Page 107 of Back in Black

“Exactly.”

“With your particular spin on it, I don’t doubt it.” Gillian’s mouth twitched. “You do have a way with four-letter words.”

He gave one hard nod. “Release me from my promise to tone it down in public.”

Gillian snorted. “Like that promise slowed you down anyway.”

Very serious, Drew said, “What you think is important to me, so yeah, it slowed me down.” He half grinned. “I did try, honey. If I wasn’t always successful, well, you have to give me credit for effort.”

Either she didn’t get his sincerity or she chose to ignore it, because when the light changed to green, she went right back to talking about the press conference.

“If you want me to set up the conference call, I’ll need some names and numbers.”

Warmth filtered through Drew, helping to ease his anger at the current situation. Helplessness sucked, and that was how it all made him feel: helpless. He was a control freak and he knew it. He accepted it about himself. And as such, it wasn’t easy for him to be around most people, especially when furious.

But Gillian . . . she not only softened his edge of rage with her mere presence, she sort of took him in stride and assisted where she could.

“Tell you what, we’re still an hour from my house. Why don’t you nap and I’ll make the arrangements?” His phone was practically an extension of his body, but it was programmed to be hands-free in the car. He could easily drive and make calls at the same time.

“I can’t nap while you do all the work.”

He went from holding her hand to smoothing over her thigh. “I need you rested up.”

“Why?”

His muscles tightened with the now familiar mix of burning lust and tender emotion. A potent combo, at least for his libido.

“Several reasons.”But only one that really mattered to him.“Brett’s not answering his cell, so I have to do a face-to-face with him. Just as the Powers That Be don’t want me working for another fight organization, I don’t want Brett fighting for anyone but us.”

“He’s that good?”

“Championship material, yeah. I want you with me when I hunt him down.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want you out of my sight until the danger is over. But also because you’re a good influence.”

She made a very unladylike sound of skepticism.

Drew let that slide. Later, he’d convince her of how she affected him. “It could take a few hours, depending on how pissed Brett is and how determined he is to cut out on the SBC and me. And I can’t go looking for him until after we do the press bit, so it could end up being late.”

“Afraid I’ll be too muzzy brained to be of use to you?”

Oh, hell, she’d be of use to him, all right. Gillian had the unique ability to distract him from business. He wanted her enough that being with her could easily become a priority.

Drew curved his hand to cup more of her soft inner thigh. So hot and smooth . . .

“Actually, I’m afraid you’ll be too tired to say yes when, after we iron out all this shit, I want to strip you naked and spend an hour or two making you scream.”

“Oh. When you put it like that . . .” Gillian’s blue eyes heated like the center of a flame. She drew a short, shuddering breath. “Perhaps I should nap just a little. After all, I take great pride in my . . . performance. I’ll need some rest to be at my best.”

With that sexual taunt thrown out there, she turned into the passenger door, got cozy, and closed her eyes.

But Drew saw the smile on her lips.

Yeah, Gillian was easy, all right. Easy to talk to, easy to joke with, to work with.

And very easy to love.

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