Page 12 of The Temptation (Executive Suite Secrets #4)

My head jerked up to see Pierce standing over me with two drinks in his hands. He set a bright-red drink with a dried lemon slice in front of me before taking a seat.

“Excellent!” I said in a rush, breaking free from my wandering thoughts. “What’s the drink?”

“It’s called a Sun-kissed Sweetheart. Vodka, schnapps, and dragon fruit.”

Oh, that sounded interesting! I set aside my pizza and snatched up my drink. Not too strong and the right amount of fruity. I would return in the future.

“A toast,” Pierce began, lifting his Old-Fashioned in the air. “To Simon, for saving my ass. I appreciate your help, even though I haven’t been the kindest to you since your return.”

I clinked my glass against his. “Well, we both know I can be a bit of a handful when I want something.”

“And don’t want to take no for an answer.”

I rolled my eyes and took another sip of my drink. “No is so boring. Yes is more fun.”

“No.”

That answer was to be expected. I shrugged and returned to my pizza. Pierce did the same, and for a few minutes, we ate in silence, enjoying each other’s company and listening to music.

When my stomach was full of greasy, cheesy goodness, I settled in my oversized leather chair and fiddled with my phone.

Okay, I might have snapped a few dozen pictures of Pierce sitting across from me, sipping his drink and looking like a fashion model.

Really, the man was too sexy for his own good.

Tall, lean, hard jaw, and cold eyes. His hair was such a dark brown that it appeared almost black.

And his lips were a little on the thin side, but they turned plumper each time he relaxed or smirked.

The only way to know for sure the pros and cons of his mouth was to kiss him.

That stolen kiss at Declan’s had been an excellent start, but it required more thorough research.

If I’d learned anything tonight, it was that Pierce was going to continue to be a handsome man well into his fifties and sixties.

Pierce had gotten most of his looks from his father, who was quite the silver fox, with appealing salt-and-pepper hair.

His face was sterner than his son’s, and Pierce got his soft eyes from his mother, who was also very attractive.

“Are you taking pictures of me?” Pierce inquired.

I tried to think of some bit of bullshit, but a guilty smile was spreading across my face. “I need this.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I do. While you might not have social media, I do, and these pictures are critical for your success.” I lowered my phone and narrowed my eyes at him. “You don’t think we’re done, do you?”

“Yes.”

So I’d thought. This little outing hadn’t been because he was willing to spend time with me, but rather his “kind” way of thanking me for my services and politely ending our arrangement.

Oh, hell no, Mr. Sutton. I’m not done with you. Not by a long shot.

A snort escaped me. “Tonight bought you some breathing room, but we’re not finished.”

“This doesn’t need to go on. My parents met you as the man I’m dating. They won’t continue pressuring me to leave. I’ll have some time to figure things out.”

I sat up and grabbed my drink. After another sip, I leveled a stern look at him.

“Give your parents some credit. They met a guy you’ve just started seeing—someone who is younger than you and has links to a sad, dark past. In all likelihood, they think I’m nice but don’t honestly believe you’re going to keep me around for more than one more date.

” Lifting my free hand, I pressed two fingers to my forehead and did my best imitation of Pierce’s mother, because when it came to Pierce’s personal life, she was the powerhouse of the couple.

“Simon is a sweet dear, but Pierce needs someone who is older, more mature, and won’t remind him of that boy who died.

It’s imperative we bring him back to Boston.

Everyone knows that’s where you find a good gay boyfriend with proper breeding. ”

Pierce choked. I didn’t know whether it was on his drink or air. He set his glass down on the table heavily and covered his mouth, gasping for air. “Fuck. Simon. Please, never imitate my mother and use the word ‘breeding’ at the same time.”

A cackle broke free, and I flopped into my chair. I hadn’t even been going for that joke. It just proved that under all that snooty propriety, the man who had been friends with my brother was still in there with his filthy mind.

Several seconds ticked by before Pierce was breathing easily and I’d stopped snickering like a lunatic.

“Well…” Pierce mumbled, dropping his gaze to his nearly empty glass on the table. He stared at the remaining amber liquid as it caught and twisted the light as if it held the answers he sought.

“Well, nothing. We have to convince them you are more emotionally invested than a one-night stand. You think they’re going to let you off the hook for that?”

Pierce’s expression soured, but he didn’t argue with me any further. He knew I was right, even if he didn’t like it. “What are you suggesting? You mentioned some social media posts?”

His tone was grudging, but I had expected nothing less from him.

He’d already been pushed pretty far in dealing with me this evening, and I knew it was better to go slowly.

If I asked for too much too soon, he’d say fuck it all, walk away, and move to Boston before anyone could talk some sense into him.

I hopped up from my chair and walked around the coffee table that separated us. I perched on the arm of his chair, held up my phone and, turning the camera toward us, I grabbed a series of pictures of us together. Not touching, but close.

“Less scowl, please,” I snapped while holding on to my smile. “We want your parents to think you like being with me.”

Pierce’s face smoothed. It wasn’t quite a grin, but he at least appeared relaxed and content. He didn’t necessarily mind being in my presence. Not great, but it would have to do.

I lowered my phone and paged through the pictures, trying to find the best one while I remained seated on his chair. After a few passes through filters and tweaks, I uploaded it to social media with the caption “Finally able to make it official. We’re dating!”

“Does this work for you?” I inquired, showing him the post prior to making it live.

Pierce glanced at it, his frown returning. “Sawyer would fucking kill me,” he muttered under his breath.

I scoffed. “Whatever. Sawyer wouldn’t give a rat’s ass, I’m sure. Besides, if he was still alive, he’d know I was doing this to help you out of a jam.”

For reasons I couldn’t understand, Pierce’s mood plummeted, and nothing I said could salvage it. We left the bar not long afterward, but at least he didn’t argue with me anymore that we needed to take additional steps to convince his parents that he was in a genuine relationship.

His mood shift nagged at my wandering thoughts, though, as I lay in bed that night.

I wanted to know why he was so anxious around me.

Did he think Sawyer would have had a problem with our being together?

That was silly. Why wouldn’t Sawyer want us together?

My older brother had been a giant pain in the ass when I was growing up, but he’d always been protective of me.

He’d wanted me safe, and he would have wanted me with someone who would love and care for me.

Who could be better at that than Pierce Sutton?

No one, that was who.

Regardless, I’d get to the bottom of Pierce’s emotional turmoil eventually. I needed him to become comfortable with me. To let his guard down bit by bit. Not impossible.

Just really fucking hard.