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My fingers grip the sides of my dress tightly. “Is there anyone else you need to make your hellos to?”
“Yeah,” he murmurs, tucking his own hands in his pockets.
We stay for another hour and I soak in the experience as best I can, knowing this is likely the only chance I’ll have to immerse myself in the goings on of the rich and famous. Not that I’ve ever been one to gush over celebrities, but I do peruseUs Weeklyon occasion.
More than that, though, I enjoy watching Gabriel in his element, surrounded by his contemporaries. I take the reins when others get too close asking about Serena, content to sit back otherwise and observe as he captivates those around him.
Or maybe it’s just me he’s doing that to.
As we ride to my apartment at the end of the night in his town car, I spend the entire time wondering if he’ll walk me up to the seventh floor, the way he’s done before. I shouldn’t encourage it. It’ll only lead to some awkward goodbye where we have to pretend to be friends.
But both of us know that’s not truly the case.
A shudder runs through me as I remember him whispering in my ear, voice dark with temptation.If circumstances were different, I wouldn’t stay only friends with you.
“Cold?” he asks, adjusting the vent.
“Thanks,” I murmur, rubbing the goosebumps on my arms away as we pull up to my building.
He steps out of the car as we pull up, holding his hand out for me to take. I grab on thankfully, his grip steady and sure, and reluctantly let go as I step onto the curb.
He follows me up, each of us silent. Is he expecting a goodnight kiss? No, he wouldn’t do that. We agreed - friends only.
I fiddle with the strap of my purse as we reach my door on the top floor, looking down at my shoes. “The, um, party at Worthington Place is tomorrow. The one for my clients you helped secure. Is there anything special I need to do to get in?”
“It starts at noon, right? How about I meet you there at ten? Will two hours be enough to set up?”
I glance up, his gaze steadfast. “You’re coming?”
“I can’t let you do it all by yourself.”
I resist the urge to melt into his arms. That would definitely send the wrong message after my speech last time. “Thank you.”
I stick out my hand instead for a handshake, determined to keep things professional, but he simply looks down at it, glancing back up at me in amusement. “We’re friends, not interviewing for a job.”
I smile weakly, dropping my hand.
“We can hug, right? Friends hug.”
I nod reflexively, an overwhelming sense of rightness enveloping me as he steps in close and wraps his arms around me. I return the embrace, breathing him in, my body relaxing against his. My fingers curl into the hard muscles of his upper back, his encircling my waist, and I wish we could stay like this forever.
After a few moments, his hands move the slightest bit, drawing small circles against the fabric of my dress, not quite a caress, but the beginnings of one. I still, my lower belly stirring, eager to see if he’ll shift his hands further down to shape themselves over my ass, or maybe up and around to cup my breasts. Anywhere really. I’ll take him anywhere.
When I realize my nails are digging into his back, I step away, my breaths coming faster. What am I doing? I just told him yesterday we shouldn’t kiss and here I am mentally imagining him feeling me up.
I’m not the only one with naughty things on my mind, though. There’s unmistakable lust in his eyes, but something more too, something deeper.
Something that shouldn’t be there. That can’t be there.
I dig in my purse for my key, my hands trembling slightly as I fit it into the lock. “Goodnight, Gabriel.”
“Goodnight.”
I shut the door behind me and lean against it, wondering how I’m going to get through the next couple weeks. I pull out my phone to check how many days it actually is since I’m a masochist and see that I have a missed message from Serena.
Serena:Won’t be able to make the fitting for tomorrow. Let’s reschedule later.
Is she freaking kidding me? She’s not taking any of this seriously. We’re supposed to meet bright and early at eight a.m. at Bewitching Bridal to ensure the alterations we rushed are correct. I had to get Louise to agree to let us in before the store opens just because Serena said it was the only time she was available.