Hayden shakes his hand. “Hayden Prescott.”
“Nice to meet you. This tyrant is Deacon Black, the big boss.”
“The owner of the company,” he corrects, holding out his hand as well. “Nice to meet you. Quinten, can I speak with you for a moment?”
“I’ll be right back. You okay?” I ask before walking away.
“Don’t worry, big guy,” Jude says with a clap on my back. “I’ve got her.”
I glare at my friend before walking away, a warning in my eyes.
“You seem like you’re in a better mood,” Deacon says as we near the coffee pot.
I grunt, not feeling very jovial at the moment. Hayden laughs, the sound drawing my attention back to her, and I don’t know exactly how to feel about watching her laughing with my friends.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Deacon says pointing to my face. “That smile. It isn’t something we see a lot of around here.”
I resist the urge to touch my face for verification, but I know it’s there.
“I don’t know where we’re heading,” I explain, knowing he’ll understand I’m talking about the thing crackling between Hayden and me.
“I know exactly where you’re heading, and if I had to guess, I’d say you’re already there.”
I grunt again, and he laughs as we watch everyone circle around Hayden in the middle of the room.
“What did you need to speak to me about?” I ask, already wanting to go back to her side.
None of the guys are flirting with her that I can tell, but there’s an ache deep inside of me that wants to be by her side whenever another man is near. I want to mark my territory and growl at each one of them. I want to bite Jude’s hand off when he touches her arm. The animal need to show each one of them that she’s mine begins to stir wildly in my gut.
“Yep,” Deacon whispers. “Already there. Don’t hurt anyone.”
He laughs as he walks away, and I get the distinct impression he just proved a point by making me take a step away from her and watch everyone else with her.
“Oh, hey.”
My eyes snap to the entrance of the room, finding Parker standing there with a weird look on her face.
“I just wanted to see how you were. I was a jerk this morning.”
Jude’s spine stiffens as his eyes land on Hayden’s friend, his throat working on a swallow before looking away.
Chapter 32
Hayden
“What are you doing here?” I ask Parker as she approaches.
“I wanted to apologize for acting weird this morning.” Her eyes stay locked on mine, and it’s unusual for Parker not to smile and look around the room when she enters. She’s always quick to get her bearings.
Walking into a room filled with good-looking men and not smiling at each one of them is the strangest thing to witness.
“Is there some place we can talk?”
I look to Jude in question, but his eyes are locked on his feet.
“Come on,” Flynn says. “You ladies can use my office.”
We follow Flynn down a hallway, and I make sure to look at Quinten before walking out of the room. He gives me a slight nod before his attention goes back to the men on the other side of the room.
Parker gives me a weak smile once the door is closed and we’re alone.
“What’s going on?”
“I should be asking you that,” she says, wrapping her arms around me in a hug. “I can’t imagine experiencing what you’ve been through. Are you okay?”
She takes a step back, her hands still on my shoulders as she looks down at me.
“I’m so confused,” I admit. “What are you—”
“I saw that look the hot teacher gave you. So, are you two like a thing now? I knew he had the hots for you. I’m glad everything is working out.”
“We’re… umm…” I brush a strand of hair behind my ear. “I don’t exactly know what we are.”
“And what exactly happened at your job yesterday?”
I shake my head, unsure that I can talk about it again. I spent an hour and a half going through every detail with Detective Augley, and it has left me completely drained.
“It was so bad,” I confess, my emotions starting to get the best of me. “I showed up to work and a strange man was there with Mr. Harrison. It’s like the guy knew me, and I’m pretty sure he’s the one who broke into my house or is involved with the person who did.”
“That’s terrible, Hayden.”
“He thought I found something I wasn’t supposed to. I saw in his eyes that he had no intention of letting me out of that office alive. He took my phone and smashed it. I would’ve called you, but I haven’t had much of a clear head since yesterday.”
The truth is my mind has been on Quinten since he brought me back to his place. I shift on my feet hating that the echo of him inside of me has already faded.