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Victoria followed my line of sight, and her mouth twisted. “Ugh. Clarissa. His ex-girlfriend.” She turned to look at me, her dark eyes, identical to Ethan’s, wide and guileless. “Listen, you don’t have anything to worry about. They were boyfriend and girlfriend in school. When our dad died, Ethan had to grow up fast, and I don’t think Clarissa liked it very much. She split up with him, and that was that. She’s an old friend of the family, so my mother insisted on inviting her. I didn’t even get a say. Even worse? Mother is forcing me to include her as a bridesmaid.” She huffed. “He really likes you; I can tell. Even if Clarissa is trying to get her claws into him again, there’s no way he’d go there.”
“I’m not worried,” I assured her. Since we weren’t even a real couple. Still, I couldn’t help the little spark of jealousy at the thought of them being together in the past.
My gaze narrowed in on Clarissa’s hand. Specifically, on her long, mauve-painted talons, which were currently snaking up his arm as she leaned into him possessively. From here I could see the stiffness in Ethan’s posture, the way he was angling his body away from her.
Time to play the part of the jealous girlfriend.
“I’ll be right back,” I murmured to Victoria, thrusting my champagne glass into her hand. Tossing my hair over my shoulder, I stalked towards them, channelling my inner actress. I threw an exaggerated swing into my hips as I walked, and I could see the amusement dancing in Ethan’s dark eyes as I neared him and the bitch—oops, I meant Clarissa. As I reached them, I noticed Clarissa gesturing to the lipstick mark on Ethan’s cheek, and I smirked.
“Eth, babe.” My voice was syrupy sweet. I slipped my arm around his waist, and he immediately tugged me into his embrace. I leaned back against his chest, a smug smile on my face, one brow raised at Melissa. Clarissa. Sorry.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” I murmured. This was fun.
Ethan’s arms tightened around my waist.
I suddenly became aware.
&nbs
p; His hard body pressed against mine.
The way he held me—possessively yet oh-so carefully.
His breath in my ear as he bent his head down to mine, sending shivers down my spine.
“Baby. This is Clarissa, an old school friend.” His cheek was touching mine, the light dusting of stubble scraping deliciously against my skin.
“Hi, Clarissa.” I barely gave her a second glance, my focus on the man who was currently nuzzling my cheek. It looked like we were upping our game. I guessed he really, really wanted to get rid of his ex.
I turned in his arms so I was fully facing him and lifted my gaze to meet his.
Everything else ceased to exist.
An inscrutable expression flitted across his face, before he dropped a kiss on my lips. The barest, featherlight brush, it was almost like I’d imagined it, but it sent my heart rate rocketing, and my eyes fluttered shut.
“Avery.” His voice was softer than I’d ever heard it before.
Our private moment was interrupted by Clarissa. “Are the two of you an item?”
I blinked a few times, reality seeping in. I’d just kissed my boss. Okay, it hardly constituted as a kiss, but the fact was, our lips had touched.
And I wanted it to happen again.
“Yes, this is Avery—my girlfriend.” I continued to stare up at Ethan as he spoke to Clarissa over my head. He took a swig of his lager, and I watched his throat working as he swallowed, mesmerised.
“Slumming it, Ethan? First you drink lager, which you always told me was a drink for heathens, and now you’re with her?” Clarissa’s haughty voice, dripping with disdain, penetrated my ears, and I whirled around to face her.
“Excuse me?”
She peered down her nose at me, a sneer on her face.
“You heard me, darling.”
Any retort I was going to make was halted by Ethan. He stiffened behind me, and rage poured off him in waves. He was always so cool and collected that it shocked me, and I froze in his arms.
“Don’t you ever insult Avery again.” His words were quiet but filled with so much venom that Clarissa took a step backwards in shock, her hand flying to her mouth.
“Ethan, I—”
