Page 85 of On Ice

He frowns. “For your own sake you need to be seen with me. This is the perfect type of event for something like that. Everyone will be there.”

I sigh. “Look, I literally just got back into town. I’m exhausted. I don’t want to go to some dumb wedding for people I’ve never met.”

“What do you care if you’ve met them? It’s just a way to have us seen together.”

I scowl. “You should have given me some warning.”

He rubs his jaw, looking sheepish. “Truth be told, I forgot about the wedding until my mother reminded me. But then I realized this wedding would be the perfect opportunity to introduce you around.”

Since he seems less bossy and more relatable now, some of my irritation fades. “Well, even if I wanted to go, which I don’t, I don’t have a suit here. I didn’t bring any with me from my apartment.”

“That’s fine. Odds are the suits you have are cheap. I’d prefer you wore something nicer if you’re going to be on my arm.”

I bristle at his snobby tone. “My suits aren’t cheap.”

He arches one brow. “I’ll bet a hundred bucks they’re off the rack.”

My face warms because he’s right. “So?”

He shrugs. “You need to dress for the part of my lover.”

“I’m sorry.” I laugh humorlessly. “Did you actually just say I need to dress for the part? Like I’m a stage prop?”

“Don’t be so touchy.” He obviously sees nothing wrong with his statement. “I’ll have some suits custom made for you. You’ll need them if you’re accompanying me places.”

“Do you really not hear yourself right now?”

He wrinkles his brow. “What’s wrong? You need to look a certain way to convince people we’re together. Why is that a bad thing?”

I squint at him. “You’re just so… arrogant about it all. Like I’m not good enough unless you step in and give me a makeover.”

He hesitates. “All I’m saying is whoever I’m with needs to look a certain way.”

“Yeah, I got that loud and clear.” I shake my head. “But you could put things nicer. You could make your point without putting me down at the same time.”

He watches me and then he shrugs. “What I should have said was you deserve a suit that looks as perfect as you.”

“Okay, now you’re just mocking me.”

“I’m really not.” He runs his gaze over my bare chest. “You know I find you extremely attractive. You have nothing to be insecure about.”

“I’m notinsecure.” I frown. “I’m annoyed that you’re acting like you’re doing me a favor by being seen with me. Believe it or not, I don’t have trouble getting guys.”

“I’m sure that’s true.”

“And this is all a moot point anyway because if my cheap suits aren’t good enough for you, then I don’t have anything to wear to the wedding. So, that means I’m not going.”

“What if I told you I can have the perfect suit delivered in a few hours?”

“I’d say you’re nuts. You can’t DoorDash a tailored suit.”

“Have you forgotten who I am? I can get anything I need, remember?” He looks smug, which irritates me all over again.

I grumble, “That doesn’t change the fact that I’m exhausted.”

“True,” he says agreeably. “But if you go to sleep in the next few minutes, you could sleep until 10:30 a.m. and get a full eight hours rest.”

“Even so,” I mutter, glancing at my phone to check the time. “I’m still not thrilled about going at all.”

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