“All those things.”He finally finds his tongue as his hands drop to his sides and he pulls away.
His retreat is like an arctic breeze, chilling my bones.He busies himself and tugs at the ends of his button-down sleeves, one and then the other, before glancing at me.Pressing his lips together, Zach’s molten gaze drifts down to mine.
Oh no.He’s not going to get away with that.His look, the one that says he’s revelling in reliving our kiss, isn’t going to distract me from the conversation at hand.
“Yet you have nothing to add to that?”
I fold my arms and then drop them and now his filthy stare flicks downward.My traitorous nipples stiffen, erect, more than eager for his attention.
“Let’s forget earlier.Start over.”It’s a declaration but I can’t help feeling he’s sweeping dirt under a rug.“A car is downstairs waiting to take you home.Take the dress.I’m having it brought down to the car as we speak.And I’ll see you Friday night.”
“No way.This isn’t going to work for me.”
The dirt may be hidden, but it’s still there.Out of sight but not gone just like the sting of his insult.
“Good night, Mr.Rothwell.”
I press the elevator button and he watches with a sly grin.My fingers wipe at the edges of my mouth, giving the impression the kiss was a nuisance or of no consequence instead of the reality.Mind-blowing.
Getting into the elevator with me, he escorts me to the car in silence.The driver opens the door and before I can get into the car, Zach grabs my hand and I’m forced to glance back at him.
“I’ll see you on Friday.”
“Maybe.”
He chuckles, inching closer to me with his hand now on my hip and turning me to face him.“I’m sorry.”
My teeth sink into my lower lip to stop the smile from spreading, but there’s no stopping the butterflies flapping wildly in my belly.“Good night, Zach.”
“Good night, Paige.”He presses his lips to my forehead and my eyes flutter closed.“I can’t wait to see you in that dress.”
The drive home and the following days are a haze of questions and uncertainty.I’ve got a monkey on my back and something gnawing at me and no matter what I do, I can’t seem to shake it.
Despite the anxious feeling, I move headlong into my plans for Friday night.True to his word, the designer gown fits me perfectly.I don’t know how he pulled it off and at this point, it doesn’t matter.I’m in awe at how lovely it looks and feels on my body.
Zach checks in with me on Friday morning, giving me a day to get over our tiff.That’s my guess anyway as to why he didn’t call the very next day.And he’s smart.It works.
In between work, checking in on Bas, and getting nails, hair, and waxing done—all for my debut as Zachary Rothwell’s plus one—the memory of Wednesday night’s argument is forgotten.
It’s now Friday afternoon and only hours before Zach will arrive when I get the call I’ve been avoiding.
“Hey, Drew, how are you?”I slip off my Chucks and lock the front door.I’m home from the hair salon and all I have left to do is my makeup and put on the dress.
“What’s this I hear about you dating Rothwell?”
“I was going to say something.Who told you?Mom?”
“Sam.I introduced you to him so he could help you, not date you.”
“I wouldn’t call it dating, but is it a bad thing if we are dating?”I’m walking a fine line between the truth and a lie.
“He’d be a lucky guy to have you.”
I can hear hollers of‘damn straight’in the background from my best friend and I laugh.Pippa always eavesdrops on our conversations and I don’t mind.It isn’t like I’m not going to tell her anyway.
“We’ve seen each other once.We’re going to dinner tonight.That’s it.”
“Why Rothwell?Isn’t he too clean-cut, too successful, too put together for you?”
