Chapter 9 Zach #2
We slip into the car and she sighs, sinking into the seat and kicking off her heels.
“From what I can see, he knows exactly what you are and he’d be an idiot not to wonder what if.”
“I think you mean that as a compliment, but it sounds like an insult.”
“Not an insult. Never. By the way,” I pause deliberately making sure I have her undivided attention, “Donovan is married.”
Her eyes widen and she tilts her head to one side but remains speechless.
Getting to the heart of things, I ask, “Does that bother you?”
“Why would it bother me? I’m only wondering why he never mentioned his wife. Was she there tonight?”
Sighing although somehow not fully relieved, I shake my head.
“No. Cece and Donovan are rarely seen together. Theirs is a marriage of convenience. She’s a remarkable woman and it’s a shame she’s saddled with his philandering ass but she made her bed.
” I run my hand through my hair, long past ready to drop the topic of Donovan Wilkes.
“Do you want something to drink?” I point to the liquor, sparkling and still water, and sodas lined up along the bar.
“I’m good, thanks. I’m just glad to get those things off.” Her eyes flick to the floor where her shoes sit discarded. “I love those babies, but right now my dogs are barking.”
“What?” I tilt my head to the side and study her.
“My feet,” she giggles.
“Oh. If you’re not too tired, would you tell me how you became a project manager?” I need to know more about her. More than someone like Donovan does.
“I kinda fell into it. I was in between jobs and my uncle John—that reminds me, you didn’t know he owns Hayes Construction, did you?” I shake my head no and she smiles. “That’s what I thought. Anyway, he asked me to help him. His usual PM had just packed up her life and moved to Vietnam.”
“Seriously?”
She nods and a slow, easy grin claims her lips.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
“Nothing, really. I’m just remembering the frantic phone call from my uncle. Almost every other word out of his mouth was fuck. I’d never seen him so lost and out of control.”
“Well, if your clients are left hanging, it’s bad for business.”
“Yes. He was in a bind, and at first he’d asked my mom, but she was up to her eyeballs with her own clients.”
“What does your mother do?”
“She’s an interior designer and runs her own business. She suggested John call me. I’d helped her once or twice and I had experience running small-scale projects.”
The car stops and I peer out the window to see we’re already at her home. The ride was way too fast. Paige snatches her shoes, leaving them off, and opens the car door before my driver can get there.
“Wait,” I say after her. “You’re barefoot.”
She smiles, looking at me like I’m silly for having stated the obvious. “Yep. These babies aren’t getting back on my aching puppies tonight.”
Still not fully getting the correlation between dogs and feet, I shake my head. “The ground is filthy, and you could step on something and cut your foot.”
She releases a pfft and turns from me. “I’ll be fine. Good night, Zach. I had a good time.”
“Wait.” I step out of the car after her and before she can say anything further, she’s in my arms, pressed against my chest, legs hooked over my arm.
“Put me down, Zach. I’ll be fine. The door is right there.”
“Don’t care. Barefoot in the dark isn’t smart.”
“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes and tightens her arm around my shoulder and her other hand rests flat against my chest.
She tries to wriggle from my hold when we reach her front door. “You need to put me down so I can open the door.”
“Roger.” My driver appears from behind us. “Give him your key,” I say to Paige.
With a huff and another eye roll, she hands him the key. He opens the door and returns the key before discreetly disappearing.
“This is all very silly.” She releases an exasperated sigh.
“What’s silly is you with no shoes on.” I shift my weight and her hand tightens around me. “Did you have a good time tonight?”
“Yes.” Her eyes light up.
“I’m glad. I did, too.”
“Thank you for the beautiful dress. I had more fun than I thought I would.”
Her admission ignites the yearning embers deep within me. I tilt my head to hers and my mouth melds to her plump lips.
My intention is to make it quick and hard, not wanting to tempt myself more than I already am. But when her hand lands on my jaw, fingers curling gently into my skin, all intentions are lost.
My tongue sweeps the seam of her lips and she opens on a moan. But it’s short-lived. Paige pulls back, blushing and breathless, eyes narrowed on me.
“What are you doing?” She’s irritated.
“What does it look like I’m doing? Kissing you.” I flash her a wicked smile, my tongue darting out to wet my lips.
She tastes like sugar—so sweet—and I’m ravenous to taste her again.
“You know what I mean. There’s no one here to put a show on for. You’re not my...”
“Your what?”
“You know what I mean. Why are you playing dumb and infuriating?”
“Hmm, infuriating?” I gently place her feet on the ground. “We’re supposed to be together. I’m practicing. We’ve got to make it look as real as possible.”
“You can cut it out. When it’s just us, it’s just us. No need for a charade.”
“Who said it was a charade?” I tuck my hands into my pant pockets and rock back on my heels, needing to keep my hands to myself.
“What am I to you, Paige?”
She tilts her head to the side, her long hair falling in waves. “You’re…” She looks away, nibbling on her bottom lip. Again.
“You don’t know, do you? And boyfriend doesn’t work.” I step in front of her, forcing her to look at me. “Think of me as your madly devoted Zachary.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Madly devoted Zach.”