Page 72 of His Ruthless Match
“Do I meet your impossibly high standards, Ms. Delgado?” he asked, throwing his arms out in a mock twirl. “Wouldn’t want to embarrass you tonight.”
His words were a subtle jab, reminding me of the stupid things I’d said to him in the heat of anger a week ago. I considered apologizing, but the thought of admitting I’d been wrong—tohimof all people—made my stomach churn. Instead, I straightened my shoulders and forced a mask of indifference onto my face.
“You’ll do,” I said dismissively, brushing past him and heading toward my bedroom.
As soon as the door shut behind me, I exhaled shakily. My hands were trembling, and I couldn’t decide if it was because of the nerves twisting in my stomach over the gala or because Jareth looked so fucking hot. I hated that it was affecting me. It was just a tuxedo. Any man looked good in a tux, right?
I started on my hair and makeup, trying to keep my mind focused on the task at hand, but my hands refused to cooperate. The eyeliner I was attempting to apply looked more like war paint, and my curls refused to cooperate. Every time I caught my reflection, I felt a pang of irritation to see the flush in my cheeks because Jareth’s smirk was burned into my memory.
I slipped into my dress, smoothing the fabric down over my hips. The elegant black silk hugged my body perfectly. As I reached for the zipper, my irritation surged. Of course, it was impossible to zip it up on my own. When I’d tried it on in the store, the saleswoman had been there to help. Now, I had no choice but to ask Jareth.
I walked back into the kitchen, gripping the top of my dress to keep it from slipping down. Jareth turned, and the expression on his face was almost enough to make me trip. His jaw dropped, and for once, there was no trace of that smirk.
He shook his head slightly, as if to clear it. I expected him to say something sarcastic, but instead, he shocked me.
“Damn, Eva. You look stunning.”
Heat crept up my neck. I hated how much of an effect his words had on me. “Thanks,” I muttered as I turned around. “Can you, uh… can you zip me up, please?”
“Gladly.”
A strange shiver crept down my spine. His hand settled on my hip, the heat of his touch searing through the thin fabric of my dress. His other hand moved to the zipper, and he took his time pulling it up, the metal teeth sliding together in a slow, deliberate motion. His fingers brushed against my skin, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from reacting.
I closed my eyes, swallowing hard as his hand lingered for just a moment longer than necessary.
Suddenly, a loudpopechoed through the kitchen, and we both jumped. I spun around to see Grelth standing in the middle of the room, his perpetually disgruntled expression firmly in place.
“Well,” he said, his beady eyes flicking between us, “don’t you two clean up nicely. I’d forgotten about the event tonight. I suppose you won’t be needing my services.”
Jareth recovered faster than I did. He scoffed as he stepped away from me. “We’ll be eating at the gala, Grelth. You’ve got the night off.”
“Fantastic. I can finally work on my knitting project.” He vanished with another loudpop.
The tension between us broke, and I burst out laughing. “I wonder what he’s making.”
Jareth chuckled. “Probably underwear for me.”
I rolled my eyes, shaking my head as he held out his arm.
“We should probably get going,” he said. “The limo’s waiting outside, isn’t it?”
I hesitated before I looped my arm through his. “Lead the way.”
When we arrived,the valet opened the door for me, and I stepped out into the cool evening air. Jareth followed close behind, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back as we approached the entrance. The red carpet was already bustling with activity. Journalists snapped photos of the people milling about in their evening finery. I took Jareth’s arm again and leaned in, keeping my voice low.
“Please be on your best behavior tonight.”
He snorted. “No promises.”
I pinched the inside of his arm. His yelp of surprise echoed across the red carpet, high-pitched and utterly undignified. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing as he rubbed his arm.
“You’re going to pay for that,” he muttered under his breath.
“Be sure to add it to my tab,” I said as we walked to the entrance.
The gilded doors of the ballroom opened into a shimmering expanse of opulence, and I had to force my shoulders back, pretending I belonged here. The crystal chandeliers bathed the sea of people in an ethereal glow. Every inch of the room sparkled, from the sequined gowns to the polished marble floor reflecting it all back.
Jareth’s presence beside me was impossible to ignore. His tuxedo hugged his broad shoulders perfectly. I caught more than a few people checking him out as we passed.
