Two To Wrangle (Hotel Rodeo #2)(41)

Ty moved into the room in a deceptively calm and deliberate stride and extended his right hand. “Don’t think I’ve had the pleasure.”

“Ty, this is Evan Hirschfeld Davis. Evan is . . . er . . . a good friend of mine.” Monica finished the sentence awkwardly as if unsure how to classify the relationship. He was no longer her boss and they weren’t engaged anymore. Ty’s gaze dropped to her left hand to be certain. Nope. No ring. “Evan, this is Ty Morgan,” she continued the introduction, visibly flustered. “He’s the new CEO of Brandt Morgan Entertainment.”

“Ty,” Evan nodded and stood to clasp his hand. Ty held the height advantage but not by as much as he’d thought. Evan’s gaze was steady and his handshake firm and confident. It said no bullshit. Ty could at least respect that in the man.

“Did I interrupt something?” Ty asked, adding silently, like you making a move on my woman?

“Not at all.” Evan replied just as evenly and with a “Fuck off” smirk. “It seems I’m the gate-crasher here. Monica said she had a business meeting this evening.”

“Is that what she called it?” Ty asked. “I s’pose you could call it business. I hope yours can wait, because mine can’t.”

“I’m sorry, Evan,” Monica interjected with a tight smile. “Maybe later?”

Ty gave him a look that clearly said, Over my dead f*cking body . . . or maybe yours.

“Just say the word, Mon.” Evan replied smoothly.

“Do you have some kind of wrap or shawl you could wear with that dress?” Ty asked, wanting a moment to set things straight for the intruding *. “You might get cold in such a little bitty dress.”

“Give me a minute and I’ll look for something,” Monica replied.

“Sure thing, sugar.”

Evan scowled at the pet name.

Both men watched her departing ass. Hot damn, that dress was about to give Ty a heart attack. “You’d best stop looking at her like that. And I better never see your hands on her again either,” Ty murmured with a smile.

“She’s way out of your league, cowboy.”

“Is she now?” Ty remarked, stretching his smile.

“Are you actually implying she dumped me for you?” Evan asked with a snort.

“Apparently she knows a good thing when she sees it. You didn’t.” Ty shrugged. “Guess that means I win. You lose.”

“Who says the game’s over?” Evan replied. “I never lose, cowboy. I’ve got more money and more influence than you could ever imagine. I always get what I want.”

“Is that right, Evan?” Monica stood in the doorway, her wrap around her shoulders and bag in hand. “Did I just interrupt some kind of pissing contest? If so, I can end it now.” She looked from one man to the other and then added with a smile, “For the record, Evan, Ty’s is bigger.”





Chapter Thirteen


“You’re welcome, Ty,” Monica replied tightly as they exited the hotel.

“I know you meant well,” he said, “but that was emasculating as hell.”

“For you or for him?” she asked with a laugh. “You came out the clear winner.”

“That’s not the point. I didn’t want or need your interference, Monica,” he grumbled. “I can handle arrogant *s like that. Been doing it my whole life.”

“So what did you expect me to do? Stand there and let him insult you? The way you two were eyeballing each other, I was beginning to think I might see some blood.”

“I doubt it would have come to that,” he said.

“So it was all just ridiculous male posturing?”

“Pretty much,” he confessed.

“He really does have more money and influence than you, Ty,” Monica said. “He made the Forbes Top 100 mogul list just last year. There’s no way you could ever top him in anything related to business, but you are in fact much better endowed.” She smiled smugly. “That shut him right down, didn’t it?”

“Sure did. He may never get it up again.” He signaled the limo. “I miss my damned truck.”

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“To the LINQ,” he answered and then murmured something to Frankie before handing her into the car. “I have to say Evan’s presence probably saved the evening.”

“Saved it? How?”

“We might not have even got out the door tonight if he hadn’t been there.”

“Why’s that?” she asked.

“That dress, Monica. All I can think of is peeling it off you—with my teeth.”

“Funny you should say that. I was having similar thoughts about you.”

“Oh yeah?” he rubbed his smooth-shaven chin.

“Most definitely,” she purred. “I’ve always had a major thing about power suits. It’s one of the reasons I was so confused about my attraction to you. You don’t exactly dress to impress, Ty. I once tried to picture you in a suit like this, but I have to admit, my imagination didn’t even come close to doing you justice.”

He grinned. “I look that good, huh?”

“Oh yeah, cowboy. If I could move in this dress, I’d straddle you right now.”