Page 111 of Dex

He takes a few strides and then he’s in my face, tipping up my chin with his finger, his dark eyes boring into mine, a little dark and dangerous.My heart pounds.

“I don’t need to see anyone.”His gaze falls to my lips, and his brow creases.I hold my breath, wondering if he’s thinking of the hot tub.“I’m not doing anything like that, Daniela.I have no plans whatsoever.This might be a marriage of convenience but while we are married I will take my vows seriously.I’m not my father.Loyalty means everything to me.”His words, low and meaningful, wrap around and hug my heart.

My mouth falls open.

“I’ll be at work tomorrow,” he tells me, nonchalantly.“What about you?”

“I’ll be working from home.I need the Wi-Fi password.”

“Of course.Let me show you the study.”

He shows me the study and then quickly shows me the rest of the apartment.“Obviously, I’ll get you a credit card for expenses,” he says.

“I don’t need your credit card.I’m not a child.I’m a woman who works and I have access to my own money.”

He looks surprised, for a nano-second.“Of course you have.”He lets out an exhale, and seems a bit nervous.“I don’t know how this will work out.”

Such a fast turn of conversation.It makes me think maybe his doubts and reservations are bubbling just under the surface, that maybe he’s not so composed and okay with this as he’s making out to be.

“It has to work out,” I tell him.“Just one year.We can do that.”

“You seem so sure.So confident.”

“Aren’t you?”I peer at him, trying to work out what he’s battling inside.

“There’s a gala.”He rakes his hand through his thick hair.A few curls rebound back, falling over his brow.“It’s a charity event.We have to go.My brothers and my father will be there.I think the old man arranged it so New York society sees that we’re married.”

That, I can handle.“We’ll have to play the happy couple again,” I say.

“For a few hours.”

I hate that he’s so nonchalant about it.Has he forgotten the hot tub and how he made me feel?Did it mean nothing to him?

“There are already pictures of us from the resort circulating online,” he adds.“Papers, blogs… People are curious.None of the Knights have ever gotten married before.”

“Then we’ll need to dazzle everyone,” I say.

“Something like that.”He’s already moving away from me.

He painted the room for me, got me a few things to remind me of home, I know he feels something.“Think you can do it?”I ask.“Play at being happily married?”

He rubs the back of his neck.“I’ve played at being happy my whole life.What’s one more year?”

My heart sinks.Played at being happy, must be some of the saddest words I’ve ever heard.I don’t want that for Dexter.I don’t want that for anyone, but I especially don’t want that for this man.

Chapter 28

DEX

“You survived.How was it?”Jett asks, leaning back against the soft leather of the booth and staring at me expectantly.

Zach grins, looking every bit like he already knows the answer.“Yeah, Dex.How was playing house with your new wife?”

I take a slow sip of my drink, measuring my response.“Fine.Just fine.”I’m with my brothers in a bar.It’s my first day back at work, and we’ve come out for some lunch.

Daniela was up and in the study as I had my protein shake.I asked her if she wanted one, but she told me she’d get her own breakfast.I hate the tension between us even more now that I know how things could be, if I let down my guard.If I gave her a chance.

“Fine?That’s it?”Jett asks, like he doesn’t believe me.

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