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"You bet I do."
The doorbell rings.
"That must be Liam and Isla." I blow a kiss at the phone. "I love you, babe; can’t wait to see you in person."
"Same, and don’t forget to tell me all about it."
"I promise" I disconnect the call, then drop the phone into my clutch with my lipstick and house keys. A last look at myself, and I grab my coat and head for the door. When I throw it open, he stands there with one hand against the doorframe.
I open and shut my mouth. "What are you doing here?"
"Liam and Isla are running late, so I offered to pick you up."
"I didn’t hear anything from Isla." I scowl.
"Have you checked your messages?"
I pull out my phone, check my messages, and sure enough, there’s one from Isla.
So sorry babe. Liam’s mom wasn’t feeling well—she’s fine now—but Liam wanted to look in on her before we went to the ball so we’re running late. I hope you don’t mind that Hunter’s coming to pick you up. I know things are rough with you two, but you do work together now, and he offered. We won’t be long, I promise. See you soon.
Guess in all the excitement of the new clothes and accessories, I missed her message. I pull up the app for the cab company, and he places his hand on mine. Tendrils of heat flicker out from the point of contact. Both of us pull back.
"What are you doing?"
"I’m ordering a cab."
"It’s Friday evening; you’re not going to get one in time."
"We’ll see." I type out my destination, press the relevant buttons and the app stalls. "Damnit." I try again and again; each time the app crashes.
"I have a car waiting, Zara."
I ignore him and continue to try the app with the same result. "Bloody hell." I drop the phone back in my bag and scowl at him. "You planned it all, didn’t you? Inviting me to the ball—"
"As my PR official; nothing personal about this."
"Then making sure, somehow, Liam and Isla couldn’t pick me up."
"You think I orchestrated Liam’s mother falling sick?" His gaze widens. "Not even I could pull that off."
"Hmph." I scan his features. He’s combed back his hair and is wearing a tux which outlines his broad shoulders. His crisp white shirt stretches across his chest. His jaw is freshly shaven, the bowtie at his neck turning his entire look from sophisticated to positively deadly. Why does he have to look so edible? So hot? So sexy, so everything. I frown. He arches an eyebrow.
"Something wrong?"
"You have a—" I lean up and press my thumb to a dot of blood at the edge of his jawline. I show him the drop of scarlet, then bring the digit to my mouth and suck on it.
His nostrils flare. His blue-green eyes darken until they resemble pools of midnight blue. "I must have nicked myself shaving."
"Right." I swallow, glance away, then back at him. "If I’m to travel in the same car as you, we need rules."
"Rules?" He arches an eyebrow.
"No touching without permission."
"Goes both ways," he points out.
I flush, then draw myself up to my full height. "That was an instinctive reaction."
