Grabbing Sugar’s hand, Nicola pulled her toward the bar. Toward him.

He was transfixed by Sugar’s shirt. If he tore it off, it would do nicely to tie her to the bed with. Her leather boots worked her legs, cupping at her kneecaps—it was only a matter of time before he slid those off and ran his hands straight up under that skirt.

In Nicola’s blind spot, Douchebag McGee made a move, his hands outstretched. A growl bubbled, and Jared’s instinct to slaughter the dude took over. He was up, on the move, and on them in a heartbeat. Before Jared could inflict punishment, Nicola captured the other man’s wayward wrist in a joint lock and twisted. Goddamn, my girls are good.

“Princess. Sugar.” Jared watched them feign innocence. Douchebag McGee cowered on his knees, with Nicola’s thumb pressed firmly into his pressure point. Just to make sure the message was clear, Jared leaned down. “Look at them again, you won’t see tomorrow.”

He led the ladies to a private area. A waitress appeared as if on command, handing the women champagne and him a bourbon.

“So protective, Boss Man.” Nicola giggled.

“Princess, if Cash saw you—”

“He’d have given us high-fives. ’Cause we fuckin’ rock.” She and Sugar bumped knuckles, then made them explode.

Patience. Deep breath and fuckin’ patience.

A shadow moved. Cash the sniper was on the move, ghosting it like he was on the job. Jared didn’t say a word. Cash wrapped an arm around Nicola and pulled her tight. She melted into him. How she knew it was Cash and not Douchebag McGee, Jared had no idea.

“How long’ve you been here?” Nicola fawned over Cash, her hands splayed over his chest.

Cash nodded hello to Jared and pulled his wife close. “Long enough to know you girls were pushing the line.”

Nicola rolled her eyes, Sugar shook her head, and Jared wanted to go someplace else.

“Let’s go, Nic.”

Nicola agreed, toying with Cash’s shirt. Then the ladies did some gossipy girly giggle that left Nicola laughing aloud and Sugar pushing her away.

Cash and Nic were all over each other as they left. For two people who could flip the switch to serious whenever they were on the job, they could flip to honeymoon mode just as quickly. It was nauseating. Jared shook his head. That left just him and a silent Sugar, who was the animated life of the party, except when she was within striking distance of him. He wished that hadn’t changed.

She smirked. “Don’t you have a line to throw down?”

“Nope.”

The quickest of wounded looks flashed across Sugar’s face then disappeared. “Why the hell not? I thought you were ‘hot on my trail.’”

He took a sip of his bourbon. “I’ve recalibrated my approach.”

She crossed her arms, unintentionally making her breasts fuller. “Whatever. I’ll see you around.”