Page 42 of Double or Nothing

“No clue.” Mac shrugs his shoulders. “Never would tell me. I always assumed it was to be close to you.” He pauses, waiting for a reaction that I refuse to give him, and when I don’t, he continues. “Anyway, about why I called you here.”

“Is there an issue?”

“No, not at all. It’s more of a warning.”

“That sounds promising,” I scoff.

“Nothing that bad, I swear. It’s just… we’re going to have a bit of a party here in the suite tomorrow night, and…”

I silently pray this isn’t the part where Sutton demands my presence because he thinks he can. The man has already pulled the ‘at your disposal’ card once.

“And?” I ask, urging him to continue.

“It might get rowdy.”

Whew.

“Got it. So, I should have an itemized list of what everything costs ready for you in the morning? The Sapphire might be thrilled to have Mr. Cole here, but we won’t be funding his destructive behavior.”

“Mr. Cole?” Mac chuckles. “Of course not, Kat. We wouldn’t expect that.”

“Good. Will there be anything else?”

“You can take the professional tone with Sut, but this is me, Kat.” He gestures to the couch. “Can we just talk for a minute? Catch up?”

“If this is some ploy and Sutton pops out of a closet, you’re in big trouble, Malcolm,” I inform him as I take a seat on the couch.

“I told you, Sutton’s off working on songs. I just wanted to catch up, see how you’re doing.”

“I’m great. I love my job. I love my life. I’m happy.” At least, I was until Sutton came back to town. Now, I’m more like a crazy, emotional mess.

“That’s great. Are you seeing anyone?”

I shake my head. I should have known better.

“That’s none of Sutton’s business.”

“It’s not Sutton asking.”

“Oh? Well then,” I say as I run a finger down his chest.

His hand grips my wrist and yanks it away.

“Kat.”

The way he says my name sounds like a warning as if he’s reprimanding me for being a bad girl.

“Exactly. So, you and Sutton can both stay out of my love life.”

“Then there is one?”

“This was a mistake.” Standing from the couch, I head toward the door.

“You going to hate me forever now, too?”

Mac’s arms are folded across his chest when I turn to look at him. He’s got this fatherly tone he’s taking with me.

“Another stunt like this, maybe I will.”

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