Page 58 of Get Undressed With Me

She was on the dance floor now, grooving in a way that he knew was killing her ankle, consuming a number of drinks. Gus was dying to check on her, to make her sit and drink a water and eat some of the shitty appetizers the place had laid out. But she had set her boundary, and he respected that. She wanted a professional relationship only. And Gus suddenly found that whatever Brittany wanted, he would make happen.

Including staying away.

He left a message for Val saying she needed to find Brittany a new guard, that he would switch out with whoever was onanother assignment. While Gus hated trusting Brittany’s safety to someone else, he also knew following her around while she flirted with other guys all weekend was going to slowly kill him.

Brittany stumbled a little, and Gus stood up from the wall he was leaning on, trying to get a better look at her through the crowd. He was relieved to see Dev was already there, talking to Britt, helping her stand, but when Dev looked around the room as if searching for help, he was already moving before she saw him and waved him over.

He pushed through the crowd until he reached Dev, who was currently propping up Brittany. And while Devery was probably a strong woman, and Brittany was quite small, Dev was in a medical boot, and Brittany was completely shit-faced.

Dev shouted to him over the music. “I need to get her out of here.”

Brittany turned very, very drunk eyes on him, squinting at his face.

“Gus? That you, bro?”

Ignoring the ‘bro,’ Gus took her from Dev, easily scooping her into his arms, bouncing her a second until he had her balanced.

“I wouldn’t do that too much,” she breathed into his ear. “The last few shots aren’t settling well, ya know.”

She reeked of alcohol, she was pissed at him and had told him to leave her alone, and yet he still couldn’t help but feel relieved she was finally in his arms and he was being allowed to take care of her.

“Gus, you smell sooooo good.”

He grimaced. In another life, drunk Brittany would be adorable. But here, now, with too many people around him and their fight fresh on his mind, he wasn’t loving it.

“Killer?”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up.”

She gasped, but Gus ignored her, turning to Devery.

“Where’s Randall?”

Dev grinned. “Found a hot guy an hour ago and texted me to ‘not wait up.’”

“Are you ready to go?”

She nodded. “I’ve been ready.”

They slowly made their way to the exit, Gus using his shoulders and glare to push people out of the way, Dev following slowly behind him. Brittany was mostly silent, her hand now in his hair, her nails lightly scratching his scalp, and he fought a shiver against the sensation.

The quiet of the night outside was a relief, one that Gus embraced.

“You need a ride,” he asked Dev.

She shook her head. “No, I’m grabbing a rideshare. I’m going to call Min.”

Gus nodded. “Sounds good.”

“I’m going to have to tell her about you.”

“I don’t have a problem with that.”

Dev bit her lip, glancing at Brittany, who was snuggled into Gus and not paying attention.

“She likes you, Gus. Like, really likes you.”

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