Page 15 of Black Tie Billionaire
“Whichreminds me,” Shay continued, not giving him a chance to offer yet another opinion on her relationship with Bridgette. “I won’t be able to make dinner tonight, either. I made other plans.”
His gaze narrowed on her. “Dinner is with the senator, his wife and several of his friends.”
“I’m aware, and I apologize for backing out at the last moment, but something came up that I can’t reschedule.”
She returned his stare, not offering an explanation about the “something” even though his eyes demanded one. The words actually shoved at the back of her throat, but she refused to soothe him, to cave just to keep the peace. Especially since he’d been the one to make the plans for this dinner without even checking to see if she was available. Sometimes her brother misinterpreted her silencefor meekness. And sometimes she let his high-handedness go. But not when it mattered. And tonight mattered. To her.
“Shay,” he murmured, leaning back in his chair, his mouth hardening even more. “I know I don’t need to remind you how important the next few months are to me, to our family and, therefore, to RemingtonNeal. This wedding isn’t just gearing up to be the social event of next year,but it’s also only months before Senator Reus’s campaign kicks off. We can’t afford to have anything go wrong. We’re Neals, with a name and reputation above reproach. Don’t do anything to taint either.”
Anger at his thinly veiled admonishment surged within her, and she fought down the barrage of words blistering her throat. The same throat that constricted as the noose of the Neal name tightened,suffocating her. She’d always been the dutiful daughter, the proper socialite and, except for in her head, had done it all without complaint. But lately, the constraints were chafing, leaving her raw and irritated. In emotional pain.
Well, you haven’t beenthatproper.
The same snarky voice that had taunted her about Madison mocked her again, this time following it up with a parade ofvivid, explicit images of the night she’d spent with Gideon Knight. Her belly clenched, a dark swirl of desire eddying far south of her navel. Flashes of those lust-drenched hours burst in her head like fireworks across a dark July night. Gideon kneeling before her, lips glistening with the evidence of the desire he’d coaxed out of her with that same talented mouth. Gideon leaning over her, midnighthair tumbling around them, his big body moving over hers...in hers.
Gideon sleeping as she quietly dressed in the murky morning light, the sharp angles and planes of his face not softened by slumber.
Heat rushed up her chest and throat and poured into her face. She ducked her head over her plate, concealing the flush that surely stained her cheekbones.
“Shay?”
She jerked her headup, freeing herself from thoughts of Gideon. Inhaling, she refocused on their conversation. “No, I don’t need to be reminded. And missing one dinner isn’t going to mar the Neal name or threaten the senator’s campaign,” she replied. Ignoring the narrowing of his eyes, she pushed her chair back and stood. “I need to get to the office. I’ll see you later.”
Leaning over, she brushed a kiss acrosshis cheek, then left the room before he could attempt to dig into her reasons for not complying with his plans. As soon as she stepped over the threshold, she heaved a sigh. The tension that seemed to be more of a common occurrence when she was with Trevor eased from her shoulders.
Shoulders that were aching from carrying the heavy burden of her brother’s expectations.
