Page 57 of Back in Black

Her laugh mocked him. “Don’t be silly, Drew. Now stop staring at my clothes and listen to me.”

“It’s the body under the clothes, babe.” Again in a whisper, he growled, “I would so do you right now.”

“Drew!”

“I would.” And lower still: “I’ve missed doing you, Gillian.”

Color tinged her cheeks, but whether from embarrassment or interest, Drew couldn’t tell.

“That’s enough.” She glanced around, specifically toward where Brett and the petite blonde chatted. “Now behave, please, and listen to me. This is important.”

“You have my attention.” Hell, she’d had it from the first second he saw her.

As if from nervousness, Gillian’s tongue slicked over her lips. “You’re aware of the organization WAVS?”

Wariness crept up Drew’s spine. He had hoped that Gillian wouldn’t hear about his questionable verbal demolition of one of the WAVS’ spokeswomen. Wondering how much she knew, he said, “I am—but I didn’t think you were.”

Gillian leveled a look on him. “I was hired to give your reputation a boost, so of course I’ve researched you and everything that concerns you. Right now would be a good time for me to remind you about your promise to behave in public. No cursing, no shouting . . .”

Drew waved that off. “The shit with Brett just spilled out of the gym, that’s all. Besides, there isn’t any press around to overhear me.”

“Maybe not, but a secondhand account from a passerby can’t be ruled out.”

“A secondhand account ofwhat?”

Gillian sighed. “You see the lovely young lady who’s speaking with Brett?” She touched Drew’s arm. “That’s Audrey Porter, none other than the founder of WAVS—”

“Oh, shit.” The last thing he needed was some wacky broad taking advantage of a tense situation. He doubted that she or anyone else could talk Brett out of fighting, but anything Brett said might end up plastered on the Internet. So far the WAVS group had been a big pain in his ass. He didn’t want to feed them stuff to gossip about.

Drew started in Brett’s direction.

“Drew Black, stop right there!”

Halting in midstep, Drew did a slow about-face. That Gillian would dare to take him to task on a public street left him thunderstruck. He was incredulous more than enraged, but the two emotions must have looked the same, given Gillian’s wary expression.

“Now Drew . . .” She quickly moderated her tone until it almost sounded cajoling. “I’m trying to keep you from digging that hole deeper.”

“By ordering me around?” Mere inches from her, he crossed his arms. “That could maybe work in bed. Hell, I might even enjoy it.” His eyes narrowed, and he left no room for negotiation in his tone. “But you have to stay out of my business.”

With a sound of exasperation, Gillian took his arm and pulled him back a few feet for added privacy. “I’m sorry,” she said as soon as she felt they wouldn’t be overheard. “I don’t want you to lose your job, and another vicious attack on anyone in WAVS will most definitely make news. Fran won’t like it, and you know what that means.”

“Yeah, another woman bitching at me.”

Anger flashed in her eyes. “Maybe if you’d behave like a civilized human being, instead of an ill-bred beast, women wouldn’t find it necessary toreasonwith you.”

Her voice rose with every word. Was that what she called reasoning? Because they were on a public sidewalk, and because she had a very real aversion to anyone knowing they were an item, Drew couldn’t grab her up and kiss her.

But he wanted to. Bad.

Eyeing her heaving breasts, he asked, “Are you free?”

The change of subject threw her. “What? When?”

“Now.” Drew shook his head. “Five minutes from now, actually, after I make things right with Brett.”

“Are you joking?”

“No, so hurry up and make up your mind. Brett could leave any minute, and I don’t want him filling that woman’s head with trash talk about me.”

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