Then her gaze slid back to me, deliberate, teasing. “Congratulations to you too,Mr. S.”
I knew I looked like a straight-up fool.
“Thank you,” I said smoothly, forcing my voice steady.
Her lips curved. “So, how come I’ve never seen you before? You’ve been Daddy’s business partner for years, and we’ve never crossed paths.”
Dillon didn’t notice the implications in the question, but I did. My jaw clenched.
Putting this on me, huh?
Nah, this was a fuck up on both our ends. But I couldn’t outwardly get into the logistics with her. So I gave a tight smile and said, “I like my privacy.”
“It’s true,” Dillon sighed. “Wolf here is a complete shut-in. So much so ya mama gave him the nickname lone wolf, but you can call him Wolf for short.”
I cringed. “Please don’t.”
She shook her head. “I think it’s way more respectful to call you Mr. S, right?”
She was pushing me. I chugged water instead of answering.
“Don’t take it personal,” Dillon told her. “He ain’t much for socializing. I even had to beg him to come to tonight’s event.”
I scoffed, twiddling with my fork, trying to look busy. Usually, I’d defend myself, but I’d rather end any topic related to me when it comes from this woman.
“Hmm.” She dragged the sound out, nails tracing the patterns of the tablecloth. “Well, I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other a lot more now, won’t we?”
My fork stilled against the plate. “Huh?”
Dillon chuckled, oblivious. “Yeah, I was thinking of letting her start on-boarding with us soon. She’s gotta learn the ropes soon, right?”
She’s gonna work with us?
Aurora’s lashes fluttered, her smirk just for me.
I took a long sip of water again to hide the heat crawling up the back of my neck.
She was playing with me, bold as hell too, and Dillon had no clue.
“Anyway,” Dillon went on, waving down the waiter, “she’s just here to grab my card before she runs the city dry. Isn’t that right?”
Aurora’s gaze never left mine.
“Don’t worry, Daddy,” she said sweetly, “I’ll try not to spend it all in one place.”
Her foot brushed mine under the table. A small touch, but it might as well have been a gun to the ribs.
I held my expression steady, the way I would at a board meeting. Inside, though, dread coiled tighter.
This was a problem.
The meal dragged on after Aurora showed up. Dillon kept talking while she sat across from me like it was a private joke only we knew. Every time I tried to focus, her heel brushed my leg under the table, or her lips curved in that little smirk.
I held my composure. Years in business had trained me for moments like this.
When it was over, Dillon kissed the top of her head and slipped the black card to her. She took it before standing.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. S.”
