Gem snorted. “She was my pinky-swear bestie long before she was DC’s darling. She’ll be the same long after they’ve moved on to the news cycle’s next favorite flavor. Still”—she nodded Tracy’s way—“sorry, Madam Vice President.”
Tracy stifled a chuckle. “You’re forgiven, Madam Counsel to the vice president.”
Gem glanced across the room again. “Just for that, I’m ogling the new guy again.”
“Not if I beat you to it.” Ronnie sneaked in a long stare at the cluster of men near the door—“men” seeming the worst ration of a word for the sight. At least ten better definitions came to Tracy’s mind for the dark-suited group.
Giants.
Fighters.
Leaders.
Alphas.
Rulers.
Annnnd that did it. She was now a member of the gawk-a-thon too. And that was a surprise…why? With the turn her life had taken in the last year, there’d barely been time for a little self-induced fun in the sheets, let alone activities like—gasp—a date. And if she could even find the time for that? What then? One couldn’t trade small talk about the job over dessert and coffee when most of that information was classified. One couldn’t invite a guy up for a nightcap when Secret Service was opening the car door and the street address was One Observatory Circle.
Even if that wasn’t the case, she had to consider Luke.
Like she did in every decision she made. In every breath she took.
Well. Speak of the handsome devil now.
No. Not a devil. Despite the glints in his eyes and the cant of his grin, her son would always be her perfect gift from heaven. A little extreme? Of course. A thought process she’d have to revise one day? Definitely. But not today and not now, even if staring at Luke meant she had to keep looking at the suited hunks, now engaging him in caveman-worthy fist locks and shoulder bumps. The lump in her throat swelled bigger as she watched his attempts at reciprocation, all gangly limbs and fifteen-year-old bravado, clearly worshiping the warriors who joked around with him—
Until he locked gazes with the new arrival to the gang.
The one who made the others, even with their linebacker shoulders and towering thighs, look like his wimpy kid brothers.
The one who still had Gem’s and Ronnie’s tongues dragging on the floor.
The one who turned her kid into a speechless slab.
Especially the next moment, when he turned and gripped Luke in a thoroughly masculine handshake. With their hands locked, the man’s fingers stretched halfway to Luke’s elbow.
“Holy shit,” Gem rasped at the sight.
“Holy something,” Ronnie seconded.
“Sssshh,” Tracy admonished. “He’s talking.”
And she didn’t want to miss a second of it.
Because his voice was the most alluring thing about him.
Dear. God. That. Voice.
Deep as his dark, watchful eyes. Formidable as the shoulders straining at every stitch of his jacket. Warm as his caramel-colored skin but cool as his control. It was the kind of voice she could imagine in the front lines of battle—but also at the pulse points in her neck. And other places on her body…
Holy. Cow.
Well…holy something. Cows weren’t exactly at the mental forefront at the moment. Stallions, maybe. Or mambas. Maybe even werewolves.
No, no, and no.
Pumas.
Dark ones.
Ding, ding, ding. When the metaphor fits…
Also by Angel Payne
Honor Bound:
Saved
Cuffed
Seduced
Wild
Wet
Hot
Masked
Mastered
Conquered
Ruled (Coming Soon)
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The Bolt Saga:
Bolt
Pulse
Fuse (November 27, 2018)
Surge
Light
* * *
Secrets of Stone Series:
(with Victoria Blue)
No Prince Charming
No More Masquerade
No Perfect Princess
No Magic Moment
No Lucky Number
No Simple Sacrifice
No Broken Bond
No White Knight
* * *
Cimarron Series:
Into His Dark
Into His Command
Into Her Fantasies
* * *
Temptation Court:
Naughty Little Gift
Pretty Perfect Toy
Bold Beautiful Love
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For a full list of Angel’s other titles,
visit her at
AngelPayne.com
Acknowledgments
To my sisterhood of friends and support, thank you for selflessly putting up with the neurotic, crazy writer: Victoria Blue, Eden Bradley, Jenna Jacob, Shannon Hunt, Lorraine Gibson, and Martha Frantz.
To Jennifer Mitchell, for all the ways you show me what a huge heart really looks like. This Sam is for you, babe!
To Connie Deuning, for showing me all the forms kindness can take. You’re incredible!
Special thanks to all my sisters in the Obsessenach fandom. Hope you all enjoy my fun tribute to our favorite guy!
A special thank-you to the readers who have believed in and loved the Honor Bound men throughout the years: You’ve been through the haters and the lovers, the bad times and the good… I cannot begin to express how much you all mean to me.
To the editors who have helped my “little love story that could” become one of the most emotional projects I’ve ever finished—I am so grateful! Thank you, Melisande Scott, Jeanne De Vita, and Scott Saunders!
About Angel Payne
USA Today bestselling romance author Angel Payne loves to focus on high-heat romance starring memorable alpha men and the women who love them. She has numerous book series to her credit, including the Suited for Sin series, the Cimarron Saga, the Temptation Court series, the Secrets of Stone series, the Lords of Sin historicals, and the popular Honor Bound series, as well as several standalone titles.
Angel is a native Southern Californian, leading to her love of being in the outdoors, where she often reads and writes. She still lives in Southern California with her soul-mate husband and beautiful daughter, to whom she is a proud cosplay/culture con mom. Her passions also include whisky tasting, shoe shopping, and travel.
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For more information, please follow Angel Payne at:
www.angelpayne.com