Chapter 17
LUKE
Kissing Clara had been a beautiful mistake. For the past two days, I replayed that moment over and over again. The memory wasn’t nearly as good as the real thing had been, but it still lit a fire under my skin that had me aching to hold her in my arms again and never let her go.
I should have never agreed to it in the first place. Clara had offered a shaky justification for it, and I let myself be convinced.
I wasn’t a robot. The tension rising between us had me on edge. I thought maybe the kiss would be like a release valve, venting some of the steam building up, making it easier to keep our deal professional for the next two weeks.
All it did was make things worse. For me at least. Clara seemed a lot better about keeping her feelings under control.
Meanwhile, she was driving me crazy. Every smile, every look had me horny as a billy-goat.
I did my best to give her some space so I didn’t pressure her into anything we hadn’t bargained for.
I didn’t want her to feel like she owed me or that I expected her to sleep with me for the money.
Clara was attracted to me, but that didn’t mean anything on its own.
I hadn’t been sure she was feeling the heat until she had suggested we kiss again.
Now I knew she was drawn to me the way I was to her.
We just couldn’t act on it. The kiss was already playing with fire, opening a Pandora’s box we might not be able to close. I certainly couldn’t. Looking at her sitting next to me in the limo, I could hardly breathe.
We were on our way to the library gala. It was a high profile red carpet event, so I had opted to rent a limo. When Clara and I stepped out in front of the flashing cameras, I wanted us to look good.
She didn’t need my help for that, unless you counted calling Francesca to dress her up in a designer gown and matching jewelry.
That was the extent of my contribution. Clara glittered like a field of fresh snow in her silver sequined dress.
Her red hair was a burning fire, keeping the cold at bay.
I wanted to bury my face in it, breathe in her scent and run my fingers through it.
She caught me looking at her and offered a small smile in return. Since the practice kiss, she had been quieter than before, not like she regretted it but like she was lost in thought. Maybe she was as confused as I was.
What I wanted and what we had agreed to were two different things. If I wasn’t careful, I would make a move on her for real and ruin the whole arrangement. We only had two more weeks of faking it. I could last two more weeks. Probably.
The driver from the limo company wasn’t as good as Lenny, but the company insisted we use one of their drivers for insurance purposes. He braked too sharply at the curb and Clara and I both rocked in our seats. The man looked back at us in the rearview mirror. “Sorry, folks.”
I looked right into Clara’s eyes. “You ready for this?”
She looked down at her outfit and shrugged. “No, but I’m sure it’ll be fine once I get in there. It’s just regular jitters.”
“If it helps, you look amazing,” I said.
She smiled at me. “Thank you. It helps a little.”
The driver opened the door for us and I got out first, then offered my hand to Clara. She took it gratefully and joined me.
I leaned in close to her. “Just hold my arm and smile, and we’ll be inside in no time.”
Photographers and reporters lined the barriers on either side of the red carpet, leading up to the grand entrance to the ballroom where the gala was being held. Other couples dressed up like we were walked the carpet too.
My name was called and I angled us toward it, allowing whoever it was to snap some pictures. Then they started calling Clara’s name, and she turned to me, her mouth open. “They know who I am?”
I grinned at her. “After I introduced you on my show, you’re almost as famous as I am.”
“Yeah, right.” She giggled and glanced around.
“Try to have fun with it,” I said to her.
Clara leaned in close to me, like she was taking strength from my presence. “I feel like a movie star.”
I wrapped my arm around her waist and gave her a squeeze. “You certainly look like a movie star.”
We hung around outside for a few more pictures, making sure the world knew I was settling down. I briefly considered asking Clara for a kiss, but I didn’t think I would be able to stop at just a kiss. I would end up dry-humping her in front of everyone.
“Okay, I think that’s enough,” I said to Clara. “Let’s head inside. I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink.”
She nodded. “Lead the way.”
We walked into a winter wonderland. The gala was a huge event to raise money for the library. A black-tie affair, all the men were in tuxes and all the ladies wore gowns and glittering jewels.
The decorations were classy and elegant, all silver and red. Clara looked at the décor with eyes wide. “I love it.”
“I like yours better,” I said. “This is nice, but the stuff you set up in the office has some flash to it. A little razzle dazzle they’re missing here.”
“Well, thank you,” she said, her smile beaming at me.
I walked us toward a tower of champagne.
A little bubbly would take the edge off, especially after walking behind her and noticing the way her silver gown hugged her body.
For the first time in my life, I wished I was a dress, it would be me doing the hugging.
She looked delicious enough to take a bite of, and my hands itched to find reasons to touch her.
With glasses in hand, we clinked them together. “To relaxing,” I said.
She nodded and we drank. “Why are you so tense tonight? Don’t you do this all the time?”
I grinned like I had nothing to hide from her.
Events like this were a regular part of my schedule, but I rarely brought a date with me, and none of them had compared to Clara.
She had my head spinning and the rest of me vibrating like a tightly wound wire.
I could barely tear my gaze away from her fiery hair, her emerald eyes, her shining smile.
“I just hate events like this,” I lied. “It’s so stuffy and fake. We’re here raising money for the library, but I doubt anyone here has a read a book in the last year.”
Clara smiled bashfully. “I’m guilty of that myself.”
“Oh, me too,” I agreed, smiling. “And that’s why I donate to the library. Other people can read books so I don’t have to.”
She laughed and put her hand on my arm. I took another drink, tensing up again. Every time she touched me, I wanted more.
We wandered over toward a crowd of people gathered around a dessert serving station. They were dishing out what looked like cake pops, which I hadn’t seen in a while. We got in line.
“Hasn’t world moved on from these?” I asked Clara quietly. “Or has it been long enough that they’re retro now and they’re making a comeback?”
Clara shrugged. “It’s cake on a stick. It never goes out of style. If you don’t want yours, I’ll take it.”
When it was our turn, the guy smiled at us and presented the treats. “We’re serving a special eggnog cheesecake bite, drizzled with a nutmeg glaze.”
Clara took hers. “That sounds lovely. Thank you.”
“Give me two,” I told the guy, and he gave them to me.
We walked away together. “I should have asked for two,” she said.
“This extra one is for you,” I said, and her smile made me wish I’d grabbed ten more.
“Well, let me taste it first.” Her tongue darted out to lick at the nutmeg glaze.
I knew I was staring and I couldn’t stop myself. A growl rose in my throat and I had to physically suppress it. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Just eat it before—”
Clara glanced at me, an eyebrow raised in question. Were her eyes sparkling with mischief or was I just hoping they were?
“Before what?” she asked, a slight upturned curve to her lips.
“Before I eat them all.” I popped the cake pop in my mouth in one shot, then started chewing so I didn’t have to explain myself further.
I was having flashbacks to the Christmas Spectacular. Only this time, if she sat on my lap, I didn’t have a candy cane to explain away my aching cock.
She eyed me like she wasn’t sure what was going on, but eventually, her desire for sweets won out, and she ate her cake pop too. The groan of ecstasy that came out of her did not help the growing trouble in my pants.
Clara was driving me insane and she had no idea.
I was saved when Kerri came swooping over with another fancy woman on her arm. “My favorite couple!” Kerri said. “I’m so glad you’re here. I want to introduce you to someone.”
Clara looked starstruck already. “You’re Ganymede Raye. Broadway director. Oh, my God, I’m a huge fan of your work.”
The woman smiled. “I’m glad to hear it. I’m a fan of your work as well.”
Clara’s jaw dropped and she swayed like she might faint. “Okay, this can’t be happening. Was there something in that cake pop? Are you a hallucination?”
Ganymede laughed. “I sure hope not.”
Clara narrowed her eyes at me. “Did you pay her to say that?”
“Don’t look at me,” I said.
“How has she seen my work?” Clara turned toward Ganymede again. “How have you seen my work?”
Kerri’s laugh was like the tinkle of bells. “I showed her the office we decorated. And some of your sketches. I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“No, it’s just a shock.” Clara shook her head like she was trying to clear it still.
“I hear you’re looking for work doing set design?” Ganymede asked.
“I am.” Clara nodded nervously. “Yes, ma’am.”
Ganymede smiled. “Relax, kid. Your work is bold and big. I love it. I have something in the works right now, early stages, but if you’re interested, I’ll let you know when we start preproduction. Maybe you can help us figure out some designs.”
Clara shook her head, mouth open but no words coming out.
“I think she means yes,” I said, putting my hand on her back and rubbing.
That seemed to unfreeze her. “Yes, of course, yes. That’s a dream come true.”
“Great,” Ganymede said. “Hey, are you familiar with the Winter Garden theater?”
Clara nodded. “I saw Phantom there once.”
“Well, I’ll send you two tickets to a show I’m doing there next week.”
We thanked her and Kerri profusely. Clara even managed to settle her nerves enough to talk shop with the director.
While they did, Kerri shot me a proud smile, and I quietly thanked her too for doing something so nice for Clara.
I had never seen her so happy, and warmth filled me, knowing I had a part in it, no matter how small.
“She’s a good girl,” Kerri told me, low enough that only I could hear. “You should lock that down.”
“I’ve certainly been thinking about it,” I said, my eyes on Clara.
Marriage had never been something I thought about much. But with Clara, I was starting to understand the appeal of spending your life with one person