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“Nice car,” I state, stepping into the passenger seat.
He shrugs, flashing me a devilish smile before closing the door, then strolling over to the driver’s side.
I watch him in silence as he starts the car, shifting the stick into drive and pulling onto the long driveway. His wide hand confidently curls around the stick shift, veins bulging anytime he shifts gears. Watching Connor drive manual does things to me that I would rather die than to admit out loud. Still, I let my thoughts wander, imagining that same hand around my neck, his hard body pinning me to the wall—I clear my throat. Swallowing hard, I yank myself out of the vile thoughts I was swimming in and ask, “So what’s the story?”
“About?” he says, his eyes still on the road.
“Us,” I answer with a slight sarcastic bite. Connor chuckles, and I clench my jaw. “Can you stop thinking everything is just so hilarious.” Which only makes him laugh even harder.
I’m this close to punching him hard in the arm when he shoots me a quick amused look before shifting gears, looking back to the road. “We already have a story.”
The slight curve of his lips infuriates me further but I try to keep my cool before answering. “Not sure this type of crowd will find a Vegas wedding all that tasteful.”
“Oh darling, is our honeymoon already over?” he says in a mocking tone, feigning being upset.
“I swear to God, Connor,” I reply in exasperation.
He laughs. “Fine, fine. These people have no idea we’ve known each other for years. So let’s just say we met over the Christmas holidays. And that it was some love at first sight, whirlwind bullshit and we eloped a few weeks ago. Happy—” he turns to me with a smirk—“wife?”
“No, not really.” I blow out a frustrated breath. “Fine, tonight we eloped, but we’ll need to come up with a better story to sell it to the people thatactuallyknow us.” Then something hits me. “Shit, we don’t even have any rings.”
Connor seems unfazed. “We eloped remember? Shopping for the perfect ring as we speak.”
I glare at him fixedly, and then sigh. “Fine.”
“Ready, Lenny?” he says in a teasing tone as he parks.
His right hand slides up my uncovered leg, and I immediately swat him away but not before goosebumps break out all down my skin. I can tell he notices but says nothing. Besides, it’s a normal reaction to being touched. Nothing else.
“Stay,” he says, jumping out before I can reply.
A few moments later, he’s opening my car door and my eyes are practically rolling into the back of my head. He holds out his hand and I take it, even if it’s with slight petulance.
“This gentleman act doesn’t suit you,” I tell him while he gently pulls me out of my seat.
“Don’t worry darling,” he says while dropping my hand and fixing his tie. “I can be your favorite asshole behind closed doors.” He winks and leads us inside.
Chapter 19
Icanbarelyrememberwhat charity this event is for, but the cause is irrelevant, it’s the people that matter. If Lenix thinks she can manipulate me into pretending we’re happily married then I’ll use it to my advantage, and squeeze every opportunity I can get out of this fucking shitshow.
I leave my keys with the valet and lead Lenix up the stairs, her hand daintily placed in mine. Halfway up, she tries to rip it out of my grip like she did earlier but I squeeze her fingers tightly while keeping my eyes straight ahead. She eventually gives up.
The venue is decorated like every other boring upper crust event in this city. White flowers, gold accents and enough champagne provided in crystal flutes to serve tonight’s guests until they’re pleasantly catatonic.
I eye the waitstaff as soon as we walk into the ballroom trying to get my hands on said champagne so I can lull some of my near-manic energy into a quiet roar. I can’t tell if the feeling is stemming from the uptight crowd I’m having to shmooze tonight or the girl whose hand is still in mine.
Not to mention the dress she’s wearing.
Fucking Christ.
And by the look of the people around us, I’m not the only one noticing the vision she is in that silk dress.
We’re not three steps inside before someone is already heading our way. I groan inwardly seeing that it’s Roddrick. He owns a chain of hotels near the water—and is absolutely useless to me. Definitely not the reason I came here tonight, but a big enough player that I can’t kill him for the way he’s eye-fucking Lenix without repercussions. Luckily, I’ve caught a server’s attention quickly and two champagne flutes make their way to us first.
I lean into Lenix, and whisper, “Play nice.” And circle my arm around her waist, my fingers splayed loosely against her hip, her signature vanilla and jasmine scent slowly enveloping me. She tenses up but says nothing, taking a sip with a tight smile.
“Connor!” Roddrick’s garish voice booms loudly around us, his hand already brandished towards me and I reluctantly let go of Lenix to shake the man’s hand. “My, my,” he says while clapping my shoulder with a little too much force. “I haven’t seen the likes of you around here in a while.”
