“He said some things that pissed me off last time.” Rhett shrugged. “And I don’t like his face.”
I laughed, feeling exasperated by his reasoning. “You don’t like his face?”
“Or the way he looks at you. Or stands too close—”
I kissed him to silence his rambling. “Point taken.”
He grinned before leaning in to kiss Gia’s cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m good, Rhett.” Looking amused, she said, “You think there might be room for us up in the VIP lounge tonight? I know you wouldn’t want yourfiancéeto have to fight off drunk assholes all night.”
“Ugh, you’re right.” He grabbed my hand and shouldered his way through the crowd, leading us to the VIP lounge at the back.
He was acting like… he wasn’t acting at all. He was behaving like he really was my fiancé. All jealous and over-protective. It was hot as hell.
He exchanged a few words with the man standing guard at the protected area before the bald guy who was wearing all black and covered in tattoos, released the velvet rope and gestured for us to enter.
“Aren’t you going to join us?” I asked when Rhett released my hand.
“I have a few things to take care of,” he said, brushing his lips across my cheek. “But I’ll be back. In the meantime, Cas will find you a table and set you up with drinks, okay? I’ll join you just as soon as I can.”
I tried not to pout, reminding myself that Rhett was a busy man, who couldn’t just drop everything to spend time with me. But damn it, I hadn’t been kidding when I said I missed him. After six days it was starting to feel like a physical ache.
A raven-haired beauty approached, offering to find us a table. I smiled politely before nodding, as I tried to quash my curiosity. She was stunning, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she and Rhett had ever had a thing.
I was just sliding into the booth she’d led us to when she placed her hand on my forearm. “You’re Briar, aren’t you? Rhett’s fiancé?”
She was on a first name basis with her boss? I tried not to read too much into it. The bar was a casual environment, unlike the corporate environment I was used to. “I am.” My gaze fell to her gold nametag. “Casandra.”
“You are so lucky,” she said, fanning her face. “He’s such a sweetheart. Have you guys known each other long?”
Gia and I shared a look before I offered a tight smile. “It seems like forever. He and my brother are best friends.”
“Ohmigosh! Seriously? Your brother is Drew? How did I not know that?”
Gia raised an eyebrow before smiling sweetly at our hostess. “Are you and Rhett close, Casandra?”
Bless my best friend for always knowing which questions to ask.
“We’re friends,” she said, setting the leather-bound menus down between us. “I started working here about three years ago. Right after I finished college. He was kind enough to hire my boyfriend too—”
“You have a boyfriend?” Gia asked, reaching for her menu. “That’s nice. So, what’s Rhett like as a boss?”
“The best,” she gushed. “I mean, it’s not like he runs the place or spends a lot of time here. He does have a manager, after all, but he’s so good to everyone, know what I mean? He treats everyone like equals. Most guys in his position would be so self-absorbed and stuck up, but Rhett’s not like that at all.”
She was trying to tell me what Rhett was like?
I scanned the menu before glancing at her. “Rhett grew up in a middle-class family. Spent time in the military. Believe me, getting rich was never part of his plan. It was just a happy accident.”
She nodded in agreement as she stole a peek at my left hand. “Sorry,” she said, blushing. “I don’t mean to stare. I just caught a glimpse of it in one of the pics Rhett posted on social media and I was wondering if the ring was as gorgeous as it looks.”
I extended my hand for her perusal, silently shaming myself for being a caddy bitch. Casandra seemed nice enough. It wasn’t her fault she was beautiful… and in Rhett’s line of sight too often for my liking. I’d never been jealous or petty before. And I couldn’t say I liked it.
“It’s so beautiful,” Casandra said, leaning in to get a closer look. “Were you blown away when he proposed?” she asked, wide-eyed. “Or were you kind of expecting it?”
I’d been asked this so many times, by friends, co-workers, and extended family, I had a ready line rehearsed. “We’ve talked about getting married, starting a family. I just didn’t know when Rhett planned to pop the question.” I wasn’t lying. We had talked about marriage and kids, when I told him I wanted no part of it. Ever. And I’d known he was going to give me a ring, as part of our ruse, I just hadn’t expected an audience when he did.
“Have you set a wedding date yet?” Casandra asked.
