“I think I’ll have the steak.” Kate handed the menu to the server with the widest smile on those pretty lips. A sharp pang of jealousy shot through my veins. So fierce, I tasted the bitterness on my tongue.
Holy fucking shit.What the hell was wrong with me?
Giving myself a quick mental shake, I, too, ordered the steak. As did most of the women. I still had my arm over Kate’s chair and without thinking, I trailed my fingers over her shoulder.
She stiffened. I didn’t like that. Up until that moment, I’d kept a respectable distance between us. I hadn’t invaded her space. Hadn’t even touched her. But that needed to change, especially with Lewis’s scrutinizing gaze on us.
Repeating the action, I hoped for a different reaction from her. I didn’t get one. Yet again, she sat up even straighter.
Shit. This wasn’t good.
Maybe if I touched her some place less obvious to ease her into it, she’d relax a little? Removing my arm from her chair, I slipped it under the table to smooth a hand above her knee.
She jumped up. She literally fucking jumped up.
“E-e… Excuse me.”
The words were barely out before she bolted. I swear, if she left like this…
Cursing low under my breath, I pushed to my feet and fastened the buttons on my blazer. “Long day. I’ll go check on her.”
As I strode away, Mrs. Livingston murmured about what a wonderful couple we were. I should’ve been relieved that they’d bought it. But the feelings raging through my body were anything but.
Scanning over the patrons, I searched for the brunette, who without even realizing had stolen my sanity. I didn’t see her. My heart kicked up a few gears and just as I was about to ask the hostess, I caught sight of those dark strands disappearing behind a door.
I didn’t think, simply marched straight to that damn door and shoved it open.
“What the hell?” Kate shrieked. “Are you blind? This is the ladies’ room.”
“I don’t give a shit.” I stalked inside and didn’t stop until I was right in front of her. “What was that out there?”
Fury burned bright in her gaze, but she blinked, and it was gone. Shoulders sagging, her attention dropped to her hands curled around the edge of the counter.
“I don’t think I can do this,” she whispered.
My heart hammered way too loud and way too fast. “Changed your mind?”
Shaking her head, she blew out a breath. “I…” More head shaking.
“Kate.” I covered her hand with mine. “Talk to me.”
She slipped out of my grasp. I didn’t like the empty feeling she left behind, nor did I care for it when she took a few steps away from me.
“They know.” Her breathing picked up. “Theyknowthis isn’t real, that we’re trying to trick them. What do you think will happen to our jobs? They need you. You’ll probably keep yours. But me? I’m just yourassistant. I’m replaceable.” One faster than the other, the words tumbled out of her mouth. “What’ll happen to Millie if I don’t have a job? Oh my—”
“Hey.” I took her face between my palms, stunning her into silence. Her eyes were big and wide and her lips slightly parted. “You need to take a breath.”
She didn’t. Instead, she lifted her hands to my wrists. Her fingers dug into my skin as she tried to pull away from me. A better man would have listened. Would have let go.
Not me.
Tightening my hold, I leaned in close. So close, that every breath she blew out left a warm puff of air against my lips.
“What are you doing?” she whispered. “We agreed no touching.”
Half of my mouth lifted into a grin. “You rattled off your rules, Kitty Kat. I never agreed to a single one.”
“Tristan.”
