Chapter 28
Derek swallowed hard. Jayna stood with a towel wrapped around her head and a second around her midsection.
“Do you always open the door without clothes?” he grumbled. The intense frown on his face was more about the immediate, unwanted attraction that surged through him than about caring how she answered her front door. “I could have been a degenerate stalker.”
“Could have been?” she snorted, holding open the door for him to enter. “You’re early.”
“I’m right on time.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “Seven on the dot.”
Jayna looked over her shoulder at the oversized clock on the wall above the console table. “Shit. You should get used to the fact that I am never on time.”
He didn’t want to get used to any of it. Of course, the most annoying woman on the planet would also be chronically late. He prided himself on being punctual and had zero tolerance for tardiness. What the hell? Tardiness? He sounded like his father or his uptight older brother.
“Wow, Derek, who knew you owned a tie, let alone knew how to tie one?” She reached out and grabbed the lapel on his tux jacket. “Is this made out of boyfriend material? Because you look halfway presentable.”
“No, it is not! And I can look presentable.” This woman!!
“Make yourself at home,” she laughed and waved toward the living room just off the front hall. “I’ll hurry, I promise.”
“Be sure you do. I, unlike you, am never late,” he snarled and wandered into the inviting room .
He sat on the overstuffed sofa, more like sank into it. This was a cozy home. He liked the stone fireplace and the neutral décor. It was layers of texture with soft creams and whites along with wood tones mixed in. It was soothing and shocking. Jayna was ‘Ritchie Rich’ rich, and this understated small home was not what he’d expected. He’d pictured her in a McMansion with ultra-modern designer furniture and priceless artwork, not a home that felt like a warm hug.
Fifteen minutes later, Jayna appeared in front of him, and he swallowed hard again. The gown she wore was floor length. The black silk looked fluid, flowing down her body, accentuating every curve. His eyes slowly descended, taking in every inch of the strapless gown, starting at the plunging sweetheart neckline that barely contained her ample cleavage. He paused at her impossibly small waist that flared into curvaceous hips. There was a slit on the right side that stopped mid-thigh, exposing a leg that was endlessly long.
Jayna was breathtaking. He almost told her that she was worth the wait. Worth making him late. But he caught himself, a frown replacing the instant smile that had formed.
“What, don’t you like the dress?” The smile left her pink glossed lips.
“No, it will do. You look fine,” he cleared his throat. What wasn’t fine was the way his body instantly responded to her. His heart had picked up a beat, and his palms grew damp. Had that been his breath catching?
She gave an entirely new meaning to the term ‘little black dress’. It was sexy as hell and yet still managed to be classy. Every man at the gala would be gobsmacked when he walked in with her on his arm. Gobsmacked? Another phrase he never used. This whole fake-dating Jayna was starting to mess with his mind and vocabulary.
The stupid smile returned when he entered Casa Loma’s iconic ballroom. Every head turned in their direction.
“Oh wow,” Jayna exclaimed beside him. “It’s breathtaking.”
The exact word he had used to describe her. She twirled in a slow circle, staring up at the stained-glass dome ceiling of the conservatory, and he couldn’t pull his eyes off her.
“I’ve never been here,” she smiled directly at him and damn if his breath didn’t catch again.
His smile grew. She was right. The 1914 castle was a landmark in Toronto for a reason. This room was particularly beautiful, with the stained-glass ceiling and the marble floor. Suddenly, all the worry and hesitation evaporated. Apparently, she could be classy when she wanted to be. He had so much riding on Jayna not acting like Jayna. Never had he given anyone so much power over his life before. Jayna was the last person he’d ever trust. But tonight, she was different.
Thankfully.
Tonight was important. Not only was Mario Flavia in attendance but so were many other influential investors along with the owner of the large construction firm he worked for. His career was on the line. If Mario didn’t buy his relationship with Jayna, then he could kiss it all goodbye.
Reputation had never been something he’d concerned himself over. If his work was done well, it shouldn’t matter how he spent his days off. He didn’t understand why his marital status should have any bearing on his career. But obviously, it did.
While he didn’t care if people called him a hound dog or a daredevil, he did care about his career. He loved his job. One careless mistake, like dating the wrong girl, could cost him it all. Which found him at the mercy of Jayna Sutton. She would either help him get back in the good graces of his employers or she could sink him completely.
The minute word had gotten around the firm that he was in a committed relationship, he was suddenly being taken seriously. Sure, it bothered him to lie. But it also bothered him that a person’s marital status should have any bearing on their career. Old-fashioned values still prevailed in the modern world. Antiquated as it was, he’d play the game.
He splayed his hand across the small of Jayna’s back, not failing to notice that the dress felt just as silky as it looked. “You owe me. Behave tonight,” he whispered in her ear.
She really did owe him after last weekend. Karaoke! Like, what the hell? His brother was still ribbing him over it. In fact, Ben had videotaped it on his cell phone, uploading the video to all his socials, tagging Derek in them. When he walked into the office Monday morning, two of his co-workers had stood clapping loudly. The karaoke video was streaming on all the monitors. And while he wanted to skin Ben alive, it did help sell his relationship with Jayna.
Mario demanded that he and Jayna sit with him. Jayna made it through the entire dinner without a single snort, her laughter instead soft and magical. She had all the men at the table eating out of her hand. While she outshone every woman in the room, she remained personable enough to avoid being hated.
“I must say, I’m shocked,” Daniel, the CEO of the company, said. “Never thought I’d see the day that you would settle down. You used to swear on your life that you’d remain single.”
“Aren’t I just the luckiest girl ever.” Jayna shot him a sweet smile and reached over, squeezing his hand. “Guess your life is now over.”
He hid the grimace. “No, honey, it’s just beginning.” He could turn on the syrupy sweet as well. He looped his arm across her shoulder and pulled her in close. Her hair smelled like apples. Jayna really couldn’t make up her mind.