Page 34 of His Ruthless Match (Below #3)

JARETH

E va walked confidently through the crowd, her black dress flowing like liquid onyx with every step. Her back was straight, her chin high, but I could see the tension in her shoulders and how she clenched her clutch just a little too tightly. She was nervous, though she’d never admit it.

Eva suddenly grabbed my arm, her wide eyes darting toward a man walking in our direction.

“Shit. I can’t let him see me,” she said, tilting her head so slightly in the man’s direction. “The one in the navy suit, tall, with the salt-and-pepper hair.”

I followed her gaze and took in the man’s appearance: six-two, polished shoes, a sharp suit tailored within an inch of its life, and a smug expression that practically screamed entitlement. He moved with an ease that only came from years of getting his way.

“That guy?” I asked, my voice dripping with disdain. “What’s his deal?”

Eva’s lips pressed into a tight line. “That’s Dr. Robert Hayes. He’s a psychiatrist. He’s shown… an uncomfortable interest in me before. He’s a little handsy, and I’d prefer to avoid a scene.”

That made my blood boil. I gripped the champagne flute so hard I was surprised it didn’t break. She didn’t have to elaborate for me to know exactly the kind of guy Hayes was.

Eva turned to me, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Excuse me? Your what?”

“Just for a minute, to keep him off my back,” she said, her tone tinged with desperation. “Please.”

I let a slow smirk spread across my face, taking my time just to watch her squirm. “You want me to pretend to date you? The very idea.”

“I’m serious, Jareth. Do you want me to get groped all night, or are you going to help me?”

I sighed, drawing out my response just to irritate her. “Oh, I’m going to enjoy this.”

Before she could retort, Hayes was upon us. His eyes raked over Eva like she was a shiny new toy he wanted to add to his collection. “Well, if it isn’t the beautiful Eva Delgado.”

I slid my arm around her waist, pulling her close against my side. She stiffened slightly, but she didn’t pull away. “And who might you be?” I asked, infusing a low growl into my voice.

He flicked me an irritated glance. “I didn’t realize Eva was seeing anyone.”

I grinned at him, all teeth and no warmth. “You must’ve missed the memo. I never let her out of my sight.”

Eva put her hand on my chest. Her smile was polite but icy. “Robert, this is Jareth. Jareth, Dr. Hayes.”

“Charmed,” I said, though my tone suggested I was anything but.

Hayes’s smile tightened. His polished veneer started to crack. “Well, Eva, you always did have a knack for surprises.”

I squeezed her waist slightly and leaned down to brush my lips against her ear. “She certainly keeps me on my toes. Don’t you, sweetheart?”

Eva’s eyes blazed with fury, but her voice didn’t waver. “Always.”

The tension between the three of us was thick enough to choke on.

Hayes shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his polished shoes squeaking against the marble floor.

He probably wasn’t used to being challenged, especially not in public.

The faint smirk that had been plastered on his face when he first approached was now slipping, and I watched the cracks in his confidence grow with something close to satisfaction.

He cleared his throat, attempting to reestablish dominance. “Well, Eva, I must admit I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Let alone with company.”

The way he said “company” rankled me. It dripped with condescension, as if he couldn’t fathom someone like me standing beside her.

I pulled Eva closer, letting my hand settle possessively at her hip. She stiffened for a fraction of a second before relaxing against me.

Good girl, keep up the act.

“She’s full of surprises, isn’t she?” I said with a bit of bite in my voice. “Though I imagine you’d know that already, wouldn’t you, Dr. Hayes?”

Hayes’s eyes darted between me and Eva. He was recalculating, trying to figure out how to get the upper hand.

“Well, Eva and I do go way back,” he said. “Don’t we?”

Eva’s nails dug into my arm. “Not far enough back to make this conversation worth continuing,” she replied sweetly.

I bit back a grin. That’s my girl.

Frustration flashed across his face. He wasn’t used to being dismissed. “Of course. It was a pleasure meeting you… Jareth, was it?”

“Doctor,” I said, my voice low and dangerous.

His lips twitched, as if he were fighting the urge to snarl. “Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, Eva, you know where to find me.”

I stepped forward, angling myself between them. “I think you’ve said enough, don’t you?”

He looked like he might push back, but then he glanced at Eva again and forced a tight smile. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

The moment he was out of earshot, Eva pried my arm from her waist. “You didn’t have to enjoy that so much.”

“Oh, I absolutely did.”

Her eyes narrowed, though I caught the faintest flicker of a smile tugging at her lips. She quickly smothered it and smoothed down her dress with more force than necessary.

“You owe me for that performance, sweetheart,” I added.

She huffed. “Fine. Add it to your list of things to lord over me.”

“Anytime you need a fake boyfriend, Delgado, you know where to find me.”

“Ugh!” She turned on her heel and headed back into the crowd with her head held high.

The warmth of her body against mine lingered, refusing to be ignored. Damn her and her ability to get under my skin.

The champagne was definitely working its magic.

Eva and I had knocked back a few more glasses, and with every sip, she became a little less uptight.

Even I could feel the warmth spreading through me, loosening muscles that were always too tight, although I knew within a few minutes I’d be back to normal.

Only magical drinks could really impair me.

Even though I wasn’t getting much of anything from the alcohol, Eva clearly needed to let loose.

She leaned her head back with a carefree laugh, swaying slightly on her heels. “You know what?” she said, her voice bubbly and unguarded. “I think I’m ready to go.”

I smiled at her, a little more openly than I usually allowed myself.

“Whenever you want, Delgado.” I scanned the room, cataloging every face, every movement.

Security was heavy at this event, but that didn’t mean I could relax.

It was my job to keep her safe, no matter how tipsy or ridiculous she got.

I trailed behind her as she made her rounds to say goodbye.

I couldn’t help but draw parallels between this room of glittering elites and the underworld politics of The Below.

Different setting, same games: flattery, veiled threats, and plenty of ego-stroking.

Eva played her part perfectly, but I could tell the constant politicking was wearing on her.

When we finally made it outside, Eva sighed with relief, then let out a giggle that was pure champagne-fueled joy.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, unable to stop myself from smiling at the sight of her. There was something infectious about her lightness. I hadn’t seen it in her before.

She turned to me, her cheeks flushed. “I can’t stop thinking about you playing the boyfriend role earlier,” she said.

I raised an eyebrow. “Why is that so funny?”

She laughed again, louder this time. “Because it’s impossible to imagine you as anyone’s boyfriend.”

That should have annoyed me, but I was too caught up with this carefree side of her. “Ouch,” I said, clutching my chest in mock pain. “You wound me, Delgado. What makes it so impossible to imagine?”

She looked up at me with those stunning hazel eyes of hers, her lips curling into a teasing smile. “Because you’re…” She gestured vaguely at me, as if that explained everything. “You.”

“Wow. That clears it right up. Thank you for that in-depth analysis.”

“You just don’t strike me as the relationship type, Jareth,” she said, hiccupping again. “Too broody. Too stubborn. Definitely too much of an asshole.”

I barked out a laugh. “Well, aren’t you just a ray of sunshine.”

Overcome with giggles, she stumbled slightly and fell against me. I caught her easily, my hands steady on her waist. That’s when everything shifted.

From this angle, I could see the curve of her cleavage, framed perfectly by the neckline of her dress. My mouth went dry, and I forgot how to breathe. She smelled like champagne and something sweeter. And gods help me, she looked stunning in every sense of the word.

I snapped out of it as she pushed herself upright.

“Tonight was nice,” she murmured. “Better than I thought it would be.” She looked down at her award, running her fingers over the smooth surface.

“I never thought I’d make it here, you know.

Born to a hooker. My father didn’t want anything to do with me, which, you know, turned out to be a good thing.

And now… this.” She gestured vaguely, her laugh hollow.

Even though The Shadow had given me a quick rundown of her background, hearing the words from Eva’s mouth hit me harder than I expected.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

She waved a hand dismissively, forcing a smile. “Don’t be. It doesn’t matter. I’ve proven them all wrong, haven’t I? I’m smart. I’m capable. And I got here all on my own accord.”

“Yes, you’re certainly a badass,” I said, meaning it. “With an amazing ass.”

She burst out laughing and angled her body toward me. “Thank you. For… you know. Earlier. With Hayes.”

I reached out without thinking and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I’ll be your pretend boyfriend anytime.”

The city sounds faded into the background as her eyes locked onto mine. My pulse quickened. I knew I should pull back, but I didn’t move.

This woman was dangerous. Not because of her sharp tongue or her stubbornness, but because of the way she made me feel. It was like I was falling, and there was nothing to catch me.