And now it’s time for me to look out for him, and get him the hell away from this lot.
I lean into his ear and whisper, “Want to go?”
He glances at me, trying to read my expression, then nods.
“Thank you so much for having us, Claudia,” I say with a smile. “Dinner was lovely and it was really nice to see you again. But we need to get going.”
She rises to her feet. “Sure. I’ll be in touch about you designing some clothes for me,” she says, pulling me into a hug. “I have a friend who owns a boutique around here who might be interested, too.”
“Great.” I turn to the others, forcing a civil tone. “Nice to see you. Good night.”
Mel gives a scornful snort and I grit my teeth, taking a step toward her, but Myles tugs me back by my hand.
“Come on, baby,” he says soothingly, “let’s get you home.”
I grumble, letting him lead me out. When we’re finally alone on Claudia’s doorstep, I blow out an aggravated breath. “They’re the worst. I’m so sorry I dragged you all the way here.”
A smile brushes his lips. “I’m not.”
“You’re not?”
“No. If you hadn’t dragged me here, you never would’ve kissed me.”
I turn away from him with a shaky laugh. “I don’t know,” I mumble. Would I have kissed him anyway, at some point?
“Hey,” he says gently, touching my shoulder so I turn back to him. “I’m not expecting anything, okay?”
“What?”
He shrugs. “Nothing has to happen between us. I know you’re worrying that because we kissed, I expect something. But I don’t.”
Relief rolls through me. Not at his words, exactly, but at how he’s letting me put some space between us. Except, he’s being so damn sweet and sincere about it that my heart squeezes again. It’s this kind of shit that makes mewantto kiss him.
“Oh yeah? Then what was with all that ‘let’s get you home baby’ stuff?”
He chuckles, gesturing for me to head down onto the street. “You looked like you were about to punch Mel. Anyway, we need to get you home before midnight, because once that clock strikes twelve—”
“What, I’ll turn into a pumpkin?”
“I think you’ll find that was the carriage. She just turned back into a spinster.”
“I hate to break it to you, buddy. I’m a spinster twenty-four seven—not just after midnight.”
He laughs as we turn down Park Avenue, the balmy evening air warming us through. The traffic hums along beside us and the pleasant chirrup of birds drifts from the park as they settle down in the fading copper light.
“I’ll order an Uber,” Myles says, taking his phone out. I nod, pulling out my own phone, but he gestures for me to put it away. “Let’s share one. I’ll drop you home like the Prince Charming I am.”
“I guess a stand-in boyfriend should drop me home.”
“Exactly. I need to see out my duties for the evening.” Our ride pulls up a moment later and he opens the door with a grand flourish, turning to me. “M’lady. Your carriage.”
I climb inside with a giggle, trying to make sense of the light, pleasant feeling coursing through me, despite the fact that I spent the evening with Mel and Mark.
I think it might be happiness.
25
On the ride home, Myles is unusually quiet. I’m just about to ask him if he’s okay, when he turns to me with a thoughtful look.
