Page 25 of Hired Husband

I slipped into it, savoring the feel of the soft fabrics against my skin. Once I’d done up the hidden zipper at the side, I arranged my boobs in the corset and then strode over to the mirror, completely in love with the final effect.

Part of my brain immediately skipped to what Isaac’s reaction was going to be when he saw me like this, but I dismissed the thought without lingering on it. It doesn’t matter. This is for me, and the public, not him.

After walking through a cloud of White Water Lily’s latest signature scent, I refreshed my lipstick and pulled on my heels. Alright. I’m ready.

At seven o’clock on the dot, I stepped out of the elevator and strode into the lobby with my chin held high. Evening light poured through the tall front windows, painting the floors in strips of gold. Isaac was already standing with Hassan, our doorman, near the entrance.

He wore the tuxedo from the boutique, but it really was a perfect fit now. The tailors had followed my instructions to the letter. The fabric sat like a dream across his broad shoulders, framing his narrower waist and hips like it had been made to tempt me.

Those blue eyes were devastating. His blond hair was styled neatly back off his forehead, practically glowing in the light. I swiped my tongue over my lips and narrowed my eyes. He looked so dangerously good that I was going to have to be extra careful tonight.

Hassan noticed me heading toward them, immediately taking a step back from Isaac and wiping the laughter off his face to replace it with a more professional expression. “Good evening, Miss Saad.”

Isaac turned then. His entire body went still when he saw me. It looked like he’d even stopped breathing as his eyes widened just a little, slowly traveling from my face, to my feet, and back up again.

I walked toward him, unable to stop myself from smiling as I put my arms out to my sides and did a slow turn. “Well?”

His mouth opened, but nothing came out. I tilted my head, the smile melting into a smirk as I arched an eyebrow at him. “Cat got your tongue?”

He blinked a couple times. “You… Wow.”

I laughed, much too pleased by his reaction. It really did surpass my wildest expectations. Not that I was expecting anything at all. Obviously.

“How eloquent,” I teased.

He blew out a harsh breath and lifted a hand to rub the back of his neck. “I had a sentence.”

“What happened to it?”

“It might not have been appropriate,” he said without a hint of shame, then extended an arm toward me. “Shall we?”

“We shall.” I slipped my hand through it, ignoring the flicker of awareness of how warm and steady he felt by my side. “I hope you’re ready for this, Isaac. It’s going to be a real big night for the both of us.”

CHAPTER 11

ISAAC

If ancient Egypt itself had been capable of hosting a party, I imagined this was what it would look like. The gala was taking place inside of a museum, but the exhibits had been set up in such a way that it felt like we’d walked straight into a different time.

Sandstone columns rose up around the entrance, towering at our sides as we paused to smile for pictures. Inside, massive statues stood watch over immaculately dressed guests while galleries filled with artifacts older than most countries stretched out around us, dotted with cocktail tables under ceilings that soared several stories high.

It was magnificent.

“This is absurd,” I muttered, in complete awe that events like this actually existed in the world I lived in. “I mean, seriously. What the fuck?”

Jasmine giggled at my side, her fingers tightening a little around my forearm. “You really are eloquent tonight.”

“I’m bowled over, is what I am,” I said honestly. “It’s like I fell asleep and woke up in an alternate dimension.”

She lifted those immensely dark eyes up to mine, amusement glittering in them clear as day. “You know, it’s cute how things impress you.”

“Tell me this doesn’t warrant being impressed.”

She smiled. “No, it does. It’s just good to see someone actually appreciate it so openly for a change.”

I stared down at her for a long beat, honestly unsure if she’d actually meant to be nice to me or if it’d happened by accident. Either way, she looked so stunning under the warm lights that I didn’t really care. That gown of hers still made me want to groan out loud every time I let myself look for too long, and she was here with me. I could take a bit of banter if it meant having her on my arm.

“Come,” she said suddenly, sliding her gaze away from mine and tugging me farther into the cavernous room. “We should mingle as much as we can before the drinks really start flowing.”