Page 55 of Right Man, Right Time
I pick up some cheese and crackers, mindlessly putting them on my plate as I try to shiver off the feel of Silas’s warm, delicious lips on my neck.
“Yes, I am,” I answer.
“I’m glad you found someone,” Yonny says. “I know I didn’t treat you the way you deserved.” He glances down at me, our eyes connecting. “You deserved so much more than what I could offer you at that time.”
“At that time?” I ask, confused. “What do you mean by that?”
He just shakes his head. “Nothing to worry about. But I’m glad you found Silas.” He glances over my shoulder at something behind me. I look as well and catch Silas leaning against the bar, his eyes glued on me. He doesn’t waver or hide the fact he’s staring. Instead, it’s almost as if his gaze grows more intense with each passing second. “He seems infatuated with you.”
I turn away as I feel this tingling sensation pour through my body. “He’s, uh . . . very protective.”
“I can see that. I’m pretty sure every person in this room knows you’re off limits.”
“That’s only because he commands the attention.”
Yonny shakes his head as he picks up a beef Wellington nugget. “No, he commands nothing from the room other thanyourattention.” He picks up a napkin. “I guess I’ll see you around, Ollie. Oh, and since I didn’t say it enough when we were dating, you look stunning tonight.”
My cheeks heat, and as he walks away, I find myself watching him. Silently, even though he can’t hear me, I mumble, “T-Thanks.”What was with that? You look stunning tonight?Obviously high. It’s a good thing I no longer crave his attention.
I finish filling up my plate, and just as I turn around, Silas is at my side with a drink. “Follow me,” he says, and because I feel all out of sorts, I do. I follow him to a private seating area to the left near an expansive window that grants us a view of the city. He takes a seat on an open couch and sets the drinks down on a coffee table in front of it, then helps me down as well. He sets my plate on the table and slips his hand into mine, tugging me close so he can speak quietly in my ear.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers gently. “I wasn’t prepared for your story, and it embarrassed me.”
The cold, rough exterior I erected the minute we started fighting melts away, and I reply, “I’m sorry too. It wasn’t my intention to embarrass you.”
He pulls away just enough to cup my cheek and stare into my eyes. From an outsider looking in, it looks like we’re head over heels in love. But I like this. I like that this gentle man, who I’m coming to see could have an ego the size of Mike Tyson’s, has chosen to make our moment of apology look like something romantic. I certainly chose a good one for my fake boyfriend.
“I know you wouldn’t intentionally try to make me look like a donkey-loving pervert.”
That causes me to snort. I lean my head against his shoulder, and he cradles me as we both chuckle.
“If the headlines tomorrow say Silas Taters is a donkey-loving pervert, I’ll take full responsibility.” I lift away from his shoulder and catch a slight smirk on his lips.
“If the headlines read that, the worst of my problems isn’t what the public has to say. Facing the boys would be an absolute nightmare.”
“Just direct them toward me, and I’ll be able to explain.”
“Pretty sure you lost all credibility when it comes to explaining or telling any kind of story. You’re a loose cannon, and I won’t allow it to happen again.”
“Probably the best move you can make at the moment.” I grab the plate and lift it between us. “Cheese and cracker?”
“Sure.”
* * *
“Doyou go to those kinds of things often?” I ask as we sit in Silas’s car, sharing a large fry and sucking down milkshakes we got from a local joint that happened to be open.
“I go to more than I want to, that’s for sure.”
“So was that painful for you?” I pick up a fry and shove the crispy potato in my mouth.
“Parts of it.” He lolls his head to the side to smirk at me. “Other parts, not so bad.”
“I think we all know the painful part, and I’m pretty sure we’re over it, so there’s no need to bring it up again.”
“You’re the one who brought it up.” He nudges my leg with his index finger knuckle.
“No need to be right all the time, Silas. It isn’t an attractive quality.”
