Page 23 of Without a Hitch
I’m not sure who the man is, but I can tell by his suit and shiny watch that he’s wealthy. You pick up on these things after working for a few billionaires. God, she’s disgusting.
“Wouldn’t your boyfriend object to that?” I ask, crossing my arms. “You know, the boyfriend you slept with while he was still your stepsister’s fiancé? I can’t imagine he’d take too kindly to your advances here.”
Her face goes volcanic. She downs her drink and then slams the glass on the table. Before she can spew any more hate, I place my palms on the table and lean in.
“Do not make a scene here, Olivia,” I warn her in a deadly calm voice that’s equally aggressive. “Remember how much appearances mean to Daddy dearest.”
“You’re such a cunt.”
Air stills in my lungs as shock registers. I’ve never been called the c-word before, but I refuse to react in kind. “Sit. Down. Olivia.”
She calls for a server and orders two more cocktails.Shit. This is going to be a long night.
With a heavy sigh, I straighten and pull out the chair in front of me. Only then do I remember the stranger to my left. Easing myself down, I chance a peek at him and instantly wish I hadn’t. He’s the stranger from the ceremony, with a smirk I’ll dream about and sparkling blue eyes that turn my insides to liquid. But it’s his troublemaking expression that has me so nervous I nearly miss my chair. He reaches out with one hand to steady me, and I feel his touch everywhere.
My face flushes, and for once, I’m thankful for my darker complexion. My sisters would be fire-engine red right now. When I’m seated, the sexy stranger gives a slow clap, and Olivia scoffs.
“Hello, Pepper. It’s nice to meet you. You’ve had quite the job here today.” His low baritone causes my skin to pebble with goosebumps.
“Oh, I’m…”
“Blaine? I’ll be damned. I thought that was you.” We’re interrupted by a fast-talking, slimy-looking, middle-aged balding man.
“Adam,” the man apparently named Blaine replies. His tone has gone cold though, and he’s shielding me from Adam’s view. It’s oddly protective, and even more strangely, my body reacts as if it likes it.
“I told Roger I thought that was you, but he disagreed. Said you never socialize with peasants.” He gives a throaty laugh that’s much too phlegmy and makes me want to gag.
“I socialize plenty with people deserving of my time. You, Adam, are not one of them. If you’ll excuse me, I was in the middle of a conversation.”
I hear Adam balk, even though I can’t see past the wall of a man beside me. But Blaine doesn’t give him another breath and instead turns his attention back to me.
“Well, that was kind of rude, wasn’t it,Blaine?” I say. What the heck kind of name is Blaine, anyway? It sounds like knock-off-Barbie’s Ken doll.
He shrugs as if he hasn’t a care in the world. “I told the truth. My time is valuable. I give it freely to those who deserve it. He mistreats his employees and puts them in dangerous situations without a second thought.Heis not deserving of my time.” His focus is intense as he regards me. The way his gaze slowly grazes down my body gives me the impression he thinks I am worthy of his most valuable time.
So, Blaine has standards.ThatI can stand behind, even if he does go about it arrogantly, with no regard for other people’s feelings. “A-And I’m deserving of your time?”
That wicked, wicked grin transforms his face as he draws closer. “You, Pepper, can have all my time. Today,” he adds, almost as an afterthought.
It’s not like I have time for a relationship. Today is truly all I can give anyway since tomorrow I go back to being Tilly. I hold up my finger to pause our conversation and peek across the table at Olivia, who is now on her second drink, at least. Then, I pull out my phone and open the text chain between my friends and sister.
Tilly: How do we feel about one-night stands?
Eli: Get it girrrrl! (Fire emoji, salsa dancer emoji)
Delaney: Whoa. I just sprayed iced coffee all over our couch.
Hadley: Time out.
Hadley: Where are you? How do you know he’s safe? Do you have an out in case he tries to tie you to a bed in the red room of pain?
That’s what I love about these girls. Eli is full steam ahead all the time, Delaney is the planner, and Hadley is scared of her own shadow. Hadley also has an affinity for dark romance novels.
I chance a peek at Blaine to find him watching me with a bemused grin. Oh, shit. Can he read my messages? Covertly, I angle my phone away from him, and he chuckles. It’s a rich sound that shakes his entire body, and my spine tingles with awareness when his shoulder rubs up against mine.
Tilly: He’s wearing a Cartier watch and a suit that costs more than our rent.
Hadley: So? He could be a rich Dom who wants to own your body!
