Gabriel tightened his hold just enough to let her know she was safe.
Gabriel caught a gleam in her eye a split second before she pulled out of his hold, her hand raised to strike Bougainvillea. Gabriel caught her just in time. If anyone needed to be knocked on their ass that was his job.
An arrogant smirk lifted Bougainvillea’s mouth in contrast to the waves of anger that rolled off the man?
Gabriel held his ground, not giving Bougainvillea the satisfaction of seeing how close he was to giving him a taste of his fist.
He understood all too well how men like Bougainvillea operated. They played and used people until they had their hooks so deep the person had no way out. Then his true nature would come out to play. Gabriel wouldn’t let that happen to Ema.
“All good here?” Gabriel sensed Ema’s cousin before he spoke up from beside him.
“Peachy. The man was just confused about who we are. I set him straight. Now he’s taking his leave.” Gabriel kept his voice level as he spoke to Lucas, never taking his eyes off Bougainvillea.
Bougainvillea’s calm and collected persona slid into place like a glove, masking the snake again. “ Si ,” he drawled out. “ Por ahora . For now, it seems so. Unless…” Bougainvillea’s gaze anchored on Ema. He stepped closer, placing a hand on her lower arm.
Ema stiffened and pulled back. Bougainvillea flinched but continued, “Unless you’d like to take this talk private. Solo tu y yo . Just you and me?”
Gabriel’s brow furrowed. A deep base pulsated along the heated air, cranking up the tension. Guests gave them a wide berth, instinct driving them away from danger. “Not a chance, slick, and if you don’t take your hand off her right now, you and I’ll be the ones dancing.”
Bougainvillea’s eyes flashed with a warning, daring Gabriel to make a move. “Bougainvillea, it’s best you leave, but my wife and I thank you for joining us on our day.” Lucas rested a hand on his shoulder and stepped between them.
Smart move .
The man turned his attention to Ema, calculating his move a moment before turning toward Lucas. “The pleasure was mine.” His words clipped and dry. “And, amigo , get your friend on a leash before something bad happens.”
Bougainvillea turned on his heel. Gabriel watched as the viper slowly wove his way through the packed dance floor. Several suits peeled off from the crowd to follow. His goons, no doubt. This wasn’t the last they’d meet up, he could feel it deep in his bones.
“What the hell was all that about, Gabriel?”
Gabriel cringed from the lethal cut to Ema’s words, but stood his ground as he turned to face her. Now that he could focus on her one hundred percent, the familiar scent of her shampoo washed over him. Or was it her body wash? Mango with an underlying hint of vanilla—as exotic as the woman. Fuck, he could eat her where she stood.
God, what a combination to play with a man’s senses. He couldn’t blame Bougainvillea for wanting a chance at his lover. On second thought, after his latest misstep, he might need to attach former to that last thought.
“I could ask you the same thing,” he countered. Normally, he was the rational one of the team—the one to ease the pressure and deliver solutions to tight situations. Tonight, all that took a back seat where Ema was concerned. Maybe that made him a prick, but he had no problem with the act-now-ask-questions-later, method.
“So neither of you think to ask me if you’re welcome to just waltz right into the middle of my dance with Bougainvillea? And you can wipe that arrogant smirk off your face, primo , because I’m not in the mood for your puns and jokes, family or no. Fucking cavemen, the both of you.” Ema whipped around and out of his arms, heading toward the tables lining the dance floor.
A slow number replaced the faster salsa beat. A whole lot of kissing and groping was already going down out on the darkened dance floor, and he burned to be
Lee Strauss, Elle Strauss