Page 45 of Boost

-Greer-

A knowing smile spread across my lips as soon as his hand touched down on the small of my back. I’d taken his words, twisted them and threw them back.

And what do you know? Rafael was an air of confidence and chivalry as he guided me through the tables and pulled out my seat.

“I’ll play your little game, mamacita. For now,” he murmured out of the side of his mouth, just loud enough for me to hear above the attendees’ applause as Colton took the stage.

The smile I threw over my shoulder faltered. I expected to see humor in his expression. The signature smirk on his mouth. Not the darkened glower or the sharp angle of his eyebrows. Maybe I’d pushed him too far. Cornered him when I should have known better.

The tense set of his jaw and shoulders reminded me that I hardly knew him. Men like Rafael had hardened edges that were shaped by their upbringing; ones that couldn’t be smoothed off, no matter how hard anyone tried.

He reluctantly slid into his seat opposite me and angled away from the media lining the walls. For a guy who thrived off attention, he sure was uneasy around the cameras.

I looked around the crowd as the applause dampened so Colton could start his speech. Tuxedos and expensive gowns, champagne in crystal flutes, million-dollar smiles. The view exuded money and wealth. Exactly what we intended when collating the exclusive guest list.

I gave Raf a reassuring smile, only to receive a stoic glare in return. Barely resisting the urge to reach across the table and touch his forearm, I forced my attention back to Colton at the microphone.

“Good evening all. Thank you for being here tonight, and for the generous donations we’ve received so far. I’m Colton Donavan, and it is my absolute pleasure to officially launch the Colton Donavan Boost Foundation for street racing youths.”

More rapturous applause broke out as Colton fed off the electrifying atmosphere in the large room. Rylee wore an adoring smile, and I swear if heart-eyes were a real thing, she had them. A pang of longing cut through my chest. I was yet to find a man that made me want to look at him the way she looked at hers.

Colton continued his speech, capturing and holding the attention of every pair of eyes in the room. I zoned out momentarily and let my mind wander until the mention of Landon-Michaels PR snapped me back to the present.

I stood and gave a little wave as Colton introduced me as the foundation’s PR manager, and the instant heads turned my way, Rafael bristled. He hissed a curse under his breath and dipped his head until the attention was redirected.

While I didn’t fully understand his compulsion to keep a low-profile, I recognized that he was different from every other man and woman in this room, myself included. Being thrust unwillingly into the spotlight emphasized those differences as if he was under a microscope. The only man with an ear-piercing. The only one with tattoos decorating his neck and hands. The only man itching to leave before the gala had started.

My heart unexpectedly ached for him, and I found myself respecting him for his loyalty to Colton and his commitment to the hopes and dreams of young racers. Tonight, Rafaelearnedthat respect from me, and a subtle shift happened within.

With Colton’s speech concluded, the first round of the charity auctions was about to start before the seated dinner. Raf glared at me from across the table. While his expression gave nothing away, his eyes spoke the emotions that were audibly withheld. I saw them though, loud and clear; impatience.Sufferance.

Those emotions dispersed the instant he unexpectedly pushed back from the table and set me in his sights. His expression morphed into one of pure devilishness. The look alone made my breath hitch as he rounded the circular seating plan and arrived at my side. Desires and unspoken demands. Possession and defiance. They were all right there beneath the surface of his darkened irises.

“You’re mine now, mamacita,” he drawled while reaching for my hand.

I warily rose to my feet and wove my arm through his, allowing him to escort me toward the rear of the room without causing a scene.

However, instead of stopping near the bar like I assumed we would, he set his free hand over mine and kept walking toward the door.

My steps slowed. “Where are we going?”

“Date night.”

I began to resist and tug. “We can’t justleave!”

“We can, and we are,” he clipped, gesturing to the valet for his car.

“But my clutch-”

Raf clicked his fingers at the woman on the desk and was straight-up rude to her. “Get Greer Landon her belongings.”

I shot her an apologetic look. Once she was out of sight, I roughly pulled out of Raf’s grip and slapped his upper arm.

“What the hell was that? You’re being an ass.”

He made a flippant hand gesture. “That was me getting shit done. And this-” He made a circling motion between us. “Is me taking charge. I’ve played by your game, Boss Lady, now you play by mine.”

I could have wiped the cocky smirk off his face. Folding my arms across my chest, I pursed my lips and glared hard when his eyes dropped to my cleavage.

---