His gaze travels over my Coldplay tank top and black leather pants. “A guy who can’t appreciate a sexy woman isn’t worth your time.”

“C’mon.” I give him a little nudge with my elbow. “This look doesn’t scream sexy.”

“You scream sexy.” He strokes a finger along the strap of my tank top and my body stills, need gripping me so hard I can barely breathe.

“I’m not—”

“You got a gym full of men watching you walk across the floor,” he says in a low growl. “Means you’re sexy.”

Oh God. Is he teasing me? Or worse, flirting? What about Shayla? Cheeks burning, I pull a folder from my portfolio. “Here are the designs I promised you.”

But Ray doesn’t take the folder. Instead, he gently strokes the little silver cross in my earlobe. “This what he didn’t like? Your piercings?”

“Who?”

“The moron from last night.”

Warm fuzzies spread through my body and I lower the folder. “Actually, I didn’t tell him all the places I’m pierced.”

Ray’s hand stills, and his eyes darken almost to black. “Not letting that one go. Where else are you pierced?”

Delighted at finally gaining the upper hand, I lean in and whisper, “Secret.”

His eyes bore into mine, drilling into my soul, as if he expects my secrets to reveal themselves if he digs far enough. But I’m an expert at keeping secrets. My fortress is impenetrable.

“Sia!” Tag’s shout echoes through the gym and I groan. Although I knew getting in and out undetected was a long shot, I had still hoped.

“He doesn’t like me coming here.” I mumble under my breath. “He thinks it’s too dangerous. I had hoped to avoid detection.”

“Got it.”

Pushing myself to my feet, I mentally prepare for the showdown. What I’m not prepared for is Ray, standing beside me, angling his body slightly to shield me from the oncoming Tag storm. Although calm and quiet on the outside, I can sense violence simmering beneath the surface. Is he protecting me? From Tag?

“What’s going on? I told you not to come here.” Tag’s naturally loud voice attracts some unwanted attention and nausea roils my gut.

“Calm down.” I hold up my art case, warding him away. “I don’t want to cause a scene. I just came to bring Ray some designs.”

He glares at Ray. “You couldn’t have gone to her tattoo parlor? You had to make her come out to fucking Ghost Town?”

“Hey! You’re outta line.” I move forward, but Ray steps in front of me, blocking my way. The gesture is so subtle, I’m not sure if it was intentional. “I wanted to come out here,” I say to Tag. “This is business. Plus, I miss hanging with the guys and watching you drill the new recruits and making them cry.”

My joke falls flat and Tag scowls, but not at me. He huffs and puffs, and for a moment I wonder if he’s going to blow Ray down.

“Not lookin’ for a fight, Fuzz.” Although his hands hang loosely by his sides, I’ve watched enough fights to know Ray is anything but relaxed. “I’ll watch out for her,” he continues, his voice low and even. “We got tats to talk about.”

Before Tag can even splutter a word, Ray places his hand on my lower back and guides me toward the door. At least I think he’s guiding me. My entire body is focused on his warm, firm hand pressed up against my back, sending waves of molten pleasure through my body.

“Sia.”

Looking back over my shoulder, I give Tag a wink and a wave, profoundly grateful he is forced to exercise restraint in the gym. No shouting and hollering and storming about today. Just silent fury pulsing toward me in waves.

“Sorry about Tag,” I say. “It was nice when I was younger to know he was watching out for me, but…”

“He’s afraid to let you go.”

Just like I’m afraid to let go of Tag. Emotion wells up in my chest and I stop in the hallway and hold out the folder. “You want to look at the designs?”

His fingers brush over mine as he takes the folder, electrifying my nerve endings. His hands are broad and strong, and for a moment I am captivated by his muscled forearms, the slight gleam of sweat on his tanned skin, the sprinkling of hair. How many nights have I watched him fight and wonder what it would be like to glide my finger along the ropes of those muscles, feel the hair tickle my palm?

He looks up and catches me staring, and although my heat rises, I can’t look away. His eyes hide a darkness, a stain on his soul.

“These are good.” He hands me the folder, breaking the spell. “But that first design you did? Fucking perfect.”

“It was just off the top of my head.” I take the folder from him and drop it in my case. “I didn’t really give it much thought.”

Ray cups my jaw with his hand and strokes his thumb over my cheek, sending a jolt of white lightning straight to my core. “Instinct. Trust it.”

Not my instincts. And especially not now when my body is responding to his touch while my mind is screaming no.

“Ray, I was hoping I’d catch you before you left.”

My eyes fly open as Shayla bounds over to us, all toned, sculpted muscles and not a jiggle in sight. Her gaze fixes on Ray’s hand on my cheek, and she gives me a tight smile.

“Oh, hi, Sia. That was you at the fight the other night wasn’t it?”