So, she did the only thing she could think of doing.
She bit his hand. Tenderly, of course.
His hand shot off of her face faster than she would have imagined. But instead of being upset, his eyes lit with fire. He leaned in close. Kessen’s stomach lurched. Was he going to kiss her again? Expectantly, she leaned in to meet him just as her chair fell.
“What the—” She looked down. “You did that on purpose.”
“Don’t bite,” he scolded, turning around to shield his face. He was nonplussed by her behavior, because the next thing he said was he would give her an hour to get ready. They had press to face and a day of “dating” to endure. He left her at that, while she grumbled on the floor about his lack of chivalry.
What was with him and his rude attitude? One minute he looked like he wanted to eat her, the next he was so annoyingly upset that she couldn’t do anything right.
She stood and ran to her closet. Time to dress the part.
Chapter Nine
Kessen’s clothes were extraordinary. When she had arrived, her clothes screamed tourist, but now he felt like he was staring at an entirely different human being. Not that she hadn’t been gorgeous before, but when he looked at her, he felt like he was under a spell—a spell that was broken only when she opened her mouth to speak.
She was wearing black linen shorts, red stiletto heels, a flimsy, airy-looking top and a tailored jacket that went just below her waist, drawing his eyes to her deliciously long legs.
He couldn’t tell if she wore makeup, mainly because she was so utterly breathtaking at the moment, he didn’t even dare look into her eyes.
“Shall we?” She smiled, holding her hand out.
He shook his head. “And so it begins.”
The doors of the house opened and he led her to his waiting SUV. He opened the car door just in time to see the first paparazzi fly out from behind the bushes.
“My lord, do you have a comment?” a man asked behind the snapping camera.
Christian smiled tensely and opened the door. Obviously he had no comment. How had he not seen the photographers in the bushes? How did this happen twice in two days?
He pulled on his designer sunglasses and looked over to a patiently waiting Kessen. She was looking around the car.
“So, no carriage, huh?”
“You read too much.”
She shook her head. “Don’t I know it.” She pulled out matching designer sunglasses and threw them on. “You know this isn’t going to disguise us, right? We’re driving around in money, putting money on our faces, and, oh yeah, our last names scream money. What did you have in mind for a date anyway? Because I doubt it’s going to be private enough.”
He smiled triumphantly. “Oh, it will be private.”
The car took them around to the front of The Ritz and stopped.
“I thought you said private.” She reached for her door handle.
His hand shot across hers. “I know chivalry is dead in America, but we open car doors for women here.”
Whatever he said must have shocked her enough to let go of her death grip on the car. She nodded her head, and to his surprise, managed to wait a whole five seconds for him to arrive at her door to open it. He pulled her arm into his own and escorted her inside amidst the flashing lights of photographers.
They passed a few tables in the hotel lobby on the way. Every single one of them had a newspaper with a picture of the two of them lip-locked on the front. Titles ranged from “Match of the Century” to “Marriage Made in Stock Market Heaven.” He groaned outwardly, pointing at them as they passed.
Kessen’s groan matched his own. She had more to lose in this, and he knew she was aware of that. They were launching a new line of products just this month. Bad press wouldn’t go well with how much money they had invested into the new coffee creamer for Newberry and Co. good press, however, would make it a success, skyrocketing her father’s business into the hundred million mark.
She hadn’t a choice in the matter. Normally a stolen kiss on a balcony would do nothing to seal your fate with someone, but since they were so high profile, and since both their families were that manipulative, it did exactly that and then some.
The ballroom they entered was set up with tables loaded with food. The sight seemed to upset her when she saw they were alone, but it was nothing more than a brunch.
He had her just where he wanted her.
“Throw this on.” He tossed her a baseball hat and workout clothes.
“What?”
“Put. It. On,” he ordered, now standing closer to her than he would have liked. She looked mischievous and then she began pulling her clothes off.
Whatever her ploy, it worked. His face felt so red and hot, he thought he would pass out.
She approached him and smiled. “Do you think you want to rephrase your command?”
He cleared his throat and closed his eyes; it was the only way to keep him from doing something they would both regret. “Please change over there, while I change over here.” He pointed to a corner of the room with a makeshift sheet in front of it, specifically designed for changing.
Her lips were inches from his. It wouldn’t hurt, just one little kiss. He leaned in just as she moved to whisper into his ear, “Thought so.”
The room was most definitely spinning. Though he would be a fool to admit it. And what kind of perfume did she wear? It was intoxicating. Christian normally despised perfume, thinking it too fluffy, but hers was spicy and seductive. It was an almost identical fit to her personality.
He thanked God for small favors when she finally disappeared behind the sheet, allowing his breathing to return to normal, even though every muscle in his body had tightened with awareness. She would be the death of him.
Not that he wouldn’t welcome death with open arms, especially if it looked and smelled like Kessen.
The very idea that he was entertaining such thoughts proved his insanity. Just days ago he wanted nothing more than to throttle her and send her back to Colorado. Now he was thinking he would rather she throttle him. It must be exhaustion. It had to be—anything but actual attraction.
As he pondered the many reasons for being disgusted with himself, a sudden clearing throat startled him.
Two things occurred to him as he turned around—first, this was probably the most fun he’d had in years, and second, he was in dangerous territory with this unpredictable girl, and he wasn’t sure how much more he could take.
“Ready,” she announced, pulling her hat on. She looked like she was about to run the New York City marathon. When he had picked out the clothes, he only had in mind agility and comfort; it was unfortunate he couldn’t lock her in this banquet hall right now and have his way with her.