Page 40 of Ruled By Rivalry

And the words echoed in the back of my mind until long after we’d made it to the restaurant.

Chapter 16

We got there with the first course. I was too embarrassed to internalize how big of a deal it was to arrive with two Ashwoods in tow, wearing Mom’s dress and Adeline Ashwood heels. But every single pair of eyes was on us.

Conversation buzzed, waiters poured the next round of wine, and the pianist in the corner was giving it his all. The lights were dim, and red velvet banquettes curved around each table, with a single lamp in the middle casting golden hues. On the walls were murals depicting the Ashwood legacy throughout the years in a Renaissance style with a modern subject. The company’s founding in 1967, The Gown, the first Ashwood Annual, their expansion into other industries.

I tried not to marvel and failed miserably. Whenever I spent time with Elliot, he got me into places I’d otherwise never step foot inside. At least this time, I looked like I belonged. The gratitude in my chest made my eyes draw away from him and to our table, where the rest of our party waited.

Allegra was doing a great job of keeping Daphne and Ryan entertained, it seemed. They only noticed us once Rowen shuffled to his seat, and Elliot gestured for me to sit next.

“Oh my God,” Daphne gasped, extending her hands across the table to squeeze mine in greeting. It calmed my nerves. Her blond hair was styled in a beautiful updo, and the light-pink dress was no surprise. “You’re here!”

My heart swelled a little at the excitement in her voice. That Daphne Martin squealed at my arrival to anything, never mind an event filled with much more interesting people, definitely made my favorite-moments list.

“Surprise?” My voice wasn’t even as I shuffled into the banquette with a smile, hoping it didn’t look as awkward as it felt.

“A pleasant one.” Ryan draped his arm behind Daphne on the banquette, taking a sip of his wine before adding, “Allegra didn’t mention you were coming, Maeve.”

The smile Allegra gave me when my eyes flicked in her direction said she wasn’t thrilled by the news.

“Pretty last minute.” A pointed glance at Elliot. “I was supposed to be working.”

Ryan waved it off with a snort. “Nonsense. You can do that when you’re dead.”

“I don’t think that’s how it works—”

“That’s what I’m saying!” Elliot laughed, then matched my eye contact. “You’re welcome, Lucky.”

And there was more than the usual amusement playing in his eyes. I don’t know if it was the low lights or the close proximity or just the prospect of good food, but he looked genuinely . . . happy.

Like he’d forgotten there were people around us, and that he shouldn’t even look at me like that in private, never mind in public. He shouldn’t say what he whispered next, either. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

I swallowed thickly, tried to ignore the way his thigh was pressed against mine. I wasn’t sure if this table was meant for six people. It felt pretty crowded, suddenly. “Of course you’d say that.” My brows rose. “You chose the dress, paid for the shoes . . .”

“Damn. Sometimes I forget how great my taste is.” His gaze was still restless on my face. Eyes, lips, the freckles across my cheek, then eyes again. He sobered. “But I’m not sure if it’s the shoes and the dress this time.”

Me. If it’s not the shoes and dress he was calling beautiful, it was me. My next breath felt shaky, like someone was tying a ribbon around my heart into the signature Adeline Ashwood bow. “What are you doing?” I hissed under my breath.

He shrugged, as if it were the most normal occurrence. “Complimenting you.”

“Why?”

Our first course joined the other plates already on the table, but neither of us spared a glance at them or the wine poured into our glasses. There was already so much happening in the little space between us, I couldn’t possibly worry about what was happening outside of it, too.

Another shrug, and he doubled down. “Because you look beautiful, Maeve.”

Finally, I managed to shake my head. Reminded myself and him that he shouldn’t and couldn’t just say things like that. “Stop.”

He laughed, low and intimate, just for the two of us to hear as he turned my earlier question around. “Why?”

Because we work together. Because you’re this close to taking everything I’d ever wanted away from me. Because Camila hates you, and if she ever found out how hard I had to try to hate you too, she’d lose all faith in me.

All that made it past my lips was “Because you don’t mean it.”

This was just another one of those ways to wrap me around his little finger. Had to be.

Before he could respond with another oddly kind remark or, finally, that dry sarcasm I was starting to miss, Allegra lifted her glass above the table to toast, and the others followed suit. As I reached for my wine and my eyes flicked to her, she was already looking at me. Staring intently and trying to decipher what had just happened between me and her ex-boyfriend.