I stifle a chuckle. A bunch of random emails for our website is hardly a “waiting list of clients,” but I appreciate his support nonetheless.
“Wow,” Claudia says. “I might have to get you to design something for me, Cat. I want to redo my wardrobe and I’m so sick of the same old designers.”
“I’d love to,” I reply, with a genuine smile. I’m not sure she’ll like the style of my designs, but it’s nice to have her interest. Who knows, maybe I’ll start some kind of retro-inspired fashion trend on the Upper East Side.
Myles nudges me, grinning, and there’s something about this tiny gesture that makes my heart swell. Almost instinctively, I lean into him. He slips his arm around my waist, pulling me against his side and pressing a kiss to my temple. And I find myself wondering if this is part of the act—or something else entirely.
“You two are so sweet.” Claudia’s eyes sparkle as she watches us. “How long have you been dating?”
I glance at Myles for him to take the lead, and he smiles. “Only a month. But you know what they say: when you know, you know.”
I poke him in the ribs. “Mister romantic over here,” I tease. I give him a look that says,where do you come up with this crap?but he just gazes at me, little creases around his warm eyes.
“And what do you do, Myles?” Andy asks.
Myles glances at me uncertainly, and I nod. “I’m a bartender in the East Village, and I’m in the process of building a web-design business.” He reaches again for his whiskey, and there’s a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “But my true passion is experimental jazz.”
A laugh bursts out of me. I almost choke on my vodka, quickly trying to disguise it with a cough. What the hell is he doing now?
“Oh… uh, wow,” Andy says.
“Do you know the genre?” There’s a smile in Myles’s voice, and I can’t even look at him or I’m going to explode.
“Well, of course.” Andy nods hastily. “Big fan.”
“Great!” Myles pushes to his feet. “Let’s put some on.”
“That’s okay, honey.” I grab his arm and yank him back down onto the sofa beside me. “Maybe another time.” I try to send him acut it outlook, but when I see the laughter dancing in his eyes, I almost lose it. I look away from him, flattening my lips, but they’re trembling and I know I can’t keep this up. “Bathroom, Claudia?” I manage, one hand covering my smile.
“Of course.” She gestures toward the hall. “You remember where it is?”
I rush to my feet, fleeing the room. Once down the hallway, I take a left and step into the spacious powder room, collapsing in a paroxysm of giggles behind the door.For God’s sake, Myles.
He’s such an idiot. He’s an adorable idiot, and I don’t know what I’d do without him.
Shit.
I gaze at my reflection, feeling unease crawl across my skin. What am I thinking?
Look, okay, I can no longer deny how much I like him. He’s always been cute, and he’s looking extra fine tonight. I remember what’s under that shirt, those jeans—I know the shape and the taste of him now, and that’s driving me crazy. Tonight he’s being so sweet and affectionate, and while I know he’s putting on an act for the others, part of me also senses it’s not just that. Now that I can see how much he’snotlike Mark, it’s like a veil has been lifted. I can see parts of him I couldn’t—or didn’t want to—see before.
But… I also can’t deny the urge I feel to stay away from him. Because if he’s not like Mark, then it’s something else—something making me want to keep him at arm’s length. Maybe I’m just worried about Cory’s words after making the mistake of not listening to him last time. Or maybe it’s my inner compass, giving me a warning. I have no idea, but it’s scaring the shit out of me.
I shake my head at myself in the mirror.Don’t make another mistake, Cat.
With a sigh, I open the bathroom door, stepping out into the corridor. Myles is waiting outside, leaning against the wall. He straightens up when he sees me.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. But I couldn’t keep it together when you started talking about experimental jazz.”
“I just wanted to see you smile.” He chuckles and his expression softens. “They’re assholes. You know that, right?”
“Well, Claudia’s okay,” I say and he nods. “But otherwise… yeah.”
We stare at each other for a minute, then he lets his gaze sink down the length of my body and slowly climb back up. Somehow, I canfeelit. All my nerve endings spark, and when his gaze meets mine again and his pupils dilate, swallowing up the blue in his eyes, heat blooms low in my belly.
He steps closer, reaching out to trail a fingertip along the flower details on the strap of my dress. There’s a gruff edge to his voice as he says, “You have to let me photograph you in that dress.”
