Bait for a Gentleman novel Chapter 44

It made perfect sense.

Otherwise, where did those marks come from?

Given the evidence, it wouldn't look good to deny it.

He cleared his throat. "Uh, well, I just couldn't control myself. Last night I..."

He couldn't quite find the right words.

Audrina supplied them for him: "Were a little too rough."

Zachary's lips twitched upward before he quickly forced the smirk down.

"Hurry up and get washed," Audrina said, picking up a comb and running it through her hair. "We should head to the dining room for breakfast."

"Sure." Zachary headed toward the bathroom, pausing halfway to glance at the discarded red dress on the floor. "I'll buy you a new dress later."

Audrina eventually changed into a black satin slip dress.

By the time she and Zachary arrived at the dining room, Sebastian and Carter were already seated. Coffee cups and empty plates cluttered the table; they had clearly been there a while.

Carter was in the middle of an animated story. "...that chick could seriously drink last night. Shots, wine, back-to-back—she put away more than me. But in the end—"

He leaned back, a smug grin on his face. "I was still the one who had to haul her back to her room."

He was talking about Willow.

As Zachary walked in, he only caught the very last part: 'I was still the one who had to haul him back to his room.'

He walked over and slapped Carter on the shoulder. "Thanks, buddy. And you too, Sebastian—"

He looked at Sebastian. "I was so wrecked last night, I don't even remember how I got back."

He then leaned in close between the two men.

"Still got laid, though," he bragged in a hushed voice.

Carter's eyes darted back and forth between the two of them.

Sebastian, nursing his coffee, remained expressionless and simply gave a noncommittal hum.

Carter looked over at Audrina.

"Sure," he said, turning back to her. "But it's winter, so unless you're planning to wear a bikini—"

His arm naturally draped over the back of her chair.

Audrina leaned in affectionately, whispering right against his ear, "I only want to wear it for you."

Zachary chuckled, pinching her cheek. "You're such a tease."

Out of the corner of Audrina's eye, she saw the fingers of the man across the table pause against the edge of the wood.

Carter picked up his glass, put it down, picked it up again, his gaze ping-ponging between the three of them.

Sebastian set his coffee down and stood up. "Take your time with breakfast."

He strode right out of the dining room.

Clueless, Zachary looked at Carter. "What's his problem? Who pissed him off this early in the morning?"

"Someone must have pissed in his coffee," Carter said drily. "I'll go check on him."