“Me? What questions?” Jessie asked.
“I think you know. Come with me, Jessica. Now.”
The two women moved to the only deserted corner in the ballroom.
He took a step toward Carlotta, and Mackenzie moved in front of him in a poor attempt to block him.
“Please don’t.” She held up her delicate hands with the most slender fingers he’d ever seen in his life. “I’ll have a drink with you. Okay?”
“That’s a start.” He looked to his left and spotted his brother glaring at him. Too bad for Wyatt. He never could win the rock-paper-scissors contest but never failed to try.
They’d been unsuccessful in winning a date with Mackenzie for too long. Strange how dead set they both were to continue the chase. Wyatt had claimed his reason was because of the challenge, nothing more. But both of them knew better.
Great minds, bro, think alike, Wyatt had said after deciding on a new tactic for her. They’d slapped their open palms together in the familiar high five gesture, which was their norm when settling on new prey. Instead of the usual wicked grins that followed, they both frowned. Why? Neither of them had voiced aloud the reason, but he’d seen it in his brother’s eyes. Mackenzie was more than a silly sub for them to take to bed. Much more. It was odd how in sync he and Wyatt were. Always.
This wasn’t just another conquest of another woman. This was about her. Mackenzie.
What would his life be like after tonight? It really didn’t matter to him. Her silent cries would not go unanswered by him. Deep down, he had to see this through, to discover all her secrets and to help her heal. If everything changed after, he would deal with it then.
“Where’s your brother?” she asked, batting her thick eyelashes. “You two are never apart.”
The new agreed-upon approach meant a solo mission—not his and Wyatt’s normal dual attack.
“I didn’t know you were taking such an interest in us. Are you gathering information on us before you pounce and make your kill, sweetheart?”
Her cheeks turned bright red. Perfect.
“One drink. That’s all I promised, Wade. Margarita, please.”
“Are you instructing me to go get you a drink and bring it back? Not a chance.”
Her eyes widened with a look of confusion. “Wasn’t that what we agreed to?”
He cupped her chin. Her eyes closed. “Look at me, Mackenzie.”
She obeyed and his lust stirred.
As he’d suspected, she had a submissive streak, but it was buried deep. Still, she had a backbone and fire—the kind of woman he would never get enough of.
“I’m not an idiot. I leave you here to go get a drink for you and when I come back, you’re gone. Don’t lie to me. Wasn’t that your plan, sweetheart?”
She blinked. “Maybe.”
Who had hurt her so deeply? If he ever found the bastard, there would be major hell to pay.
“Not ‘maybe.’ Definitely.”
She nodded.
He leaned in to her ear. “Don’t lie to me, Mackenzie. Ever.” Not waiting for an answer, he put his arm around her shoulders and led her to the bar.
The Wilde Mansion was packed, but somehow he spotted a couple of empty seats on a leather sofa that had been moved to accommodate the partygoers.
After getting his Jack on the rocks and her margarita, he pointed to the sofa. “We’ll go over there and sit. I need to talk to you.”
Her eyes widened. “You do? What about?”
He smiled. “I thought you’d like to know we are onto you.”