Page 89 of Face Off With Fate

“Are you now?” His eyes heated, and he guided us back into a semi-hidden corner. His shoulders dropped from his ears when we were alone.

I smiled. “Of course, it’s basically my job to tell you what you’re doing well,” I sassed, knowing I was playing with fire, but not finding I cared if I got burned.

Monroe pulled me closer, his warm breath grazing my ear. “So you like givin’ it, but do you like being praised, Trouble? Like hearin’ what a good girl you are? You sure seemed to like it earlier…”

My lids fluttered closed, and I squeezed my legs together, hoping for some relief.

“Josh…”

His lips brushed the shell of my ear. “Yes?”

“What about me has led you to believe I’m a good girl?” I asked, tipping my face up to see him. We were close. Too close for in public, regardless of whether we seemed to be the only ones around. But my feet were cemented in place, refusing to take even one step back.

His tongue popped out, running along his lip, and I wanted so badly for him to run it along mine, too. To tease the seam of my mouth with it—my pussy with it.

Those blue eyes flared, like he could read my thoughts. Maybe he could. Maybe they were written on my face like the lust written on his.

He traveled the length of my body with his gaze, so intense it felt like a physical caress.

“Well, Josh. What a surprise it is to see you here.”

We jumped apart, turning to see who’d snuck up on us.

“Vincent,” Monroe said, deadpan, ignoring the extended hand. “I’d say it’s nice to see you, but…”

If he’d spoken that way to anyone else, I’d have elbowed him as a reminder that we were supposed to be improving his people skills. But this asshole didn’t deserve any politeness.

Vincent’s shrewd eyes bounced between the two of us, an arrogant grin growing on his face as he dropped his arm back to his side.

“And I don’t believe I’ve met your beautiful girlfriend here,” Monroe’s former boss said with a smirk that raised my hackles.

He was a damn snake in the grass.

“So sorry to disappoint, but you still haven’t. I work for the Stars,” I said. Figured a narcissist like him wouldn’t remember seeing me last year in Dallas on his team’s media day.

He’d probably been too focused on the little reporter he’d planted to make Ariella look bad.

Vincent’s thin lips twisted before he offered a blinding smile. “Hmm. Apologies. With all the press surrounding Josh’s newfound relationship, and then seeing you two on the floor during the picks and then again all alone over here…” He let out a stupid huff of laughter. “I just assumed you were the lovely lady.”

The ache in my jaw increased. Bullshit. Everything out of his mouth felt like there was a double meaning, and it had me on edge.

“Interesting that you’d think that, Vincent,” Monroe cut in. “If you’ve seen the photos, then you’d know they look nothing alike.” He paused, shrugging a single shoulder nonchalantly. If it weren’t for the white knuckles, I’d believe he was unfazed by this exchange. “But maybe you think every Latina looks the same.”

I hid my laugh with a cough.

Vincent didn’t find it as funny. He puffed out his chest, hands fisting at his sides. Something in my gut told me this conversation would not end well if we didn’t leave—immediately.

The lie that women were too emotional and therefore unable to handle themselves was such bullshit. I should have a damn award, a punch card for a free facial at minimum, for how many times I bit my tongue instead of humbling a man.

Monroe’s suit jacket was silky under my hand. I gave his forearm a squeeze, trying to draw him away from the stare-off.

“I think we have a few people looking for quotes from you. We shouldn’t keep them waiting.” I tilted my head in what I hoped was the opposite direction of wherever Vincent was headed before he stopped.

A condescending laugh sounded. “Oh, I would cancel those if I were you, Grace.”

“Ms. Barrera.”

He ignored my correction. “Josh is shit with the press. It’s why I never let him get in front of the cameras. In fact, he should thank me for giving him a second chance at a career.”