“She’s an interior designer and runs her own business.She suggested John call me.I’d helped her once or twice and I had experience running small-scale projects.”
The car stops and I peer out the window to see we’re already at her home.The ride was way too fast.Paige snatches her shoes, leaving them off, and opens the car door before my driver can get there.
“Wait,” I say after her.“You’re barefoot.”
She smiles, looking at me like I’m silly for having stated the obvious.“Yep.These babies aren’t getting back on my aching puppies tonight.”
Still not fully getting the correlation between dogs and feet, I shake my head.“The ground is filthy, and you could step on something and cut your foot.”
She releases apfftand turns from me.“I’ll be fine.Good night, Zach.I had a good time.”
“Wait.”I step out of the car after her and before she can say anything further, she’s in my arms, pressed against my chest, legs hooked over my arm.
“Put me down, Zach.I’ll be fine.The door is right there.”
“Don’t care.Barefoot in the dark isn’t smart.”
“Whatever.”She rolls her eyes and tightens her arm around my shoulder and her other hand rests flat against my chest.
She tries to wriggle from my hold when we reach her front door.“You need to put me down so I can open the door.”
“Roger.”My driver appears from behind us.“Give him your key,” I say to Paige.
With a huff and another eye roll, she hands him the key.He opens the door and returns the key before discreetly disappearing.
“This is all very silly.”She releases an exasperated sigh.
“What’s silly is you with no shoes on.”I shift my weight and her hand tightens around me.“Did you have a good time tonight?”
“Yes.”Her eyes light up.
“I’m glad.I did, too.”
“Thank you for the beautiful dress.I had more fun than I thought I would.”
Her admission ignites the yearning embers deep within me.I tilt my head to hers and my mouth melds to her plump lips.
My intention is to make it quick and hard, not wanting to tempt myself more than I already am.But when her hand lands on my jaw, fingers curling gently into my skin, all intentions are lost.
My tongue sweeps the seam of her lips and she opens on a moan.But it’s short-lived.Paige pulls back, blushing and breathless, eyes narrowed on me.
“What are you doing?”She’s irritated.
“What does it look like I’m doing?Kissing you.”I flash her a wicked smile, my tongue darting out to wet my lips.
She tastes like sugar—so sweet—and I’m ravenous to taste her again.
“You know what I mean.There’s no one here to put a show on for.You’re not my...”
“Your what?”
“You know what I mean.Why are you playing dumb and infuriating?”
“Hmm, infuriating?”I gently place her feet on the ground.“We’re supposed to be together.I’m practicing.We’ve got to make it look as real as possible.”
“You can cut it out.When it’s just us, it’s just us.No need for a charade.”
“Who said it was a charade?”I tuck my hands into my pant pockets and rock back on my heels, needing to keep my hands to myself.
