His eyes narrow. “I won’t tell you again.”
“AndIwon’t tellyouagain that I’m not going anywhere with you, asshole.”
“I love a woman with a fucking backbone.”
I turn at the deep voice and findhimstanding behind me. Mateo.
More than a head taller than me. Sweaty, broad, inked up.
And he’s smiling at me.
Fucking hell this is unfair.
“I’m not going anywhere with this guy.” I point my thumb at the beefy man behind me, and Mateo nods.
“I can respect that. But can I ask you to wait for me in my office?”
No. Get out of here. Danger, Violet, danger.
But . . .Rosie.
“I need a shower before I talk with you, and I don’t want you to leave.” A line appears between his eyebrows, and he looks like he wants to say something, but before he can, he’s jostled from behind, pushed right into me.
“Ouch.” I cringe and wiggle the toes that were just stepped on.
“Fuck.” Mateo’s head whips around, and he growls, “Watch where the fuck you’re going.”
I’m blinking in surprise when he turns back to me, and his face smooths out.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, you just got my toes. Listen, I think you have the wrong girl.”
“I don’t.” He flashes that smile again. “And like I said, I’d like a moment of your time.”
“But if I say no, I’m free to go.”
That line forms between his eyebrows again, and he looks almost pissed that I’d suggest otherwise.
“Of course. I’m not—” He huffs out a breath and pushes his bruised hand through his wet hair. “Fuck, I’ve never been this bad at this. Please don’t go. Give me fifteen minutes. Snake will escort you to my private office to wait for me.”
“Snake.” I lift an eyebrow and turn to the man, who only nods at me once. “Did your mother not like you or something?”
His lips twitch, but he doesn’t reply.
“Fine, I’ll wait. But if you try to hurt me?—”
“No one’s going to hurt you,” Mateo says, his face sobering, and despite what I think he might be into, I actually believe him.
And then it occurs to me that he doesn’t know that I know his name.
“I don’t follow a man anywhere when I don’t know his name.”
His deep-brown eyes warm. “Mateo. And you are?”
“Not sure whether or not I like you.”
He barks out a laugh and nods at Snake. “That’s fair. Show her to my office. I’ll be there soon.”