Page 43 of Red King
He pulls on his collar again.
“Stop that,” I tell him. “No fidgeting. Just act…normal. It’ll be fine.” I give him advice I need to follow.
“I really want this to work out.” He looks pained.
“It will. Have a little faith in yourself,” I say.
“Easy for you to say.” He lowers his voice, looking around us. “When they find out who you are, the females will line up.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
“Let’s keep it under wraps as long as possible, shall we? That way, we all have a fighting chance on an equal playing field.”
He nods about ten times. “Yes, you’re right. You’re absolutely…um… Holy smokes.” He smiles, looking across the hall. “What’s her name again?” he asks behind his hand as she notices us standing here and starts toward us.
“Paisley,” I all but growl because holy smokes is right.
Fuck me!
Paisley looks incredible. I told Sally to choose something for the female, since she was a late addition to the staff of the pilot program. All I can say is that my PA chose well. I try not to look Paisley up and down or to stare, but I can’t help myself.
None of us can.
Her fiery red hair is loose about her back and shoulders. Her breasts are barely contained in that tight bodice. Her legs are…they’re… Fuck! The green tone of the dress works perfectly on her complexion.
She levels her smoky stare on us. “Gentlemen.”
“Good evening.” My voice is a hard rasp.
“Hi, Miss Reed. Good to see you again. Congratulations on your promotion,” Thorn says.
“I’m just helping out for a short while.” She waves her hand like it’s nothing. “Hardly a promotion.” She shakes her head. “The ladies will be here soon; do you all have your name tags?”
She looks at Smoke’s chest and then mine.
“Ahhh…good. that’s great.” She smiles, it’s tight. “Good luck to you all. Oh, and be aware, there is a number next to your name.”
I look down. “Lucky number thirteen.”
“You’re not superstitious, are you?” She quirks a brow.
“Not at all.”
Her gaze moves back to Smoke. “Listen out for requests where your number will be called out instead of your name.” And then back at me.
I nod. “Will do,” I rasp.
“Sounds like fun,” Smoke says. “Say, why aren’t you part of the project?” He looks her up and down, grinning all the while, the fucker. “You would make a perfect Tribute.”
Paisley laughs. “I’m far too old to be a Tribute. The cut-off is twenty-five. That birthday came and went a long time ago.”
“You don’t look it. Not at all.” He’s looking her over again, and I find that I hate it. It’s rude! End of! “You look ama—”
“That’s enough, Smoke. Miss Reed is not here as a Tribute. The ladies will be arriving soon. Please show some respect.”
He gasps. “Apologies, Miss Reed. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
She smiles. “It’s Paisley, please, and you weren’t rude at all. It’s lovely to receive a compliment. It’s one I needed, thank you. Anyway, if you’ll excuse me, gents, the ladies are arriving.”
