Page 46 of Love Me Knot

I turn back around to the table, accepting the offered dice. I launch them, not caring what I shoot. I’ve already won the night.

My first roll sets the point at eight, which I make on my third roll. I’ve made the betters happy, but I’m done. Eyes trained on Chelsea, I walk away from the table and my winnings in search of a more interesting game.

Chelsea may think herself a pawn, but she’s the queen on this board. And the king is about to stake his claim.

I leave the gaming area, headed straight for the dance floor. Admiral Jameson dances respectfully with Chelsea, but I don’t like seeing another man’s hands on my…on her. “May I cut in?” I ask when I reach the pair.

“Your timing is impeccable,” the senior officer answers. “I believe my work here is done.” To Chelsea, he says, “Your idea was the right call. I’ll leave you to update the lieutenant.”

Admiral Jameson walks away toward the exit, and I turn and take Chelsea into my arms. The band ends one song and begins a softer number, but I’m dancing to Chelsea’s melody. She molds herself to me, no longer nervous in her role as my wife.

I dip my head and breathe her in, whispering in her ear. To those around us, we’re simply sharing an intimate moment. “What was all that about?”

“We reaffirmed that approaching Harding tonight would be a mistake. I’ve seen him watching us. He’s intrigued and impressed. We can’t accomplish anything more if we talk to him, but there’s a chance I_one of us could turn him off if we do. Now that we’ve got his attention, we should get out of here before he tries speaking to us.”

“You make good sense, but we don’t want to arouse suspicion. If we’re planning to split now, we need to give these people a good reason.”

“Like what?”

I rest my forehead against Chelsea’s. “Trust me?”

She laughs nervously. “Um, do I have a choice?”

“That’s a no.”

I stop on the edge of the dance floor and tip her chin up. Then, staring straight into Chelsea’s eyes, I kiss her plump lips. The reluctant, standoffish woman stiffens at first but then melts into me.

My fingers work upward to knot in Chelsea’s hair, and I pull her head to the side to deepen the kiss. One taste of her is all it takes, and I’m fucking gone. I’m bordering on obscene here and need all of my self-discipline to pull away from Chelsea’s mouth.

Her eyes are closed, and her hands are fisted in my jacket when I brush my lips over the shell of her ear. “Based on the looks we’re getting, the plan worked.”

“Huh?” she mumbles.

I chuckle and take Chelsea’s hand, guiding her toward the exit. She takes a deep breath of the cool night air when we clear the door, and I do the same. As much as I want to comment on Chelsea’s condition, I think better of it. She would kick me in the nuts, which would be excruciating, considering I have a raging hard-on after that kiss.

For my own safety, I keep my mouth shut and use my phone to text the limo driver. We settle in the private cabin after the successful mission, and the driver takes us away. Chelsea has not spoken since that kiss, but at least she’s not shifting away from me. I take her hand in mine, noting the contrast between her smooth skin and the hard-earned callouses.

“We’re not on the clock anymore. You can stop acting,” she says, pulling her hand back.

My heart hammers in my chest because I’m done tiptoeing around this insane attraction we share. “I’m not acting, but you know that already.”

“I don’t. I mean. I know you’re not. Uh, shit.”

I lean in, brushing my lips across her cheek. “So which is it? You don’t think I’m acting, or you don’t think I’m serious.”

Chelsea shivers but then pushes me back with a hand on my sternum. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not here for either. We work together_temporarily. We’re not married, not dating, not even friends. Hell, I don’t even know you.”

My temper flares, but I force myself to project calm. Even so, I’m not totally successful in keeping the hurt from my voice. “You know me well enough to distinguish me from the assholes in your past.” I lean back into my seat, dislodging her hand. “And like it or not, we are friends.”

Chelsea ignores me, so I change the subject. “What do you think will happen next?”

She still won’t look at me. “I could give you hell for the rest of the ride, or you could behave and keep all your parts to yourself.”

“Point made, but I was talking about the congressman.”

Even with the low cabin lights, I notice Chelsea’s face glowing red. I think the pink of her cheeks is my new favorite color. “Oh. My gut tells me Harding took the bait. He approached both of us during the night but got cut off each time. That we were such big donors and so popular in the room would have interested him. That he couldn’t speak to us and that we weren’t fawning over him gives us the illusion of power and prestige. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear he’s accepted the invitation by morning.”

“That means we’ll need to practice our hosting routine,” I tease.

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