Addicted(32)

He says it like it’s a joke, but there’s something else there. Something that makes me just a little bit more uncomfortable.

“It’s actually the standard intern meeting. We have one every Wednesday.” I shrug out of his jacket, hold it out to him. “We should probably go back in. It looks like they’ll be ordering any second.”

“Aww, don’t be like that. I didn’t mean to offend you. After watching you today, I didn’t think you had exactly parted amicably.”

“I’m not offended,” I answer, though it’s not quite the truth. I am offended on Ethan’s behalf. He’s one of the most generous employers around—Frost Industries employees have access to a free, on-site clinic, free gym membership, free on-site daycare and three comped meals a day in a state-of-the-art cafeteria. Not to mention generous salary, bonus and vacation schedules. His employees are incredibly important to him and listening to this guy act like they aren’t annoys me no end.

“You’re acting like you’re offended and I hate that I’ve done that.” His hand drops to my lower back. “Let me take you out for a drink later. Make it up to you.”

For the first time since he came out on the beach, Jace’s voice sounds low, suggestive. Not necessarily in an insulting way, but still, it makes me nervous, especially since it’s coming on the heels of his comments about Ethan. Suddenly, I’m not so sure which threat I’m supposed to watch out for first—the one from my peers and colleagues or the one from the guy who is currently rubbing my back and who sees nothing but Ethan’s leftovers.

It’s the last straw. Pulling away, I hold his jacket out to him. “Thanks for the champagne and the walk, but I’m going to go back inside now.”

“Come on, Chloe. We were having a good time. Don’t be like that.”

“I’m not being like anything. I just—” I break off as the door leading from the private dining room to the beach suddenly slams open.

Jace and I turn at the same time to see Ethan standing there, a pleasant enough smile on his face and murder in his eyes.

“You okay, Chloe?” he asks, one eyebrow raised as he looks back and forth between us.

“I’m fine, Ethan. Thank you.” Still, I take another step away from Jace. Not because I’m afraid of him—he’s arrogant and insulting but I don’t actually think he’s dangerous—but because I’m concerned my close proximity to him might be hazardous to his health. Especially with Ethan prowling toward us like some kind of avenging angel.

“Shouldn’t you be inside, Mackenzie?” he asks in a voice so low and reasonable that it’s a threat all on its own. “I think your boss is looking for you. Something about your love of free caviar, I believe.”

Jace’s cheeks burn a little at the implied insult in Ethan’s tone. But when he opens his mouth to respond, a narrow-eyed look from Ethan sends him scurrying back toward the party without another sound. He’s moving so fast that the door slams shut behind him.

For long seconds we just stand there, looking at each other. He doesn’t say anything, doesn’t so much as smile at me, and I grow more and more anxious as time ticks by.

“I should go in, too,” I finally say, moving to step around Ethan. A glance over his shoulder tells me most of the room’s occupants are watching us.

“Don’t go,” he tells me, reaching out to grab my elbow in his warm, strong fingers.

They’re the first words he’s said to me all day and I have to admit, they’re doozies, especially since he’s pulled out that dark, gravelly voice I love so much.

I take a deep breath, try to force air into my suddenly too-tight lungs. It isn’t easy, not with Ethan watching me like a jungle cat watches its prey. “The party,” I tell him. “You should be in there—”

“Fuck the party!” he snarls, and his grip tightens on my elbow. “What the f*ck were you doing out here with Jace Mackenzie?”

“Excuse me?” I demand as shock ricochets through me. Ethan has never spoken to me like that. Never.

“You heard me.” He uses his grip on my elbow to propel me around the corner and into the shadows, away from prying eyes. “Why would you come out here with him? The guy’s a self-important *.”

“I didn’t come out here with him. I came out to get away from the party and he followed me—”