Chapter 11
Chapter eleven
Tristan
Something changed.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, I only knew things were…different. It’d started when Kate had sauntered into the foyer earlier. Holy shit. Talk about a breath-stealing moment.
I’d wanted to cross the room, gaze into her eyes, and tell her how utterly magnificent she looked.
Probably would’ve done it if it weren’t for Millie.
Growing up, my parents didn’t believe anything important could come out of a kid’s mouth.
As a result, whenever I had something to say, they shut me down.
They’d dismissed me so thoroughly, I still reeled from the sting of it.
I didn’t want to cause anyone else that kind of hurt. That was why when Millie spoke, I listened.
“Do you really think we can do this?” Kate’s nervous voice drew me back to the present.
We stood in front of the restaurant. She’d needed a minute before we went inside. Now I knew why. I couldn’t fault her for being apprehensive when I had the very same concerns. But I could attempt to put her somewhat at ease.
With a wink, I curved my mouth into a wide grin and motioned for her to walk ahead. “Don’t worry, Kitty Kat. We’ve got this.”
She muttered something I didn’t quite catch. And it wasn’t because of the softness of her voice. The instant she was in front of me, my gaze locked onto the gentle sway of her hips, and my brain cells left the damn building.
What the fuck?
What the actual fuck?
It was that dream all over again. Only this time, I imagined slowly dragging the silky dress up over her thighs before I…
“Tristan. Kate. So glad you could make it.”
Mr. Livingston’s voice stopped that thought dead in its tracks. Thankfully, Kate was in front of me, giving me the precious few seconds I needed to calm myself.
We shook hands as he introduced Kate to everyone around the table. When he reached Lewis, the prick made some smart-ass remark about her leveling up since she was dating her boss.
I’d wanted to punch the damn smirk off his face. I didn’t think that’d help me make partner, so I held my tongue and pulled out Kate’s chair instead. Regret burned its way through my veins the instant I caught her expression.
Once I was seated, I whispered next to her ear, “You good?”
I was close. Too damn close. The delicate notes of her perfume teased my senses and wreaked havoc to my insides. I was torn between shutting my eyes and inhaling deeply or eradicating the distance to find out if her skin tasted as delicious as she smelled.
Shit.
I was losing my damned mind.
“I’m fine,” she whispered back.
A lie.
I wanted to drag her away from the table, away from the judgmental stares, and beg her to tell me how to make it better. Instead of doing that, I sat up straighter and joined the conversation.
I’d thought I’d have to work hard at convincing these people I was a better bet than Lewis. In the end, I didn’t have to do a damn thing. Kate, with her wit and charm, was winning them over all by herself.
The more she spoke, the more she impressed me. Not just me. Mr. Livingston’s wife was so enamored with her, she’d traded places with Scott’s wife so she could sit next to Kate and pick her brain.
Because as luck would have it, years ago when the firm was in its infancy, Mrs. Livingston used to be Mr. Livingston’s assistant.
“We fought the attraction for so long,” Mrs. Livingston said. “Especially me. Back then, a working woman was already condemned, how much worse would it be if she was dating her boss?”
Kate nodded. “I know exactly what you mean. I fear it still carries the disapproval of many.” She leaned toward Mrs. Livingston. I leaned closer to her. “And it’s always the woman who ends up being slandered.”
“Isn’t that the truth, my dear.” The older woman placed her hand over Kate’s on the table. “But let me tell you when the love is pure and true, it’s worth all the slander and heartache.”
Kate didn’t answer and because her face was turned away from me, I didn’t catch her expression.
For reasons I couldn’t begin to understand, that bugged me.
Before I could dwell on it too much, our server returned to take our dinner orders.
On cue, chatter ceased as everyone picked up their menus. I was about to ask Kate what she wanted when Lewis piped up.
“Order the salmon for your girlfriend, Tristan.” I didn’t care for the way he referred to Kate. Before I could make that known, he spoke again, “We all know women can be so indecisive they need a man to take the lead.”
I had words for this fucking asshole. Words that, in my best interest, would absolutely be better left unsaid.
Where was the fun in that?
“You know, Lewis, I understand it might be difficult for someone like you to comprehend, but I don’t decide or dictate what my girlfriend eats.” Holding his stare, I got comfortable and slung an arm over the back of Kate’s chair. “She’s quite capable of making her own decisions.”
Someone snickered. I thought it was Kate since she’d lifted her menu to hide her smile, but everyone looked amused. Everyone except Lewis.
“I think I’ll have the steak.” Kate handed the menu to the server with the widest smile on those pretty lips. A sharp pang of jealousy shot through my veins. So fierce, I tasted the bitterness on my tongue.
Holy fucking shit. What the hell was wrong with me?
Giving myself a quick mental shake, I, too, ordered the steak. As did most of the women. I still had my arm over Kate’s chair and without thinking, I trailed my fingers over her shoulder.
She stiffened. I didn’t like that. Up until that moment, I’d kept a respectable distance between us. I hadn’t invaded her space. Hadn’t even touched her. But that needed to change, especially with Lewis’s scrutinizing gaze on us.
Repeating the action, I hoped for a different reaction from her. I didn’t get one. Yet again, she sat up even straighter.
Shit. This wasn’t good.
Maybe if I touched her some place less obvious to ease her into it, she’d relax a little? Removing my arm from her chair, I slipped it under the table to smooth a hand above her knee.
She jumped up. She literally fucking jumped up.
“E-e… Excuse me.”
The words were barely out before she bolted. I swear, if she left like this…
Cursing low under my breath, I pushed to my feet and fastened the buttons on my blazer. “Long day. I’ll go check on her.”
As I strode away, Mrs. Livingston murmured about what a wonderful couple we were. I should’ve been relieved that they’d bought it. But the feelings raging through my body were anything but.
Scanning over the patrons, I searched for the brunette, who without even realizing had stolen my sanity. I didn’t see her. My heart kicked up a few gears and just as I was about to ask the hostess, I caught sight of those dark strands disappearing behind a door.
I didn’t think, simply marched straight to that damn door and shoved it open.
“What the hell?” Kate shrieked. “Are you blind? This is the ladies’ room.”
“I don’t give a shit.” I stalked inside and didn’t stop until I was right in front of her. “What was that out there?”
Fury burned bright in her gaze, but she blinked, and it was gone. Shoulders sagging, her attention dropped to her hands curled around the edge of the counter.
“I don’t think I can do this,” she whispered.
My heart hammered way too loud and way too fast. “Changed your mind?”
Shaking her head, she blew out a breath. “I…” More head shaking.
“Kate.” I covered her hand with mine. “Talk to me.”
She slipped out of my grasp. I didn’t like the empty feeling she left behind, nor did I care for it when she took a few steps away from me.
“They know.” Her breathing picked up. “They know this isn’t real, that we’re trying to trick them.
What do you think will happen to our jobs?
They need you. You’ll probably keep yours.
But me? I’m just your assistant. I’m replaceable.
” One faster than the other, the words tumbled out of her mouth.
“What’ll happen to Millie if I don’t have a job? Oh my—”
“Hey.” I took her face between my palms, stunning her into silence. Her eyes were big and wide and her lips slightly parted. “You need to take a breath.”
She didn’t. Instead, she lifted her hands to my wrists. Her fingers dug into my skin as she tried to pull away from me. A better man would have listened. Would have let go.
Not me.
Tightening my hold, I leaned in close. So close, that every breath she blew out left a warm puff of air against my lips.
“What are you doing?” she whispered. “We agreed no touching.”
Half of my mouth lifted into a grin. “You rattled off your rules, Kitty Kat. I never agreed to a single one.”
“Tristan.”
Shit. The way she said my name had a direct line to my groin. I was getting hard...for Kate. This was so messed-up.
Releasing her—not because she asked me, because I needed to—I took two strides away from her. The distance didn’t do shit. I still wanted to surge forward, fist my hands in those silky tresses, and demand her to say my name like that again.
“We were doing a good job out there until you turned into a statue when I touched you. How the hell are we supposed to convince anyone this is real if I can’t touch you? Can’t hold your hand or slide my thumb over your shoulder?”
My voice was loud, my tone clipped.
I hadn’t meant for it to be. I was just so...frustrated...confused. My body was reacting to her in a way it’d never done. My thoughts were consumed by her. And my dreams? I wasn’t even fucking going there.
Maybe asking Kate to be my pretend anything was a huge damn mistake.
“Fuck.” The growl slipped from my mouth. Covering my lips with one hand, I shoved the other through my hair.
Two loud knocks sounded on the door before it creaked open to reveal an angry woman.
“Excuse me, sir, you can’t be in here.” Her gaze flicked to Kate. “Everything all right, ma’am?”
Great. Just fucking great.
“We’re good,” Kate said, her voice a lot steadier than it’d been moments ago.
The woman didn’t look convinced. “You still can’t be in here, sir. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
A growl blew over my lips. “Do you work here?”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she pinned me with a glare. “I’m the manager.”
Perfect.
Stepping forward, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my money clip. Without counting the bills, I held out the entire stack to her.
“I’m only asking for ten minutes. I swear, we’re not in here to have sex. I just want to talk to my girlfriend. Some asshole upset her, and I’m trying to make it right.”
That wasn’t very far from the truth.
Miss Manager’s eyes narrowed. She eyed me then the bills then met my gaze once more. For a moment I was certain she was going to throw me out, but then she grabbed the bills and shoved them into her pocket.
“Ten minutes.”
“I’m sorry,” Kate whispered when the door clicked shut. “Maybe…” Shaking her head, she swallowed a couple of times. “Do it again.”
My brow lifted. “Now you want me to touch you?”
“Ugh.” Throwing her hands in the air, she started walking. “I knew this was a mistake.”
Before she could push past me, I grabbed her by the wrist and tugged. I’d done it with a bit more force than I’d intended, causing her to teeter on her heels before she tipped forward.
Her head landed on my chest, her hands going to my sides.
Thunder struck, sending a jolt of electricity zapping through my veins.
I lifted my hand and frowned. My fingers trembled. Why the fuck were my fingers trembling? Ignoring it, I trailed the tips over Kate’s shoulder and up her neck. Holy shit, her skin was soft. Silk beneath my touch.
“This what you want?”
“Want?” She shook her head. “No, I don’t want this—”
“Fine.” I cut her off, not loving the sting her words left. “Is it okay if I touch you like this?”
To demonstrate, I stroked my thumb along the column of her throat and didn’t miss the swallow she worked down.
“I…” Another swallow. “Yes,” she said softly.
That should have been enough. But since I wasn’t in charge of my own fucking body anymore, I had no control over it when my thumb slid up over her chin and traced the line of her bottom lip.
“This too?” The words tumbled out of my mouth in a low rumble.
Her gaze flicked to mine. I saw the same confusion I felt down to my bones. Neither of us spoke. We simply stared.
Time ticked by. I kept brushing that damn lush lip of hers, my mind drifting to places it had no damn business going. How would it feel to have them on me? Trailing over my skin?
What would I taste if I bent and pressed my mouth to hers?
“No kissing.”
Her whisper broke through my thoughts just in time for me to realize I’d leaned in. So far in, those damn tempting lips were mere inches from mine.
Half stunned, half embarrassed—because I couldn’t remember a woman ever affecting me like this—I stepped back.
I missed the feel of her skin against mine.
Curling my fingers into a fist, I shoved my hands into my pockets.
“I vaguely remember you mentioning something about no kissing,” I told her. “You’re dead set on that, aren’t you, Kitty Kat?”
“I am.”
That surefire response shouldn’t have bothered me. I didn’t want to kiss her. Didn’t want to shove my tongue down her throat or slip my hand under that pretty dress.
I definitely did not want to bend her over the counter. Or spank her ass as I drove so deep into her, she forgot how to breathe.
Yeah, I most certainly did not want to do any of that.