, he was fine and then all the sudden, he told her that he was going to do all the talking and she was just there to observe. Granted, that was what she wanted, too, but that didn’t mean he had to talk down to her.
The bouncer was a burly man who appeared to have a good hundred pounds on Jace. This guy looked more like a pro wrestler while Jace came off more as an Abercrombie model.
“Back of the line,” said the bouncer as soon as they approached.
Emma plastered on what she hoped was a charming smile. “Hi—”
“Jace Lance.” Jace held out a hand.
The bouncer looked at the outstretched palm and pointedly ignored it.
“I couldn’t help noticing your tats,” said Jace, seemingly unfazed by the cool welcome.
That seemed to perk up the bouncer. “Which ones?”
“I always like to say hello to a fellow SEAL.”
Emma glanced between the two men. Jace had been a SEAL? And this oversized man had once passed some of the most stringent physical requirements of the US military?
The bouncer narrowed his eyes at Jace. Apparently he didn’t buy Jace as a SEAL. “Name sounds kind of familiar. Which team were you on?”
“Chrome 10. That was a while ago.”
“No shit? I’ve heard stories about Chrome. I thought all those guys died.”
“There are a lot of people I’d like to keep thinking we’re not breathing,” said Jace.
Emma bristled with the need to ask questions, but she bit herself back. She really knew nothing about this man who she was trusting to help her. Normally she’d do a thorough background check of anyone doing business with her, but as soon as she knew Jace had insider knowledge on what happened with Joslyn, her normal checks had gone out the window.
“So do you think you could do me a solid and let us slip in? My girl here has been dying to check this place out.”
Emma leaned into Jace and batted her eyelashes.
“Sure. Always happy to meet another SEAL.” The bouncer stepped aside and held the rope open for them. With his free hand, he reached out and finally returned the handshake originally offered by Jace.
“Thanks so much,” said Emma quickly.
Jace set his arm around her back and led her inside. “See? No flirting necessary.”
Emma smiled. “Thank goodness. I’m afraid I haven’t had much practice.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself. I think you could get into more places than you realize,” he whispered into her ear.
She stiffened against him as his warm breath caressed her neck. Did Jace just pay her a compliment? No. He was just stating a fact. The sun sets in the west. The sky is blue. You can get into more places than you realize. Nothing more than a quick opinion.
“Want a drink?” he asked, as though nothing strange had just happened.
Emma glanced around her at the crowded dance floor and bar. They’d paused in a relatively secluded corner, but they’d have to move if they wanted to talk to the club goers. “I don’t think drinking is a good idea,” she said loud enough so he could hear her over the thumping music.
“I think you’ll stand out if you don’t have one,” replied Jace. “And I want to talk to the bartender.”
Well, why didn’t he say that in the first place? “I’ll have a fuzzy navel,” she said.
He frowned down at her as though her choice surprised him, but didn’t comment on it. He could laugh at her girly drink if he wanted to. She’d tried plenty of cocktails, but nothing beat the sugary mix of peach schnapps and orange juice, in her opinion.
On second thought, maybe she should’ve asked for something she wouldn’t be tempted to drink quickly. Couldn’t she just get a water and pretend it was vodka?
Jace and she made it to the crowded bar, but Jace was somehow able to get a few guys to move out of their way so there was plenty of room to lean against the black granite bar top. Must be nice to shoot one look and suddenly have a spot open. After a few minutes, the bartender finally got around to their order.
“A fuzzy navel and a Scotch on the rocks.” Jace pulled out his wallet.
The bartender was a handsome young guy who was probably a model on the side. Emma noticed that all of the young staff behind the bar killed it in the looks department, which was probably one of the reasons such a nondescript club was packed to the brim on a weeknight.
The bartender came back with their drinks in a flash and Jace set down a piece of paper and a hundred dollar bill on the granite bar.