Page 38 of Vicious Sabotage

He nodded. “Give me five minutes.”

When he turned to walk off to the bathroom, she couldn’t quit staring at his hard spine and the way his jeans hugged his perfect, carved ass…

He tossed another grumpy look over his shoulder. “Don’t even think about leaving without me.”

Why did her body react to everything he said and did today? Maybe she needed to go back to bed. With her battery-operated boyfriend. Until lunchtime.

She issued a shaky sigh and attempted to keep her wits about her while she waited for Carver to return. She checked her phone for messages, and found one from Ivy saying that she was all right and would talk to Livia soon.

What a weight off her shoulders that was. Now if her little sister would check in about her new life with her delinquent boyfriend in Albuquerque, all would be right in her world.

After a few minutes, Carver emerged from the bathroom, looking fresh and wide awake. He’d changed his clothes and looked like he’d run his fingers through his damp hair.

“Wait—did you shower?”

“Grabbed a quick one.”

A thrill coiled through her belly. “How did you have any time at all? You were only gone five minutes.”

He shrugged, drawing her attention to his broad shoulders clad in black cotton. Her gaze dropped to his chest.

“Where did you get a Badlands T-shirt?”

“Found a box in the storeroom yesterday. Figured your bouncer should at least look the part, yeah?”

She started to splutter out some sharp reply but snapped her jaws shut.

“It looks good on you.”

His chuckle washed over her, sending even more awareness into her already hyperactive system. When he snaked a long arm around her and opened the door, his body heat scorched up her side.

Her nipples hardened. Her mouth dried out. Her insides clutched.

By now she was getting used to Carver bossing her around when they left the house. She settled in the driver’s seat of her car and started the engine.

“Would you look at that? I managed to make it all the way to the car without taking a bullet.”

“Never joke about that.” His hard monotone shot goose bumps over her forearms.

“Sorry. I wasn’t thinking about the things you’ve seen and done.”

He said nothing as she drove to the bar. When they reached the back door where she accepted deliveries, the truck was already parked there.

Carver whipped open the door, long leg extending to the ground. “Let me check him out first.”

“Carver, really? He’s fine. I know this guy. I see him every week.”

He fixed her in his dark gaze.

“Fine!”

He walked over to the driver, and they exchanged a few words. When he twitched his fingers, indicating she could get out of the car, annoyance rolled through her.

When she approached the driver, she threw him a small wave of greeting. “Hi, Tom. Thanks for making the extra trip this week.”

He leaned close. “This your new bouncer?”

“Uh…yeah. Why?”

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