He groaned, closing his eyes and running his hand down the length of his face. “If I didn’t know I would end up having to deal with the mayor’s bullshit behind my absence, I’d strip every layer of clothing from your skin. Since that’s not an option right now, how about we get on with this shitshow so I can eventually be put out of my misery?”
She raised a slender finger to make sure she had his attention. It was pointless since her breathing was enough to catch his notice.
“I have a counteroffer. How about we go to the gala and make an attempt to enjoy ourselves? And if you make a real effort to have fun, I promise to reward you handsomely when we return.”
The way the word “reward” slipped off her lips made his cock twitch. And if he wasn’t cautious, he would not be fit to be in public. He carefully grazed his eyes over her form to make sure he was reading her signals correctly.
“I promise,” she spoke softly while raising her hand and cupping his chin, “your reward will involve you peeling every layer of clothing from my skin, just as you proposed.”
He could feel his blood heating and was certain she could see the damnable blush that colored his skin whenever heat, be it natural or sexual, spread through him.
“Then I guess we’d best be on our way.”
She stepped away, grabbing a small clutch purse from a nearbytable. She turned toward the door, then stopped to face him again. She put the clutch between her knees and reached up to his neck.
“First, let’s get this tie correctly knotted. Despite what you might see in magazines, bow ties are not meant to be worn like this.”
It took her a few seconds to complete what he’d spent nearly twenty minutes trying to get done. There was obviously something magical about her fingers, and he had every intention of exploring that hypothesis again when they returned.
“Now,” she huffed as she straightened his tie, then looked up and smiled at him. “It’s time for you to take me to the ball.”
Vanessa walked into the town catering hall, not sure what she was expecting. Taking a long glance around the space, she admitted that crystal chandeliers and marble staircases probably weren’t it.
Check your privilege, Vanessa. Just because it’s small doesn’t mean it’s rinky-dink.
Michael placed a gentle yet firm hand at the base of her spine before looking down at her. “Are you ready?”
“For what exactly?”
“It’s one thing for you to walk on the street with me at the festival,” he whispered, trying to make sure she was the only one who heard him. “Being here with me like this almost ensures the town will see us an item, though. You okay with that?”
She was too okay with that. That was her problem. She enjoyed being in Michael’s company. She liked the playful way they interacted. Still, by the very nature of their connection, she also knew it could never be more than these few moments they’d get to spend while she waited to speak to Cindy and for her car to be repaired. There was nothing that could happen after that.
Her life was waiting for her in New Jersey.
What life exactly is that?
The one she was supposed to be rebuilding. The one she’d promised herself she’d have, despite how listless she felt.
She looped her hand around his waist and plastered on the widest grin she could. “I’m perfectly okay with people making assumptions about our relationship. It’s not like I’ll be here. What do I care?”
She felt his body tense slightly next to hers. Unsure of what that meant, if anything, she searched his gaze for clues. Something dark was there. Not quite anger, not quite sadness, yet something she’d said had put that look there.
“Everything okay, Michael?”
He sighed deeply, pulling his gaze away from her in the process. “Nothing. Just ready to get this show on the road so I can be done with this ridiculousness.”
He moved them toward a set of double doors. Standing there, she could hear the muted sounds of music coming through them. He reached for the doorknob, opening the door to the amplified sounds and a flurry of people moving throughout the dimmed room.
They stepped inside, and all heads turned their way. It became quickly apparent that Michael wasn’t kidding about the attention. With so many people packed into the immense room, she wagered that most of Monroe Hills was present and accounted for.
A glimpse of waving arms caught her attention, and she spied Cree and Janae motioning them to a table in the back of the room.
“This way. Cree and Janae probably saved us seats.”
He nodded, dropping his hand from her back and slipping her hand into his. He led her through the throng of people, watching them as they moved to their intended location. When they arrived, a dark-skinned Black man with smooth, rich skin, thick, close-cropped curls, and a goatee stood.
“Thanks for showing up. I had a bet with Adam you’d find a way to back out. I knew you wouldn’t shirk your duty.”
