Chapter 28 Beth
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
BETH
The last thing I wanted was to be a sweaty mess tonight, but I could feel the dampness under my arms and between my cleavage.
My stomach roiled nervously. This was so unlike me, and I knew it had to be the pressure and the lie.
I really wanted Aura Beauty as a client, but boy, was I crossing some lines to land them.
The invitation to the launch party had stated the dress code was formal, and the theme was jewel tones to match their latest eye shadow palette. I’d left a tie at Callan’s door while he was out for training. It was amethyst to match my clutch.
Maia had hooked me up with an emerald-green dress from her department store.
It was silk with thin straps, a V-neck, fitted bodice, and a straight skirt, but the skirt split on the left, revealing leg all the way up to my thigh.
My pseudo-cousin had paired the dress with emerald-green Jimmy Choo sandals, held together with strands of suede.
They wrapped around my ankles and were glamorous but kind of wild at the same time.
I loved them. The shoes were extravagant, but I wanted to impress Sheera.
I sent a photo of them to Luke.
He’d texted back.
So proud of you. Welcome to my world.
Laughing, I’d sent him a blowing-kiss emoji and then slipped my phone into my heart-shaped Jimmy Choo clutch.
Hundreds of amethyst Swarovski crystals made the clutch wink and sparkle in the light.
I loved the contrast against the green and thought I’d done well living up to the jewel-tone theme.
However, it was way too expensive, so it was on loan from the store, which meant I had to be super careful with it.
The only jewelry I wore was a silver necklace with a small amethyst heart pendant and an amethyst Swarovski crystal bracelet.
I’d curled my hair and then brushed it out into waves that fell down my back.
A knock at my door made my skin flush hot, and I squeezed my eyes shut. If I didn’t want to be a sweaty mess at this party, I needed to calm down.
I thought my nerves were to do with Sheera, but maybe a tiny part of me anticipated being close to Callan all night.
Our dinner at the Thai restaurant had gone somewhere unexpected.
Aye, we’d admitted to being attracted to each other, because it was stupid to pretend otherwise, considering our history …
but that moment at the table was something else.
I’d never been that turned on in public before.
Like, I’d felt pangs of attraction, but I’d never had to return home from a dinner to change my underwear because I’d gotten wet merely from a man murmuring sexy words to me.
What the heck was that?
I was usually way better at controlling myself. It worried me. The only other times I’d felt out of control was when I was grieving or anxious. Being out of control to me was not a good thing.
So I had to be better tonight.
Throwing my shoulders back, I whispered, “You’ve got this. You are Beth freaking Carmichael. You own your mind, your body … and you are going to sign Aura Beauty and avoid having sex with Callan.” I nodded militantly at my reflection in the hallway mirror. “Good talk.”
A few seconds later, I opened my flat door to find Callan standing on the other side, looking like my version of a wet dream. I gaped at him as his eyes moved slowly down my body. The split of my dress had parted to reveal my bare leg, and his nostrils flared.
He smelled amazing. Spicy and musky and male.
I’d told him I was wearing emerald-green with amethyst accents. Callan had paired the amethyst tie I’d bought him with an emerald-green silk waistcoat. He wore it with a white shirt and a fitted black suit. An emerald-green pocket square and polished black derby shoes completed his dapper look.
“You match me,” I said stupidly.
Callan’s eyes were still glued to my bare leg. “I had this waistcoat in my closet.”
I rolled my eyes and snapped my fingers in his face. “I’m up here.”
He blinked, finally meeting my eyes. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“It wasn’t my intention, no.” I stepped out of the flat, locking the door. “Shall we?” I gestured to the lift. I didn’t really want to take the stairs in my fancy shoes.
His gaze flickered over my body again, and he swallowed before following me. I could still feel him staring as we waited for the lift to arrive.
When I stepped in, the movement flashed my leg through the dress’s slit, and the mirror on the back of the lift revealed Callan’s eyes dropping to my bare skin again. I let out a huff of disbelief. “You’re acting like you’ve never seen legs before.”
He cut me a dark look and tugged on the lapels of his suit. “Every man that looks at you tonight is going to think of sex, princess.”
“Only the straight ones,” I teased.
Callan didn’t laugh.
I nudged him with my shoulder. “You’re going to have to relax there, Mr. Keen. This dress is split right to the thigh, so every time I walk, you’ll get an eyeful. Let’s not pretend you haven’t slept with half of the female population of Scotland. You can deal with a cheeky leg flash.”
The lift doors opened and as we stepped out, Callan rested his hand on my lower back, guiding me out of the building toward his Defender.
“You have great fucking legs and, aye, I like looking at them … but it’s more about the fact that your dress opens just high enough to the top of your thigh, drawing my eye between your legs.
So every time you walk and flash that leg, I’m imagining burying my head between your thighs and licking your clit until you scream. ”
Even though he said it so matter-of-factly, I felt a deep squeeze in my lower belly.
Arousal flushed through me at the visual, and I felt my nipples pebble against the dress.
I was wearing adhesive breast lifts instead of a bra (a bra would ruin the lines of the gown), and I wasn’t quite sure those puppies would hide hard nipples.
“Stop it.” I glared at Callan as he opened the passenger door for me. “Keep your dirty mouth to yourself for the night. I’m wearing silk, for goodness’ sake.”
Realizing what I meant, Callan squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head with a groan. “Woman, you are killing me here.”
I huffed and then eyed the vehicle. I was tall, but I was also in a fairly restrictive dress and heels.
Placing my clutch gently on the seat before me, I braced one hand on the door frame and the other on the seat and tried to hop up into it without crushing my dress.
My ankle bent over in the thin-heeled sandals, and I let out a cry as I collapsed inelegantly across the seat, arse dangling off it.
“I’ve got you.” Callan’s aftershave filled my senses as he moved into me. “Lift your hips, I’ll get your dress.”
I did just that and Callan gently pulled my dress down under me. Of course, the split stretched open and his fingers brushed over bare skin as I righted myself. Shivers cascaded down my spine, and I must have sucked in a breath because Callan’s hand paused on my bare thigh.
He had nice hands. Manly hands. And his fingertips were touching my inner thigh.
Arousal flooded my lower belly.
“Callan …” I squeaked out his name in a panic because I was seconds from shoving his hand up my dress. The image of his head buried there quickly followed.
Oh my goodness!
What the hell was this?
Why did he make me so lust fogged and out of control?
No. I was not out of control.
Our eyes met. His were hot with desire, the hunger in them unmistakable. And aye, there was a part of me that triumphed knowing Callan Keen wanted me … but the more sensible part of me knew it would be better if he didn’t.
His fingers flexed on my thigh.
“W-we’ll be late if we don’t leave now.”
Callan abruptly removed his hand. “Right.”
The very short drive to the event was the quietest, most intense drive I’d ever experienced. We made our way there in absolute silence as if afraid one more word between us would cause us to explode.
Callan parked his Defender on George Street not far from the event building and then rounded the vehicle to help me out.
I looked reluctantly at his outstretched hand but then took it.
Sparks shot up my arm at the feel of his calloused palm in mine.
Then his arm was around my waist, stabilizing me as I exited the vehicle with a little hop.
I grabbed my clutch and then retook Callan’s hand to walk into the building.
Fancy signs guided us toward the private room for the party.
Two doormen asked for our names and let us in.
Noise hit us as soon as they opened the doors.
It was crowded with people and tables and décor.
In the center of the large space with its paneled walls and glittering chandeliers was a large table filled with Aura Beauty products.
A screen had been set up on the opposite side of the event space, and it played the Aura Beauty ads over and over again while chart music pumped through the room.
“Callan Keen?” We heard a male voice say, and we turned to where a group of people wearing press badges stood. They were talking with Sheera, who looked over at us as one of the journalists’ eyes lit up. The bearded fella crossed the room to us, and Callan’s hand tightened in mine.
“Callan Keen, Bryan Fodder from the Scottish Star. What brings you here? And who’s your date?”
Callan looked relaxed and cool as he replied, “Nice to meet you, mate. I’m here with my friend, Beth. She was invited to tonight’s event.”
Bryan’s eyes narrowed on me. “I recognize you. You’re—”
“Beth Carmichael,” Sheera interrupted. She stepped between me and the journalist to press an affected kiss to each of my cheeks. “Beth is my guest.”
“Of the Edinburgh Carmichaels?” Bryan asked.
I nodded. “I own the social media management company Social Queens.”
Bryan didn’t care. He’d caught a different scent. “And you’re dating Caley United captain Callan Keen?”