Page 18 of Tall, Dark, and Grumpy

“Ah. Yeah.” She ducks her head and mutters, “Sorry.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?” I hold my breath.

“No,” she whispers, gaze sliding away.

The pure jealousy eases a bit and air expands my lungs again.

“Why did you make one up?” I don’t quite ask why she described him as being precisely like me, but we’ll get to that.

“There was a man bothering me,” she says, and my hand tightens on her waist.

“That won’t be a problem again,” I swear. Mainly because I suspect he’s already dead. Sev hasn’t got much patience, and I asked him to deal with the man who was standing too close to Cassie. But even if Sev was uncharacteristically merciful, he made my girl uncomfortable and that’s a death wish. Doesn’t matter that he didn’t know she’s mine.

Well, alright. He might survive with a maiming, I reflect as Cassie and I move together, completely in sync. He gave me the perfect excuse to be close to the woman I love.

“Okay. So how long have I been your boyfriend?”

“A month,” she admits miserably, focusing on my top button.

I can’t help but smile. A month. All the time I’ve known her. I can live with that. “And I guess we’ve been engaged since yesterday.”

I need to get her a ring. One with a big diamond that says what I can’t put into words: I want this to be real, whatever the cost.

“You don’t have to do this. I might just go home. This isn’t my scene really.”

I ignore the comment about not being her fake fiancé, because there’s no way in hell I’m giving that up now. I am as committed to our lie as a five-year-old saying they haven’t eaten chocolate cake when they have chocolate smeared across their cheeks.

“Why are you here then?” We continue dancing and it’s so obviously a prelude to how well she’ll fit me when I make love to her, my cock is getting chubby.

“I wanted to…” She catches her lower lip in her teeth. “Maybe try and meet someone.”

“Anyone caught your eye?” My tone is light, but I hope she says no for everyone’s sake.

She shakes her head and my chest eases. I am a bastardo in truth, because I’m glad she won’t be happy with another man, at least for now. I can’t have her because she’s too young and sweet, but I can indulge in our fake engagement.

“And now you’re engaged,” I point out.

Her smile is rueful. “That was really kind of you. But why are you even here?”

It’s my turn to slip my gaze away, and sweep her into a spin to hide while I think. I consider lying, but settle for a half-truth.

“Because you messaged me on your Friday night off, and it sounded like you needed help.”

I leave out the part about missing her, wishing for any excuse to see her, and wanting her in my life for more than work. I don’t say that I love her with the whole of my sorry excuse for a soul.

“I’m sorry I interrupted your evening. And your brother’s.”

I snort. “Sev doesn’t deserve your sympathy. He’s enjoying himself.”

We both glance across to the bar where my brother has his phone out and is pointedly ignoring Cassie’s friends, who are trying to get his attention.

“I almost wish I’d seen Julie’s face when you said you were my fiancé. I was too shocked to enjoy it fully.”

“It was quite a moment.” That I also missed, because I only have eyes for Cassie. “Now we have our story straight, do you want to fully enjoy proving her wrong?”

The way she bites her lip and gets this naughty little smile tells me all I need to know. She’d be such a perfect mafia boss’ wife, with that vengeful streak. Moreover, I’m increasingly aroused by dancing with a girl half my age, so perhaps some acting to allow her to revel in being right, rather than tempting me, would be a good idea. I haven’t forgotten about her stained dress under my jacket, either.

“Gloating allowed,” I tell her, and I keep my hand on her waist, guiding her back to the bar.