Page 15 of Xactly What She Needs

Marrow nods his head. “You could’ve said that we were checkin’ up on her or some shit.” He looks over at Jax. “The fuck is wrong with you?”

Jax shrugs one extremely large shoulder. “I don’t see the point in lyin’.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and take a few deep breaths. I feel like that’s all I do these days. “Have you guys ever heard of a thing called privacy?” I hiss quietly.

Xander grimaces. “I mean, in our defense, your door was open, and you had her on speaker phone. If privacy was what you were after, you went about it all wrong.”

Jax and Marrow are looking at him like he’s stupid. Though, truthfully, I’m probably looking at him the same exact way.

I extend my arm and point my index finger at the door. “Out. All of you. I am absolutely done with all the males in this place today. Do not come back unless it’s work related,” I growl in annoyance.

All three back out of my office, never taking their eyes off of me, like I’m going to attack three scary ass men. I would be amused if I wasn’t annoyed with them. “And close the door!” I call out and smile when I hear the click.

Finally, some peace and quiet.

I hear a knock on my office door and jump slightly. I’ve been engrossed with going through all of our future orders. “Come in!” I yell and look up from my computer when I hear the door open.

My brain only short circuits a tiny bit when I see Xander walk in, wearing a tight dark blue T-shirt, his vest and jeans. It automatically comes back online when I register what he’swearing, making me frown.

“Darlin’,” I absolutely do not do a full body shiver as he drawls that word at me while looking at me like I’m a dessert he wants to devour. Okay, maybe he isn’t actually looking at me like that and my neglected libido is trying to give me some fuel for my future fantasies, but whatever. “You plannin’ on pullin’ an all nighter?”

It takes a supreme effort to not allow my brain to go to the type of all nighter I would like to pull with him. I have Jedi level mind control these days. My damn hormones have been out of control since the day I met thisAdonis with tattoos. But I’ve kept my mind strong, no matter how much my body complains.

“I didn’t realize that it’s closing time already,” Isay, onlyslightly distracted by the man standing in front of my desk.

I watch as his lips twitch, highlighting the scruff I really want to run my fingers across. “Bri, we closed three hours ago.”

My eyes go wide and I fumble around my desk to find my phone. “Holy crap, I had no idea it was nine o’clock already.”

He nods his head slowly, never taking his eyes off of me, making me squirm, but not unpleasantly, damn him. “I figured. That’s why I decided to come and get you.”

“Crap! Jace has been waiting all this time.” I fling myself out of my chair and start to just throw my stuff in my purse.

“Calm down, Darlin’," hechuckles, making my nerve endings stand at attention, stupid traitorous body. “He went home already like two hours ago. He said somethin’ about a hot date. I told him that I would take ya home instead since I was still workin’ on somethin’.”

I freeze as his words filter through my brain. My left hand is holding my bag and my right is still in the same position it was in as I tossed my phone in. I look like a moronic statue right now and I can’t even help it. I’ve managed to have everyone else, but Xander take me home. I just don’t trust myself to be alone with him. My mouth would definitely say something that my brain knows that it shouldn’t. Being in a confined space with him, while breathing in his scent is a bad idea on so many different levels. I’m already frazzled in his presence, but I would end up totally fried being all alone with him.

His eyes narrow, almost as if he read my mind, knowing that I’m trying to come up with a way to make sure that he isn’t the one who takes me home. “Don’t even think about it,” he growls and my stupid body quivers in excitement at his tone.

I swear, I’m a freaking mess. The tone of his voice should be setting off all sorts of alarm bells in my head after what I’ve been through. But does it? Of course not, not when it comes to him. Granted, after seeing how he acts towards every woman he comes into contact with, my brain has decided that he isn’t a threat to us, well physically anyway. My heart is a whole different story.

I blink innocently. “Don’t think about what?” I’m definitely not going to win an Oscar anytime soon.

“I’m takin’ you home. You sure as shit ain’t getting into a car with a complete stranger.” Is his eye twitching or am I imagining it?

I sigh, loudly, obviously defeated. I know damn well that his stubborn ass isn’t going to let this go. Kindred spirits recognize their own kind. Although, he might havebeat mein the stubborn department. “Okay, just let me finish packing up my stuff.” I sound like I’m about to be sent to my death, but I can’t help it. This man turns me upside down, leaving me with the self-control of a toddler who just saw something shiny.

I’m so screwed and not inafun way.

I finish packing up my belongings under the watchful gaze of the man who unnerves me. Why does he have to be so damn good looking? Is it too much to ask for him to look like a troll or something? A fat, hairy one with warts.

“All set,” I state as I begin to walk towards him.

I watch as his fingers twitch at his sides as I approach. “Need a hand?”

I shake my head, with a little more force than necessary. “Nope, I’m all good," Isqueak, brushing past him, totally not inhaling his cologne, as I scurry out of my office and down the darkened hallway.

Good grief!

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