He briefly glanced in our direction but was too far away for me to see his eye color; they’d looked like dark pools you’d get lost in. And not in the dreamy, good way. In the, fall into a dark pit of nothingness, hoping to find any light, only to find more darkness, kind of way. His dinner partner laughed, but the delicious stranger remained just as stoic.
“I’m getting the vibe that he’d put his all into fucking me until I forgot my name. With that scowl he’s working, he probably angry fucks and makes you question how you liked something so rough.”
“Uhhh…”
“God, he’s hot. Go up to him and just fall into his lap. You’re hot enough with all your lush dark hair and perky tits. You can blink those doe eyes up at him. He’ll be forced to find out if you’re as innocent as you look or if it’s all a scam to cover the true freak you are.”
I choked on an uncomfortable laugh, looking away to hide my blush. “I—I’m not a freak.”
At least I didn’t think so.
“That’s because a man like him hasn’t shown you that you’d do anything—even the freakiest shit—just to please him.”
I watched him a little longer. Taking in the elegant movement of his fingers gripping the glass, bringing it to rest on the lushest lips I’d ever seen. I watched the thick column on his throat move up and down when he swallowed, and I may have even moaned when he pulled the glass away only to be followed by the quick swipe of his tongue.
For a moment, I imagined being the bold woman Raelynn wanted me to be. I imagined strutting over there and falling into his lap, letting his strong arms catch me. I imagined his deep voice asking me if I was okay—asking me if I wanted to go home with him. I imagined saying yes.
“I can’t,” I said softly, forcing myself to look back at her.
“Ugh, fine. Help me finish this bottle, and I’ll make sure you get home with your chastity belt still in place.”
“So sweet of you,” I deadpanned.
Our food arrived, and I explained the argument I had with my father. I’d vaguely explained my family dynamics when we met, but I never brought it up in detail. I was away from home and wanted to pretend my life didn’t require me to live like we were ancient royals who used their daughters to barter with.
“I just wanted to work. I’d always known I’d eventually get married. I just thought I’d have more time. Maybe find someone on my own.”
“Then work,” she suggested, like it was the easiest solution in the world. “Maybe Camden is a slow learner and takes years to get to a place where he can focus on you.”
“I wish. My dad promised to blacklist me. If I try anywhere, they’ll recognize my last name and go to him for a reference, only to be told not to hire me.”
Her lips curled in disgust. “I’ll have to be extra careful around your dad now. I have words for him.”
“I bet,” I laughed
“Hmmm…” She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips, looking around the restaurant, like an idea was hiding behind one of the plants.
“Why don’t you apply with a different last name?”
“Because most businesses require identification of some sort, and all of those have my name on them. I wouldn’t get far.”
“You remember Jeb from college?”
“The computer guy who rarely left his dorm?”
“Yup. He makes legit fake IDs. What if he made one for you with a different last name?”
“I don’t know. That sounds illegal.”
She shrugged like legality was a minor detail. “You could use your mother’s name. It’s hard to blacklist someone when he doesn’t know what’s coming.”
“My mother’s last name is Mariano.”
“What? Doesn’t the woman usually take the man’s last name?”
“Not when your family lives by midcentury rules and wants their company to stay with the family name. They agreed to let my father run the company as long as he took their last name. I guess he wanted the company more than his own legacy.”
Not that I blamed him. He was a foster kid with no history who worked his way up at Mariano Shipping, making a name for himself.
“Okay … what about your grandmother’s last name?”
“Hmm…Barrone?”
“Love it. Let’s do it. Come on,” she cajoled.
“What if they recognize me? I grew up in this world and around all the big names.”
“Well, old money isn’t the only place to work. Besides, you don’t want to work with those old men set in their old ways. Remember all the bold, brash ideas you came up with? You’d get so excited, clutching your pearls.”
“Shut up,” I laughed.
“Come on, good girl. Take your brilliant ideas elsewhere and get to work.”
Maybe it was the champagne. Maybe it was the flush still lingering on my cheeks from the sexy stranger in the corner. Maybe it was desperation to live a little longer before my life was given to someone else.