Page 38 of Ruthless Wars

“Really? What about Allison?”

His reaction isn’t exactly that of a man who’s been caught in a compromising position, but he releases me anyway. His eyes harden with a puzzled squint. “What about Allison?”

“God.” I blow out my frustration, unable to hold it in a second longer. “Are you going to make me say it?” The blankness of his stare gets on my nerves. Or under my skin. It’s enough for me to blare out, “You’re with her.”

He nods. “I brought her tonight.”

When he continues to stare at me, confused, I seriously want to kick him in the balls.

“You’re together, just like you were the other day. I saw the two of you in the conference room. Embracing.”

“Embracing?” He draws out the word, wide-eyed with shock, and then props his hands on his hips. “Holy shit. You think I’m fucking my niece.”

My breath stops. “Your ... niece?”

Quickly, I flip through my mental images of the last week. Of Coop and Allison, together. And heat rises up my face.

Amused, Coop grins. “Yes. My niece. And for all practical purposes, she’s been like a daughter to me, off and on for the past five years. Her father was never in the picture, and Avery—her mom—is deployed six months out of each year. We have a big family, so we all look after Alli, but when she went into business law ... well, let’s just say I couldn’t be prouder. But I ...” He pauses, rubbing his neck as he searches for the right words.

“You what?”

“I can’t give her everything, Margot. She’s a woman in a tough world. You caught me coddling her because I don’t know how else to treat her when she’s nervous. I brought her in on this deal so she could learn from some of the toughest women in the industry. Jean Anderson. Evelyn Banks. And I thought Jaclyn. She and I have crossed paths enough that I knew she wouldn’t mind me grooming Alli on this deal, but I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about me bringing in a junior attorney. I wanted to introduce the two of you without the others around in case you were opposed. But if you’re concerned—”

“I’m not,” I say firmly. “I got the wrong impression. I ... I’m sorry.”

Playfully, Coop closes in on me, mocking me with a grin. “You should be sorry,” he says low.

“I am.”

“You assumed just because I’m a powerful tycoon wrapped in a body of sinewy man-candy that my morals are corrupt.”

Shrugging, I have to agree. “But in my defense, you were the sexy stud at the head of the table, bookended by two beautiful women.”

His hand slips around my back, pulling me tight against his body. “And this from the woman who arrived tonight toting two linebackers like Hermès luggage. You didn’t need two men for your ploy, did you?”

The firmness of his erection presses against my belly, forcing my lips to part in a gasp. Taking advantage, he kisses me, roughly invading my mouth, sweeping his tongue against mine in long, fevered strokes.

“You’re mine, Margot Long,” he murmurs, his hold possessing me. “Say it.”

But before any words escape my lips, he stiffens and covers my mouth with his hand, smothering whatever I was about to say. Desperately, I search his eyes, but he looks past me, focused on something in the other room. To regain his attention, I slice the tip of my tongue across his palm.

His bright hazel eyes darken to a smoky green as he leans closer to whisper in my ear. “Not now, temptress. We’ve left the door to this room cracked open, and someone’s snooping around the conference room.”

Spinning in his hold, I stare through the glass panel. Travis? Sweet little innocent Travis-the-intern is in the room, searching for something. After taking an anxious glance around, he finally leaves.

“Did you see what I saw?” Coop asks, still pressing his hot body against the back of mine as he runs a finger lightly down my arm.

“I’m not sure what I saw,” I say, still stunned.

Coop dials Jean and then hands me his phone. I press the button for speaker and hold the phone between us.

“Hello, Mr. Byrne. Are you lost?” Jean says in a joking tone.

“Jean, it’s Margot. I’m using Coop’s phone. Listen, Travis just left the conference room. Have one of the security team follow him. Either of my dates should do,” I say with a snarky glare at Coop. “He may be handing something off.”

“Don’t approach him?”

“No,” I say. “I’ll explain later. Just keep an eye on him.”

---