Page 58 of Claiming Atlas

He laughs, but he sits back down in his seat.

When Collette finishes talking about herself, she finally invites all of the guests to head to the dining room.

“Midnight has officially commenced,” she says as the black curtains against the far wall are drawn back. “Please allow my staff to escort you to your tables.”

I stand beside Atlas and he extends his elbow, so I link my arm through his.

A blonde chick sidles up beside him. “You’re Atlas Reynolds, right?”

He looks over at her. “Yep.”

“From Banging Cade?”

He tenses, but nods.

“I’m Brandy Blaze. Miss November.” She flashes a too-white grin. I count at least six veneers.

“It was nice to meet you, Miss November,” Atlas says, returning his attention to me.

I refrain from smirking.

As we reach the entrance to the dining room, I release his arm, and he stops abruptly.

He turns to me, one eyebrow raised. “Where do you think you’re going?”

I smile and nod toward the girl on his other arm. “The guests are dining with Playboy playmates tonight, Mr. Reynolds. I was just hired to dance for you.”

He looks at her and she smiles triumphantly, like she just won some prize.

My lips twitch, but I remain stoic. I’m pretty sure that prize was already won. Last night. Repeatedly.

He searches my gaze, frowning. “Aren’t you hungry?”

I shake my head.

Atlas runs his tongue over his teeth.

She tugs at his arm as one of the servers approaches them. She waves toward the server. “They’re blind, see? That’s how they can see where to go.” She giggles and Atlas looks back at me with wide eyes. “Theycan’tsee, I mean, that’s why they don’t care if the lights are off, you know?”

“Have fun,” I mouth, then give him a wide grin.

His brows furrow, then his gaze drops to my lace thong, as if he’s finally just noticing my lack of clothes, and I swear I hear him whimper.

I turn around so he can get a nice, unobstructed view of my ass as I walk away. He can think of it while he’s sitting next to Bimbo Barbie.

I make my way back to the dressing room to change, and Collette steps in front of the doorway. She eyes me like she thinks I’m guilty of something. I tilt my head as I approach her.

“Kayla.”

“Collette.”

She crosses her slender arms. “Would you mind sharing your secret with the rest of the class?”

I look around, playing along. “I’ll wait until the other students get back from lunch,” I say on a laugh.

“Shame on you, Kayla Sanders. I thought we were closer than that. How could you let me go on about Atlas when you already knew him? And, honey, when I met him on the plane”—she places a hand over her chest—“had I known...”

I laugh and raise my hand. “Relax, Collette. Whatever you and Atlas did or didn’t do on the plane isnotmy business. You’re both...” I pause, trying to find the right words. “Super sexual.” I probably could have come up with something better than that, but it’s the truth and gets straight to the point. “I imagine Atlas was a fitting single serving friend?”

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