Page 46 of Guarded King

“Where are we going for dinner?” Gemma asks. “I haven’t been to Trio’s in ages. Or what about that new Japanese fusion restaurant? Everyone I know has been trying to get into it, but you can make it happen. There’ll probably be paparazzi out front too.” She says that last part without a hint of shame.

I tap my thumb against my whiskey glass, irritation tightening the back of my neck. “I thought we could grab a pizza.”

Her mouth drops open on a huff. “You’re joking, right? You know I can’t eat pizza. And why would you want to when we could be eating oysters at Trio’s?”

I’m not craving pizza by any means, so I’m not sure why I suggested it.

“Or,” she says, her voice lowering to a purr, “We could get a suite and order room service.”

She knows I won’t take her back to my penthouse, and she’s never seemed to mind. Especially not when I take her to one of the King Group hotels. After all, they’re known for their luxurious suites and fine dining room service.

I should take her up on that offer. I don’t have much interest in making small talk over oysters when we both know what thisdateis about.

Yet instead of guiding her out of the booth and into my car, I flag down a server and order another round of drinks.

Gemma sags against the seat with a pout. “You know you don’t have to get me drunk, right?”

“One more drink,” I tell her. I’m stalling, and for all the wrong reasons.

Gemma slides in closer to me, her long leg pressing against mine. One slender hand slides up my chest, then she finger-walks her way up to the knot of my tie while she presses her lips against the side of my neck.

The way she flicks her tongue over my skin should elicit at least a slight response. So should the breathy moan she lets out. Especially since I’ve been celibate for the better part of a year. I should be dying to sink into her. I should be anxious to take her home, strip that dress off her, and bend her over the nearest flat surface.

But the floral scent floating around me—not honey and vanilla—is anything but intoxicating. The half-lidded eyes fixed on me are glacier blue, not the color of a tropical ocean, and her hair is too gold, too bright, not the soft sheen of moonlight.

When I don’t react, she pulls back, expression hardening a fraction, and taps her long red nails against the wooden tabletop. “I saw Katherine last week.”

“Did you?” I keep my tone flat, hoping, for her sake, that she gets the hint.

“She looks good.”

I don’t answer. Apparently, Gemma’s emotional IQ is on the lower end.

“I told her that too. She didn’t return the sentiment.” Her laugh lacks humor. “You’d think she’d be less catty. You’ve been divorced over a decade, for fuck’s sake.”

My next sip of whiskey goes down harshly. I’ve wanted nothing to do with Katherine since our divorce, but that hasn’t stopped her from periodically trying to rekindle our relationship.

That’s never going to happen.

“Apparently she’s dating Roger Haverscombe.”

That gets my attention. Jaw locked, I turn to look at her. “Is she now?”

Obviously happy to have finally gotten a reaction from me, she smiles and tosses back her hair, exposing her long, elegant neck. “She kept saying Haverscombe Industries is going to be the next big thing in luxury real estate development.”

I snort. Katherine always did want to be with the top dog. I guess she hasn’t realized yet that Roger is never going to be that man.

I drain the rest of my whiskey and set the glass on the table with a thump.

“Mmm, all done?” She strokes her hand over my dick. “I can’t wait to get you alone. I’m going to make you feel so good.”

Maybe she would. But my body isn’t the least bit interested in what she’s offering. Not even when I twist my hand in her hair and pull her head back, making her gasp. Her lips part and her pupils dilate, and still nothing.

Because all I can see is Chloe. Chloe’s lips parted, waiting for mine. Chloe’s eyes begging me to touch her, Chloe’s hair gripped in my fist.

Fuck.

I let Gemma go, along with the notion of fucking my assistant out of my system. At least for tonight. At least with Gemma.