Page 40 of Crossing the Line
Just My Luck
Hercules Lord
Ican’t look away from Paisley’s angelic face. I can’t stop tracking every change in her expression. She’s not happy to see me with Lauren. I try to convey to her through my eyes that I can explain. But then the corners of her sexy mouth pull downward, and she cuts her eyes away from me and says something to Lake.
I squeeze my eyes shut and massage the bridge of my nose.Damn it.Of all the restaurants in New York City, Paisley has ended up in this one tonight.
“Well, well, well,” Orion says, sneering at a woman who I think is Paisley’s cousin Treasure. Tonight, he’s with Clara, who’s a knockout. But that’s a given when it comes to Orion and the women he chooses to be seen with out in public.
“Could you put us next to some friends?” Orion asks the hostess.
“Oh…” The hostess says, rubbing the side of her face, staring at the reservation book in front of her as though she’s in the throes of a crisis.
She knows that Orion Lord sits wherever he wants, whenever he wants. Achilles and I enjoy the same privilege in New York City. But we don’t exploit it like Orion does.
The hostess looks up, a worried glint in her eye. The dining room is packed.
“We’ll sit wherever you put us,” I say to let the poor girl off the hook.
“The hell we will. I want to be near my friends, right over there,” Orion says loudly, pointing at Paisley’s table, where two waiters are setting several plates in front of them.Why so much damn food?
The hope on the hostess’s face fades to despair.
“Is that Lake with that girl Paisley Grove?” Lauren drapes herself around my arm.
I can’t free myself from Lauren’s death grip without causing another scene. Also, I’m distracted by Treasure Grove, who’s approaching us. She resembles Paisley with her long, shapely legs and perfectly placed facial features. It’s like she’s walking on a runway as she closes the distance between us. Her shoulders are back and her chin up. She knows people are watching, and she’s giving them a show.
My gaze flicks back to Paisley, who’s observing me just as I had her. My heart pounds hard and loud. I can feel it pulsing in my ears.
“Well, hello, beautiful,” Orion says without regard to his date’s feelings.
“Why are you making a scene?” Treasure purrs.
“You’re still doing that, huh?”
“Doing what?”
“Ordering enough food to feed an army. How about you let us join you? Clara here wouldn’t mind, would you?”
I’m only able to look away from Paisley after Clara says, “Whatever.”
I’m shocked that Clara hasn’t figured out what’s going on here. Orion is openly flirting with and pursuing Treasure Grove. On the ride over, Clara and Orion were sucking face like no one was watching. I know for a fact that whatever’s going on between them won’t last, but until now, they were pretending to be a real couple.
But although his date’s instincts are off, my date’s are on. Holding my arm tightly, Lauren is getting territorial. I swallow hard, unable to look away from Paisley.Damn, she’s sexy.I recall her face while I was pumping in and out of her. The expression she held as I gave it to her. So damn sexy.
“Hi, Hercules,” Treasure says.
I rip my gaze off Paisley. “Hi,” I barely say and then clear my throat. “Don’t worry. We’re sitting at our own table.”
Orion points his hand at a table not that far from where Paisley and Lake are whispering to each other. I wish I knew what they were saying. “One just became available,” he says as a group of patrons rise out of their chairs.
Treasure casually grabs the edge of the hostess desk and smiles at the girl behind it.
“Lena, please show these hot and strapping Lord brothers and their beautiful dates to a table far, far, fucking far away from mine. And don’t worry about this one”—she thumbs at Orion—“throwing a tantrum. He can’t fire you. I won’t let it happen.”
Before I can register what’s happening, Orion takes a step to stand behind Treasure. Everyone, including me, can see him pushing his cock against her. He whispers something in her ear.
Treasure snorts and shakes her head. “You never change, do you?” Then, like a streak of lightning, she spins around and slaps him.
