Ailani chooses that moment to take our plates away. “Coffee?”
I’d love another scotch, but I need a clear head. “Please.”
“Another wine?” Corinne asks.
For what happens tonight, she needs to be completely sober. “No. She’ll have either coffee or water.”
She glowers. “Water, please.”
As soon as our server leaves, Corinne turns on me. “You’ll have to be less high-handed if we’re going to pretend to be engaged.”
“If you think you’re going to change me, you’ll be doomed to disappointment. Is that a yes?”
“You can be a real jerk.” She sighs. “Fine. I’m saying yes. You can be my fake fiancé until my brother comes to his senses.”
The triumph spiking through me is almost sexual. I smile. “Perfect. What do you need from your hotel room for the night—clothes, toiletries, medicines?”
“My nightgown and skin care.”
Fine, but if I have my way, she won’t be wearing the nightgown for long.
I send a text to my assistant. Lisa will have to be in on the ruse, too, or it will never work. She texts back immediately that she’ll collect Corinne’s things. Another reason I value my assistant. She doesn’t bother me with small problems, like how to get into someone else’s hotel room; she just handles them.
“Everything will be delivered in the next hour.”
Corinne pauses. “Just like that?”
“Just like that. Are you on the pill?”
“Why would I be? I’ve never had sex.”
“There are other medical reasons to take it.”
“To regulate periods. I tried once. My system couldn’t tolerate the hormones.”
So if I don’t want her pregnant, I have to be careful. “Good to know.”
Dessert arrives, along with steaming hot coffee. Ailani sets the bill at my elbow. “No rush.”
Actually, there is. Corinne said yes. We need to get started on my revenge. And if tonight goes as desired, I’ll have her naked and under me, too.
I snap a credit card onto the leather sleeve without even glancing at the total and hand it back to Ailani. “We need to go. Can you wrap up the hula pie and take care of this?”
She nods. “Right away.”
When our waitress disappears again, Corinne frowns. “What are you doing?”
“Taking you home and stripping you down.” Might as well be honest.
“You agreed to no sex for a few days.”
“I won’t fuck you.” Unless she says yes. “But you agreed to let me touch you. That’s what I’m going to do.”
Ailani returns, quickly shuttles our giant slice of ice cream pie into a to-go container, then puts it in a bag with some dry ice. “Will there be anything else?”
I leave her a healthy tip and sign the slip. “Ten minutes of privacy. Then we’ll be leaving. Would you let Duke know I’d like to speak to him on our way out?”
“Of course. I’ll leave your dessert up front with the hostess. Thank you for dining with us this evening. It was a pleasure.”
As she slips out of the room, hula pie in hand, I smile. Now, the real pleasure is about to start.
Slowly, I lift my napkin from my lap, set it on the table, rise to my feet, and head straight for Corinne.
“What are you doing?” she asks, wide-eyed.
“What does it look like?” I stop at her side, then kneel beside her and take her hand. “I’m putting a ring on your finger, princess.”
“Give it to me. I-I can slip it on.”
Not on your life. “Let me.”
Before she can object again, I fish the ring out of my pocket and slide it down her slender finger. It fits like it was made for her. The symbolism of me settling that sparkling band in place fucks with my head. It’s too easy to imagine that she’s actually mine…
I meet Corinne’s stare. Her eyes are even wider. She pulls away too fast.
“There.” I clear my throat as I stand and help her to her feet. “We’re engaged. Congratulations.”
She swallows nervously. “Are we leaving now?”
“Not quite yet. First, I think I should kiss my bride.”
Kiss is an understatement. I’m playing to win.
Excitement tightens my gut. By the time we leave here, Corinne will look rosy and sated. And every one of those prying bastards in the dining room paying more attention to us than their meal will notice. Through their online pictures and words, they’ll tell Parker, too.
I don’t have to utter a single word.
But that’s not the reason I’m excited.
I’m finally getting my hands on Corinne. I’ve thought of almost nothing else since we met. I should be obsessed about my clients’ portfolios and the shit this ridiculous, overindulgent movie is making of my reputation. Instead, I’m fixated on her.
Maxon warned me about the Reed proclivities. The genetic gift of making money apparently comes with the curse of thinking with our genitals. I can’t get cocky or sloppy. I can’t lose sight of my goals.
“Here? Now?” she asks breathlessly.
I cup her face and stare into her dark, expressive eyes, soft below the sexy arches of her brows. Her luscious mouth grabs my attention as if she tugged on my cock. I’m dying to press her against the wall and fuck her, but that’s my impatience. The head still thinking rationally remembers my plans.