Page 63 of Claiming Atlas

I roll my eyes. “I should just go out there like this and give your driver and Red a show, right?”

He nods, shrugging. “I don’t see why not? Red’s an okay guy.”

I hold up my pointer finger. “Give me one second, okay?”

“Fine.” He crosses his arms indignantly. “Can you at least keep it on under your clothes?”

I shrug. “Guess we’ll just have to see.”

“Wait.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“Keep the wig on too.”

With a dramatic eye roll to drive home how ridiculous he is, I turn around and race toward the dressing room, trying my best to look like I’m not racing. Hell, why do I even care if he sees me rushing? He’s just as eager as I am, judging by that bulge in his pants that hasn’t settled down since I first said hello before the show. I giggle as I grab my stuff from the dressing room closet, then hold up my jeans and pause.

“Leaving so soon?” Collette steps out from the restroom, eyeing me as I quickly gather my things.

I look up at her and heat rushes to my cheeks. “I hope you don’t mind, I—”

“As long as you’re taking Atlas with you and not ditching him here with that daft girl, I’m happy.”

Grinning, I stand and start to step into my jeans. “I’m definitely not ditching Atlas.”Ever.

“Good. Then throw those godawful ripped jeans in the trash and follow me.”

“What?” I look at my jeans and frown. I love these things.

“Come.”

Reluctantly, I stuff my jeans into my duffel and follow Collette to her private area off the back of the dressing room.

She pulls her long trench coat off the coat rack and holds it out to me, eyebrows raised like she’s waiting for me to slip into it.

I step over to her and slide my arms into the sleeves. She wraps the white velvet-like coat around me, tying the belt around my waist, then runs her hands down over my hips. “This is how you leave with him.”

“Collette, I love this, but...”

“Oh no, hon, no arguing. If you’re going to take him away before he even has a taste of the delectable food my chef has prepared, you can at least tantalize his senses inotherways.”

“Oh, I plan to.” I close my mouth quickly, surprised that the words were said aloud.

Collette laughs. “Kayla, honey, what has he done to you?” She pats my cheek and steps past me. “You’re glowing.”

Once she’s gone, I shake my head and step into the black pumps I brought on the off chance that Atlas wanted to go out with me after the event. I’m pretty sure going out has just been eclipsed by staying in. I pause as an idea strikes me. Smiling, I step out of the tiny lace thong and slip the bra off through the sleeve of the trench coat, then tuck them into the deep pockets and leave the room.

Atlas waits for me by the front door. He looks me up and down slowly, smiling as I approach. “What’s under the coat?”

I hold his gaze as I walk past him and step outside. “The main course.”

He groans and rushes past me to open the back door of his car.

I climb inside and say hello to Red as Atlas runs to the other side of the car and climbs in on that side. He tells the driver to take us to the Hard Rock, then turns to face me. As he holds my gaze, his lips curl into a wicked grin. “I’mstarving.”

I smile as heat rushes south.

“You didn’t eat, boss?” Red holds up a wrapped McDonald’s cheeseburger. “You want my last burger?”

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