I had total control of my libido, or so I thought. When Reyna entered the foyer, I nearly tripped on my tongue. She was beautiful. Stunning. She was right, the dress style was plain, but on her, it shone, and it wasn’t from the bling on the dress.
I’d been fooling myself that I was immune to her. After all, when I found her crying while talking to her mother, I’d wanted to help her but didn’t feel like I was about to lose myself if I did. Maybe it was because I spent so much time working that I’d felt I’d gotten myself under control and could act like a friend.
As it turned out, I didn’t have control over my libido after all because my body heated. My dick swelled. I couldn’t get my brain to work right. As a result, I think I hurt her feelings when I was trying for levity. I’d mentioned my crazy behavior over the swimming suit, and at first, she seemed to be amused, but then her smile dimmed. It was a reminder that I didn’t know the first thing about women. It was why I couldn’t even think about having something more than a fake marriage and friendship with her. Too much brain bandwidth was needed to navigate something like that, and I needed to focus on the company.
When we arrived at the hotel where George was hosting the party, I steeled my body and mind for playing the role of a loving husband. I’d have to stand close to Reyna, touch her, look at her... just thinking about that, my dick twitched.
“Ready?” I asked again, and this time my voice was strained from the stress of what I would have to pull off tonight.
“Yes.” She sounded stressed as well.
I took her hand, and to my surprise, I felt both comfort and strength. Like it was me and her against the world.
I led her into the ballroom.
“There’s the man of the hour,” Simon Jones greeted us. “Congratulations. This must be your beautiful bride.” He seemed genuine with his friendliness, but Simon had little backbone and would turn on me the minute George said so.
“Yes. Reyna, this is Simon Jones, a member of the board. This is my... ah... wife, Reyna.” Shit. I nearly said Reyna Pearson, but she wasn’t Pearson anymore. I couldn’t stumble over that.
“Nice to meet you.” Reyna shook Simon’s hand.
“The marriage is a shock. To think we were getting on to you for being a playboy, and all along—”
“Yes, what a coincidence that we suggest you get married, and a few days later, you are.” George joined us, looking jovial, except in the eyes. His eyes made me think of a shark, deadly and predatory. “To your secretary, no less. And might I add, against company policy.”
Reyna laughed with a tone that made me think of Southerners when they’d say “bless your heart.”
“You must be Mr. Keyes. James told me you’d question our marriage. I suppose it was a risk, wasn’t it?” She looked up at me with what looked like love.
I nodded, hoping I was reflecting back the same expression.
“The truth is, Mr. Keyes, the only reason I took this job was to win James back.”
“Actually, I asked her to come here so I could win her back.” I rubbed my hand down her back. “I’d been a fool to lose her.”
“How lovely,” Simon said, his expression totally caught up in our love.
George’s brow furrowed, telling me he wasn’t sold. “And Mr. Dean Winters?”
Reyna flinched.
Who the fuck was Dean Winters?
“It wasn’t so long ago that you were engaged to him.”
I held a smile even though inside, I wanted to rail at Reyna for leaving off an important tidbit of her life. Had Mrs. Curtis said something about this?
Reyna’s expression morphed from shock to concern. “It’s a little disturbing that you’ve been poking into my past, Mr. Keyes. I hope you haven’t peeked in my panty drawers too.”
George’s head jerked back, clearly not expecting that. “I have every right to investigate you.”
“No. You don’t.” My manhood finally showed up. I stepped into George’s space, loving how his eyes widened as I did my damnedest to intimidate him. “You stay away from my wife, George. It won’t look good for the company if people find out you’re stalking a woman who’s young enough to be your granddaughter.”
“Careful, James,” he warned me.
“Is that the type of woman you take to your standing reservation at an unnamed hotel?”
I loved how his bravado faltered. His eyes darted to the left and right, I could only assume to make sure his wife wasn’t around.