Page 44 of Close to My Heart

I really wanted to touch her, to take this relationship to the next level. But I knew it would be a bad idea to follow my instincts to get physical with her. I couldn’t screw everything up because of my attraction to her.

I snagged the zipper and slowly inched it up, covering her skin. I wished her dress was one of the styles that bared her back.

“Do you need help?” She turned so that she was facing me and titled her head. “With your bow tie.”

I cleared my throat. “That would be great.”

My mouth felt like it was filled with cotton, and my heart was still pounding hard. Sutton stepped forward, her hands moving to the bow tie, where she concentrated on tying it into an intricate knot.

I wanted to hold her by the hips and press the evidence of my desire against her. I wanted to kiss the bright red lipstick off her lips. I felt hot, almost feverish, by the time she stepped back, seemingly oblivious to the inferno raging inside of me.

“There. That should do it.” Sutton moved to my side so that I could see the effect in the mirror. “What do you think?”

But my eyes were on her as she stood next to me in the mirror. She was mine, yet she wasn’t. It was a mind fuck I wasn’t going to wrap my head around anytime soon. “Looks great.”

She beamed. “Are you ready to go? The driver’s waiting for us.”

“I thought I’d drive.”

“I always take a car to events like this. That way we don’t have to worry about drinking and driving.”

“I wasn’t planning on drinking.” I should keep my wits about me. But maybe it would help me relax.

Sutton frowned. “I’m not climbing into your truck with this dress.”

I imagined how I’d have to help her inside, keeping a hand on her hip for leverage. Would the movement expose her leg? For the first time, I wished I had something flashier for her. A sleek sports car.

“Come on. The quicker we go, the sooner we can leave.”

“Don’t we have to stay until midnight?” I asked as she slipped on heels and grabbed a black clutch from the bed.

“Hmm. Maybe. Or we could beg off and say I have a headache.”

“Is that what you usually do?” I wanted to know about this side of her. The one that put on a front when she was with her family.

“If I can slip away, I do.”

I had a feeling all eyes would be on us tonight. “Wait. I almost forgot.”

I hurried up the steps and into the bedroom where I’d hidden the ring I’d gotten. I hadn’t wanted to ask Dad for Mom’s ring especially since this wasn’t supposed to be real. Besides, Teddy should have it. Not me.

When I made my way down the stairs, Sutton was pursing her lips in front of the mirror, reapplying her lip stick.

When she turned to me, she smiled. Then it faltered when she saw the black velvet box in my hands. “This will make things official.”

I opened the box, and Sutton gasped. “You bought me a ring.”

“Don’t we need one to make it look real?” Then my face heated because it was for me.

Her gaze lifted to mine. “It’s gorgeous. You shouldn’t have.”

“You deserve it.” I didn’t want anyone speculating that our relationship wasn’t legitimate. Sutton didn’t need the snide comments tonight. “Now you can show this off tonight.”

For the first time, I wondered if it would be big enough for her family or the guests at the party. Would they expect a family heirloom?

Feeling insecure, I slipped the ring onto her offered finger.

Sutton wiggled her fingers holding it up to the light. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

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