She turned and strode away, wishing her strides were longer so she looked less ridiculous when she was pissed.
Wait. If she walked away, he was going to think he was right. Idiot.
She stopped again.
“And you only wish I was jealous!”
He caught up with her and tapped the tip of her nose, his expression having turned annoyingly smug. “That’s exactly what this is. We were fine all day until I talked to Sarah, and now you’re being a tool.”
“You’re the one who’s a tool for thinking we could ever be happy together long term. I am who I am. Apparently, you don’t even like brats and you’ve always wanted a good girl like Sarah, so go get her, dickwad.”
She turned her back on him again, heading for her car, but the jerk just didn’t give up. He dogged her all the way to the back of the lot, where she’d parked to leave space closer to the doors for some of Juliet’s elderly relatives and for people lugging kids.
By the time they reached her car they were both breathing heavily, but out of anger rather than exertion. The night air was cool, which helped take some of the heat from her cheeks. She felt like she was burning up from the inside, her anger giving her hot flashes as though she was going through menopause.
Being this pissed off all the time couldn’t be good for either of them.
She leaned back against her car and crossed her arms. “This wasn’t meant to be a group excursion, Ellis. You can take your ass back inside.”
“I’m not leaving you out here alone.”
“I came out here to get away from you and calm the fuck down. I don’t see either of those things happening if you stay.”
“I’d rather you be safe and pissed off.”
“I’m not a child. I know how to handle myself.” She gestured him away impatiently, but of course he didn’t move.
“You may not be a child, but you’re acting like one. It’s not safe out here. Juliet’s family seems nice enough, but there’s another hall in the building, and a lot of drunk men around.”
“Get the fuck out of my face, Grant.”
“Come inside.”
“I think someone forgot to put on his listening ears today,” she said mockingly, sounding like a preschool teacher.
For a moment he stared her down, teeth bared. She notched her chin up, damned if she was going to show any hint of weakness, even though he was big and imposing in the suit. The man was model gorgeous. It was impossible to stay mad at him when he was looking all sexy and sinister.
“Turn around and put your hands on the hood of the car,” he said harshly.
“What?” She frowned at him, his change of subject throwing her for a loop.
“You fucking heard me,” he said quietly, sounding dangerous.
For a moment all she could do was blink at him, then, before she could stop herself, she slowly turned and leaned her palms against the cool hood of her car. He reached around her waist and unbuckled her belt.
>
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you calm down. I’m not leaving you out here alone so it’s the least I can do.”
Fuuuck.
She should really try to stop him, but instead she let him unbutton and unzip her pants, standing quietly as they slid down to her ankles. A ridiculous arousal spiraled through her, and she found herself arching her back to present her bottom to him. He growled something under his breath, and then his hand drifted gently over the globes of her ass, as though he couldn’t help but touch it. The cheeky boy shorts she was wearing couldn’t be hiding much.
“Where on earth did you find underwear that say ‘make me behave’?”
“Andromeda bought them for me for Christmas.”