Page 64 of The Plus One Contract

With a slow inhale, he steadies himself, like if he moves too fast, if he exhales too hard, he might lose whatever control he’s still holding on to.

That makes both of us.

His tongue drags across his bottom lip, the muscle in his jaw ticking as his fingers flex, like he wants to touch, wants to see if I feel as good as I look.

I should say something. Tease him, push back, remind him this is just a dress, but my words are caught somewhere between my chest and my throat, lodged tight beneath the weight of his stare.

“Would you like us to deliver it to your hotel, Mr. Calloway?” comes from the shop assistant who has entered our bubble just in time.

I freeze.

Nathan doesn’t even blink, but he tilts his head and cocks a brow, challenging me again.

Should he get it delivered to his hotel?

Why am I even thinking about this?

No. Absolutely not. That’s a terrible idea.

“No,” he says smoothly. “We’ll take it with us.”

I gape at him. “You bought this?”

“I saw it on the way in. Thought it looked like you.”

Oh God.

I think I might cry.

“Nathan—”

“Sienna, if you’re about to argue with me about buying you a dress, then don’t.”

His voice is firm but not sharp.

Final.

He’s already decided, and there’s no point in me wasting my breath.

“Why?” I ask, softer than I mean to.

He holds my gaze. “Because I wanted to.”

That’s it. No strings. No expectations.

Before the heat can settle and I can bask in this rare moment of softness, he adds, “We also need to impress the investor tonight.”

It’s like a bucket of ice water to my feverish skin.

Reality slams back in.

Right. This isn’t personal. It never was.

I grip the dress a little tighter, reminding myself that this is a role I’m playing, nothing more.

Nathan watches me, eyes flicking over my face, picking up on my shift in mood.

He steps closer, his voice dropping low. “Still, I’d rather you wear something that makes me want to keep you in my lap all night instead of making me think about quarterly reports. This dress does that.” His dangerous stare flicks to mine. “So do you.”

---