Page 80 of Takeover

He cocks his head to the side and creases his brows. “Oh, really? Remember that asshole you had over at Thanksgiving? And every time I turn my back, you put on a short tight dress that shows all your curves. I bet if I turn around right now, one of those weirdo twins will be undressing you with his eyes.” To prove his point, he slowly turns around. Sure enough, one of them is watching me. When he sees me look at him, he slowly lowers his eyes to look at the rest of my body.

“Let’s go before I beat him to a pulp,” he says. He shields me with his body, waits for me to lead the way, and follows me to a dark corner of the room. There’s no space left between us while we dance slowly to whatever song is playing. I look towards Vickie, and the twins are practically falling over Colt. He signs a couple of napkins and points to some of his teammates, and the twins take off. Vickie rolls her eyes in frustration and walks away to the bar. He follows her, stands behind her, and puts both of his long arms on the bar, trapping her.

I finish my drink and hand Ethan my empty glass.

“That’s all you’re good for,” I joke. “Buying my drinks and holding my empty glass.”

“And don’t forget fucking you until you pass out from orgasms.” He puts a hand on my ass and pushes me into his erection.

“Mmhmm,” I moan. I stick my face in his chest and inhale. When I pull away and look for Vickie at the bar, I see Lindsay sipping a drink with a group of women. I blink twice to make sure it’s her I’m seeing.

“Lindsay’s here, Ethan.” He goes still, and when he looks down at me, I point at her. Someone says something to her, and she throws her head back and laughs. When she finally stops laughing, she turns and looks right at us.

Her eyes immediately shoot fire, but she turns and gives us her back. She whispers something to one of her friends, a birdlike woman with a long nose and stringy dark hair. Her friend’s eyebrows go up to her forehead, then she looks me up and down, smirks, and turns away.

“We really need to talk about your taste in ex-wives, Ethan.”

Lindsay walks over, and I can’t help but notice her statuesque frame. She’s in skintight black leather pants. Her top is an animal print crop top, showcasing her toned, flat stomach.

“Hey,” she says to Ethan, “buy me a drink?”

“Buy your own drink. And shouldn’t you be home with my son?”

“I put him to bed and came out, Ethan. He’s there with Phyllis, and I’ll be there when he wakes up. Did you give Colt a hard time about being out? He’s a single parent, too, or is your judgment only reserved for me?” She rolls her eyes at him and tosses her hair.

“You aren’t a single parent. I am.”

“I’m still his mother, and as powerful as you think you are, there is nothing you can do aboutthat.” She tosses her hair one last time and leaves.

“Forget her. Let’s get out of here soon.” I slide my hands into his hair, and he bends down to kiss me. “I want to be alone with my man. I love you, Ethan.”

“I love you, too, but I’m still spanking you when we get home.”

We dance for another hour, and each time I look up, it’s to find Lindsay or one of her friends watching, but I ignore them as much as I can and enjoy our night out. Vickie returns with one of the twins, but Colt pulls him away and introduces him to another woman.

I know my sister. I know she’s seething at Colt’s heavy-handed attitude. This is exactly the type of man my sister detests, but I also know she won’t let him see how upset she is right now.

“Come to the bathroom with me, Vick.” When we get to the ladies’ room, I freshen my makeup while she uses the toilet. For such a crowded night, the bathroom is surprisingly empty.

While I add more red lipstick, the door opens, and Lindsay and her dark haired friend come inside. Lindsay sneers as soon as she sees me. I hold her stare in the mirror and dare her to say something. She doesn’t, but she comes and stands right next to me while her friend stands back.

“Enjoy it while it lasts, Dara.”

“Enjoy what?” I fluff my hair, pretending not to know what she’s talking about.

“Your time with my husband.”

“Oh, really?” I smile for the first time since she came into the bathroom. “I could have sworn you two are divorced, but I think I’ll enjoy watching you humiliate yourself over a man who has made it perfectly clear that he doesn’t want you.”

“I fight dirty,” she warns.

“Do your best, Lindsay. I don’t fight over men who don’t want me, but you go ahead.” She must not care for my dismissive attitude because she takes a menacing step toward me. I stand my ground.

“Stay away from my son.”

“That’s kind of hard to do when I live with him and his father.”

Her eyes nearly bulge out of her head, and I can’t help my smile when the smugness is knocked off her face. She blinks rapidly, and when she stops, there’s a vacant look in her eyes. “I don’t believe you.”

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