Page 17 of Mexico Can Choke On It
That silhouette. That leather jacket. Those combat boots.
“Pip?”
She freezes like she’s been caught sneaking out of detention. Slowly—very slowly—she turns and pulls the hoodie off her head.
Wide hazel-green eyes blink down at me, framed by a wild mess of tangled black hair and a smear of dirt across one cheekbone. But what I notice most are those full red lips.
“Oh, shit,” she says brightly. “Hey, Moneybags. Fancy seeing you here.”
“DON’T MOVE!” a deep voice shouts.
Two security officers lumber onto the scene, tasers drawn, faces set to “imminent threat” mode.
Petra raises her hands, totally unfazed. “Easy there,Paul Blart Mall Cops.I lost my invite. Figured the hedge was the VIP entrance.”
“You again!” The burlier security guard points accusingly. “We told you at the front gate—no entry!”
“And as I explained, I have a right to be here.” Petra crosses her arms. “You didn’t listen, so I was forced to trespass. That’s on you.”
I stagger to my feet, brushing grass off my tux. Trying—and failing—to look as though I wasn’t just taken down by a woman half my size. “It’s fine, gentlemen. She’s with me.”
“Are you sure, Mr. Sterling?” The second guard eyes Petra suspiciously. “Her car looks like it was in a drive-by.”
“Excuse me?” she fires back, pointing aggressively. “Are you seriously profiling me based on my vehicle? What kind of classist, elitist bullsh—”
Jesus. She’s going to end up tased in front of Mother’s rose garden.
“Thank you for your diligence,” I cut in. “There’s been a misunderstanding. Ms. Brinkman works for my company.”
The guards exchange skeptical glances.
“I asked her to come tonight because…” I pause. I have absolutely no idea why she’s here.
Petra yanks a velvet box from her pocket and waves it around. “Cufflinks! Special CEO delivery for this fancy schmancy snobby event.”
I blink at the box. Then at her. “Yes. Cufflinks. Let me show you inside, Ms. Brinkman.”
The guards lower their weapons. “Very good, sir,” one of them mutters.
I nod as though this is all totally normal and not the single most unhinged moment of my adult life.
As the security team reluctantly retreats, she falls into step beside me like she owns the damn place.
We start walking, and I steer her off the main path to the side servants’ entrance.
“Nice save, B. Though I could’ve taken those lightweights with my eyes closed.”
“After what you did to me, I believe that.” I wince, each step sending a fresh reminder of her combat effectiveness. “I may never father children.”
“Please. I barely tapped you. Besides, consider it payback for the pervy boob grab.”
“I assure you, that was not intentional. You were flailing like a marlin on a fishing line.”
“So, you admit therewasboob contact.”
“I admit to nothing beyond the immediate need for an ice pack to my nether regions.”
She bursts into laughter, and I find myself grinning. Pip’s always had that effect on me. She was Gavin’s shadow growing up, and so many of my high school memories are filled with her loud, defiant presence. Back then, only Gavin could match her quip for quip, and I miss seeing that side of him.
