“I was not pleading.”
“Right, because you mouthing the word ‘please’ from across the ballroom isn’t pleading.” I smirk. “Tell me, Wallflower, why would you rather have me bid on you than Adam when you came here together?”
She pauses, her neck bobbing as she swallows. “We aren’t together.”
Her confirmation of what my sister told me earlier makes me feel better. Not that I didn’t believe Julianna, but sometimes my sister can run with a rumor and twist it.
She crosses her arms defiantly over her chest. She’s shutting me out, but I can’t help noticing how I’ve never seen her like this. I’ve lit a fire in her, and I want more of it. My stomach and dick delight at the thought of bringing this side of her out.
Her cheeks are flushed red, and her chest rapidly and dramatically rises and falls as she attempts to fill her lungs with air.
“You kissed me.”
“The winning bidder gets to kiss their date.”
“On the cheek.” She scoffs. “You missed by a few inches.”
“Oh, come on.” I lean forward, stuffing my hands in my pockets to keep myself from touching her. I won’t do that again unless she asked me to. “Admit it, Wallflower.”
“Admit… what?” she stammers, straightening her back. Her arms unravel.
“Admit that you just experienced the best kiss of your life.”
Her mouth falls open, but then her head snaps to the left.
“I don’t know whether I should be pissed or happy right now, Mr. Capuleti.” Treena bursts through the event coordinators gathered backstage.
“Apparently, you aren’t alone in that sentiment.” I give Selene the side eye.
“Well, the crowd apparently loved it.” Treena gestures toward the ballroom. “At first, I was pissed you didn’t listen to my advice, but it seems to have distracted everyone from talking about the lawsuit.”
“Great.” Selene huffs, crossing her arms over her chest again. She turns to me, the wall between us growing thicker. She’s angry but still beautiful. She’s all soft curves and piercing green eyes. “You shift the narrative regarding your reputation at my expense. You’re welcome for the PR boost, Mr. Capuleti.”
She storms off, disappearing down the stairsleading back to the ballroom. Passing Julianna along the way, she doesn’t even bother stopping.
Julianna looks over her shoulder before snapping her head in my direction.
“I don’t blame Selene for being irritated,” Julianna says. “You weren’t supposed to kiss her on the lips, Holt.”
I open my mouth to explain why I did it. That the feelings I’ve harbored for my sister’s best friend bubbled over like a pot of boiling water, and the opportunity was staring me dead in the face, but I stop myself. Mostly because I know anything I say won’t help matters. Julianna will continue to see me as the villain, crushing hearts of those she cares about since we were kids.
But despite my true motives, Selene has a point. I push away the roiling sensation in my gut at having hurt her and focus on what happened out there moments ago.
Kissing Selene on stage was a PR stunt. A good one.
“You know, for someone who never keeps his opinions to himself, you sure picked a hell of a time to be silent.”
I stare at my sister, her words driving into me like a knife to the chest.
“Don’t worry, Jules. I’m certain you have enough opinions for the rest of us, so does it truly make a bit of difference?”
Her jaw drops as I curl my hands into fists tightly in my pockets. Apparently, that’s about the only good thing I’ve been able to do tonight—make everyone’s jaws drop. Somehow this night has turned from barely tolerable to incredible, to a raging fucking dumpster fire within a matter of an hour.
I leave backstage as fast as my feet can carry me. My sister shouts behind me, demanding to know what the hell I mean, but I don’t stop to fucking answer. Julianna’s words may cut deep to my core, but it’s the hurt in Selene’s gorgeous green eyes thathaunt me most as I slip through the ballroom, dodging questions from left and right from gossip hungry reporters.
I’ve seen a similar hurt in someone’s eyes before. A hurt only caused by me.
I slip into the backseat of car and tell my driver Howard to take me home as fast as humanly possible, realizing one single fact.
