Chapter 21
SADIE
“I should’ve hired someone to do my makeup,” I lament to Ali who’s on a video call with me as I try once again to get my eyeliner on straight. “I look like a clown.”
“You do not. Just stop fiddling with it, it’s fine.”
I take a step away from the mirror and look down at her image on my phone.
“Are you sure this dress isn’t too much?
” I turn to the right, smoothing the soft fabric that drapes over my stomach and gathers to one side.
The tulip hem splits on a diagonal, showing a lot more leg than I’m used to and saying nothing of how bare my shoulders feel in the thin straps.
“That dress is just the right amount of too much. You look like a freaking goddess. It was made for your curves, and that shade of green is stunning with your hair. I’m so glad you decided to style it that way.”
Ali’s compliments float over me as I run a hand over my wavy hair, swept over one shoulder. Simple gold earrings glint in my ears, understated, but elegant.
“What would I do without you?” I ask, smiling down at my best friend. “You have me looking gorgeous and actually feeling gorgeous. It’s a miracle.”
“Knock ’em dead, babe. And by them, I mean dirtbag Dirk. He’s going to literally keel over and die when he sees you looking like this with your hot baseball god on your arm.”
I blush instantly. “Ali, quiet,” I hiss. “He might hear you.”
“So? I’ll put money on his jaw dropping to the floor when he sees you. Trust me. There might even be drool.”
I giggle. I can’t help it. But the picture of Maverick King drooling is too good. A girl can dream… “Okay, okay, I better go. I’ll call you tomorrow. Thanks again, love you.”
“Love you, girly. Have fun.”
After ending the call, I stand in front of the mirror for another minute or two. “I can do this,” I whisper to the girl in the mirror. No, the beautiful woman in the mirror.
Turning on my heel, I open the bathroom door and walk out into the living room. Maverick instantly looks up from his phone, and I have to bite back another giggle, because Ali nailed it.
His mouth falls open as he lifts one hand to scrub along his jaw. “Damn, Sadie. You look stunning.”
There’s a rawness to his voice I haven’t heard before. And something in his eyes that almost makes me falter.
“Thank you,” I whisper back, clutching my small evening bag. “You look nice, too.”
Nice is an understatement. I’m at a loss for words.
The only ink showing is the tattoos on his hand and knuckles, the rest covered by a crisp black shirt under a tux with a subtle sheen to its midnight colour.
He looks like the most sinful of temptations, someone that promises wicked pleasure if you dare to get close.
And I desperately want to.
When I reach his side, he lifts my hand and tucks it carefully into his arm. “Ready?”
All I can do is nod. He walks me out the door and to the elevator, not letting go of my arm the entire ride down to the lobby and out to the waiting town car Colin organized for us.
Only then does he release his hold on me so I can carefully slide into the car. He rounds the back and opens the other door, sitting next to me. So close his intoxicating scent surrounds me.
I startle when he picks up my hand, my gaze shooting to his face, where I see a small smile. His thumb starts to stroke back and forth over my knuckles as we simply stare at each other as the car pulls away.
The drive to the hotel where the gala is being held isn’t a long one, not even long enough for me to try and gather some composure.
Our car pulls up and Maverick is out and rounding the back to open my door in an instant.
He takes my hand and tucks it securely in the crook of his arm, drawing me in close to his side.
If this is the last opportunity I’m going to have to soak in his affection, fake as it may be, I’m going to enjoy it as much as I can.
I lean into him slightly, bringing his upper arm in contact with my torso.
I feel more than see him glance down at me as we walk into the ballroom.
I might have been here earlier today to help make sure everything was set up and decorated properly, but I’m still stunned by how elegant and beautiful the space looks.
Along one wall are tables filled with silent auction items, a band is in the corner playing soft background music, and scattered throughout are promotional images that will hopefully encourage everyone to open their wallets and give generously.
“Sadie, there you are.” Gus approaches us, looking at Maverick. “And Mr. King. Thank you for joining us and for your donation. It was extremely generous.”
I’m immediately confused. As the head of fundraising, I’m normally aware of all major donations to the foundation, but I certainly don’t remember seeing one come through from Maverick.
“I believe my agent stated it was to be anonymous.” Maverick’s words are clipped, his spine ramrod straight as he stares at my boss.
Gus’s mouth opens and then closes, and I watch him turn red. “Of course, it is, I just assumed since you and Sadie… I’m so sorry, Mr. King. Please, enjoy your evening. I had better go and check on the food.”
I watch, bewildered as Gus hurries away, before turning to stand in front of Maverick. “What was that about?”
Maverick lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck, still not meeting my gaze. “Nothing. He shouldn’t have said anything.”
Just then, the pieces click.
“Wait. Two weeks ago, there was an anonymous donation of fifty thousand dollars.” I grab his arm. “That was you?”
Slowly, he brings his gaze to meet mine. “Yeah. But I didn’t want you to know it was me.”
My initial shock softens into something else. “Why not?”
“Because I didn’t want you to think it was me paying you for, you know. Being with me. I honestly just wanted to donate. I give that amount and more to various charities every year, and this year it felt right to make a gift to the hospital. I swear, it had nothing to do with us.”
He sounds so worried that I might be offended by his generosity, when in reality, I’m touched. Not for a second do I feel like he was trying to compensate me for pretending to date him, because instinctively, I know he respects me too much to do that.
My hand lifts to cup his cheek, pulling his gaze up from the floor again. “Maverick. Thank you.” I slide my hand around to the back of his neck and tug gently.
He brings his face down and turns it to the side, likely anticipating I was going to kiss him but wanting to respect my boundaries.
Joke’s on him. Because right now, I don’t care if he doesn’t return my feelings. I want to kiss the man who has found his way into my heart.
His head jerks slightly when my lips land on his, but he recovers immediately, moving to grip my hip in one hand and cup the back of my neck in his other. He takes control of our kiss, pressing firmly into mine.
It would be easy to get swept away, to forget where we are, but the obnoxious sound of my ex’s voice coming from somewhere nearby penetrates this perfect moment and we break apart.
“Sadie,” Maverick starts to say, but I give my head a tiny shake.
“Later. Dirk.”
His eyes widen at my whisper, then lift to look behind me.
I can tell the moment he sees my ex. His hold on me tightens as he draws me into his arms. From the outside, it probably looks like a simple hug.
But his head dips down, and then his lips are on my neck before traveling up to my ear, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
“Leave this to me, Specs.”
“Sadie?” Dirk’s arrogant tone has me clenching my jaw as we turn slightly to see him approaching, with none other than his paralegal, Gina, on his arm.
Or as I like to call her, the woman I walked in on him in bed with.
As I look at her, wearing a bright red bodycon dress that I could never, and would never, wear, I don’t feel the pang of embarrassment, of self-criticism, that I expected.
There is no automatic comparison of myself to her, only a detached sense of pity that she’s now stuck with a man like Dirk.
“Derek. Didn’t realize we’d be seeing you here,” Maverick says calmly. Wait. He knows what Dirk’s name is…doesn’t he?
“It’s Dirk. And Maverick fucking King. Gotta say, this is a surprise.” Dirk sticks out his hand, completely ignoring me.
But Maverick ignores his hand in return.
“Why would it be a surprise? I’m pretty sure everyone in the city knows I’m the luckiest bastard around to be dating this amazing woman.
” Maverick’s voice is hard, but his words still manage to worm their way inside of me, sparking something warm deep within.
Dirk’s eyes narrow, then widen, and it’s almost comical to see him trying to make sense of the situation. Then Maverick’s hand is on my chin, tipping my face up so he can press a gentle kiss to my lips.
“Specs, how about we go and get you a glass of champagne to celebrate tonight. I’m sure Darren and his date have other people they’d like to see.”
Dirk’s blustering is audible as Maverick propels me away from them. As soon as we’re far enough away, I let loose the giggle I’ve been fighting down. “Oh my God, that was incredible. How was that so effective at pissing him off?”
I’m treated to one of Maverick’s rare smiles. “Because men like that asshole think they’re the center of the universe and everyone should revolve around them. It throws them wildly off course when they encounter someone unwilling to give them that.”
I hug his arm a little tighter. “Well, thank you. Highlight of my entire evening. I’ll never forget it.”
Maverick’s eyes darken. “Not if I have anything to say about it. He doesn’t deserve any mental space when you think about tonight. I plan on you having much more pleasurable memories.”
Just like that, everything and everyone around us fades away. Maverick toys with the ends of my hair, his fingers dangerously close to the top of my breast. If I inhale deeply, he’ll graze the bare skin.
It’s as if he figures that out the same moment I do, because his eyes drop to my cleavage for the briefest of seconds before returning to my eyes.
“How long were you with him?” he rasps.
“Just over two years,” I whisper. He lets out a rumbling sound.
“So it’s been over two years since a real man made you come.”
My mouth falls open in shock. Never has a man said something like that to me.
“Tell me I’m right, Specs. I know I am.”
His confidence is warranted. I nod.
He stares at me for another second, before growling, “Fuck it.”
This time when his hand lifts up, it isn't to the back of my neck but the front, cupping my throat gently, holding me possessively as he kisses me again.
And there’s absolutely nothing fake about this kiss.
He keeps it short, chaste, and audience appropriate given where we are. But when my eyes flutter open after his lips leave mine, there’s no mistaking the intent in his eyes.
“Tonight, Specs. When we get home. We’re gonna talk about this thing between us.”
His words are a promise. And despite months of planning and all the hard work I put into this event, I suddenly can’t wait for it all to be over.