Page 29 of Ice Dance Hockey

“Sounds like this whole money thing could cause trouble in paradise,” he says, sliding another bite of meat past his perfect lips.

Lips that are going to kiss me later.

“Then it works in your favor, doesn’t it?” I snap. “Now can we move on from this?”

“Fine, but regardless of how much another chink in their armor would benefit me, I won’t refuse you the money. You have my word.”

“Thank God I have your word. What would I do without it?”

He huffs. Have I insulted the great Rhett Elkington? Some Elkington code of honor?

“My word means a lot more than you think.”

Guess I’ll see.

The food is good, even the salad. I refuse dessert when he tries to insist. “You sure you should be eating chocolate cake, Elkington? Don’t you have to look good for all those magazine shoots?”

“I burn enough calories and eat well enough most of the time that I can indulge now and then. It’s called balance, Logan.”

Balance is for people with the luxury for it.

With our meal over, we’ve reached the end of our business meeting. He doesn’t even let the server put the check in the middle of the table, swiping it up and pulling out his gold card. God. To be Rhett Elkington. He could have whoever he wanted, but of course, the only person he wants is Jack.

He grips my hand and a little thrill shoots through me. “Well, shall we? You ready to put on a show?”

Around us, people have been staring. I’ve blocked them out. I guess I have to admit that Rhett’s a fascinating creature and I was kinda distracted all night. I don’t understand him. He’s full of contradictions. He is a pompous, arrogant ass, but he appears to have some redeeming morals. His charm is easy to fall into and that’s dangerous. Mom is charming too, which is why I often forgive her instantly even when she royally fucks up.

She royally fucks up a lot. I’m determined not to let what she did this time go as easily as I usually do.

“Let’s do this.”

“Follow my lead.”

Holding tightly to my hand, he guides me out of the restaurant and to the front—all eyes on us. A sharp but gentle tug sweeps me off my feet and my body collides with Rhett’s mountain-like physique.

His lips crush mine. Time stops.Fuck,I can’t breathe.

Rhett Elkington is kissing me.

A large hand presses into the small of my back while the other holds a firm grip on my skull. Thick fingers dig into the roots of my hair and tighten, tugging just enough to let me know they’re there. I let go, melting into his lips, caught by his massive energy.

There’s no tongue—thank God, or I might have an aneurysm. Everything about it lights me on fire … what would a deeper kiss be like?

Yeah. Bet he knows he can kiss. The bastard. He doesn’t need his ego inflated any more than it already is. But shit, we’ve parted,beenparted for a minute and I’ve been staring, blinking at him like a bewildered doe. I straighten up, wiping the worship off my face. It’s no big deal. Anyone would react like that being kissed for the first time.

Guess my reaction will look good for PR, though. Oh God, we’re going to be a PR circus, aren’t we?

Doing my part, I smile and reach for his hand. Mostly so I don’t fall over, but also to give off, “we’re totally smitten with each other” vibes. He’s pleased with himself until we get into his McLaren, and I wipe him off my lips. “You kiss like an over-eager puppy.”

“Whatever. You liked it. You’re not that good of an actor.”

I refuse to talk to him the rest of the way home for calling me on my bullshit. Fuck him. Let me live in denial. I genuinely hate that even guys like Rhett have a certain undeniable charm about them, drawing humans like bees to honey so powerfully that even I’m not immune.

Thankfully, he’s enough of an asshole that there’s no danger in me falling for him past a little lust. He’s just … so big and all-consuming. His hands knew where to place themselves on my body for full domination.

I shiver.

He seems fine with not talking. Good. We’ve talked enough tonight. We don’t need to be personable in private. So long as we give the gossipmongers of the free world something to talk about and eventually win over his father, we’ve satisfied our agreement.

---