Page 108 of The Wildcard

He didn’t know if that twinge in his heart was satisfaction or pain.

“So Walker,” Verana’s voice pulled him out of reverie and Angel turned to look at the girl. Verana tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear as she leaned forward, a wolfish grin tugging at her lips, “What’s your plan for the day?”

Angel didn’t know if he was the only one, but he heard that itch of jealousy in her tone as Ray continued to keep her focus on Ira.

“I’m out for the day with Ira,” she replied calmly, and turned to her own food beside him. Angel sighed as he picked up his coffee and placed the mug against his lips, “Then at night, I’m going to go out to a club and dance until I find a guy who’d keep me happy till tomorrow morning.”

He choked on his drink just as Verana barked out a laugh.

Both Mia and Christina were looking up at her and Ray turned to them, “You’re all welcome to join me if you want to.” She added, “I’d love some company.”

What.

An insufferable grin tugged at Mia’s lips as she shut her laptop and laced her hands together, her eyes sparkling as she regarded Ray, “You’re very interesting.”

Kyle sighed deeply, making everyone more frustrated, “And what about our clients? The one’s you’ve been talking to since morning.”

Ray barely blinked before she relied smoothly, “They can go choke themselves with their assholery.”

That sounded awful like a jab,Angel wondered as he coughed again and put his mug down.

“Kinky.” Said Jack and Luke at the same time. Angel’s head snapped up just as a look of horror passed Luke’s face andJack gasped loudly. The expression on Luke’s face was so morbid that Angel had to look away from bursting out laughing as Luke cried out with a loud groan,

“Too much fucking time with him…”

Christina patted his shoulder solemnly as he slammed his head loudly against the table, making Ray jump in surprise beside him.

Despite his better mind, Angel’s hand reached out beside him to touch her upper arm. Ray stilled beside him, aware that his hand was hidden by the table as he carefully lowered it to her wrist,

“Find a club and find a guy who’d keep you happy,” he whispered softly and heard Ray’s breath leave her, “Are you sure you aren’t talking about me, Raylene Walker?”

Her honey eyes snapped to his and Angel fingers tightened on her wrist, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” She murmured snarkily, “You can’t keep me happy for anhour,let alone a night.”

“I did a good job last night.” He whispered, and she stilled, “And I wasn’t eventrying.”

Ray’s inhale was like a fucking reward. He bottled it and placed it in some dark corner he’d never find again. Angel’s hand though, didn’t move away from hers. And hers didn’t either. Instead, it twisted underneath his, her expression calm as her fingers brushed his. Angel could feel the goosebumps rise up his arm as her fingers moved against the inside of his palm. An innocent gesture, one that could do nothing. But this was Raylene Walker.

And somehow Angel had developed an innate sense of obsession with her every movement.

Maybe that’s why when her fingers rubbed softly against his palm, against his wrist, his shoulders went taut with tension. Angel shot her a glare from the corner of his eyes, but she didn’t respond. Just looked up ahead as the conversation carried on.

As if he wasn’t so close to loosing his goddamned mind here.

“Does the offer really stand?” Christina asked as Jack’s laughs died down, her question aimed in Ray’s direction earnestly, “You’re alright with us joining you for the night?”

Ray’s smile was polite, almost friendly even as her fingers started moving up and down his hand. Tickling and leaving damned chills in it’s wake, “I have your number.” She said calmly and Angel swore in the back of his mind, twisting his hand so it landed atop of hers, “I’ll let you know when and where?”

Christina nodded brightly, turning to look at Mia with shining eyes. Mia grinned back at her and whooped, her hands going up in the air, “I have plans!”

Angel’s mind drowned out Christina’s laugh at the shake of Ray’s fingers under his. His eyes were focused on Kyle sitting up ahead, when he pressed down on her hand. Ray’s hitched breath was the only sign he needed as their tangled hands landed on her thigh. Angel fought the smirk as his thumb started rubbing against the soft skin of her palm, sodangerouslyclose to her thigh.

There was going to be no guy tonight,Angel thought when their gazes clashed. And she saw it. Smirked at it.

He was going to haunt her and never fucking let go.

Her smile spread.

“And what am I supposed to do all day?” Kyle asked, sounding awfully tired, looking at Ray and perking up slightly, “Can I come with for the day?”