Everything—the chatter, the music—all faded around me as I stared into his warm brown eyes.
“Oh, I didn’t think you were coming, Maia.” January grinned at me like her hands weren’t still on my fiancé’s chest.
I gave her a pointed look.
Wicked humor lightened her expression as she dropped her hands to her sides. “I was just telling Baird that I suspect your engagement is fake.”
Oh, holy hell. Tone even, I asked, “What makes you say that?”
“The evidence is substantial. You were barely broken up with Will. This campaign with Pennington’s. Baird’s escapades in the newspaper. The fact that the club has a new owner and maybe he didn’t like Baird’s escapades being in the newspaper. I’m thinking you needed a fiancé, Baird needed to clean up his act, and voilà!”
She really was too smart for her own good. If I wasn’t the object of her sleuthing, I’d be so proud.
The only obvious thing to do was to squeeze past Beth, gently maneuver January to the side, and stand so close to my so-called fake fiancé my breasts brushed his chest. I heard his breath stutter as I whispered, “Hi,” and then slid my palms over his hard pecs and up behind his neck. The scent of his familiar aftershave and the feel of our bodies touching sent tingles shooting down my nape and around my breasts. Pushing up onto my tiptoes, I feathered my lips over his mouth, once twice?—
His arms banded tight around my waist so he could capture me in a deep, entirely inappropriate kiss that made my head spin and arousal tighten deep in my womb.
The wolf-whistling was the only reason Baird released me.
For a moment, we just panted against each other’s mouths. My skin was on fire and a throbbing need made itself known between my thighs.
Oh boy.
Remembering we weren’t alone, I lowered my heels and looked over my shoulder at January.
Her dark eyes brimmed with amusement. “So … does that mean you’re not up for stepping aside so I can have a crack at him?”
“Baird isn’t an object you can have a crack at, Jan. I know men have objectified women for centuries, but reverse objectification is just bad feminism.”
“I respectfully disagree.”
“Respectfully? Okay, respectfully … if you flirt with my fiancé again, it’ll be me hiding dead fish all overyourflat.”
Jan saluted me. “Message received. I like this new aggressive you. And even though I’m not convinced this shit didn’t start out fake, I almost combusted at that kiss, so I’m glad my meddling made you see sense. I’m happy for you, cuz. Will sounded like a bore. Baird is definitely an upgrade.” She bounced off to cross the room to push between Lily and her boyfriend Sebastian. Whatever she said made Sebastian howl with laughter.
She’d deliberately flirted with Baird to push us together? “I think she might be the cutest, most devious person I’ve ever met,” I muttered.
Baird squeezed my waist. “I wasn’t flirting with her.”
I gave him a reassuring smile. “I know.”
He was so relieved, I felt his body relax. “You do?”
“I do.” I stepped out of his personal space but couldn’t help my wandering eyes. Like me, he wore a plain black T-shirt, paired with jeans and black trainers. His only adornment,other than his tattoos, was the carbon smart watch he wore all the time. “You look good.”
“You always look good.”
There was that strange pulling sensation between us again, like everyone else faded away.
Callan burst our bubble. “If you two are going to stand their eye-fucking each other, take it elsewhere. It’s making me extremely uncomfortable.”
Baird chuckled.
I shared an exasperated look with Beth. She jerked her chin upward. “The living room on the second floor is empty. It’ll give you some privacy to talk.”
Grateful, I thanked her and then held out my hand to Baird.
He took it without hesitation, his grip on me unyielding, almost like he was afraid I’d let go. Instead, I led him out of the party, unable to avoid my aunt Shannon’s curious gaze. Although I’d chatted with her on the phone about my engagement to Baird, she and I hadn’t had a chance to talk face-to-face. I knew by her expression that would change very soon.
