Page 30 of Control Freak
“It would be,” I agreed, “except he’s headed to college in the fall.”
“Ah, is he? Well, let me introduce you to Mel Weeks. She inherited her dad’s dealership, and she’s interested in shiftingaway from funding only athletic scholarships. I’m thinking with you all being in the car business, she might just take a shine to you.”
His hand landed on my arm briefly, and even over my clothes, it made me tense up and my stomach swirl with nausea.
Thankfully, he didn’t linger, walking ahead of us to the table.
“You going to be okay?” Bailey asked, concerned. I must not be hiding my reaction as well as I’d like. But I’d taken another anti-anxiety pill just before we entered. I could handle one or two casual touches, as long as they didn’t get too plentiful.
“Great. This is exactly why we’re here.”
“I know, but?—”
“Just sit between us,” I murmured. “Once dinner starts, it should get easier.”
While we crossed the room, Ed stopped to shake hands and introduce Bailey to a couple of other business people. I shook John Gold’s hand, knowing he’d keep it brief, while Bailey stepped in to block the more effusive men.
By the time we sat down, I was trembling slightly. Bailey pushed a glass of water toward me, and I gratefully lifted it to cool my dry throat.
“I can’t believe you put yourself through this,” he said. “And you’re not even here for you…are you?”
I glanced sidelong at him. “You know why we’re here.”
“For me?” he said in a small voice.
“Of course for you. You’ve got a future to think about.”
Bailey chewed his bottom lip. “I’m really not worth all this.”
“Don’t start with that crap. You’re the best of us, Bailey. You can do anything. So let me help you.”
Mel arrived at the table, and Ed’s booming laugh cut off anything else Bailey might have said.
He gave me a nod and turned to greet the woman who could help him build the kind of life that Gray, Axel, and I could only imagine.
CHAPTER 8
Shiloh
I hearda knock at the door as I stepped out of the shower. Holden was so shy. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen everything there was to see before.
I opened the bathroom door, letting steam billow out with me as I dried my hair. “Come in!”
The door opened, and Emory stepped in. “Hey, Holden just left, and I was thinking?—”
He stopped short, eyes wide, as he got the full-frontal view. Whoops.
“Oh, sorry. I thought you were Holden.”
Emory’s gaze drifted down my body as his face turned steadily redder. Then he whirled around. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!”
“No worries. I’m not really shy about my body.”
“And why would you be?” He laughed nervously. “So you and Holden…”
I went to the dresser, where I’d stashed a few sets of underwear and jeans. “What about us?”
“Are you…” Emory couldn’t seem to get the words out. “Because he can’t—” He stopped short. “Can he?”
