Duke by Tressie Lockwood

her, and she fumbled with the towel on her arm. Just like every other person in the restaurant, she couldn’t move. She had to see how it played out.
    “Pete,” Creed boomed. The biggest of the bodyguards appeared at Creed’s side. Creed worked his hands as if he had trouble keeping them from making fists. No one had to guess what would happen if he gave in to the impulse. He breathed in deep and blew it out. “Get them out of here. If I have to do it…”
    Large hands came down on Tyjon and Basil’s shoulders. Talicia darted around her husband to Tyjon. “Pete, you better not hurt my brother. I’m serious.”
    She took a defensive stance, and Takiyah blinked in disbelief. Talicia as tiny as she and her brother were, was going to stand up to the giant monster that was Pete. To Takiyah’s surprise, Pete just nodded and forced the men into a march out the door.
    Creed swung to face Duke, who was actually the closest man to the fight at the time. His cousin glared at Duke. “Why were you just standing there doing nothing to end this?”
    Duke shrugged and stretched long arms over his head. Takiyah waited for him to defend himself and tell Creed he’d been covering the photographer. “Looked interesting. I needed a little more entertainment for the night. Never a dull moment around here.”
    She couldn’t believe him. Now that the drama died down, Duke spun around to face the reporter. He patted the man on the shoulder and winked at the photographer. Both were pissed. Takiyah decided giving energy to the crazy was just throwing her off her own game. She finished with her duties and left the serving area to go back to the locker room.
    While she tugged her street clothes from the locker, the door opened again. She looked around to find Duke. He’d shut them in alone together and leaned against the door. Unless she wanted to go up against his strength, she was caged.
    “Don’t you have a date you need to look after?” She kicked herself after the words slipped out. A person would have to be stupid not to hear the jealousy in her tone.
    Duke smirked. “If it bothers you that I’m out with Adele, you and I can do something tomorrow night. I’m sure we can make all kinds of fun.”
    Takiyah uttered a noise of disgust and turned back to the locker. All she needed to do was go to the ladies room and change clothes, but she wasn’t going to squeeze past Duke. “Is that what you do? Try to bring a woman down by sleeping with her best friend?”
    His eyebrows rose. “Sleeping with her? Aren’t you getting a little ahead?”
    “Whatever. You asked her out, but you’re in here with me. In fact, you’ve spent most of the night running behind me. If you want Adele, stick with her and leave me out of it.”
    “What if I don’t want to leave you alone? What if I find you different than any woman I—”
    “Don’t even go there. I’ve heard the speech before, and I don’t know why all men seem to think they’re the first ones who ever used that tired line.” She marched over to him and poked a finger in his chest. “You’re not my type, okay? Even if you were, you lost a million points asking my friend out and then parading her in my face. Did you think it would make me cling to you?”
    She wiggled her fingers in a gesture that said move. He didn’t budge.
    “Have dinner with me.”
    She gaped at him. “Did you even hear what I just said?”
    “I heard, but I still want you to have dinner with me.”
    “No.” She gave him a shove, but it didn’t move him. In fact, a buzz of desire started in her core with the contact. Silently cursing herself, she thought of another tactic to get out of there. “If you’re going to harass me, first I’m going to knee you in the nuts, and then I’m going to scream bloody murder. Even with all the drama going on out there, everyone will hear. Now get the hell out of my way.”
    He stepped to the side and swept his hand through the air in invitation for her to pass.