Page 30 of Bargaining

“Please don’t.” His voice was rough and edged with authority. “I want you at my side tonight in this dress. Let’s get you something sparkly to go with it. I want to see you dripping in diamonds.”

God. He was flawless. So handsome and polished. So used to getting everything he wanted. The way he’d been looking at me made my skin hot and tight, but I couldn’t lose my head. No emotions. No sex. Cole had shown a complete disregard for my heart in the past.

He was dangerous and I couldn’t make any clear-headed decisions after the past couple of years I’d had. Better not to tease him or get sucked in. It wasn’t my fault I had great boobs. He could look all he wanted, but only a fool would let him touch. I’d been a fool when I was younger. Not now.

I did another twirl in the mirror. My heart was still as heavy as a stone, but a glimmer of something light gripped me. If I had to go to some fancy event, then at least I’d look the part. As I turned back to the dressing room, I thought I heard him mutter under his breath.

“Best seven thousand pounds I’ve ever spent.”

Chapter 13

Cole

The limousine glided through the city. Charlotte hadn’t taken her eyes from the window. Blue was definitely her color, and I didn’t give a fuck about straps or whatever she was worried about, because her perfect voluptuous tits had made it hard to form a coherent sentence. I couldn’t stop myself from another glance to drink her in. She kept her face turned away. Her fingers fidgeted in her lap.

“Nervous?”

She turned to meet my eyes. Her hair fell in lush dark waves, and crimson glossed her lips. A dazzling diamond choker sparkled at her throat. “Aren’t you? This could go spectacularly wrong.”

“In what way?”

She glanced at the partition between us and the driver and lowered her voice to a whisper. “In the way that I don’t want to mess it up. What if someone figures out what’s going on?”

“Why would they?”

She dropped her voice even lower. “Because people might ask questions, and I don’t want to embarrass myself. What if we get quizzed? We hardly know each other anymore.”

“We know the important things. It will be fine. Everyone at these events is fake. No one asks questions because they care about the answers. Just follow my lead. This is the perfect dry run. Nobody that matters is here.”

Her hand fluttered to her diamond earring. “It’s going to be full of fancy people. This isn’t the kind of place I fit in.”

“Look at me, Charlotte.”

She snapped her gaze to mine.

“You fit in anywhere you want to fit in. You look incredible. Just be yourself. If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, then you tell me.”

A small smile pulled at her lips. “And if anyone asks about the wedding? We haven’t discussed it yet.”

Fine.Now was as good a time as any. “I don’t care how we do it. A wedding is just an admin task in front of an audience.”

“Admin with an audience?” She shook her head and let out the smallest chuff of laughter. “Pass the smelling salts, please. I might swoon.”

I tried not to stare at her mouth. I wanted to make her laugh again. “Am I wrong?”

“I don’t think that’s how most people approach it.”

“It’s how we’re approaching it. I just have to make sure it’s the right audience. I’m thinking something low-key so it’s less pressure to perform. Close family and friends for the service, then afterward we’ll have a reception with the people I need to schmooze. How does that sound?”

Her jaw clenched, and she turned her face back to the dark city rushing by outside. “How soon?”

“As soon as possible.”

“Can we do it back home?”

“Ecclesdale?”

It wasn’t a bad idea. It would sell it nicely to the shareholders. A twee little venue in Yorkshire. It’s not what any of them would expect from me. They could take all that charm and authenticity and shove it up their arses. “Yes. If you like.”