Page 93 of Raging Inferno

“Me too.”

“You two clean up nicely,” Presley gestured between him and Kayne.

“Not so bad yourself, Elvis,” Kayne drawled. “And you, Miss Gia,ma belle,are a vision.”

She hid her face and giggled like Presley used to do when Dominic was around. He met Presley’s gaze and smiled.

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Presley thought she’d done a respectable job of mentally preparing herself to see Dominic in his tux. She’d failed. It wasall she could do to remember to inhale and exhale. She finally understood the phrase mouthwateringly gorgeous because he was every bit that. The crisp white shirt accentuated his tan skin and black hair. The jacket hugged his tall, muscular frame. She had to dab her lips to make sure she wasn’t drooling.

Kayne looked sensational, too, and he would be a hit with all the single ladies and some of the married ones. At any other time, he would be the best-looking man in the room. He was an inch taller than Dominic, slightly more muscular, and his green eyes were mesmerizing. Throw in that Cajun accent, and women would throw their panties—and themselves—at his feet.

“Ya’ll ready to roll?” Kayne asked.

At their confirmation, Kayne grabbed Gia’s suitcase while Dominic snapped a leash on Major and handed it to Gia. They were dropping the lab and their belongings at Dominic’s house. If the gala went late, he didn’t want Major to be uncomfortable or make a mess in the rental home. Major would have access to a doggy door at Dominic’s, so he could come and go as needed.

Gia skipped beside Kayne, chattering away with Major trotting at her side. Presley was suddenly jerked back and wrapped in a firm embrace.

“I’ve never seen anyone as breathtakingly stunning as you, Presley,” Dominic murmured before crushing his mouth to hers. The way he addled her brain should be frightening, but she was learning to roll with it.

She stumbled when he pulled back and said, “To be continued.”

It took her a moment to gather her faculties. When she did, she bumped a shoulder into him. “Right back at you, Mr. Bianchi. That tux was made for you.”

“This old thing?”

He smiled, winked, and brushed another kiss against her lips before climbing into the back seat with Gia. Kayne drove,so Presley claimed the passenger seat. She forced her mind off Dominic and onto the gala. At some point tonight, she planned on pulling Jessie aside and demanding to know what had happened between the Cheerios that caused them to lose touch. Hopefully, Jessie would be honest with her. She’d deflected Presley’s questions before, but she intended to find out the answer before she left tonight.

Several cars were already in the queue when they arrived. The guard at the security booth checked their names and waved them through. “Follow the line of cars. A valet will park your vehicle. Enjoy the gala.”

“I’m not letting anyone inside the SUV without me,” Kayne warned them. Presley agreed. A plethora of weapons filled the back, some highly classified. It wasn’t safe, especially if they fell into the wrong hands. “I’ll drop you three off and park myself.”

When they arrived at the front of the line, Kayne shifted into park.

Presley let Dominic and Gia slide out first before turning to Kayne. “You carrying?”

He gaped at her. “Are you being serious right now? I’m always packing,cher.”

Her brows raised. “I mean a gun.”

His green eyes twinkled. “That too.”

With an exasperated sigh, she slid out and joined Dominic and Gia. Gia grabbed each of their hands and they climbed the steps. She thanked the man holding the door and entered the grand foyer. It had been decorated for the event with fairy lights, illuminated boxwood trees, and flower garlands.

“Presley, my dear, you made it!”

She turned to see Jessie hurrying her way, looking elegant in a sequined red dress with matching heels. Jessie embraced her, and Presley got a whiff of alcohol, but not as strong as the other day.

Jessie framed Presley’s face. “Look at you, Pep. You could be a supermodel.” She turned and hugged Dominic and then greeted Gia. “Hello, Gia. Aren’t you adorable? You remind me of Pep.”

“Who’s Pep?” Gia wanted to know.

“Presley when she was younger.”

Gia clapped her hands together. “And I look like her? Yay!”

Jessie smiled. “If you all want to follow me, I’ll show you to the kids’ room.”

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