Page 68 of Training the Heart

Amateur.

“I’m a confident man,” I say, raising my glass. Fuck them all, I’ll own it. “I sang the shit out of that song for a twelve-year-old. A lot better than that piss-poor performance,” I chirp at CeCe, and knock back a shot.

“Her voice is straight from heaven itself,” Nash coos into her ear as he kisses her.

Cole makes a vomit sound and pretends to crack a whip.

“My fucking sentiments exactly. I seem to remember you talking all sorts of shit about CeCe Rae back in her Shania days,” I say.

Nash is a cocky motherfucker and doesn’t take one second to say, “I was a stupid kid then; I didn’t mean it. I always thought she was a great singer.”

“Thank you, baby.” CeCe kisses him on the nose as Ivy giggles from across the table.

I shoot her a text as CeCe impersonates Cole next, singing Justin Timberlake, and I’m grateful I’m not their target for five minutes.

You have no idea what kind of punishment I’m gonna rain down on you for that later.

I watch her as she feels the buzz of her phone in her pocket. I’m transfixed on her face as she pulls it out. Watching the corners of those beautiful lips turn up into a half smile as she types, as pretty as sin.

TROUBLE

I’m sure that smartTVof yours has built in karaoke if you want to punish me with soft, croony country music?

You can bring any music you like. You have no idea how much I can make you suffer.

TROUBLE

But we’re not in Nashville anymore. Don’t you think it’s about time to behave like adults and co-workers? We got that out of our systems didn’t we?

Fuck no. Not even fucking close.

Should’ve thought of that before you wrapped those lips around my cock.

TROUBLE

Actually, if I’m being honest, all I can think about is wrapping my lips around your cock.

Christ.

I nearly choke on my bourbon as I read her answer. Ivy leans back in her chair and crosses one leg over the other, looking straight at me like she’s untouchable. The joke’s on her if she thinks I wouldn’t haul her ass into the main floor bathroom and prop her up on the sink while I fucked that tight little pussy into next month.

You’re looking awfully confident with all these people around, and as much as I like that, you know what I like more?

TROUBLE

What?

The look you’re going to wear later when my fingers are tangled in that long, thick hair and I’m fucking the back of your throat.

I look up at her to find Ivy shifting in her seat and I instantly know that she’s wet and desperate for my cock to fill her.

Pop clears his throat beside me, jump-scaring the shit out of me. Where the fuck did he come from?

“Set the table …Chief,” he says quiet enough for only me to hear, as he hands me the cutlery, looks between Ivy and me and winks.

Fucking Christ. Observant old man.

I swipe the cutlery out of his hand and adjust myself as discreetly as possible while Pop shakes his head and heads back to the kitchen.

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