Lara (Reynolds Ranch)

“Relax. I’m not going to do anything to hurt you. I want some time alone with you, and I sure as fuck don’t want to keep watching all these assholes eyeing you in this tiny fucking outfit.”

“It’s not that tiny.”

“Bullshit. I watched you tug at that fucker all night.”

“And yet you waited hours to say something. I guess you didn’t mind men looking earlier. Did you miss out on some other woman and I’m second runner up?”

“Babe, in case you haven’t noticed; this is my event, which means I needed to monitor it. If I could have gotten my hands on you the second you strolled through those doors, I assure you—I would have.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Lara.” I can’t wait another minute. I have to taste those lips that shake with fragility. My mouth closes down on hers, feeling her soft, mauve-colored lips as I thread my hands through her hair. My dick jolts in my pants, and I drag her down onto my lap.

“Now tell me more about you.”

A buzzing in my earpiece pisses me off. “Sir, we have a situation.”

“Damn it. Don’t move, understand?”

“Yes, sir.” She sends me a mock salute with a wink and I want to kiss her so damn badly, but I have issues that need my attention. Quickly, I make my way down to the main floor where a fucking cat fight has broken out. I don’t need this shit, and I can tell by the look in their eyes that they’re both geeked out on something. It takes me about twenty minutes to handle the situation, which meant actually pinning one of the women’s hands behind her back, annoying the fuck out of me because the only female I want to be touching tonight is waiting for me upstairs.

The onlookers go about the party like it didn’t happen even if they’re gossiping, but the party has lightened a little. It’s after midnight as I make my way toward the stairs to the room where I left my future wife. “Don’t bother me unless this place is on fire, understood?” I tell Oleg.

“Yes, sir.” I want to get my woman alone and take her back to my condo where I plan to start our family all weekend long. I open the door and snarl. She’s gone.

Immediately, I dash to the computer screens and check the monitors just outside the room at the time I left.

It takes some fast scrolling to see her creeping out of the room as the chaos continues. Since everyone was focused on the fight and separation, she went unnoticed. I flipped to the entrance cameras and realized it took her a long time to get out the exit with the dozen other guests that also called it a night. I can’t miss the eyes that followed her as she waited for the elevator. Each and every one of those assholes will no longer be invited to one of my events again. I won’t tolerate anyone coveting what’s mine.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. “Hey, I just spotted your interest outside. Did you change your mind or something?”

“No. Keep her there.”

“She just hopped into a cab.”

“Son of a bitch.”

“Don’t worry. We know where she lives, remember?”

“I’m worried about her making it there.”

“I’ll follow them.” His reassurance of looking after her settles me.

“Good. I’m cleaning up here and then I’ll be picking up my errant woman in the morning.”

“You have lost it, Landon.”

“Maybe, but I’m not losing her. Don’t lose her.”

“I’m not. I already started following the second she hopped in the cab.”

“I knew I could count on you.”

“You owe me one.”

“Add it to my tab. I have a feeling I’m going to need your assistance a lot more now than ever.”

I end the call and survey the party from the windows. The guests are slowly letting the night come to an end. The party ends in twenty minutes, so it won’t be long before my people will have this place cleared. I sit back down after pouring myself another drink.