I leaned against his chest, feeling his rock-hard muscles beneath his shirt. I closed my eyes, inhaling his masculine scent.
“God I can smell your perfume” he whispered, sniffing appreciatively “It smells like roses and gardenias.”
I was a little surprised but didn’t have time to comment before he locked lips with me, kissing me deeply, my arms wrapping around his neck, my body shifting on his lap as I shifted to an easier and more comfortable position. He left me gasping for air, my body feeling like it was floating as he pulled back, his hand cupping my cheek.
“Today didn’t exactly go to plan,” he said with a crooked grin “I think that we should take some time to reset, go have a drink at a cafe nearby, and then go home. Timothy can push my appointments and work back. I was planning on taking tomorrow off anyway so that we could get ready for the engagement party together.”
He stroked up and down my arms. I shivered at his touch. My throat went dry. I was dazed. “A cafe” I stammered, envisioning a warm, relaxed atmosphere with a crowd of people seated around us “That sounds perfect.”
It was what couples did, wasn’t it? My eyes sparkled. The thought of having more quality time with my husband made my heart begin to race a little harder and my hands go slightly clammy.
“Does Rachel know?” Grayson asked out of the blue, causing me to glance at him blankly.
“Hmmm,” I answered, my thoughts on going out of this building and venturing to a new one. “Does Rachel know what?” I asked a tad confused.
“Does Rachel know your true identity?” he asked patiently.
“Oh” I exclaimed, my brain focussing again “Rachel has always known. We’ve been best friends since college. She’s a partner in many of my businesses, making her extremely well off as well. I would be lost without her guidance and creativity” I mumbled, causing Grayson to look a bit perplexed “She’s the glue that holds it together and the sparkle to my bling” I added with a great degree of satisfaction.
“That’s a strange way to put it” Grayson teased as I slid off his lap and began to smooth down my clothes “but I guess that at least you’ve had a friend to confide in all these years.”
“It’s helped,” I said seriously “and for what it’s worth, she likes you so that’s a bonus,” I said nonchalantly, fighting back the urge to laugh at the expression on his face.
“I guess I’ll take that as a compliment” Grayson growled, standing up and shaking his hair, causing it to look even more disheveled, my breath hitching at how handsome he looked at that moment.
“Considering she didn’t like Johnathon all that much, it is,” I told him sincerely as Timothy came back into the room, looking slightly apprehensive.
“I figured since I didn’t hear shouting, it was safe to come back in,” the man said highly relieved.
“I plan on punishing her later” Grayson deadpanned and then winked at me, causing me to turn beetroot red.
I had a feeling that the punishment might involve the bedroom. Part of me felt excited by the idea. Thankfully the threat went right over an oblivious Timothy’s head. Either that or he didn’t see the need to comment about it.
“Well then, what would you like to do about work?” Timothy said calmly as I grabbed my bag and Grayson began to gather up his papers, a knowing look in his eyes and a resigned look on his face.
“Complete any paperwork you can today and push my appointments or meetings back. As you know I’m not in the office tomorrow either” Grayson instructed him “And I advise you to take the day off as well” he told Timothy, stunning his assistant.
“Are you sure?” he stammered.
“You are taking Rachel aren’t you?” he asked coolly “Spend the day getting ready. Take her out for dinner beforehand if you want. God knows the food is usually crap or so small it doesn’t fill your stomach,” he said bluntly, causing me to giggle again “get her to the party in a good mood” he advised, flinging a hand over my shoulder and winking at me;
“Thank you, sir,” Timothy said, nodding and smiling.
“I hope to see you and Rachel at the party Timothy,” I told him sincerely as Grayson began to lead me towards the door.
“Oh um, Miss Flair,” he said gingerly as I glanced back at him “Does Rachel know who you are? I don’t want to let anything slip” he added biting his lip and looking worriedly at me.
“Rachel knows but try not to tell anyone else” I advised him cautiously and he nodded relieved, Grayson reaching out and opening the door for me, his hand on the small of my back.
I walked out, Grayson behind me and sensed that there were eyes on me as several females watched with disgruntled expressions as we walked downstairs, some of them eyeing me with envy and jealousy. I straightened my shoulders. Grayson was a handsome devil, I thought smiling up at him, and I was lucky to have married a man with such good qualities and redeeming features. It could very well have turned out differently.
Johnathon POV
Charlotte was determined that all eyes were going to be on her during the night of our engagement party. I had never seen a woman take such fastidious care of her exterior to the extent that Charlotte Deluca did. When they said that women suffered for their beauty, they had understated just how much. I had personally seen her be waxed from head to toe, wincing all the way in sympathy, her nails primped and preened and now, we were at the salon, another one, where Charlotte was insisting on getting her hair done in preparation for tomorrow.
“You should go by yourself” I had said, a little desperately, thoughts of being stuck with her for hours on end not even remotely appealing “You don’t really need me to be there with you, do you?” I asked.
The scathing look she had shot me in return had caused me to flinch “You’re paying for it all” she had said haughtily “so you have to come. Besides, I thought you liked to look at me?” she said spearing me with a glance.
I sighed and resigned myself to yet another afternoon in Charlotte’s company, listening to her many complaints and idle gossiping.
“Make sure that you don’t cut too much off the ends” Charlotte directed her stylist, an older man with a frown on his face as he listened intently to her, her hands waving around as she sat in the salon chair, a gown around her neck “just enough to get rid of the split ends. I need my hair died to look more vibrant” she added “and the coverage has to be even. None of this ombre crap” she said glaring at the poor stylist who was nodding weakly “and if you have to use more dye, use it. My fiancee is paying for it” she added smugly “so spare no expense or materials and make sure you use the best quality and luxurious ones”
The stylist shot me a sympathetic glance but Charlotte wasn’t finished yet. “I want layers, proper ones. The ones you put in last time have all grown out” she complained loudly.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.