Chapter Seven #2
We stood in silence, nursing our drinks and watching our women until the bell rang announcing dinner.
I reclaimed Annalise with relief. She wasn't in danger at our engagement party, but I was ill at ease without her by my side.
The point of the party was to make our new relationship visible, but until we knew who the threat was, she was in danger.
Dinner was easy. The food was good, as always, and with me on one side and Gage on the other, Lise could relax.
She stayed that way as long as I kept my distance. The first time I reached out to take her hand, she stiffened, grabbing her wine and taking a long sip. Leaning closer, I murmured, “This won’t work if you cringe when I touch you.”
She let out a huff of breath, turning her face to mine. Her lips almost grazed my cheek as she whispered, “I know. I’m sorry. This is weird, that’s all.”
“Weird because it’s me? Or just weird?” I couldn’t help asking, my voice so low it was barely audible, even to me.
“Both,” she admitted. So quietly I wondered if I’d imagined the words, she said, “I’m not used to being touched. You keep surprising me.”
“You’ll have to get used to it,” I said, pressing a light kiss to her cheek and taking hold of her hand. I held it, in full view of the rest of the table, as she went back to her conversation with Gage, a pink flush high on her cheeks.
I didn’t want to be affected by something as simple as holding her hand. It was an act. That’s all. Just part of the job. Her long fingers twined with mine didn’t mean anything. Part of the show, nothing more.
Then why did her confession leave a hollow feeling in my gut? The Annalise I’d known had been affectionate. Touchy. At least she had been with me. We hadn’t been able to keep our hands off each other. Had she been so isolated over the past few years that a simple touch put her on alert?
I’d kept track of her movements over the years at Aiden Winters’s request, but I hadn’t watched her directly. Aiden had learned the hard way that following Annalise too closely would only send her into hiding.
The first year she’d been gone Cooper had sent a newer operative to keep an eye on her, and she’d realized she was being watched.
Not knowing who it was, Lise had assumed the worst, and she’d taken off, dropping completely out of sight for over a year.
After that, Aiden asked Cooper to put someone on her, but give her plenty of space.
We knew where she was living, when she moved, when her stalker found her.
We didn’t know the details of her day-to-day.
After the way she flinched every time I touched her, I was beginning to wonder exactly how isolated she’d been lately. Fear could be a trap. It could box you in, make you see threats everywhere. I didn’t like to think of Lise like that—alone and afraid, not letting anyone close.
She’d have to let down her guard with me. We wouldn’t be able to pull off this engagement if she treated me like a stranger. It wasn’t the ring that would push her stalker to act. It was intimacy. Connection. Right now, it looked like we had none. Holding hands wasn’t enough.
The staff cleared the dessert plates, and a few guests rose from the table. I joined them, taking Lise with me, leading her out of the dining room and into the hall. At the foot of the staircase, in view of the rest of the guests, I took her in my arms.
I brushed my lips across her cheek, and she whispered, "What are you doing?"
"If I have to explain, obviously I'm not doing it right," I said, tasting the line of her jaw.
It was part of the act. After the way Vance and Maggie had disappeared, and all of the blatant PDA between the other Winters couples, it would've looked off if Annalise and I hadn't even kissed.
It had nothing to do with the tension stringing my muscles tight, the ocean and fruit scent of her teasing me all through dinner. The sound of her laugh, the way the light hit her golden hair, sparkled in the ring on her finger.
"Why—”
I cut her off before she could finish the thought. "We have to sell it, remember?"
Before she could come up with another objection, I kissed her.
Her body went stiff in my arms. I pulled her closer, sealing my mouth over hers and tasting her. How could it be the same after so many years?
I fell into the kiss, claiming her, leaning her back over my arm and taking her mouth with mine. She let out a low moan, her tension draining away as she softened in my arms, setting off something inside me.
I forgot where we were. I forgot why I was kissing her.
I just wanted more.
More of her taste, more of the tug of her fingers in my hair as she pulled me closer. More of her tongue stroking mine, more of her breath in my lungs. Just more.
I wanted everything.
A throat cleared behind us and Annalise turned to stone in my arms. Fear flashed in her eyes as I reluctantly lifted my head and looked back to see William Davis glaring at us, his eyes hot and furious. His date’s eyes were avidly curious, and I knew three things.
One—Aiden could expect a visit from William Davis, the topic yet another inappropriate Winters engagement.
Two—Melanie Monroe was going to wear out her phone spreading the news of Annalise's engagement and our hot and heavy kiss in front of all the guests.
And three—I couldn't kiss Annalise again. Ever. Not if I wanted to keep my head on the job.