Page 68 of Crude Heir

Yes, she’s different. I’ve never had much interest in keeping a woman around in the past. Once the news broke about my father, I retreated from the swarm of women who were going outof their way to get in touch with me. The only one who caught my attention was Nicole, and I thought it was due to another reason altogether.

I approach her, my tone softening. “In case you haven’t noticed, youarespecial to me.”

“You’re special to me, too,” she whispers.

Even though I have her admission, I’m quickly finding it’s not enough. That’s something I’m going to have to deal with sooner than later, especially with all these men around.

“Now go get dressed so we can go downstairs. Elena says Addler’s already working on breakfast.”

I pull on my clothes, still giving her the side-eye as she slips into the flats she was wearing yesterday. Thankfully, the ankle looks better this morning. Still, we take the stairs slowly.

“Can I help with anything?” Nicole offers, once we get to the kitchen.

“We’ve got everything.” Elena gives Nicole an approving nod as she hobbles over to the table. “Perfect fit.”

Her assessment only stokes the jealousy that’s been simmering under the surface.

Addler turns, doling scrambled eggs onto plates. “What’s up with you?” he asks, a frown on his face.

I glare in his direction.

Elena glances at me then goes back to her task of folding napkins. “I loaned Nicole some leggings,” she says, her voice neutral but her gaze meeting mine, conveying an unspoken apology.

Addler’s gaze shifts to Nicole. Even though he’s only taken a second, it’s enough to stir an unfamiliar shot of possessiveness inside me. I don’t like that a man, even Addler, is checking out my woman. He turns back to me, his eyebrows lifted in silent understanding.

“The shirt is long enough to cover everything,” Nicole quickly adds, catching on to my irritation.

“Yeah,” Addler agrees, focusing on plating the heaping portions of egg. “She looks fine, bro.” But that hitch in his voice makes me wonder if he’s trying to convince me or himself.

“She looks fucking fantastic,” I correct. “But it should befor me,” I say, sounding defensive.

Nicole’s eyes widen, a mix of shock and maybe pleasure in them. I walk over, knowing I’ve probably fucked up, but, as self-centered as it sounds, it’s completely true. I wait to see what she’s going to say, ready to carry her ass upstairs regardless of where we have to be.

“Fantastic?” she says, in a shy whisper.

I wrap my hands around her hips, possessively. “Fuckingfantastic,” I reaffirm, giving her perfect ass a reaffirming squeeze.

She smiles, leaning up to drop a kiss on my lips. She must have assumed a quick kiss would be enough. She assumed wrong.

I lean in, ravaging her mouth as I pull her hips to mine, letting her know exactly how she affects me.

“Do you have more of those leggings?” Addler asks in a stage whisper.

Chapter 27

Derrick

The sun’s not up yet when we find ourselves in the cavernous hangar. The air is so thick with tension you can almost touch it.

Addler stands before us, a commanding figure scanning the group consisting of the people he feels he can trust.

“Derrick Stockton and Nicole Fuentes are here from the Kelly office in Houston,” he says, acknowledging each of us in turn. “Ezequiel Mata’s the Ranch Manager. Sage Donohue is our Security Manager. Bill Connors is our new District Manager.”

We each respond with a nod or a faint smile. They’re all glancing at their counterparts, perhaps trying to find the common thread that’s brought us together.

“I’ve asked you all here for what is, in essence, a secret meeting,” Addler declares, his expression turning grim. “What’ we’re about to discuss here should not leave the group.”

Everyone in the semicircle nods their agreement before he proceeds to update us on what we found.

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