“Bullshit. You don’t ever have to be nervous walking into a room full of stuck-up snobs, because you’re better than all of them combined.” He crossed the room and stopped in front of her, toe-to-toe. “You’re too good for me. So thank you for doing this.”
She licked her red lips, her cheeks almost matching her lipstick. “I’m not too good for you, Benji.”
He didn’t meet her eyes. “Yes. You are.” He skimmed his knuckles over the soft skin of her arm, watching with fascination as goose bumps rose where he touched. An answering desire crashed through him. “But the fact that you don’t realize that? It’s what makes you so damn special.”
She didn’t say anything. Just stared at him.
The pull between the two of them was overwhelming, and it took every single damn ounce of his self-control not to kiss her. If he broke down and did it, he wouldn’t be able to stop. And he’d promised to take things slow, as friends—like the dumb-ass he was.
When he didn’t lean in and close the distance between them, he swore he saw a flash of disappointment run across her expression. Though maybe that was wishful thinking on his part because, damn it, he wished she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
“We should go,” she said softly. Turning her back to him, she peeked over her shoulder. He didn’t move, just clutched her jacket tightly. “Benjamin?”
“Right.” He held it up, and she slid her arms inside. When she turned around and faced him, he caught the lapels of her coat and smiled. “Ready?”
She nodded once and let out a breath. “Yep. Let’s do this.”
He offered his arm, and she took it. As they walked down the stairs of her brownstone, his driver opened the door. She smiled at him and slid inside, and Benjamin followed her. The second the door closed behind him, she sagged against the seat. The short ride to The Frick passed quickly, and in a few minutes, they were parked at the curb outside the hotspot.
Maggie sat up straight and pressed a hand to her stomach, turning green. “Oh God. We’re here.”
He reached for the door handle.
“Wait!” She pressed her hand even firmer against her stomach. “I’m allergic to shellfish. And I’m an only child. My roommate’s name is Becca. And my parents—”
“—Are farmers in South Dakota. You have a black cat back home, who you rescued from an alley, and he hides when people come over so I’ll probably never see him. His name is Lucifer. You also love the Yankees and the Giants, hate the Mets and the Jets, and you like long walks in a light, misting, rain.” He cupped her cheek tenderly, smiling down at her reassuringly. “We’ve got this, darling.”
She played with her seat belt, her fingers skittering over it nonstop. “You actually paid attention to all of that?”
“Of course I did. I want to learn everything about you, because I’m greedy when it comes to you. I won’t pretend otherwise.” He smoothed his thumb over her lower lip. “If you’re talking? I’m listening. We’ve got this. There’s nothing to worry about.”
She straightened and nodded. “Okay. I’m ready.”
“Sir?” The door opened, and his driver glanced down. “Madam?”
“Thank you, Jeff.” He got out of the car and held his hand out. “Darling?”
She slid her hand into his. Her fingers didn’t tremble.
There was a bit of a crowd checking their coats and greeting each other, but he didn’t see his mother, so Maggie would be spared her company, at least for a little while. “She’s not here yet.”
“Good. I could use a drink or ten before taking her on.” She pressed against his arm, her soft curves taunting him. “Think she upped her trash talk game yet? Or will she call me a ‘lady of the night’ again?”
He choked on a laugh, but managed to hold it back successfully. “I doubt she’s ever actually uttered the word ‘whore,’ so I’d expect her trash talk to remain lame.”
“Figures,” Maggie muttered, checking out the hall. She held his arm tighter, hopping up and down excitedly. “Holy crap, is that a Kennedy over there? He’s got the eyes and the hair.”
He helped her out of her jacket. “Hmm? Where?”
“Over there.” She shrugged free. “The short guy in black, next to the tall woman in black.”
He rolled his eyes and laughed fully this time. “You realize that you just described everyone in the room, right?”
She shot him a frown over her shoulder. “That can’t be true. Look—” She broke off, glanced around the room, and then down at her own gown, which was delightfully red. “Wait. Was I supposed to wear black? If so, I obviously missed the memo.”
The red dress wasn’t why she stood out in the crowd. She stood out because she was kind, gorgeous, and her laugh could light up an underground prison cell. “That’s because there wasn’t one. They’re all dull, while you’re full of life.”
“But still.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “Should I wear black next time?”
“Don’t change a thing.” He tipped her chin up. “I like you just the way you are.”
A small smile slid into place. “You do?”
“I do.”
He lowered his mouth to hers, brushing his mouth across hers in a short, sweet kiss. They were putting on a show for other people now, so he finally had an excuse to touch her. He damn well planned to enjoy it while it lasted. The taste of her remained after he pulled away, and it teased him, made him crave more instantly.
He had a feeling if he let himself, he could easily get addicted to her intoxicating taste. And not just that, but the way she made him laugh. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed at one of these boring affairs, yet he’d already done so twice tonight…
And they weren’t even in the door yet.
“People were watching, so I figured it was a good time for a kiss,” he whispered in her ear. Her fingers flexed on him, and she shivered. “For show only, of course.”
“Y-Yes. Good thinking. We’ll have to do that a lot tonight.” She backed up a step. “I, uh, I see the bar, so I’m gonna get us some drinks while you check our coats. You want an old-fashioned?”
He cocked a brow. “Dare I ask how you found out I like those, darling?”
“Research,” she said, twisting her purse. “Always research.”
Spinning on her heel, she headed for the bar, looking every inch a regal princess amongst her peers. He watched her go, clasping the coats so tight his hands ached.
“Why, if it isn’t Benjamin Gale the third,” someone exclaimed from behind him. “It’s been so long.”
He stiffened. He’d recognize that voice anywhere. It was his latest ex—the one his mother had wanted him to marry. He’d refused because she reminded him of his mother. And he sure as hell didn’t want to marry his mother. He’d rather marry Ivan the Terrible.
Forcing a pleasant expression even though the sound of her talking made him nauseated, he turned around. “Elizabeth. How wonderful to see you.”
“I know.” She beamed and rested a hand on his arm. Even her smile was icy. “Are you here alone, too? Oh, thank God. I have no one to dance with tonight, so this is perfect.”
“Actually, I—”
“When your mother told me to come, and that you’d mentioned wanting to see me again, I didn’t believe her. But now I’m here, and you’re here, and this couldn’t be more perfect.” She rose up on tiptoe and pressed her cold lips to his cheek. “I’ve missed you, too. But you dreadfully need to shave.”
He shook off her words. “My mother told you I missed you?”
“I did,” his mother said from behind him. “I’m sorry if I betrayed your confidence, but I couldn’t let it go. Not when you two are so well suited for one another.”
“You couldn’t be more right, Helen.” Elizabeth curled her hand around his arm, clinging tightly and smiling at his mother. “We make a great couple. I’ve always thought so.”
She pressed her slim frame against him as if to remind him what it felt like to be up
close and intimate with her. He knew perfectly well how she felt—wrong.
She wasn’t Maggie.
Chapter Ten
Maggie navigated the crowded hall slowly, watching the drinks in her hand cautiously. She’d opted for red wine, while getting Benji his old-fashioned. She smiled when she remembered his reaction when she’d asked him if he’d like one. The last time she’d gone to his penthouse, she’d talked to William for a few minutes. He was all too willing to impart information about his boss.
And she was all too willing to listen.
When it came to her fiancé, she was insatiable in her quest for knowledge. Despite all the romantic travesties in her past, and the fact that this whole affair would more than likely end in a disaster, she was going to give this a try.
She was going to give herself to Benji…
And stupidly hope for the best.
Someone bumped into her, but she managed to miraculously keep both drinks firmly in hand. She let out a sigh of relief and glanced up. It was the man she’d been watching earlier—and he was staring at her boobs. Not a Kennedy, then. Everyone knew they were ass men. “Sorry, Miss…?”
She did a little curtsy thing, since it was the best she could manage with full hands, and scanned the room, looking for Benjamin. She couldn’t find him through the crowd. “Donovan. Maggie Donovan.”
He bowed at the waist impatiently. “Lovely to meet you. Is that for me, sweetheart?”
“Is what for you?”
“The drink.” He pointed at the old-fashioned in her left hand. “Whoever hired you, I’ll pay double if you keep those coming.”
“Uh…” He thought she was an assistant of some sort, or whatever. This was literally her worst nightmare about tonight, come to life. One glance, and the man somehow realized she wasn’t one of them. Was it stamped across her forehead like a scarlett letter? “I’m not here as an assistant. This is for my fiancé. Maybe you know him?”
“Oh, so you’re a…oh. Sorry. Uh… Fiancé?” He perked up and scratched his head. “Who might that be?”
“Benjamin Gale the third.” Maggie smiled. “Of Gale Incorporated.”
He straightened even more. “He’s engaged? To you?” He gave her a once over, his mouth pressed into a thin line. “That can’t be. You’re not…”
He didn’t finish that thought.
Probably because he didn’t need to.
Tensing, she forced herself to keep smiling, to deny this jerk the satisfaction of seeing he’d shaken her. This was exactly the type of reception she’d expected, so she wasn’t surprised. She’d said they would see through her deception with their X-ray vision and somehow figure out she wasn’t blue-blooded like them.
And someone had. Already.
But deep down she’d hoped she could at least pretend to be one of them long enough that they’d actually believe she belonged here. “Yes, well, nonetheless, it’s true. We’re engaged.” She tipped her head toward the door. “He’s over there, checking our coats and waiting for me. So, if you’ll excuse me?”
He laughed. “That’s amusing.”
“Oh?” she asked through clenched teeth. “How so?”
“Well, you see, he’s over there with my daughter and his mother, Helen.” He paused. “My daughter is his ex, who he is very much interested in making his ‘future.’ He informed her of as much just the other day. Ever since she left him, he hasn’t been the same, you see.”
Again. Neither the freaking meteorite nor the sinkhole showed up to save her.
What did a girl have to do to get a natural disaster around here?
Her heart skipped a beat or two, and she glanced to where she’d left Benjamin. Sure enough, he had a snobby-looking blonde on his arm, and he spoke with her and his mother…whose name was apparently Helen.
The blonde clung to him, and she rubbed her hand up and down his bicep as if she owned him already. While he didn’t look a hundred percent at ease…
He didn’t exactly look upset, either.
The sexy jerk.
Lifting her chin, she refused to react to the other man’s words. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to return to my fiancé and Helen. They’ll be expecting me.”
He stepped into her path. “Don’t interfere with them. You have no idea what’s at stake here.”
“Oh, I have every idea what’s at stake.” She pushed past him. “It was lovely meeting you.” So freaking lovely.
This time, he let her pass without stopping her.
As she crossed the room, the blonde pressed her bony body against Benjamin’s and whispered something in his ear. Unexpected jealousy knifed through Maggie, hard and swift. She wasn’t supposed to be jealous…was she?
Sure, they’d kissed a few times, and he’d given her the best orgasm of her life without even trying, but the rest of their “relationship” was fake. They liked each other, and they were friends now, but that didn’t mean he owed her anything—
Certainly not loyalty or fidelity.
And, hey, if he managed to find someone more suited to him to marry for real, someone who would keep his mother off his back for good, then more power to him. He deserved that, and more. But, even so, that didn’t stop the jealousy from striking like lightning.
He glanced over the blonde’s head, his attention locking on Maggie. Even from across the room, she could feel the question in his stare, as if he asked how she felt about this whole thing, or something. She forced a smile, lifted her wineglass to him, and downed it all in one gulp. Frowning, he said a few words to the two women and then came toward her without them.
His mother glowered at her, looking regal in her hatred.
Maggie smiled back and set her empty glass down, wiggling her fingers in a princess-like wave. Game on, bitch.
Her fiancé stepped into her path, blocking Helen’s reaction. “What are you doing?” he hissed, grabbing her elbow. “Why didn’t you come over?”
“You were busy.” She lifted a shoulder. “And I didn’t want to interfere.”
He flexed his jaw. “The whole purpose of you being here is, in fact, to interfere in situations like this. It’s why you’re my fiancée, after all.”
“Yeah, but then I figured out you were flirting with a former girlfriend, who you are still very much in love with, and from here…you looked quite content to be doing so.” She crossed her arms. “I didn’t want to mess things up if you were looking for a real solution to your problem, instead of a temporary one.”
His dark blue eyes flashed angrily. “Is that so?”
“Yeah. That’s so.” She glanced over his shoulder. The blonde watched them closely, her lip caught between her teeth. “She’s pretty. I bet she’d be a good wife. I didn’t want to ruin your chances by coming up and acting like I was the one you really wanted on you arm, when we both know—”
“You obviously know nothing.” He dragged his hand through his hair. “If I wanted to marry her, I wouldn’t have broken up with her in the first place. And you are the one I really want by my side. I made that perfectly clear the other night, when I said we’d take it slow and see where things went, but that I hoped they’d go somewhere with us naked in bed together. I was pretty fucking clear what I wanted.”
“Look, it’s fine if—” She stopped midsentence. “Wait, you broke up with her?”
“You’re damn right I did.” He dropped his hand to his side. “So next time, instead of writing a whole damn story in your head, just come the hell over. If I don’t want to be interrupted, I’ll wave you off. But you can pretty safely assume I want you to come up and show whoever I’m talking to that I’m taken.”
The jealousy that had been turning Maggie a wicked shade of green faded away, and she smiled while setting down his untouched drink. She could feel his mother’s glare burning into them both, as well as the blonde’s and her father’s.
Time to give them a show.
Resting her hands on his chest, she smoothed his tuxedo. “You mean, I should do somet
hing…” Stepping closer, she lifted her chin and studied his mouth. The wine she’d chugged earlier hit, and the room spun a little bit as she pressed her body up against his. Maybe this wasn’t the best of ideas, but she was past caring. “…more like this, next time?”
He cocked a brow and grasped her hips. “Yeah.”
“More than a touch? A kiss, maybe?”
She didn’t give him a chance to say anything that might dissuade her from showing that blonde exactly who Benjamin was with—real or not. Rising up on tiptoe, which was a lot easier with heels on, she kissed him in front of everyone. For a second, he hesitated, almost as if he was going to pull away, but instead he moaned and crushed her to his chest. His mouth moved over hers, and he kissed her back with abandon.
Swept up in a feeling that was anything but just for show, she closed her fists on his tuxedo jacket, hanging on for dear life. He broke the kiss off and let out a shaky breath. “Maggie.”
She bit down on her lower lip. She still tasted him on her. “Yes, Benji?”
Pressing his mouth against her ear, he tugged her closer. His huge erection pressed against her belly, and he whispered, “When we leave here later and get to your apartment, you’ll have a choice. If you invite me in, I swear you’ll never doubt your welcome in my arms again, and you’ll see exactly how much I want you.”
A shiver swept over her, and she didn’t let go. She wouldn’t have been able to even if she tried. “Benjamin…”
“Yeah. I know. It’s a bad idea.” His nostrils flared. “Let’s go mingle. The sooner we get this night over with, the better.”
“How long do we have to stay?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw, and he grabbed the drink off the table. He swallowed it in one big gulp then set it down. “Until they all see us, and realize we’re engaged.”
He offered his arm, and she held him close to her body, stealing a quick glance up at him. His offer burned in her mind. Even if they only had a short romance, what was so wrong with seizing the moment…
And having a little fun with a man she was desperately attracted to?
She caught her breath, because if she did this, went through with fulfilling her desire, it would change everything. Tonight would decide how the rest of their relationship went, real or fake. Would she play it safe, like always, and tell him she wanted to remain friends? Or would she let him in, even though she shouldn’t?
Beauty and the Boss (Modern Fairytales) Page 11
