Cal is Pride, like Kip and Bent, for that matter. Some well-meaning “brother” probably gave him a full report when they saw me with Banner.
“Your prize mare is safe for now,” I tell him, forcing a grin. “But it’s true we’d take better care of her at Elevation.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Cal says harshly, all signs of the phony smile disappearing. “If there’s one thing Banner is, it’s loyal. We gave her a job straight out of college.”
“First of all, Banner is many things, not one, and don’t make it sound like you did her any favors. I heard Alonzo only signed because of Banner, and you know damn well half your clients would leave if she did.”
“So you admit it? You are trying to entice her to leave?”
I’m trying to fuck her. To have her. To keep her, but none of that is any of his concern. He’s playing checkers at a chess match. Clueless about what the game actually is.
“Go have a drink, Cal.” I pat his shoulder. “It’ll do wonders.”
I relish the undisguised look of frustration on his face the entire drive to the party.
Could I take Banner from not just Zo but from Cal, too? What a coup that would be. August and Iris would be ecstatic. No question all her clients would jump Cal’s ship and follow her to Elevation. What I want is Banner, in my bed and wherever that leads us, but stealing Banner from that asshole would be an amazing bonus.
When I pull up to the ultra-modern Hollywood Hills home, cars spill from the drive and overflow the curbs. Loud music blares through the walls and permeates the air. Once I’m inside, topless girls walk around unselfconsciously. An open-door ménage à trois is going on up in one of the bedrooms. Last season’s defensive player of the year has his dick in some girl’s mouth. She has some guy’s dick in her ass. I can’t tell what’s going on with door number three, but their sexual game of twister is so commonplace at parties like this, no one even gapes and they don’t bother to close the door. If Link is in a situation like that, it would be rude to interrupt, and I wouldn’t want to join in. I’d show myself out and corner him some other time. It’s testament to how focused I am on Banner that I’m not even tempted by the abundance of naked flesh being flashed around the large house.
When I reach the landing for the next floor, a man, probably a baller based on his height, drunkenly yells at a woman I can’t see because his large frame blocks her, has her trapped against the wall.
“Clothes,” he slurs. “What’s a stripper doing with clothes on? I wanna see them tits. And that fat ass. Take ’em off.”
“I told you I’m not a damn stripper,” a strident female voice fires back. “Now get your hands off me or I’ll kick and sue your drunk ass.”
That voice . . . it couldn’t be. It better not be. Not here in this den of iniquity.
The woman steps away from the wall, buttoning her blouse and muttering under her breath in something other than English.
The hell.
“Banner?”
18
Banner
“Jared?”
I utter his name, shocked to come face to face with the handsome devil I’ve been avoiding all week.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, stalling and hoping to distract him from the fact that I’m here.
Needless to say, it doesn’t work.
“You’re asking why I’m here?” he demands, confusion and disapproval settling onto his face. “I belong here. I’m in places like this, parties like this all the time doing business.”
“Well so am I,” I say, willing my hands to stop shaking after the confrontation with the drunken giant. “I have business here, too.”
I step around him, hoping to get away, but no such luck. He grabs my arm and drags me into the nearest bedroom, slamming the door behind us. I can’t believe it’s empty. Seems like every corner of this house is occupied by rutting athletes and willing strippers, but he finds the first available in seconds.
“Who’s here with you?” he asks.
“No one. Why would someone be with me?”
“Why are you here, Banner?” He looks back at the door and then back to me, storm clouds darkening the vibrant blue of his eyes. “Was he bothering you? Did that guy touch you?”
Groped is more like it, but I’m not telling Jared with his face looking like that. I wouldn’t put it past him to go after him, and I know Jared used to ball and can handle himself, but let’s not risk it with a guy nearly seven feet tall.