Page 127 of The Fine Line
But not here.
And he knows it.
“Easy,” Rhett exhales, his voice low and gravelly enough to send a shiver down my spine—a reaction I hate. I grind my teeth, my body stiff but starting to move with his.
“Now,” he mutters after a moment, “want to tell me what the fuck that was?”
“I don’t know what you’re referring to,” I reply flatly.
“What are you doing dancing with Mick? You don’t even like him.”
“Well, I’m dancing with you, aren’t I?”
He presses his tongue to his bottom lip. “Are you trying to make me jealous?”
“Why? Is it working?”
“Yes,” he answers without hesitation.
“Hmm.” I hum like that’s mildly interesting. “Well, you’ll get over it soon enough. I’ll need a drink right after this anyway.”
Rhett knits his brows, confused.
“Or maybe you could just spin me real quick?” I offer sweetly. “I’m sure in the time I’m turned away, someone else will catch your eye. You’ll move on in no time.”
“That’s not?—”
“Let me guess,” I cut in. “She’s one of the board members’ daughters? Would make sense, considering you have a thing for daughters.”
“Every woman is a daughter, Cub,” he snaps. “And to answer your question honestly, I don’t even know who she is.”
“Oh, well that’s just great, Rhett.” I give him a bright, bitter smile. “That makes me feel so much better—to know you’d risk this entire thing for someone you don’t even?—”
“That didn’t happen.”
“Oh right. I forgot—I’m actually blind. Or maybe I’m just hallucinating. I should probably schedule an appointment with my psychiatrist. Are we even here right now? What’s my name again?—?”
“Cub, listen to me.” Rhett cuts in, cupping my cheek in one hand and forcing me to meet his gaze. “Nothing happened between me and that woman tonight, okay? I swear.”
I blink at him, then slowly pull my head back.
“Tonight?”
His lips part slightly, and his face falters.
And that’s all the answer I need.
I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “I’m actually gonna grab that drink now. If you could try to behave yourself for the next two minutes and not put my entire reputation and career on the line, that would be amazing?—”
Ding Ding Ding!
A loud bell rings out from the front of the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” my dad’s voice booms over the speakers, cutting me off. “We’ve officially surpassed our charity goal!”
Ragnar appears suddenly at our side, leaning in to mutter out of the corner of his mouth to Rhett, “Does that mean we can leave?”
“Yep,” Rhett answers, lacing his fingers through mine and pinning me with a look. “Sure does.”
