Nauti Temptress (Nauti Girls 1)

This could get ugly fast.

Brogan lifted a red-gold brow mockingly as he stared down at her. The arch conveyed such deliberate intent that she could feel her knees almost trembling.

How the hell was she supposed to handle this?

Chatham lifted his head then, gazing up at Brogan arrogantly.

“He’s not the maître d’,” she commented as Brogan completely ignored him.

“Really?” Chatham drawled in amusement. “My dear, I would have never guessed. Friend of yours?”

It could end gracefully, she thought.

Without bloodshed.

She hoped.

Eve cleared her throat. “Sometimes, I guess.”

Chatham chuckled. “A friend is not a friend, my dear, unless he is a friend at all times.”

“So I’ve heard.” She couldn’t break the hold Brogan had on her gaze. She wanted to. She tried to. Yet she couldn’t turn away.

“What happened to the ride?” she asked, fighting the tremble in her voice as something flickered in Brogan’s gaze.

“I canceled it,” he growled as he slowly lifted his hands from where he’d had his thumbs hooked in the front pockets of his jeans.

Almost immediately his hands flattened against the top of the table, his upper body bending to her. He was almost nose-to-nose with her so fast she could only stare up at him in surprise.

“Are you coming peacefully, or will I have to discuss the situation with your date?”

Eve’s gaze flickered in Chatham’s direction. He sat back in his chair, completely at ease as he, too, seemed to await her decision. His dark brown eyes mocked her dilemma, and for a second Eve swore he appeared as self-satisfied as the proverbial cat with the canary.

“I’m not waiting much longer,” Brogan warned her softly.

“I believe we should leave this decision up to Ms. Mackay, without undue coercion,” Chatham advised, causing Eve to flick a horrified glance in his direction.

Didn’t he know a dangerous situation when he saw one? Brogan was in no way willing to endure advice at the moment.

“I’m sorry about this, Chatham.” Lifting the napkin from her lap, Eve laid it on the table as she apologized.

Rising, she quickly opened her small clutch purse and pulled several bills free before laying them on the table.

“That is entirely unnecessary.” Chatham looked almost horrified as he glanced at the bills before his gaze lifted to her again. “My dear, your company was well worth the meal.”

Brogan jerked her money from the table.

“Brogan?” she hissed, outraged by the action.

“He looks like he can afford the damned meal.” Brogan snorted.

Chatham rose to his feet, the amusement in his gaze intensifying.

Turning to Brogan, she said querulously, “I hope you brought something besides that Harley.”

“I came prepared.”

There was something about the way he said it and the words he used that sent a rush of heat flooding her body.