Page 43 of Sexy Dare (The Sexy 1)

It felt good to be back in the swing of things and pick up his routine. Apparently his partners felt the same, because from the other side of the room, Tanner raised a glass to Jason, and he did the same.

The other man strode across the room and came up to where Jason stood on the raised balcony area, where Jason had come for a break. “Welcome back, buddy. Good to have you here.”

“Thanks. Good to be here.” He slid his gaze toward the front entrance just in time to see two women walk into the room. Women he’d recognize in his sleep.

His mother, in a silver sequined dress and matching heels, her blonde hair curling around her face in the style she preferred, looked around, taking in her surroundings. She’d been here for the grand opening and so she already had her bearings.

The second woman didn’t have the same air of confidence, but with her rocking body, she didn’t need to. The emerald-green dress hugged her curves, the dip in the front revealing cleavage he felt extremely possessive over, and the way it draped her hips and ended above her knees was fucking sexy.

Neither one of them belonged here. He didn’t care if the big bodyguard he’d hired trailed close behind.

“Hold this,” he said to Tanner, who’d muttered, “Oh, shit,” at the same time.

“I’m not missing this,” his partner said and followed him through the back curtain and down the stairs.

He stood unnoticed for now at the bar, where he heard his mother order a gin and tonic for herself. Faith was looking at the drink menu, then whispered something in his mother’s ear.

“A ménage à trois for my friend,” Savannah said with a grin.

Jason closed his eyes and shook his head. He and his partners knew how to make every drink on the menu, and this one included crushed strawberries, fresh basil, white rum, triple sec, lemon juice, Gomme syrup, and ice, mixed then strained. They could be potent and Faith, despite her obvious nerves – she kept licking and biting on her pink-coated lips – had trouble written all over her tonight.

He let her take a sip, which translated into too big a gulp, before he decided to show himself.

“Hello, ladies,” he said, walking over to them, which they had to know was inevitable.

“Jason!” Faith’s exclamation was real.

“Hello, son.” His mother waggled her fingers at him, clearly pleased with herself.

“And what are you drinking tonight?” he asked politely, even though he knew. He wanted to watch Faith squirm.

Behind him, Tanner chuckled.

“A gin and tonic. You know my drink of choice.” His mother shot him a smile and took a delicate sip.

“Faith? What is that in your glass?” Jason asked.

Her cheeks flamed a bright red. “A ménage à trois. Want one?” she asked, finding her cheekiness despite her embarrassment.

“How about you finish your drinks and head home, where it’s safe?” he suggested, keeping his anger in check. He’d left them protected. Yet here they were.

Faith took a deliberately big sip before answering. “I have my very own bodyguard that you hired yourself. You obviously trust him. There’s no reason I can’t have a good time tonight.” And with that, she downed the rest of her drink and placed the glass on the bar. “I think I’ll find someone to dance with.”

“I’ll join y…” At the look on Jason’s face, which he knew was furious, his mother’s words trailed off. “I think I’ll stay with Jack, that’s what you said your name was in the car earlier, right?” she asked of the bodyguard.

“Yes, ma’am.” The man didn’t crack a smile. He took his job seriously.

“Do not move from here,” Jason instructed his mother before heading after Faith.

She’d had a head start and was already on the dance floor and had found a willing partner. A definite Wall Street type with slicked-back hair, a white shirt, sleeves rolled up, and an arrogant look on his face, he had just reached out and put his hand on Faith’s waist.

Jason thought he was going have an aneurysm. Blindly, he stepped forward, grabbed the man’s arm, and swung him away. “She’s with me.”

The other guy narrowed his gaze, his face flush with embarrassment as he fixed his shirt, brushing out wrinkles. “Relax, man. If she’s yours, keep her on a leash,” he muttered and walked away, which was smart because Jason was still raging with anger that another man had touched her.

“Are you happy?” he asked Faith. “Did you get what you came for tonight?” Because no doubt she’d wanted a rise out of him after being ignored … and he’d given her one.

A sad expression crossed her face. “Not at all, Jason. Your mother wanted to come. Once I was here, I just decided to have a good time. I haven’t been out like someone my own age in over a year. It had nothing to do with you.” Turning her back to him, she started for the bar.

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