Page 174 of Awakened by Sin

“Great. You ready to leave?” She took his arm and pulled him toward the house, but he didn’t move. She turned back and saw he was staring at Angel. She yanked on his arm. “Marcus.”

He glanced at her, his face hard and so unlike the easygoing man she’d come to know. He glanced once more at Angel before he followed her in the house. What the fuck was that? She came here to chill, not for drama. She dropped the plate with the half-eaten cake on the counter and towed Marcus through the living room where Gavin and Lyla sat on the couch. Gavin had his arm around her while she leaned into him. They weren’t talking; they were soaking each other in. She missed that—the familiarity one had after being together for years. God, she had to get out of here.

“Thanks for dinner,” she said as she kissed Lyla on her head and completely ignored Gavin. “Call me if you need anything before you leave for Bora Bora.”

She didn’t release Marcus until she walked out of the house. Mickey broke off from some guards and headed to the SUV.

“She’ll ride with me,” Marcus said.

She didn’t argue. She slid into the Audi while he placed his takeout bag in the back seat. It smelled delicious. It wasn’t until they were on the open road with the city tiny lights in the distance that he spoke.

“What were you and Angel talking about?”

Fucking Gavin and Angel ruined her perfect night. “Nothing. He was just being an ass.”

“About what?”

She reached for his free hand and laced their fingers together. “Nothing important. I’m glad you made it.”

“I tried to leave earlier, but some things came up.”

“Well, I didn’t give you much notice …” But Gavin made it. She pushed that petty thought away. He wasn’t obligated to attend unplanned dinner parties she sprung on him without warning.

“I have a business dinner coming up in a few days,” Marcus said, interrupting her thoughts. “You remember that businessman from Dubai? Khalid?”

“Yes.”

“He’s interested in buying one of the towers we’re building for homeowners.”

She pondered that for a moment. “It’s still under construction.”

“Yes.”

“He wants it badly enough to buy without seeing it completed?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“He wants to start doing business in Las Vegas, and there’s very limited real estate on The Strip.”

“What does Gavin think about that?”

His mouth curved. “The towers were my idea in the first place, and now that it’s drawing people like Khalid, he’s pissed at me.”

“He’s allowing you to negotiate this deal?”

“We haven’t talked hard numbers yet. Khalid has a lot of connections in the business world and may be an excellent partner in future, which is why we’re willing to talk to him.”

“Good luck.”

“I want you to come with me to the dinner we’re having with his associates.”

She glanced at him. “Really?”

“Yes. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Of course, not.”

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