by Dara Girard
He lifted a brow. “Seriously?”
“I know. How cliché is that? Flirting with a bridesmaid. It would have been more interesting if he’d gone for a groomsmen.”
The man choked on his drink. “You would have preferred it?”
She thought for a moment. “Not personally, but it would have made a more lively story in the retelling. A man leaving you for your younger, pretty cousin is just sad.”
“Where is she?”
“Why? You want to make a comparison yourself?”
The man looked at Tanna for a long moment, his dark penetrating eyes seeming to take in every inch of her, making her skin tingle. “Something like that.”
She swallowed. She wasn’t sure what just happened, but she liked it. Was he actually flirting with her? How many drinks had he had? She shook her head and looked out at the dance floor. “She’s not here and neither is he.”
His brows shot up. “They left together?”
She nodded then giggled and leaned towards him. “But do you want to know what makes it worse?” she said in a low voice.
The man leaned forward too, giving her a whiff of his cologne. Or did he just smell that good naturally? Too bad a man like him hadn’t been available at Escort for You. If only…she glanced down when she felt a hand on her arm.
“You zoned out on me,” he said, pulling his hand away.
“I’m sorry.”
“You were about to tell me what’s worse.”
“Oh yes, right.” She had to focus. She didn’t want to ruin this night by having him think she was nuts. He was probably use to women fawning all over him. She cleared her throat ready to share her embarrassment. “The worst part is that I hired him.”
“To do what?”
“To be my date for the evening.”
“Wait, so the guy you hired—”
She quickly covered his mouth. “Shh! Don’t talk so loud.”
He removed her hand and lowered his voice, although he sounded no less stunned. “The guy you hired to be your date dumped you and ran off with your cousin?”
“Yes, but that’s our secret, okay? I’ve been pretending for the last three months that I have a boyfriend so that’s what my family will think happened.”
He furrowed his brows. “They’ll think what happened?”
“That my boyfriend dumped me.”
“But you don’t have a boyfriend.”
“No, just the one I hired. Are you following this?”
“Not very well, but this isn’t my first drink of the evening.” He finished his glass then set it down.
She nodded towards the empty glass. “Yes, you looked like you’ve had a hard day too.”
“I just found out my girlfriend is having an affair with her father—”
Tanna’s eyes widened in horror. “She’s having an affair with her father!”
The man sent her a cool, chastising look. “Her father’s lawyer. You didn’t let me finish.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, and meant it. His look could make a giraffe feel as big as a beetle.
He wagged his finger at her. “You shouldn’t interrupt.”
“I’m sorry, go on,” she urged, eager to hear the full story.
He shrugged. “There’s not much more to say. Megan made a fool of me.”
“No, she’s the fool for letting you go. That’s the best way to think of it.”
“A year down the drain.”
He looked so sad she wanted to cheer him up. “Do you know how much I spent for that guy?”
“Did you use a local agency?”
She paused. She hadn’t expected that question. “Yes.”
“How many days did you need him?”
“Two.”
“With a set amount of hours each day, correct?”
She nodded wondering where he’d taken the conversation.
“But you had a budget.”
She nodded again.
He rubbed his chin then said, “Probably about seven hundred pounds.”
Tanna’s mouth dropped. “How did you..?”
“So I’m right?” he said, pleased.
“Lucky guess.”
“No, let’s just say I’m familiar with the practice.”
“It was just for a date, nothing more,” she clarified in case he thought it was something else.
“Don’t worry. I believe you.”
“And this,” she said pointing to both of them, “is just a drink.”
“Pity, I was hoping for more.”
“Like what?” she said with a grin, glad to see the sad look on his face had gone. “Something dirty and clichéd?”
He laughed. “Yes.”
His face changed when he laughed. He was even better looking, but that wasn’t what got her heart racing, he thought she was funny. Or was it the drink? She didn’t care. She wanted to make him laugh again. “So did you tell me that sad story so that I’d feel sorry for you and comfort you?”
“Maybe.”
“Would you like me to take you far away from here into a private bedroom where only a whisper of silk would separate us?”
He didn’t smile. Instead his brows rose a fraction and a second later she knew why when she felt a smack on the back of her head. “What kind of talk is this!” Aunt Violet said.
Tanna spun around. “I was just trying to be funny.”
“How many times have we told you that you’re not funny?” Aunt Violet nodded to the man. “Who is this man? Who are you?” she demanded of him.
He held out his hand. “I am—”
“Aunty, he’s a friend of mine and—”
“You expect me to believe that? Is he another one from the agency? Your Plan Z?”
“You mean Plan B.”
“What?”
Tanna waved her hand. “Never mind.”
Aunt Violet shot the man a cold look of reproach. “You can go.”
“Aunty, I—”
“To speak such filth out in the open like your mouth is a sewer. Have you no shame?”
Tanna looked around as people started to stare to see what the uproar was about, her face burning. She’d finally gotten over one humiliation she didn’t want to suffer another one. “Aunty, please lower your voice.”
“Didn’t I tell you my friend has a son? And you promised you’d come right back.”
“I just wanted to—”
Her mother hurried over to them, looking anxious. “What is going on here?”
Aunt Violet scrunched her face as if she’d smelled something foul. “Tanna has invited another stranger to pretend to be her man.”
“What do you mean by pretend?” her mother asked puzzled.
Tanna shot her aunt a look and for a moment she looked chagrined. “Nothing, Mum,” Tanna said. “I was just chatting with this—”
“Stranger,” her aunt finished.
“Actually we’re not strangers,” the man said, taking Tanna’s hand. “She’s been waiting for me.”
Chapter 5
The three women stared at him. Doran didn’t mind, he liked the attention and especially the look on the younger woman’s face. He never expected to spend the evening with a pretty dark skinned woman with sparkling brown eyes, and temptingly full lips. His day was improving. Megan may have treated him like a fool, but tonight he’d be another woman’s hero. He just hoped she’d play along.
“She was waiting for you?” the woman in the large golden colored headwrap said.
“Yes, I surprised her. She didn’t expect me to come, so yes, she did hire the other man, but now I’m here. She told me she didn’t want to disappoint you, that’s why she had the other date.”
“You’re the one Tanna’s been seeing?” the woman with glittered lashes asked.
“The one she’s been seeing for three months?” He nodded. “Yes, that’s me.”
The woman beamed. “Well, then that’s wonderful. What is your name?”
“Logan Gibbs,” he lied.
Doran rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know.”
She pulled out her mobile phone. “Let’s find out.”
The other woman with the large headwrap covered the screen with her hand. “Never mind, you can look it up later.”
“Yes, you’re right,” she said, tucking the phone away. “What do your parents do?”
“My father has passed, but my mother runs our family business.”
“And it’s in…?”
“The food industry.”
“How large is the business?”
Tanna tugged on her mother’s sleeve. “Mum, does it matter?”
“Of course it matters.” She turned to him. “Is it small, mid-size or big?”
“Depends. We only pull in several hundred million dollars a year so compared to other national chains we’re rather small.”
“Excellent.” She turned to the other woman with a smile. “Did you hear that, Sista?”
The other woman didn’t smile but nodded. “Yes, I heard it.”
“We must have your family over for dinner. Let me introduce you to—”
“In a moment,” Aunt Violet said, positioning herself between Tanna and her new boyfriend. “I have to say a few words first, if you’ll excuse us.”
Mrs. Ariyo nodded then left.
Tanna inwardly cringed. She knew her mother leaving wasn’t good. Her feeling of unease increased when Aunt Violet loosely clasped her hands together, a gesture that only appeared to be demure.
“I know how to read people,” she said in an even toned voice that forced the listener to focus on the power of her words. “You’re a very attractive young man with a tongue as slick as palm oil. I don’t believe a word that flows from you. A man such as yourself would never be with a girl like her.” She cast Tanna a brief look. “And do you want to know why?” she asked leaving no room for a reply. “Because you’re a man who has a type. And your type is tall and slender and light brown, with a stylish taste in clothes. You may also wonder how I know this. It’s because when I was checking into this facility, I saw you with a woman who fits that exact description.” She looked at Tanna. “I know what you’re up to.” She shifted her gaze to him. “But not you. And that worries me. However, what will ease my worry is your promise that after this evening is through, we will never set eyes on you again. Is that clear?”
“Aunty,” Tanna said, embarrassed for both of them. Logan was only trying to help her he didn’t deserve a lecture. “It’s just for one night, please let it pass and don’t be so hard on him.”
Her aunt maintained her stance, effectively blocking them. “He hasn’t agreed yet.”
“He will. He wants to, don’t you?” When Logan didn’t readily reply, his unreadable gaze fixed on Aunt Violet’s face, Tanna filled in. “We met by accident, what are the chances we’ll ever meet again. Please Aunty, let me have this moment, Mum looks so happy.”
“Very well. One night, then you never do something like this again.”
Tanna hugged her. “Thank you.” She kissed her cheek. “I love you.”
Her aunt brushed her away. “Foolish girl,” but her words held a note of affection. She sent them one last look then walked away. Tanna watched several guests rush over to her.
“You don’t know what you’re in for,” she said to Logan. “But thank you.”
He shrugged. “Pretending to be a woman’s boyfriend for the evening? How hard can it be?”
For him, clearly easy. He was a master. A master of charm and deception. Tanna wasn’t sure if she should be impressed or nervous. She decided to be neither and just enjoy the rest of the evening. Within minutes he had her father’s approval, her mother’s devotion and her two sisters in awe.
“I guess we’ll be hearing wedding bells soon,” her mother said.
“Absolutely not,” her father said. He was a man who matched his wife in height and breadth with a dark mustache and graying eyebrows. “You’ll have to wait another two years, if you want anything like this.” He made a broad gesture to indicate the cost of the wedding and elaborate reception, noting the opulence that surrounded them.
“Don’t worry,” Tanna said with a laugh. “We’re taking things slow.”
She broke free from her parents and mingled with other guests who were also eager to meet Tanna’s mysterious boyfriend.
A woman, Tanna knew by sight but not by name, approached them. She was a well endowed woman both in the front and the back and wore a dress that proudly emphasized both. Her hair fell in rust colored blonde curls to her shoulders. She squinted her eyes and pointed at Logan. “I know I’ve seen you before and I never forget a face.” She tapped her chin then wagged her finger. “Aren’t you—?”
“No,” he quickly said, interrupting her with a smile. “But I get that a lot.”
“I could have sworn you were him. He—”
“Would be a very lucky man if he had a chance to make your acquaintance. Excuse me,” he said, then guided Tanna away.
“Who does she think you are?”
“I have no idea, but I have the kind of face that people think they know me.”
“You have a very distinctive face actually.”
“What? Do you think you know me from somewhere too?”
Tanna didn’t get a chance to reply because more people approached them. At one moment they were separated and Tanna saw Logan talking to the blonde woman alone. She couldn’t make out what they were discussing but the woman seemed entranced. Not that Tanna found that surprising, Logan had that effect on people. When he finally returned to her side, she asked him about the woman and he just shrugged and said, “I had something I wanted to ask her,” then effectively changed the subject. She knew better than to press him on it. Everyone was allowed their secrets.
An evening she’d initially couldn’t wait to end, ended sooner than she’d expected. The last several hours had disappeared like minutes. Under a moonlight sky, and the sweet scent of fresh grass, they walked to one of the courtyard cottages where her room was. She’d told Logan he didn’t have to escort her, but he’d insisted and she didn’t want to discourage him. She liked his company and wanted to stay in it as long as she could. She didn’t know how many drinks he’d had, but he walked with a careful measured gait that made her aware he’d consumed more than enough if he had to focus on walking with such care, and the activity lengthened their journey from the castle to their final destination.
Once they reached her cottage, Tanna led him up the wooden stairs. Each cottage was made up of three guest bedrooms. Her room was the last one down a short corridor. Too short. She’d wished there had been a long hallway—like the ones in the castle—that would take lots of time to get walk down.
Tanna stopped in front of her door, took a deep breath, then turned to him. It was time to say goodbye. Did she shake his hand? Give him a kiss? “I can’t believe the night is over,” she said with a smile so wide her aunt would have been pleased. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You already did.”
“Or repay you.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “You already have.”
“I just got you a drink.”
He looked at something over her head. “I needed it.”
She nodded, surprised he was making no move to leave. “Well, I guess this is where we say goodbye,” she said.
“Yes.” He shifted his gaze to the floor and bit his lip. “Do you believe in fate?”
“Not really.”
“Me neither,” he said, keeping his gaze lowered, as well as his voice. “So I don’t think we’ll ever see each other again.”
“Nope.”
He lifted his gaze and his eyes clung to hers. “That’s what I’m counting on.” He swung her into the circle of his arms and covered her mouth with his. He didn’t give her a moment to be surprised, pleasure followed too quickly making her forget everything else. Making her forget th
at she didn’t really know him, that she’d never done something like this before.
His kiss sang through her veins, his mouth demanding a surrender she was too eager to give. That shocked her. His persuasive power over her. A man like him, one who could charm and lie so easily could be dangerous and she didn’t want to be one of his prey.
She pushed him away. “You’re drunk,” she said breathless.
“I know.”
“But I’m not and I’d be taking advantage of you.”
He held out his arms. “I don’t care.”
“You will when you wake up tomorrow.”
“That’s if I remember anything.”
“That’s true,” Tanna said, suddenly thoughtful. “You probably won’t remember any of this”
“Probably.”
“And we’ll never meet again.”
“Probably.”
“So I—”
He promptly kissed away her response.
She let him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
And they kissed as if they didn’t want to say goodbye, as if they wished they could make the night last forever.
Tanna was the first to pull away. “You’ll get over her,” she said, her lips burning, her heart racing, but her mind telling her that none of this was real.
“I don’t want to talk about her right now.” He drew her close again and trailed a series of kisses down the column of her neck, she could feel the heat of his hand on her back through her velvet bodice.
Tanna closed her eyes, indulging in the warm, wet feel of his mouth that touched and sucked her skin in varying intervals. “We have to stop now.” She wasn’t drunk, but he made her feel intoxicated.
“No, we don’t.”
“I don’t do rebound sex, I’m sorry.”
He straightened to his full height and folded his arms, his eyes lit with amusement. “Pity sex?”
“No,” she said, unable to help a grin, “but I may consider comfort foreplay, but you’d have to hire someone else for the finale.”
He started to return her grin then his brow raised a fraction and he pulled her close and spun her around. She didn’t know the reason until she felt him wince and heard her aunt’s voice. “Filthy talk again!”
