Free Diablo Blanco Club: Unfair Advantage by Qwillia Rain Page A

rubbing at his shoulder. “I’ve already gotten the lecture, thank you.”
    “Well, this time pay attention.” She huffed but gave him another hug. “I’m getting tired of watching your dad worry and your brother grumble and growl about your gallivanting all over the world to take pictures.”
    “Hmmm.” He shifted his gaze between her and his brother before raising his eyebrows in curiosity. “Do tell, darlin’.”
    The intentional deepening of his Southern drawl had Mattie chuckling. It still surprised her that the same dropping of the ending of a word and drawing out of the vowel sound from Mike didn’t cause the breath-stealing, panty-creaming effect that Bryce’s use did. Then again, she wasn’t in love with Mike, whereas Bryce…
    She turned her attention back to the man she’d been bartering with. The heat surged up her chest and into her neck and cheeks at the wry amusement tilting his lips and darkening Bryce’s green eyes. Realizing she’d nearly broken the first rule, Mattie shifted out from beneath Mike’s hold and casually stepped away from him and closer to Bryce.
    “Was there something you needed, Mike?” Bryce asked.
    “Yeah.” Draping his arms along the back of one of the wing chairs, he nodded. “I wanted to know if you were familiar with the warehouse over on Bridgerton.”
    Mattie stayed quiet. Excitement stirred at the thought that Mike might actually be thinking of settling down in San Diablo. Permanently. His career had taken him all over the world, and although Bryce was proud of his younger brother’s accomplishments, she knew he was also uneasy at some of the places Mike ended up. After the last scare they’d gone through two weeks earlier, she was beginning to be afraid for his safety. If he was looking at property in town, she reasoned, he was probably thinking of setting up a studio of some sort, which would mean less time on the road and in war-torn countries.
    “Yes, in fact, the owner is a Club member. Would you like me to set up an introduction?”
    Mike shook his head. “No, I was just wondering if you thought the area justified the price.”
    That had Bryce chuckling. “No, but Charles has a tendency to overinflate everything.”
    The grin on the younger man’s face acknowledged the advice. “I’ll keep that in mind when I get my agent to look over the offer.”
    “Do you need…?” Bryce began.
    His brother waved him off. “No, I can handle it. Thanks for the help.” Glancing toward Mattie as she perched on the arm of the sofa again, Mike added. “Sorry to interrupt.”
    “Oh, you wer—” Mattie started, but Bryce overrode her comment.
    “We’ll talk later.”
    “Of that I’m sure.” Mike again chuckled as he smiled at Mattie before leaving the room.
    “You didn’t have to—” she protested.
    “Come here, Lawrence.”
    There it was again, Mattie noted, even as she immediately followed his directions and moved to stand in front of him.
    “You chose ‘pirate’ as our safe word.”
    “Yes.”
    “Then ‘pirate’ it is.”

Chapter Five
     
    Leaning over Dana’s desk, Mattie didn’t pay attention to the door opening behind her until the receptionist’s expression warned her that the visitor was one neither of them welcomed. Standing up and turning to face the man smiling at her, Mattie fought the urge to move away from Victor. After the one date she’d had with him, she knew not to trust him to be a gentleman.
    “Good afternoon, Miss Lawrence.” His greeting was polite enough, but the way his cool blue eyes slid over her silk blouse and skirt made it seem anything but appropriate.
    If it hadn’t been for the heat that had filled Bryce’s eyes when she walked into his office this morning, she’d have ditched the stockings and heels for her more comfortable flats. But look at her was all Bryce had done. After tossing and turning most of Saturday and Sunday night following their discussion, Mattie had assumed he would have made some