Page 47 of Fake Fiancée for Dad's Best Friend
“Why’re you pouting?” Alex asks.
“I don’t have anything nice to wear. I’ve only packed t-shirts and casual skirts.”
He frowns. “You don’t have to wear fancy clothes, but I could take you shopping first if you want.”
“S-sure.” I hesitate. “Or we go somewhere less expensive.”
Alex thinks for a moment. “What about the dress you’ve just made? It looks cute.”
“Are you sure?” I say uncertainly. “I haven’t even tried it on. Okay, I’ll do it now.”
I grab the dress and go to my room. It needs some touch-up but maybe it isn’t bad at all. It’s very cute but a bit too juvenile for me. So I pick out a sheer blouse from the closet and put it over the dress. I tie the fronts of the shirt, so it looks like a cropped top. Perfect. Why didn’t I come up with this idea sooner? I’ll add a light green sheer top to the dress as soon as I get a chance.
I turn around in front of the mirror for a few minutes and go to the hallway to meet Alex. “What do you think of this one?”
Alex’s eyes brighten. “It’s gorgeous!” he says, assessing me from front to back. “Did you design it as well?”
“Yep!”
“I always thought puff sleeves ridiculous and old-fashioned. But sweetheart, you totally changed my opinion! It’s quite playful and sexy.” He shakes his head approvingly. “Truly your dad’s daughter.”
I laugh. He surely knows how to speak the right thing. “You’re so good at flattering. Let me go get my purse.”
I turn toward my room, but he grabs my arm and pulls me to him. “I’m not trying to flatter you, sassy girl. I mean it. And I want you to draw the design and submit it to Karl. Tell him it’s for next summer’s collection. And tell him it’s my order.”
I blink to register the meaning. “Are you serious?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” his voice is deep, and his smoldering eyes make me shiver.
“Okay, I’ll do just that,” I say.
He still doesn’t let go of me, and his eyes linger on my lips for a moment before they travel down to my neck. And then, to my surprise, he bends down—and kisses my exposed shoulder through the thin sheer fabric, his velvety lips tracing from my collarbone to my shoulder blade and the top of my arm.
While I’m gasping, he says in a gruff voice, “I never pay much attention to a woman’s shoulders before,” he murmurs. “Now I know how much I’ve missed.”
Oh, God. My lady bits tingle at that comment. I want nothing but his lips on me, not just my shoulders but my entire body. For a second, his dark, smoldering eyes tell me he wishes to do just the same. But he draws a deep breath and glances at his watch. “We’d better go. Our reservation is at six-thirty.”
“Okay,” I say and follow him out of the door.
Chapter 19
Alex
It took me Herculean effort not to do what my animal instinct directed me to do earlier, when Vivian gazed at me with those dark green eyes filled with desire. I wanted to carry her to my king-sized bed and taste every inch of her. Nothing from Capital Grilled even compared to what I remembered from the night of our engagement—her sweet lips, juicy petals, and buttery rosy buds.
Even now, on our way to the restaurant, my mind is still filled with the memory and my body craves her.
Since the restaurant is only a few blocks away, Vivian suggests we walk. Being a busy person, I don’t often have the luxury of strolling across town, so I agree. We go down in the elevator, keeping a distance between us, but once we’re out on the street, I can’t help but put my arm around her shoulders protectively. She isn’t mine, but I don’t want other guys to ogle her, especially when her sexy shoulders are visible through her sheer top.
Vivian stiffens a bit in the beginning but soon relaxes. She even leans toward me as we walk, her warm body pressing against me. My body feels warm. Damn. This is so nice. When was the last time I walked in leisure like this, with a beautiful woman in my arm? Trisha refused to walk to places, saying she only did it on runways. At first, I thought she was joking, but I realized later she meant it.
We make it to the restaurant right on time, with our reserved table waiting for us. I order a bottle of Pinot Noir from Napa Valley for us and browse the menu with Vivian.
“Everything looks good,” Vivian says, her shiny green eyes meeting mine for help. “I have trouble deciding between steak and seafood.”
“That’s easy,” I say. “Try the Seared Tenderloin with Butter Poached Lobster Tails. Trust me. It’s delicious.”
She grins. “Actually, I have that in mind. But what if I can’t finish it? That’s like two orders in one.”
