I won’t stay another second and watch him drink his problems away. Drink me away.
I’m done.
I turn and storm out the door without a goodbye. The door swings open so hard it bounces back a little.
I expect Kade to be standing right outside the door waiting, but I don’t see him. If he’s with Anastasia, I’ll chew him out too.
I turn down the hallway, and the AC hits my still soaking wet body. When I find him, I’ll have him take me back to my apartment. I tried to make this day better, but it’s impossible to do. If I don’t find Kade soon, I’ll call an Uber to take me home. I may not be able to afford it, but this is one of the few times I need to make an exception and figure it out because I can’t stand being here for another minute. I have sixty-seconds to find Kade, and then I’m out of here.
I glance up and see Kade walking down the hallway toward me. He’s not wet. He’s changed clothes and is now wea
ring an even more dashing suit. This one is a dark blue and makes his grin shine. And he’s holding something sparkly draped over his forearm.
I smile when I see him. Bringing him here may have been a horrible way for him to pay me back, but at least I got to spend some time with a great guy. I thought he was an asshole just like his brother, but he genuinely is a nice guy, even if he does date around too much. Maybe I’ve at least gained a friend out of all of this.
His arms wrap around my body when we meet, and his lips come down on mine. Passionately, not holding back, like I’ve been gone for days instead of minutes. His kiss is desperate for more, and as my lips part, I realize I never want him to stop kissing me. I didn’t think it was possible for a man’s kiss to ruin all other kisses for me. I’ve been kissed plenty of times, and they all had the same effect on me because they were pretty much all the same.
Kade’s kisses, though, awaken parts of my body I didn’t know existed. I feel everything. Excitement. Passion. Need. Ache. All of it. And I want what his kisses promise.
Then, I remember this is fake. He’s kissing me because he’s doing me a favor. Someone must be watching if he’s kissing me.
He gently stops the kiss, his thumb tracing across my lips that are parted and useless after he devoured them.
“Your father was watching,” he says, answering my unasked question.
I nod. I knew that’s why Kade kissed me, but I just wish once he’d kiss me because he wants to. I don’t need more than that, but I need to know on some level this was as real for him as it is beginning to be for me. I can’t separate the pretend from how he makes my body feel. Which is very, very real.
He pushes the silky white fabric into my hands.
“What’s this?” I ask.
He smirks, and puts his hands in his pockets, trying to act innocent. “Your new dress.”
I stare at the beautiful white dress, decorated with gray lace and sparkles. I run the fabric through my hands, and it feels as good as it looks. It’s meant to be worn, but I could just as easily use the heavenly fabric as a blanket in bed it’s so soft.
“No, I just want to go home.”
He narrows his eyes, determined as he grins at me. “I don’t have time to argue with your stubbornness. I know today hasn’t been perfect, but I have a plan to make it a whole heck of a lot better. We don’t have a lot of time; I spilled wine on Anastasia’s dress, but I know as soon as she’s changed she will be ready to make whatever stupid announcement she’s making. So hurry, and get changed.”
I stare down at the gorgeous dress I would love to squeeze my body into. I know it would make me feel beautiful, and I need that right now.
“How did you get a dress so fast?”
He shrugs. “I have a friend in the fashion industry. He owes me plenty of favors, and was able to get a dress here quickly.”
I try to think of the cons of changing into the dress. It means I’ll have to stay, for at least a little while. I’ll have to listen to Anastasia announce her engagement. I saw the ring. I know that’s what she’s planning. But if I have to listen to her steal the spotlight away from me, then I should at least do it feeling beautiful instead of like a wet mop.
“Fine. I’ll change, and give you fifteen minutes to make this better. Then, we are leaving. Deal?”
He cocks his head to the side and smiles brightly. “Deal.”
I rush into one of the spare bedrooms and change into the dress. It fits me better than any item of clothing I’ve ever worn. I don’t know how Kade was able to get a dress here that is not only my size but tailored to my body.
I ring out my hair, letting my wet hair curl however it is going to curl. And I apply a little lipstick I find of my mother’s in the adjoining bathroom.
I step back and stare at myself in the mirror. I look a little like a bride in the white dress. But I don’t care. I love how I look. I look like a beautiful woman, instead of a girl playing dress up. I might even stay until the party ends to enjoy the dress longer.
I step back into the hallway where Kade is pacing back and forth. He freezes when he sees me, and his mouth drops open. And I swear I see his cock harden in his pants. Maybe it’s just my wild imagination, but I like to think I’m the one causing his package to grow.