Page 49 of Escorting the CEO
I leaned closer. “I think the newlywed vibe is really working,” I whispered. “We should play it up.”
“Of course,” she said, and a zip of excitement raced up my spine.
I stood, taking Rory’s hand and gently pulling her up alongside me. “Dinner has been lovely, but if you will excuse us, my fiancé and I have a long day tomorrow.”
Most of the board was gracious, smiling and nodding and offering platitudes, but Abigail Furst snickered and raised her glass. “A toast to the newlyweds! They just can’t wait to be alone. Ah, to be young.”
They toasted us as we fled. Cousin Andrew was heading back from another trip to the bar. He grabbed my wrist. “You’re leaving?” His voice was slurred. His gaze skipped over to Rory.
“Yes, Andrew,” I barked, snapping him out of it. “It’s been a long night, don’t you think? You should probably go sleep it off.”
“Bah,” he said, waving me off. At least he was aware enough not to look in Rory’s direction again—I would’ve punched him in the face.
I kept her hand firmly in mine as we headed down the hall. I was grateful to be alone in the cool hallway, away from the others. I was burning up. Rory stared straight ahead as I marched her to our suite.
Once we were inside, I dropped her hand and stalked over to the windows. It was dark out, only a sliver of moon visible in the night sky.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“No.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets and stared out at the blackness.
After a moment, she came to my side. “Rhodes… Did I do something wrong?” she asked quietly. “You can tell me.”
“No.”
“Then why won’t you look at me?”
I turned to her against my will. I was fighting myself. A war had started raging inside me, one I was going to lose either way. If things got physical with Rory, I would lose control of the situation. My fake relationship would cross a line I never intended, and there could be hell to pay.
But if I held back, I was going to suffer. Hell, looking at her in that dress, eyes wide, hair flowing—I was already suffering.
“It’s nothing,” I sighed. “I’m just thinking too much.”
“I get it.” Rory nodded, ducking her head.
“You do?” Hope sprang in my chest. Maybe I wasn’t the only one feeling the connection, the heat between us.
She raised her head, eyes meeting mine.
“Of course I do… Sir.”
DANGER ZONE
RORY
“Of course I do… Sir.”
Was I out of my ever-loving mind?
Rhodes rocked back on his heels. His eyes were wide. “What did you just say?”
“Isaid, of course I understand.”
He watched me. I watched him back. Something inside me—something I’d never felt before—rose up. Tall, empowered, assured.Sheknew what she was doing.
“…Sir.”
His pupils grew large in his eyes. “That’s what I thought,” he growled.
