“How would you have done it?”
Giving her a small smile, using the hand that isn’t holding hers, I cup her cheek and she tilts her head slightly into the touch. “I’m not going to tell you my secrets, Ri Ri.”
“But why not?” she whispers.
I’m quiet for a beat before releasing her and standing, staring down at her. Mapping out her face like I have thousands of times, I tuck her loose tendrils behind her ear, allowing the tips of my fingers to brush her soft delicate skin. “Because if I tell you, when I do it for real, it won’t be a surprise.” Kissing the top of her head briefly, I grin as her mouth hangs open slightly then I turn to leave. “Night, Ri Ri.”
Chapter 28
Ria
Leo Brent is confusing me. He has always been easy to read, or so I thought. He was the joker, the one people turn to when they need to smile and get some sunshine. Not the man who made me wonder how his lips would feel on mine or trailing over my skin. Or how his large strong hands would feel gripping my hips. But that is exactly how I’m feeling.
His gentle and kind words mixed with his little touches and thoughtful actions over the past few days have had my brain short-circuiting until he is all I’m thinking about. And Grace is no help. She always says sex is the best medicine or the best way to solve an argument or problem. But won’t that make this little problem worse? All weekend, I’ve been trying to remind myself that this is fake, but with every lingering touch andflirty comment, I’m struggling to remain focused. The lines are blurring for me. So much so that last night after we had spent the evening curled up on the sofa watching a romantic comedy, my legs in his lap as he ran his hands up and down my calves, I was already worked up. Then before we went our separate ways to bed, and he wrapped his arms around me and tilted his head down to drop a kiss to the corner of my mouth, whispering goodnight, I almost pulled him back down to claim his mouth. When I was safely in my room, I had to find my trusty pink vibrator, and it was his face that I imagined and his name I mouthed when I came.
“Morning, Ri Ri.” Leo jolts me out of my thoughts as he comes up behind me, gently squeezing my shoulders and dropping a kiss to my cheek. “You look beautiful this morning,” he whispers against my skin before he grabs an apple out of the fruit bowl.
See? It’s things like this.
My stupid heart is threatening to beat out of my chest at his touch, and my head feels like this is real. “You too,” I mumble and he tilts his head, a small grin on his lips.
I’m a mess.
“You think I’m beautiful?” he says in a teasing tone.
“I suppose you aren’t too bad to look at in the morning.” My tone is also teasing as I try to give myself a small bit of my dignity back.
“I haven’t been called beautiful before. It feels good.” He bites into his apple, his eyes on me the whole time.
“I’m sure you’ve had your ego inflated by many girls.” Rolling my eyes, I slide off my stool and reach around him to grab my laptop. He halts me by snaking his free hand around my waist to settle on my hip.
“Not by anyone who counted.”
“We’re going to be late.” I swallow as my gaze darts between his eyes and his lips.
“Right,” he says quietly but doesn’t move to leave.
“Leo, please.” I’m not sure what I’m asking for. For him to leave with me or for him to kiss me. But he makes the decision for me as he straightens and releases me.
“Let’s go, Ri Ri.” He throws the rest of his apple into the trash and grabs his own laptop.
Walking silently, we leave the house. Our fingers brush against each other, and he tucks my hand into his. I look up at him, and he smiles before leaning down. My body instinctively moves closer and I tilt my face up to his, my heart beating wildly as he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “Cole is watching,” he says quietly, and my heart drops into my feet.
Of course, this is an act.
“Okay.” I force a smile onto my lips and lean into his chest to hide my blush of embarrassment as we continue to walk hand in hand.
“Good morning.” Cole walks up to us after signaling to his driver he will be a few moments. “I’m glad I caught you. I wanted to let you know that I have arranged for you to stay in our honeymoon suite on Saturday night after the gala.” He beams.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I say, and Leo’s hold on me tightens as he tenses.
“I know, but I wanted to give you both a wedding gift, and as you’re self-proclaimed workaholics, the night will be just what you need. Oh, and I’ve booked you both into the spa on Sunday as well. Enjoy all the treatments on me.”
“Oh my, that’s…” I stutter, my heart that was in my feet now in my throat. This man is too kind and we’re out here deceiving him.
“Perfect,” Leo finishes for me, kissing my cheek as he moves to curl his arm around my shoulder, tilting my head up with his finger. “You deserve time to relax, baby.”
Baby?
