Page 71 of Takeover
"I-I don't know.Let's not talk about that right now."
"Yeah, of course.But when we get home, we probably should talk about it before I lay you out on the bed and make you come again."A flush crept up my neck, and he grinned."God, I love when you go just a little bit pink."
I smiled at him as the waiter delivered our food and took his drink order."You can't tell that I'm going pink."
"Oh, I can tell.I've been paying attention.And God, I love to watch it.I'd rather see it naked, because then I know exactly where you turn pink."
God, the man was a menace.I sat clenching my thighs together through breakfast while he proceeded to spend the next hour and a half chatting with my stepmother and my sister.After breakfast, which was delicious as expected, and after he asked the staff to bring me a birthday dessert, which was breakfast crème brûlée, he insisted he was joining us on the first part of our shopping trip.I was wired, tight and tense, wondering what all the attention was about.
As we exited the restaurant, he wrapped an arm around me, casually walking next to me as if he belonged there.I was wearing a simple sundress with sneakers.Converse.I looked cute and fun as he towered over me.
Out on the sidewalk, as Morgan and Clarissa argued about which way to go first, he leaned down and kissed my temple."See, I'm not so bad."
Then I heard a low voice behind us."Oh look, the happy couple."
Fuck, why could nothing go well?We turned slowly to find Bronson behind us.His gaze swept over me, and all I wanted was a shower.
Atticus gave him a brusque nod.“Looks like everyone had the same idea for breakfast.If you don't mind, I'm in the process of spoiling her for her birthday.”
Bronson lifted a brow.“So you two are genuinely attempting to pass this off as the real deal, then?”
My stomach twisted, but Atticus just held me tight and said, “Jacobson, I'm starting to get the idea that you're not happy for us.Why is that?”
I lifted my chin and met his gaze.He couldn't make me cower, and he couldn't make me run.What happened between us was a long time ago, and I was stronger now.
“No reason.You're not usually one to pick up scraps, Price, but hey, you do you.”
I could feel the tension in Atticus's body, but he held it together.“I see you have a death wish.”
Bronson's eyes went wide as if he hadn't expected Atticus to take that stance.“Wh-what?”
“You heard me.Gwen is my fiancée.See the ring on her finger?She's going to be my wife.And if you ever speak to her with anything other than the utmost respect again, you'll be missing your tongue.”
Then he turned the two of us around to follow my sister and Clarissa as if nothing had happened.“You didn't have to do that,” I muttered.
“Yes, I did.Are you going to tell me what the deal is with you two?”
What could I say?There was no way I was telling him the whole thing.It was too humiliating.Besides, I’d moved on.
Liar.
“We had one date.Not a big deal.I decided once was enough when I found out he was a major asshole.He obviously didn’t take it well.”
His gaze searched mine as if he knew that I was leaving something vital out.But he didn't press.Instead, he placed a gentle kiss to my forehead.“Come on, I think I owe you presents, don't I?”
He might have been calm and relaxed, but something told me that it wasn't over with Bronson Jacobson.Not by a long shot.
Chapter27
Gwen
The following morning,my sister turned up at the penthouse.
I was so confused when Manny buzzed up and told me someone was there to see me.I would have assumed Lance, but I had already texted him that I'd meet him at the park later after lunch for a run and a strategizing session.I had some plans for how to move team members around so they'd fit more seamlessly into Pendragon Tech.When I met her in the foyer, Morgan whistled low.
"Holy shitballs.I know I said I'd come by earlier this week, but there would have been no point as you were in the office.But had I known this place was so spectacular, I’d have invented a reason."
Morgan kicked off her shoes in the foyer, and I shook my head."You want something to eat?A drink?"
