Page 66 of Knockout (Whiskey Dolls 2)

“Christ, princess, you can’t kiss me like that if you aren’t going to let me do something about it,” he grumbled sullenly as he pulled back and shot me a murderous glare. “Now get your sexy ass dressed so we can go. The sooner we get this nightmare of an evening started, the sooner it can be over.”

* * *

Jude

Ignoring the way my stomach twisted and flipped harshly as we took the elevator down to the lobby, I turned my head to take in the beauty that was Layla.

She took my fucking breath away, and it wasn’t just the soft, silky navy blue dress she was wearing. It wasn’t just her hair and the artfully applied makeup. It was the whole package and then some. It was that smile she gave me, the way those incredible gray eyes lit my entire world every time she looked at me.

I meant it when I told her I wouldn’t let my family infect her with the negativity that constantly swirled around them, threatening to suck in everyone and anyone who dared to get close enough. I knew all too well what those people were capable of, how they could make even the strongest of people feel three inches tall. After everything Layla had been through, after growing up in a life so much harder than any human deserved, let alone an innocent, helpless child, she’d fought and clawed and scratched her way to an incredible life, and I wouldn’t let these monsters dent that hard-won self-confidence she managed to erect and perfect.

“What’s going through that head of yours?” she asked quietly. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because I think you’re wonderful,” I admitted in a gruff voice. “And I’m the luckiest man alive that I get to be with you.”

She reached down to take my hand in her tiny, delicate one, squeezing it gently but still managing to pour a tidal wave of emotion into that simple touch. “The feeling’s mutual, baby. Even when you intentionally push my buttons,” she added with a wink, causing me to chuckle.

What could I say? I couldn’t help myself sometimes. Layla was the exact same way, so I wasn’t worried. After how we started all those months ago, fighting was ingrained in us, in the foundation of our relationship.

I got off on seeing that fire inside her, and she got off on fighting me for dominance, even though she knew she’d never win. It was a part of who each of us was, and it added an exciting, almost fun facet to our relationship.

The elevator dinged, this one so much faster than the one in our apartment building, and before I was ready, the doors slid open, revealing the large, spacious hotel lobby.

The dinner was at the resort’s five-star Italian restaurant my family had, of course, paid an arm and a leg to close to the public for the evening. God only knew how much money they’d wasted to do that, and unfortunately for Layla and me, it meant we’d be trapped in a sea of Kingsleys with no life rafts in sight.

I lifted her hand, brushing my lips tenderly across her knuckles as I guided us through the lobby to the restaurant. “Just remember that once we get in there. Hold tight to it. Maybe even try to remember that thing I do with my tongue that you love so much so you don’t run screaming for the hills tonight and leave me behind.”

“Not a chance. It’s you and me, Jude. Engaged or not, I’ve got your back, and that’s not going to change, no matter what.” She gave my hand a little shake, her expression turning playful, those beautiful eyes penetrating my skin and sinking way down deep to warm me from the inside. She really was the most beautiful woman inside and out. Looking at her, I couldn’t think of a woman more stunning than Layla Fox, and she was all mine. My chin lifted and my chest expanded with pride as we walked past the vacant hostess stand and into the restaurant filled to the brim with the enemy.

Here goes nothing.

30

Layla

I’d never seen so many wrinkle-free, plastic people in my entire life. There was so much hairspray in this room I worried if any of them got too close to one of the candles on the center of the tables, they’d go up in a whoosh of flames that would quickly spread to everyone else.

“Jeez, they really did buy out the whole restaurant for the night, didn’t they?” I muttered from the corner of my mouth as Jude and I stopped just inside, both of us hesitant to move farther. I thought I was braced for coming in here, but apparently not, because I needed the extra seconds to take everything in.

“I told you they did,” he mumbled back, his hand tightening around mine in a grip so tight it almost made my bones creak.

“Yeah, but I figured you were just messing with me. What a ridiculous waste of money.” At that, I thought back to the real reason we were here, and what Sybil planned to do this weekend, and cringed. Poor bastards just dropped God knew how much to make themselves feel better, and they were about to be cut off. If this was Karma enacting vengeance, she really was pulling out all the stops.

“It’s going to be hilarious to see how they react when Gram tells them they’re basically all broke,” Jude said quietly, humor laced liberally through his words as he said exactly what I’d been thinking. “Come on. Let’s get this over with. I need a drink.”

With that, he pulled me around the edge of the crowd, moving almost stealthily toward the bar. We were nearly home free when someone spotted us.Damn it.

“Jude, old sport! Good of you to finally join us!”

Five seconds in and I was already gritting my teeth. If that pudgy, comb-overed bastardold sport-edJude one more time, there was a strong possibility I’d scream ‘nifkin’ at the top of my lungs, grab Jude’s hand, and make a run for it.

“Christ,” Jude grunted under his breath. “That asshole really needs to find another movie. Any movie. I don’t even care what the hell it is at this point.”

I stifled a giggle—just barely—and leaned in closer so only he could hear as I asked, “So he gets his personality from the movie and not the book?”

Jude snorted. “Please, like that lazy bastard would ever crack a book.”

“If it’s Leo DiCaprio he aspires to be, maybe we should give him a copy ofTitanic. At least he dies at the end of that one.”

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