“We need him to be set up by six, and he’ll work until midnight. If we want him to stay past midnight, we’ll pay double his regular rate and tip him well. I’m texting you the address now. Thank you.” I clicked off and resisted folding my arms at the caressing sweep of his gaze from my fitted tee to my face. “What do you need?”
Canaan tilted his head, and his lips curved into a smile. “I think you may want to ask me what I need in a different way.”
Ignoring the desire that pooled in my panties, I replied, “Okay... Why are you here?”
He cleared his throat. “Before I left, I wanted to see if you wanted to take photos or do a live or something to welcome our guests. Or if you needed my assistance for something else.”
“I got it handled.” The whole racing event would last no more than two hours, and then the guests would be driven here for the celebration. Security personnel were already stationed at the house, and additional security would be present at the track and by the Navigators that we’d leased for transportation.
“It definitely looks that way.” Canaan continued to stare at me.
“What?” I crisply asked. His attention unnerved me.
“I’m sorry.”
I frowned. “You don’t need to apologize for anything.”
“You don’t want to know why I’m apologizing?”
“About the other night. You didn’t do anything wrong. We’re just different people. It’s cool.” I turned to walk away.
“What if it’s not cool with me? You’ve been distant.” His following words stopped me. “I miss you, and you’re in my bed every night.”
I looked back at him. “Canaan, you don’t know how often you seem annoyed when I snap a pic of you or talk about my followers or my book. It’s okay if you don’t like what I do. At least respect it.”
“Respect it? I’ve read your book, look forward to hearing about your dissertation, and today is about showing love to your followers.”
I explained, “No, today is more than that. It’s for you too. It’s about your brand and helping you break this mental block.”
“I don’t give a fuck about people watching me. I did all this for you.”
I sighed. “We don’t have time to talk right now. I have fifty million tasks to do afteryoudecided to throw a party at the last hour, which is clearly for you.” This time, I crossed my arms, and my expression hardened. I couldn’t let him slip inside again.
“Yep, it is my fucking event. Whatever needs to be done will happenafterwe talk and not a minute before,” Canaan ordered.
“There’s the asshole I know and hated,” I threw out.
“Then I’m an asshole, but youwilllisten.” His demanding tone didn’t waver or soften.
The panoramic view past his shoulders captured my gaze since looking directly at him would be detrimental to my sanity. “Then talk.”
“Look at me,” he thundered.
Reluctantly, I met his intense glare. I pushed him too far, yet my pride kept me from completely capitulating as I kept my expression neutral.
“Why are you giving me so much mouth? I break my practice to show you how much you mean to me by taking you out on a yacht. Then somehow,I’mthe bad guy. Now, you seem irritated that I decided to throw a party. I wanted us to host a party to boost your following more, and your mouth is poked out likeI’mthis bastard.”
I touched my chest. “You’re not a bastard, but that other night you hurt me. I wanted a picture of us just for me, and you were immediately pissed. Told me you didn’t trust me and never answered whether it was about seeming like a real couple. I wanted a picture of us to cherish on one of the most special nights of my life because I don’t know if we’ll still have reason to speak after we return to Houston.”
“Of course, we’ll have reason to speak. I thought at the very least we were becoming friends.” He dragged his hand down his face. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing. I don’t like taking photos, but I consider it a necessary evil for my career. Besides, we have tons of pics of us.”
“Pics for the media but not forme, andnotthat night under the stars.” I tapped my foot, wanting to get away from his unnerving presence. “Now, can I go?”
Canaan shook his head firmly. “No. You’re still pissed, and that makes no sense after all that I’ve done to show how important you are to me.”
My palm connected with my cell as I raised my voice. “Because you keep dismissing an important part of me. You like the intellectual side of me, the fact that I’m working on my doctorate and conduct research, but not that I’m also considered a content creator and social media influencer. I do like taking photos, and it’s a damn big deal that you don’t trust me. And for the record, I never asked you to tell the world we’re engaged. Didn’t ask to come here. Didn’t —”
“Just shut up, Kensie.” He cut me off.
