“You can touch if you want,” I tell her.
“I don’t,” she says, her eyes scanning the room. “Oh shit…”
“What?” My gaze follows hers.
“That’s Clarissa Yields,” Hayley tells me.
“I know who she is.”
“Did you also know she’s about to leave her husband for his brother? She’s been having an affair for years and is finally going to move out.”
“How do you know that?” I ask, not sure if it’s news or gossip. Either way, I’m curious. I do business with Clarissa’s husband, Tristan.
“I cut their maid’s hair. She talks. A lot.” Hayley laughs. “You’d be surprised. Once someone is in my chair, it’s like their lips can’t stop. The stories I’ve heard… well, I could write a book.”
“Really?” This could actually be useful. If I go to Tristan with this news, he’s going to owe me a favor. Considering I’d be saving his company. Because I have no doubt that his brother and wife are scheming to take it out from under him.
“Yep. You see that couple over there. Mr. and Mrs. Bucksey, they like threesomes, but only with other men. Mr. Bucksey likes watching his wife get fucked.”
I look at Hayley. “Seriously? What man would want to watch his wife get fucked by another man?”
“Mr. Bucksey, it seems.” She lifts a shoulder. “Not a voyeur I take it?”
“I don’t share what’s mine. Ever,” I grunt.
The table starts filling up with people, all of them making small talk. Hayley is silent beside me, her hands twisting in her lap.
I reach over and take hold of her palm, to stop her fidgeting and to reassure her that she’s okay. Bringing it to my mouth, I kiss it before resting our joined hands on my thigh. My thumb strokes the back of her knuckles, and I’m thankful when she doesn’t pull away.
“I never thought I’d see the day… You’re breaking a lot of hearts tonight, Wade, including mine,” a familiar voice tells me from across the table.
“Sorry, Mrs. Hughes, what can I say? I took one look at her and knew instantly I had to make her mine,” I reply, my focus turning from the seventy-year-old widow to the woman beside me.
“I can see why. She’s beautiful.” Simon Pali, a tech guru who’s come into some new money, ogles Hayley.
“And if you don’t take your eyes off her, she’ll be the last thing you fucking see,” I growl.
Hayley clenches my hand tight. “He’s kidding,” she tells a now pale-looking Simon.
“No, he’s not,” I correct her.
The clinking of metal against glass has everyone’s chatter stopping and their attention shifting to the mayor. Great, now we all have to sit through one of his boring-ass speeches.
The entire time, I concentrate on the feel of Hayley’s hand in mine. How soft her skin is under my thumb as I stroke the back of her palm. On her fruity scent and the glimpse of cleavage poking out of the top of her dress.
“I really like your dress,” I lean in and whisper against her ear.
“Thanks,” she says, looking down at her chest.
I’d like it a whole lot better if it were on the floor of my bedroom.I don’t tell her that, though, because I need to play this smart. I’m not going to pressure her to get into bed with me.
Chapter Thirteen
He left, literally walked me up to the penthouse and then said he had to go to work. I didn’t argue, because I need space. He kept touching me all night, and I kept letting him.
After having a shower and changing into a pair of green silk Christmas pajamas, I lie out on the sofa. I am not getting into his bed. I’ll sleep here. I don’t even know if he’s coming back and, honestly, I don’t care.
It doesn’t take long for me to drift off to sleep—not after I take a melatonin anyway.
