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Or Emmett, she thought with a soft smile.
“What are you wearing to the Sparkle & Shine gala?”
“Sorry?” His face pinched in confusion.
“The tickets you bought me to the New Year’s Eve party. You’re accompanying me.”
He digested that information for a second. “I didn’t picture myself as your date when I secured them.”
“Who did you picture as my date?”
“Someone...else.”
“Not Blake.”
“No.” His visage darkened. “Not Blake. But someone...” He appeared to roll a few options around in his head before deciding on his answer. “Not like me.”
“Someone who...doesn’t work for my family?”
His stare was grave. “Yes.”
“Someone—” she rose from her seat on the chair and sat with him on the couch “—who knows how to behave in public?”
She crossed one leg over the other. His eyes ran the length of her boots slowly. She’d noticed him admiring them before.
“You like these?” She pointed a toe.
“Immensely.” His fiery gaze locked on hers.
“Who knew attraction was hiding under all this...animosity?” She fiddled with the collar of his shirt. “I always thought you hated me.”
He didn’t deny it, but he was scowling.
“The way you slid me those glares whenever I came to visit Chase at work. Or whenever you came to my parents’ house for a party.” She pointed at his face. “Like that. I bet no one believes we’re in love.”
A tiny needle of sadness pricked her, but she ignored it. Obviously, she knew they weren’t in love, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t take advantage of his nearness.
“There’s a thin line, my queen.” He broke eye contact to lean, his elbows on his knees, his beer dangling between thick fingers. He was so easy to admire. She’d never thought to admire him before. She thought she’d disliked him as much as he disliked her.
Now they liked each other in equal measures. When had that happened? She guessed somewhere between convincing him to enter city hall with her and the moment he insisted on buying the ring and sliding it onto her finger. She blinked, coming to the slow realization that what was between them couldn’t be categorized as simply physical. He blew her mind in bed, but he also honored her at every turn. Like tonight, when he’d broken Blake’s nose.
Gosh. She really hoped he’d broken it.
Stef had never been treated like gold by a man. By her father and brothers, sure, but never in a romantic relationship. She’d always been willing to have fun and made it clear she wasn’t interested in being tied down. Yet here she was. Having fun and tied down.
Temporarilytied down. She couldn’t forget that part.
Even though during these quiet moments with Emmett, she wished she could.
