Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Ican’t stop fidgeting. I don’t know what is expected of me. August says to just be myself. The thing is, he doesn’t know who I am. He’s some all-important, scary leader of Miami. Me? I’m a hairdresser. Nothing special.
I managed to get lost in the shopping for Christmas decorations today. I did feel a little sorry for Andre, who had to follow me around the whole time. But he was a good sport about it, offered to carry bags for me constantly. He even kept opening all the doors, which is strange.
But as soon as I had to start getting ready for tonight, the nerves set in.
My dress didn’t come with a price tag on it.
I picked it up on sale last season and haven’t actually had any excuse to wear it.
I had Andre take me back to my place to pick it up, along with some heels and a clutch.
And some nicer underwear because, well, the dress deserved it.
I feel like a fraud, though. I should not be here with this man. I don’t belong.
The car pulls up to the front of Obsidian, a restaurant I’ve heard clients rave about but never could actually afford to eat at. There’s a red carpet and…
“Is that paparazzi?” I ask August, looking out the window.
“Yes. Stick close to me. Don’t let go,” he says in a voice more serious than I’ve heard from him.
I nod my head. This is way out of my element. I have no idea what I’m doing. August cups my face. I don’t instantly pull away, even though I know I should.
“I would never let anything happen to you, Hayley,” he tells me.
“What could happen to me?” I ask, my nerves going into overdrive.
“Nothing, because you’re going to be right by my side, and Andre will be right by your other side,” he says as the door opens.
August steps out and literally blocks the exit for what seems like five minutes before he moves aside and holds out a hand for me to take.
“I was starting to think you changed your mind and were going to let me stay in the car.” I laugh.
“And miss having the most gorgeous woman in Miami on my arm? Never.” He smiles at me, and some of my nerves are replaced with butterflies I have no business feeling.
I grip August tight, afraid that if I don’t, I’m going to get separated from him. Which is what I’m supposed to want. Damn it.
The moment we step onto the red carpet, all the flashes blind me. “Holy shit,” I whisper.
August drops my hand and wraps an arm around my waist. “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” he says into my ear before kissing the side of my head. “Just smile.”
Smile. I can do that, without looking like someone who just escaped the psych ward. Hopefully.
August stops in the middle of the carpet. A chorus of people shouting his name and firing different questions at him. Then I hear the one I was dreading the most.
“Who is your date, August?”
I cringe.
“My girlfriend. Hayley.” August smiles widely before he turns to me, cups my cheek, and stares into my eyes. “Ready?”
Ready? For what? There’s more?
His lips lower onto mine. His tongue pushes into my mouth. And all the noise fades away as he kisses me. No, he’s not just kissing me. He’s possessing me.
When he pulls away again, his thumb wipes along my bottom lip. “Let’s go in,” he says, leading me into the building.
“What the hell was that?” I hiss under my breath.
“That was the first fake kiss of our fake relationship, babe.”
Nothing about that kiss felt fake.
The moment we enter the room, August starts getting bombarded by men who all want a little bit of his time. He introduces me, always smiling down at me like I really am his girlfriend and he’s so damn proud to have me on his arm.
I’ve never had a real boyfriend look at me the way August does. It’s strange. But I don’t hate it. I just have to keep reminding myself who he is and why I’m actually here. To stop him from cutting off my little brother’s fingers.
That thought sobers me up, and my body stiffens.
August notices. He holds up a hand to stop whomever’s talking to him and turns his full attention to me. Stepping in front of me, he blocks the other men from my view. “What’s wrong?” he asks quietly.
“Nothing.” I shake my head.
“Something happened. Just now.”
“I’m fine, and you’re being rude to your friends,” I tell him.
“They’re not friends, and I don’t care.” August turns back and says, “Excuse me, gentlemen. Hayley and I are going to find our seats.”
The men step aside, and I feel stupid for interrupting his conversation.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper as August ushers me towards the table with his name card on it.
“For what?”
“For interrupting. You should pretend I’m not here,” I explain.
August laughs. “With you, in that dress, babe, it would be impossible to pretend you’re not here. And you didn’t interrupt. Besides, the needs of my girlfriend trump whatever bullshit those two wanted out of me.”
“Fake girlfriend,” I remind him.
“Tomato, tomahto. Same thing, babe,” he says.
Just before we reach the table, a tall blonde steps in front of August. Her hand latches on to his bicep. “Wade, it’s been so long,” she purrs at him. I’m surprised she isn’t rubbing herself all over his legs.
The sight has me seeing red. How rude? And how dare she! As if she can’t see I’m right here…
“August, babe,” I say, ignoring her. My hand cups his face, angling it slightly towards me. Then I push up on my tiptoes and press my lips to his. The kiss is quick, but I think it gets my point across. “I’m going to find our table. You can catch up with your… friend?”