Page 18 of Weaponized

This news raises her spirits. “Does anyone evernotnotice you?”

I shrug.

“Why Luca? He’s kinda, I dunno, scary and so verybig.”

This makes me laugh. “Yeah, he’s big. And muscley. And intense. And hard to get. And he has the darkest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. And he’s probably not as interested in me as I am in him.” I can’t believe I just blurted all of this out. I may be in trouble here.

Elizabeth taps her index finger against her lips. “In that case, we should go. And, we should make sure that he definitely notices you.”

I raise my eyebrows and smirk. “I think I have some ideas to get us both noticed.” Game on.

Luca

I push up another rep on the bench press, sweating out my frustration. I’ve gone over Thursday morning a million times in my head. I can’t figure out what caused Gráinne to run away from me like the hounds of hell were on her heels.

It couldn’t be my comment to the cashier, right? He was obviously ogling her tits, and there’s no way I could let that pass. I mean, I know Gráinne is beautiful and guys are going to look. That may grate on my nerves, but I didn’t threaten the other dozen guys I saw checking her out as we passed. Each one of those bastards probably jerked off to her memory later that night. I know I did. But, no, I didn’t say a damn thing to any of them, even if I wanted to. My temper was in check. But, I had to draw the line at this jerkwad checking out her boobs when she’s only two feet away and obviously with me. Fuckface didn’t see me? Right. I’m a lot of things but easy to miss isn’t one of them.

I grunt with the next rep and I can hear the door to our cavernous home gym swing open. “You joining the party?” I didn’t even realize how much time had passed. It’s evening already? I told Matteo that Saturday nights were the only time I wanted people over this year. I know he likes to be surrounded.It gives him something else to focus on, so he can stay out of his own head. But I’m tired of all the commotion and drama.

“I dunno,” I tell him, lifting again. “I’m kinda busy.”

“Hmmmm, okay. Suit yourself,” he replies slowly and starts to walk back out the door. He’s almost out of the room when he stops and nonchalantly speaks over his shoulder, “I just thought youmightwant to see your girl. She’s been out there for about thirty minutes and she’s definitely making an impression.”

The bar clatters back in place as I drop it and spin to sit up quickly. He doesn’t even need to use her name and I know exactly who he is talking about.

“What the fuck does that mean?”

Matteo shrugs and turns back to face me. “It’s a pool party. She’s wearing a bikini. You do the math. But don’t stress if you want to stay inside. Her brother is about to start fighting guys off her with a stick, so I’m sure he’s got it handled.”

“I’ve gotta shower real quick.”

This brings a genuine laugh from my brother. “Yeah, I thought so.”

I take the fastest shower known to man and pull on some long mesh gym shorts and a T-shirt. I don’t even bother with shoes. After the way she left me on Thursday, I didn’t expect her to be here. I’m shocked if I’m telling the truth.

As I step out of the double doors to our backyard, I hear a loud “Awwwwww, yeah!” Anthony has turned up the volume on “Baby Got Back” and is dancing like a fool off to my right. I watch as he shimmies and shakes. He is dry humping the air, shoulders back, as he pretends to slap an imaginary ass in front of him.He follows this move by pretending to lasso some girl, who is loving every second of it. Everyone is watching him with amusement, laughing along with his antics. Some are even dancing with drinks in their hands. Gianni has some short blonde grinding on him to the beat. It looks like everyone is having a great time, heads bobbing along.

I scan the pool area, not seeing my angel. Maybe she’s in the pool house? Wait. Who the fuck would take her into the pool house? I know what goes on in there. I’m getting a bit worked up when a few guys step aside and I see her. Holy shit.

Gráinne O’Toole is off to my left, wearing a red bikini top and some sexy, gauzy, see-through skirt thing wrapped around her hips. She is standing, dancing to the music, arms above her head. She’s swaying, hips moving in a mesmerizing fashion. I get tunnel vision as I watch her laugh with unrestrained joy at Anthony’s silly moves across the pool. God. Look at her. My feet are moving toward her before I register what I’m doing.

I stop directly in front of her and glance down to make eye contact. Except, what my eyes are drawn to is the way that red top pushes her tits together, showing off the ample round swells of her cleavage. She meets my eyes, but doesn’t stop moving. She just continues dancing, watching me. I step even closer, so we are nearly touching.

Without giving it a second thought, I place my hands at her waist and pull her against me. The little minx keeps moving. Swaying. Brushing against me. Sky-blue eyes focused on my face.

“Do you like to dance?” My voice is gruff to my own ears.

She nods slowly, maintaining eye contact.

“Do you like that everyone is watching?”

She shakes her head and then puts her arms around my neck, her fingers playing with the short hair at my nape. I move my nose to brush her temple and breathe her in. Honey.

I remove one hand from her waist and follow the shape of her body, running it up along her ribs, along the side of her breast, her bicep, over the delicate bracelets on her wrist until I eventually reach behind my head and grab her hand.

“Come with me.”

She says nothing. She simply allows herself to be led across the patio, through my kitchen and living room, to a staircase that leads down to our media room. I pull her along and close the door behind us. Grabbing my phone from my pocket, I quickly scroll to an ’80s dance music playlist on Spotify before hitting play. If she wants to dance without an audience, I’m all for making it happen.

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