Page 29 of XOXO

Running my hand over my short hair, I blew a breath through puffed cheeks. “I don’t know what’s happened to me, man. I’ve never been such a fumbling idiot around women. Hell, I’ve always been the charmer.”

“You're a club VP. It’s not like it’s hard to get a woman in that position.” Tango cocked a brow.

“You know what I mean. I could have any of them or not have ‘em. Didn’t matter. And never cared if they thought one way or another. But I want her so damn bad, and I can’t have her.”

Tango’s brow furrowed. “Why not? Besides the fact she’s too good for you and all.”

“I know you don’t mean that, but she is. And I told Pipes I wouldn’t mess with her.”

Tango slapped his hands together. “Well, I can handle that. I own that bar. I appreciate Pipes keeping an eye on the ladies but…next problem.”

“She’s working for us,” I said with a wave of my arm.

Tango crossed his arms. “So, you got a problem with me and Bash?”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s different. She works for us here and that was a totally different situation.”

“Not really. Probably worse than you going after Adi. She works for a company that’s doing a short-term job for us. She isn’t an employee of SRI.”

Leaning back in my chair, I ran my hand over my face then down my beard. “She’s not a club bunny, man. She’s a woman with a real job, a degree, her own place.”

Tango rubbed at the short scruff he had on his face. “Did she tell you all that?”

I stared across. He knew she didn’t tell me. Mac was good about research, especially when there were no privacy settings. Which Adi really should do a better job of managing. He found everything about her in five minutes with a few keystrokes.

Tango leaned on the desk. “I respect whatever you think is best. But you’re smitten. What was it you sang to me when I was in denial?” He stood back up and squinted his eyes as he thought. “Oh yeah. Stone and Adi and sitting in a tree,” he rang out as he bounced his shoulders, “k-i-s-s-i-n-g.”

“You look ridiculous,” I deadpanned. Grown biker, with black riding boots, a long-sleeved black shirt, his cut, and his pink bandana he always wore for his mom, dancing around like a little girl.

“I don’t care. I’m the president.” He laughed and headed to the door. “I give it two weeks.”

“Goodbye, Tango.” I pointed to the door.

I grinned a little once he left. Then I stopped myself. No. Wouldn’t happen. Pipes was a good guy for looking out for her and even if he hadn’t, Adi was out of my league. Even though we were straight now, she wouldn’t be caught dead with the likes of me.

Chapter 8

Adita

It had been a few days since I overheard Stone and Tango talking about someone. I wanted to know desperately if it was me, but I couldn’t ask. Especially at the office.

I did my best to avoid him at the job site, but he was everywhere. Today apparently was no different.

I had snuck into the break room a little later than lunch time, hoping to miss anyone. I was standing at the counter shoving a veggie wrap in my face as fast as I could when the door swung open.

Out of reflex, my head whipped to the door and of course Stone was walking in. He paused and the edges of his mouth seemed to turn up briefly, but then it disappeared into another professional smile.

My heart flutters simmered down as I worked to finish swallowing down the huge bite I had taken.

Panic set in; I hadn’t chewed it up enough and I couldn’t get it to go down. I slammed my hand to the counter and tried to cough but nothing happened. I reached for my water, but it didn’t go down either and instead dribbled down my chin.

“Adi?” Stone said as he came toward me.

I still couldn’t swallow it down or cough it up, and before I knew it, strong arms wrapped around me, and my feet were lifted from the ground.

After just three hard pumps to my rib cage, a ball of veggie wrap flew from my mouth and landed a few feet in front of me.

I sucked in a strained breath, wheezing as my lungs struggled to fill. My hands were wrapped around my own throat, and I hadn’t even noticed.

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