Page 17 of Matched By Mistake
“What is troubling you?” Jack asked.
“The Surprise Me! function is known for its unpredictability and I think we have to be open to that if we are going to help really promote it,” Maggie said.
“That’s fine with me,” Jericho said. “We’ll do these public dates that the app sets up for us and then when our time is up, go our separate ways.”
Maggie looked over at him, and maybe he was just seeing what he wanted to, but it seemed to him that there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. But she nodded in agreement. Today had shown him that there was no way to broker peace with the Del Rio family. Her brother was obviously spoiling for a fight.
“It might be nice if each of your families could seem to be making peace while you’re dating,” Brian said.
“Uh, what?” Alisha asked Brian.
“Well, you mentioned that you want the app to get good publicity and for it not to seem like a stunt, right?”
“Yes, we do,” Maggie said. “I think we could be cordial to each other in public, right?”
“Yes,” Jericho agreed.
Alisha and Preston both left a few minutes later and the lawyers and Jack were in a deep discussion of the agreement that Brian’s firm would draw up and he and Maggie would sign later.
“Want to get a drink while they hash things out?” he asked her.
“I’m not sure that’s wise,” she said. “Last night seems like a different life and today... I think we should face facts. There can never be anything real between the two of us.”
Jericho shook his head, remembering the feel of her in his arms, and pulled her out of the boardroom and into the corridor that was empty. In the distance he could hear the sounds of voices downstairs in the bar.
“This feels real,” he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her.
Five
Maggie hadn’t intended to find herself back in Jericho’s arms but honestly, she was secretly glad she was. The meeting had been tenser than she’d expected. She had the feeling a few public dates were going to be all they actually had and she craved this kiss more than she should.
His mouth was firm and strong. He wasn’t wishy-washy about kissing her, pulling her close into his body and turning so that she had the wall against her back. She put her hand on his jaw, felt the stubble on it and rubbed her fingers against it as his tongue tangled with hers and he thrust it deeper into her mouth.
Something deep and needy awoke in her soul. She put her arms around his shoulders, using that to pull herself closer to him. Letting the fullness of her breasts brush against his chest. His hand slid down her back, cupping her butt and rubbing along her hip. His hips canted forward and she felt the brush of his erection against the tops of her thighs.
He wanted her.
This was ridiculous. They’d just agreed to put on a show for their families but this... This was private. This was just for the two of them.
She tore her mouth from his as she heard the sound of footsteps at the end of the hall. He adjusted himself and stepped back from her as she glanced down the hallway and noticed whoever they heard had gone in another direction.
“That was close,” she said.
“Yes,” he agreed. He shoved his hand into his hair. “I’m not going to apologize for that.”
“Good,” she said, sighing and rubbing her finger over her lips, which still tingled. “We’re too old to sneak around and I’m not sure where this is going.”
“I agree on both counts. Could we do something for show and something private for us? Not necessarily sneaking—”
“We could. But to what end. I mean, my brother and your sister were pretty heated in there. It would have been even worse with our fathers,” she said. “I think it’s smarter for that to be our last kiss.”
“Smarter? Maybe. But I’m not sure that it will be the last time I take you in my arms,” he said.
She wasn’t entirely sure, either. There was something about Jericho that was just making her want to let go. To reconnect to that part of herself that she’d let stay dormant for too many years. Why him? Why now?
But she knew that the answer wasn’t something she could define. Maybe it was hormones or maybe it was the forbidden nature of it. Part of her was really attracted, not just to Jericho but also to the thought of having a secret relationship. After having been publicly dumped, her mind found it way too easy to justify.
“Ugh.”
