Page 90 of Miss Understanding

I let out a sigh of relief as I watched her walk out.

By the time I got downstairs and to the car, I had a raging headache. I was aware none of this was Kendall’s doing, but her accompanying me to this event posed a number of challenges. Tabitha was only one of them. This was where the line between professional and personal threatened to get obliterated completely especially since I was sure Kendall saw tonight as a date. But it couldn’t be.

“Hi,” she greeted when I got into the back of the black Lincoln town car with her.

“Hi.”

“Everything okay?”

I gave her a small smile. “Yes. It’s fine.” I was about to tell her how damn beautiful she looked, but I couldn’t. The driver was a regular for a number of partners in the firm. “Were you able to deal with the club tonight without any issues?”

“Yes. They think I’m still recovering.”

“How are you feeling?” This was at least a safe topic.

“Back to normal, thankfully. Lucas called yesterday to check on me—”

I shook my head, a finger to my lips, and watched her shut down her thought. I didn’t want her to mention her doctor was my neighbor or friend.

“Oh. Right.”

I immediately winced when I saw her retreat. It reminded me of our ride from the airport to the Airbnb the first day we’d flown to Virginia. She gazed out the window, and we both were silent.

We arrived at Stephen’s house forty-five minutes later. He had a large mansion in the Hollywood Hills with an amazing view. I got out of the car first, taking her hand to help her out, regretting when I had to let go.

As soon as she stepped in front of me, I sucked in my breath. Jesus, her dress was backless. Given the way it fit her ass, I felt like making her wear my tux jacket to cover up.

It was going to be a long night.

After we walked in through the front door, she took a glass of champagne that had been offered on a tray. She seemed starstruck as she looked around at the opulence of the house and all of the beautiful people walking around, some of them famous.

She turned to me. “Should I stay with you, or—”

“I think it’s appropriate. But no touching or personal talk. We never know who might be watching or overhear us.”

She stiffened. “I understand.”

“Also go easy on the champagne.” She’d just downed half of it in one swallow.

Her glare prefaced her words. “Good thing I have you here to tell me how to act at a fancy party. Or maybe I should be grateful you’re talking to me at all considering you’ve barely had two words for me since I was invited.”

Shit. Of course she was right. But not for the reason I was sure she imagined. “I didn’t mean—” I was cut off from an explanation when none other than Stephen Walsh came up to us.

“Ah, Kendall, you look ravishing. Doesn’t she, Liam?”

I wasn’t sure what his game was. All I knew was he was one eccentric dude, and he seemed to have taken a liking to my assistant. “Yes, Ms. Tate looks lovely,” was the best I could come up with.

He laughed, turning to Kendall. “Please don’t tell me he’s this formal all of the time.”

She drained the rest of her glass. “Mr. Davenport is very professional.”

I’d intended to set some boundaries tonight and had completely overshot. It occurred to me that we could’ve had a complete conversation about my expectations for the evening yesterday or even today if I hadn’t been so intent on avoiding it. I hadn’t brought it up because I’d been so uncomfortable with the blurring of personal and professional lines. So I’d simply pretended the whole problem didn’t exist. Which obviously hadn’t been the right choice.

Stephen shrugged. “I suppose it’s a good thing Liam is professional. But you know, all work and no play is just no fun.”

I managed a tight smile. “I’ll be sure to remember that.”

He chuckled. “Yes, well, I suppose fun shouldn’t be what I rely on to get me through the next few months of litigation. Tell me, Kendall, is your boss as good as they say he is?”