“You don’t look half bad yourself, Montgomery.”
Understatement of the fucking year. She always looks good. In the overalls, the chef’s coat, or this sinfully tight pair of jeans. I’ve just spent our time together trying not to notice.
A twinkle glitters in those green eyes, a slight color creeping on her cheeks. She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, and fuck if I don’t want to pluck it out of there and bite it myself. It makes no sense. She’s wild, far too carefree for my liking. Not to mention, she’s Monty’s daughter. I can’t stand half the things that come out of that mouth, but for some reason, I can’t stop imagining what it might taste like.
“I’m now taking not half bad as your highest compliment yet.” Her head tilts. “How was Max at bedtime?”
The sudden shift in conversation causes me to pause. I’m not sure why, but I didn’t expect her to ask about my son, especially when she’s got the night off to go out and party with the team.
“He was out like a light. I think the field wore him out in the best way possible.”
Her lips curve in a smile. “We had fun at your game.”
“Hey!” Isaiah calls from outside. “Kai, we’re leaving! Hot Nanny, let’s go!”
I shoot him a disapproving glare from across the lobby. “I swear I’m going to kill him if he keeps calling you that.”
Miller pops her shoulders. “At least someone is willing to call me that.”
She turns on her heel, headed straight for the exit.
Isaiah’s reminders ring in my mind, Miller’s blatant words too. I’ve always brushed off her forward flirting, chalking it up to her love of getting under my skin. But I don’t want to brush it off anymore. For one night, I want to pretend I can be the guy who can get a woman like her, the guy that doesn’t have a hundred responsibilities at home weighing him down.
For one night, I don’t want to think about whose daughter she is, and I sure as hell don’t want to think about her leaving in less than two months.
My steps swallow hers, chasing after her. Reaching around Miller for the handle of the door, I pull in, holding it closed with my chest to her back and my arms caging her in on either side.
I lower my lips to her ear. “Is that what you need to hear, Miller? That I think you’re hot? Do you really need to hear me say I can’t keep my fucking eyes off you when you’re in the room, or have you finally picked up on that?”
Her body stiffens and from behind, I watch her throat move in a long swallow. “No. I like watching you beat yourself up over wanting to look at me. It’s much more satisfying to know I piss you off than it would be to know I turn you on.”
A small laugh rumbles in my chest. “Well, much to my frustration you, Miller, are excellent at both.”
Chapter 14
Miller
Violet: How’s the break? Are you making progress in the kitchen? How are the recipes coming?
Me: The break has been great.
Violet: And the answers to my other questions?
“A line-dancing bar?” Isaiah complains as soon as we walk through the door. “Cody, what the hell, man?”
Cody’s smile is beaming like a kid on Christmas, taking in the giant open room. The dance floor is fittingly Texas-sized with a live band on the stage in front of it. Everywhere I look I’m bombarded by denim, flannel, and cowboy boots, including the brand-new pair donned on Cody’s feet.
“It’s not a line-dancing bar. It’s just a good ole’ country bar.” He takes a deep breath through his nose, a ridiculously excited smile on his lips as he heads straight for the bar. “Let’s go, boys.”
They follow suit.
Before I can leave the entryway, an oversized hand lands on my hip, fingertips gripping into the denim. Instinctively, I know it’s Kai, mostly due to the possessive grip matching the vibe he’s been putting out since we left the lobby of the hotel.
“Does everyone just do what he says?” I ask as the team swarms the closest bar top.
“He’s the planner. Always has a plan for our time off. He rented a boat when we were in Tampa. Broadway show in New York City. A trip to Niagara Falls when we were in Toronto. And a country bar in Dallas, apparently.”
Turning, I face him. “And where were you for all those outings?”
“At the hotel with Max.”
“But not tonight.”
Behind his glasses, Kai’s steel-blue eyes wander my face before dipping to my lips. “No. Not tonight.”