Page 31 of Now and Forever
Leaning toward her, Joel grabbed Golden by the shoulder and pulled her in toward him. She was so shocked she could hardly think much less react.
Holding out his phone, Joel gave her a devious smile. "Do me a favor, Beautiful, and say cheese."
Golden looked at the phone, gave a tentative smile, and heard the shutter sound go off. Joel didn't give her a chance to question the picture before he was up and going back to the bar. A fewminutes later, it was Hayden who took his seat next to her, bringing a round of fresh drinks. Time passed and the crowd in the bar thinned to the point where even Joel could sit at their table with only one of the Heathens taking turns running back to the bar every now and then.
Lydia chatted happily with Victor while Hayden and Joel asked Golden questions or bickered about random things. Golden could feel herself slipping further and further down the hole. Everyone around her was drinking their drinks and handling it fine, even Lydia, but she couldn’t anymore. She already felt like she was past the point of no return with how her head was spinning and if she drank anymore, it was going to be bad.
Blinking slowly, she looked between Hayden and Joel who were arguing about something in regards to a gym. Or a gym they owned? She couldn't be sure.
Hayden stopped and looked at her and leaned over to her. "You want me to get you some water, Sweetheart? "
Golden gave him a thankful smile and nodded. She was so damn thirsty.
Going to the bar, he grabbed a bottle of water and came back, handing it to her.
Twisting the cap off, she thanked him. "I appreciate—Oh!" she cried when she spilled some of the cold water on her lap.
"Here," Hayden snatched a few napkins from nearby and reached for her legs.
A hand grabbed Hayden's wrist and both her and Hayden looked up to a pair of burning blue eyes. There was a shift inthe air. A rippling force that created a suffocating tension in the entire room.
"Holy shit, you came!" Joel exclaimed next to her, looking far too satisfied.
Through the haze in her mind, Golden was sober enough to know this was bad even if her heart thrummed in excitement. "Mr. Rosebank," she whispered.
Chapter fourteen
Hayden snatched his hand out from Grayson's grip. Not that Grayson cared. His sole focus was the wide and not-so-focused brown eyes staring up at him in shock. Gently, he pulled Golden to stand unsteadily next to him. She was drunk. The knowledge only angered him more, which was something in itself since he couldn't remember the last time he was this fucking angry.
"I texted you that picture thirty minutes ago," Joel stood up with a laugh. "It takes forty-five minutes to get here from Stardust. You must've been hauling ass."
That was an understatement, Grayson thought grimly. Seeing that photo of Golden's unsteady smile as Joel hugged her to him wearing a wolfish grin was enough to make him see red.
Before this, he never cared one way or another about the Three Heathens. Hell, on rare occasions he joined his brother in poker against them and even found himself enjoying it. The three young men had intriguing pasts, making them entertaining companions for a night out and a bit of harmless gambling. Theywere not, however, on good enough terms with him to let Golden in their midst.
The image of Joel's hand on her shoulder was burned into his mind and he couldn't help looking at the offending appendage now. He was highly considering breaking it.
As if sensing his thoughts, Joel ran a hand through his blond hair and gave him a taunting grin. "I was just trying to make sure you got youremployeeback in one piece," he said, stressing the word employee.
Grayson turned Golden toward the door and began to walk but Golden stopped and frowned up at him.
"I can't leave Lydia," she said, trying to step back from him.
Grayson only tightened his grip on her waist. Her bare waist. The mini skirt and equally small leather top stretched over her breasts did nothing at all to hide her figure from every man in the damn room. Every movement emphasized her hips and narrow waist. Combined with the sleepy, unfocused look in her eyes and the delicate flush to her cheeks—she looked good enough to eat.
Looking over his shoulder, he noticed the similarly dressed girl sitting on the third Heathen's lap completely enamored. The girl looked as if a tornado could hit the place and as long as she had Victor's attention she couldn't care less.
Victor, who had been watching him since he entered the bar, caught his gaze and nodded. "I'll make sure Miss Lydia here makes it home."
"But..." Still unsure, Golden glanced from Lydia to Victor worriedly.
Victor whispered something in Lydia's ear and the girl looked over to Golden and waved. "Bye, call me tomorrow. I'm gonna stay here."
Grayson could feel the fight leave Golden's body as she reluctantly nodded. Guiding her back toward the door, he led her out of the bar and into the dark parking lot. His car was parked directly at the front door taking up two spaces. Wasting no time, he ushered Golden into the passenger seat and shut the door. Within minutes they were back on the highway.
"You didn't have to pick me up," she murmured.
The tenuous grip he held over his anger bowed and flexed under the strain of his control. "And let you have your drunk friend take you home? I think not," he said tersely.
