Fighting For You (The Connor Family 5)

“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered once Hailey moved away to speak with a guest.

“Jace! People want to see you at the celebration.”

He made a small, guttural sound at the back of his throat. His eyes were hard and determined, and I was ready to bet he’d just take my hand and lead me out of the room, but to my surprise, he didn’t insist.

His grip on me just grew a little more possessive. Especially after he left me alone for a few minutes to get some drinks and a guy started chatting me up. Upon his return, Jace glowered at the guy.

“Oh, my bad. Didn’t know she was taken,” the guy muttered before scurrying away.

“I leave you alone for a few minutes, and someone’s already replacing me.”

“No one can replace you, Jace. You’re one of a kind.”

He grinned. “I like what I’m hearing.”

“I was trying to find a polite way to work you in the conversation, but your way of bulldozing over him works too.”

Guess who didn’t appreciate Jace’s bulldozing manners? Hailey.

She lifted a brow when Jace cockblocked a guy offering to buy her a drink.

“Jace, I’m a grown-ass woman.”

“And that is Andrew’s cousin. I know for a fact he’s a man-whore.”

“Right. So, you would’ve reacted differently if, say, a guy from the team was hitting on me?”

Jace stared at her. “Hailey, these guys are not exactly saints.”

She rolled her eyes before glancing at me. “See what I have to put up with?”

“Yes. But not to worry, I’ll find a way to change this. Might take me some time, but I’m persistent.”

Jace blinked.

“Little brother, dial back that big brother attitude... or our deal is off.”

I looked between them, eager to know more.

“What deal?”

Jace shook his head. Whatever game they were playing, it was certainly one for Hailey and zero for Jace.

***

Jace

I only wanted one thing: to take my girl upstairs and show her just how happy I was that she’d flown here. I was happy about the win, of course, but all that was just background noise.

I’d planned to only stay at the party long enough not to be considered impolite, and according to my calculations, that period of grace expired now. I pulled Brooke closer to me. Her breast pressed into my side. When I began to lazily stroke the base of her spine with my thumb, she straightened up, licking her lips.

“Brooke, I want to be alone with you.”

She shuddered deliciously against me, giving me a small nod. I took her hand, leading her out of the restaurant, through the lobby, and into the elevator. I laced an arm around her shoulders once the door closed, pulling her mouth up to me, giving her a taste of what was about to come.

Brooke sighed into my mouth, clutching at my shirt. When the doors opened, I pulled back, smiling down at my girl, who pouted, tugging at my shirt to bring me closer again.

“This is our floor, babe.”