“Looks like he’s getting acquainted with Jeannine.” Dad pointed toward her station where she’d amazingly left her position at the ovens and served him herself. I didn’t bother explaining to my father that we were all already acquainted.
Instead, I smoothed my hands over my white day dress, resisting the urge to cinch tighter the red ribbon that circled my hips. “Excuse me, father.” I patted his shoulder before walking over with what I hoped was a super casual and not at all shocked look on my face. I knew I’d see him again, but at my company’s bi-annual appreciation event was the last place I had expected it to happen.
Jeannine waggled her eyebrows once we locked gazes and Rory, noticing her shift from bright-eyed-smile to crazy-innuendo face, glanced my way.
I stopped a foot away from him, my breath stalling in my lungs. The man looked good in everything, his black slacks and royal blue polo beyond making his eyes pop. He could wear a prison jumpsuit, and he’d drip sex. I clenched my eyes shut for a moment, forcing the images of what laid beneath the clothes from my mind.
“What are you doing here?” I wasn’t breathless. I was…upset. Fantasizing about sneaking around with him was one thing, having him show up at a corporate event—without so much as a heads up—was an entirely different situation. Especially with my father’s watchful eyes measuring each step of my success and each of his prayers for me not to fail him—even more so with the new addition to the guest list that would be here any second. I know the contract stated we’d be a couple, but I’d wanted to inform my father of my new “relationship” on my own terms, not Rory’s. Though, the man was constantly reminding me who was in control now that I’d enlisted his help.
“Couldn’t pass up an opportunity to give back to the local community. Wonderful charity you chose for the event, Paige. So many homeless shelters will benefit from the boost in funds.”
My heart actually had the gall to flutter in my chest. No. I slapped the bitch down and redirected the feelings to my pussy where they belonged. Sex was acceptable. Lust was fine…actually having feelings for him would make our arrangement even more dangerous than it already was.
“Thank you, Rory.” I was shocked he’d shown up—him looking into the charity event was beyond my thought process. He wasn’t advertised in the media as a do-gooder, but he’d already came to my aide at two charity functions. I’d always thought it was on Bailey and Gage’s insistence, but perhaps there was a side to him no one knew. The media constantly focused on which model was on his arm this week, or what player on the opposing team he’d crush next. This—what he was doing with me or for me or whoever the hell knew—would be fantastic for his image. And he’d be fantastic for my…list. No butterflies, Paige. Just business.
I eyed Jeannine. She was easily the most gorgeous person here—besides perhaps Rory—even with her platinum blonde locks tied up in a top-knot and her all black chef attire.
She suggestively wiggled her hips while Rory’s attention was on me and I chuckled. She’d be a better match for him than me, easily able to keep up with his wild side, and she didn’t have anything at stake from being in the limelight. Hell, her restaurants were frequented by A-listers all the time. She was used to it.
A pang of completely unmerited jealousy cut in my stomach. When the hell had I decided I’d rather not picture Rory with anyone else? He was only mine for three months. After that, it would be back to bed-hopping for him and near-celibate for me.
“Well, this looks divine, Jeannine. Thank you.” Rory licked his lips as his eyes trailed my body before he held up his full plate and sauntered to an empty table near the auction items.
Jeannine whistled. “He just eye-fucked you in public, girl. I told you he’s got it bad.”
I darted my gaze left and right, thankful no one was near enough to catch her words. “No, he doesn’t.” And the mere thought did not make my heart beat harder. Nope. It was just the way his ass looked in those slacks as he’d walked away.
My second guest list made the perfect timing to arrive, and I hurried over to the entrance to greet them. “Thank you all for coming,” I said and pointed to Jeannine’s stations. “Please feel free to fill your plates, sit where you’d like, and enjoy the entertainment. After you’ve had enough to your liking, please stop by the auction table and pick up your raffle ticket. We’ll be holding a drawing after the auction.”
I received several hugs, a few handshakes, and plenty of skeptical looks as people who varied in age and sex pushed on to the food, creating a fast but well-formed line. After satisfying myself that everything was running smoothly, and with the band in full swing, eliciting some people to dance before the stage, I made my way over to Rory.
He grinned over his empty plate, the look all too confident that he’d known, without any doubt, I’d come to him.
I took a seat next to him, adjusting my dress over my legs underneath the cloth that draped over the table.
“You know, we joke about the stalking thing, but it isn’t really sexy. That junk only exists in the movies.”
He placed a large palm over his chest. “You wound me.”
“Please.” I laughed.
Shifting in his seat, he angled his legs toward me under the table, his knee brushing mine. “I have some paperwork for you in my car. Signed. Aren’t you excited, honey?”
The way he said the pet name was forced and awkward enough to make me laugh. Nothing like the real nickname he had for me, which made me shiver whenever he dropped it. “I’m thrilled, darling.” I teased him. “I can’t imagine how terrible this will be for you,” I said, lowering my voice.
“Fun.” He shook his head. “It’ll be fun. You can at least admit that.”
The ache between my thighs had yet to be satisfied, so I shrugged. “Still waiting to see.”
He leaned to whisper in my ear. “Admit it. You got wet the second you saw me.”
My lips parted, and I swear I didn’t mean to gasp. I glanced around with panicked eyes, as if anyone could’ve heard his hushed tone. My confident and controlling persona was useless here, surrounded by all the people whose livelihoods depended on our profitable and well-functioning company.
His fingers grazed the bare skin of my thigh, pushing underneath the skirt of my dress, and rising dangerously high. Blood pumped so hard through my veins it rushed in my ears.