Page 40 of Last Round

“I know you have a lot on your plate, but could you keep an eye on her? Just don’t tell her I said anything. She’s been off recently. I think she’s going through a phase, crying out for attention. I mean, did you see her outfit last night?”Yes, me and every other asshole with a pulse. “I’m trying to give her space, let her make her own decisions, while monitoring from a distance. Last thing I want is for her to do something really stupid while she’s going through some delayed rebellious stage. It was bound to happen, eventually. She was too good of a kid growing up.”

I clear my throat. “Um, yeah… I’ll look out for her.” Thank god the kitchen island blocks my raging hard-on. My cock would love to do a lot more than watch her.

“Perfect, thanks, man. This is great.” Sean’s thumbs move quickly as he types on his phone. “Jess is going to love this. She was super pissed last night. But a weekend away, this is exactly what we need. You might not realize it, but this is what a best man does, helps ease the pre-wedding tension.”

“I’m glad it all worked out.” I smile through clenched teeth. “I’m going to hit the shower.”

“Sounds good.” He doesn’t look up from his phone. “I have to make some calls, get the flight and hotel booked.”

“Have fun,” I shout to his already retreating form.

I don’t even bother with the hot water when I turn on the shower. The icy droplets work overtime to cleanse last night from my memory, along with lowering my already increasing body temp.

Logically, I know this is a good thing—great, actually. Sean’s going to get his fighter. Our gym will prosper. It’s a solid plan. Except there’s this sick twisting sensation in my gut that warns me to be on alert. Maybe it’s his request for me to keep an eye on Molly. Knowing that despite not saying anything, he’s been watching, and eventually we’ll slip up and he’ll notice the little games we’ve been playing. Or it could be the crap vodka Dani served us last night looking to rear its ugly head.

Regardless, I won’t ignore the caution. My instincts haven’t steered me wrong before. No reason to doubt them now.

All the Reasons

Killian

It’sbeenlessthana day, and I already regret sending Sean to close this deal. The universe overheard me decline the invitation and said, “Let’s fuck with him.”

As soon as the Friday night crowd died down, leaving mostly stool pigeons, I sent Chelsea home. She wouldn’t admit it, but I could see her swollen ankles from a mile away. Dani bolted shortly after, which was part of the agreement for dealing with our bullshit last night. Still, the staff disappeared one by one, leaving just the two of us to finish closing andmein a very precarious situation.

Oh, she’s been good tonight. A littletoo good,if you ask me. Molly, thankfully, is dressed a bit more modest. Granted, she’s wearing a K.O.’s t-shirt and there is something about my initials being stretched across her breasts that immediately has me half-hard. She’s even opted for jeans. Very low-cut and skintight ones that look nearly painted on. But compared to yesterday, well, I’m thankful for not having to kick the asses of everyone in here. They were lucky I was too smashed last night to do anything about their blatant eye-fucking.

Disgusting assholes.

It’s not just the wardrobe. Even her routine of using convenient poses to ensure I watch her do the most-mundane things in the most-explicit manner possible hasn’t happened. Now that I think about it, except for ordering drinks, I’m not sure she’s said more than two words to me.

Is she mad?I vaguely remember a few things I mumbled last night, but nothing that bad. Molly’s got that Walsh temper. If she were pissed, I’d know.

No, this is a trap. She’s playing me. I know it.

I stop wiping down the bar and stomp over to her. She’s so lost in cleaning a table that she doesn’t notice me looming behind her until she turns around. “Holy fuck,” she gasps, pressing a hand to her chest.

“The game needs to stop,” I caution her.

“What game?” She feigns innocence. But there’s a glimmer of mischief in her eye.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” I walk her into the wall. Cage her in with my palms pressed against the flat surface behind her.

“Why?” She rests her hands on my hips, pulling me closer.

“This can’t happen.” The statement sounds even less convincing out loud than it does in my head.

“Because of my brother?” Her fingers dip into my waistband.

“That’s one reason.” The primary one that’s kept me from turning this fantasy into a reality.

“It’s a stupid one.”

“I’m your boss.”

“Has that stopped you before?”

Shit, she’s got me there.

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