Page 105 of Atlas
My father stands again, shaking Tom’s hand. “Great news. Congratulations.” My mother follows.
The waiter fills four flutes and passes them out before disappearing.
“Now, all I need is Anita to agree to marry me,” he says, his tone teasing as my head whips in his direction. “And, of course, to meet Leo, then my life will be complete.”
“Marriage?” Father repeats, his brows furrowed together. “She’s never even mentioned you.”
“He was kidding,” I mutter, forcing a tight smile.
“I’m not,” Tom says, looking my father dead in the eye, “but that conversation will take place over golf, yes?”
This gets my father’s attention. “You play? I’ve never seen you at Hadfield’s.”
“My loyalty lies with Marsdon’s,” says Tom, and my father’s eyes almost light up. “My friend owns the place, and I’m a platinum member. I can get you in there anytime.”
Father sits straighter, and I can tell by his face as he nods that he’s impressed. “Marsdon’s is always full,” he says. “I’ve been trying years to get in there.”
Tom smiles. “Consider it done,” he says, lifting his glass and holding it in the middle of the table. We all clink and take a sip.
I stare after my parents as they head to their waiting car, still in disbelief. They didn’t throw a fit, didn’t question my life choices.
And they appeared to love Tom.
His hand grazes the small of my back, his touch warm and possessive, and I turn to him, my lips curving with surprise. “That went surprisingly well.”
“I told you there was nothing to worry about.” His voice is a low murmur against my ear, and then he takes my hand, slotting his fingers through mine with a casual intimacy that makes mystomach flutter. He begins to lead me towards his car, and I glance down at our joined hands, half confused, half delighted.
It feels right.
Even if I don’t know what ‘it’ is.
“And I managed to get us on the golf course first thing tomorrow,” he adds as we reach the car. “Which means I can distract your dad if Damien tries to call. And, hopefully, by the time they speak, I’ll have convinced him how solid we are.”
My smile falters as I climb in. “But when he finds out the truth . . .”
Tom leans in, close enough that I feel the warmth of his body wrap around me. He reaches across to gently tug the seatbelt around my chest, his hand brushing the swell of my breast, not accidentally. His face hovers inches from mine, his mouth a breath from my own.
“The truth?” he asks, his voice low, coaxing.
My pulse spikes. “That we’re not . . .” I murmur, eyes flicking to his lips, to the way they part slightly like he’s already halfway to kissing me.
He doesn’t let me finish. “I already told you the truth, Nita,” he whispers.
Then his lips are on mine. Soft at first, a little unsure. But when I don’t pull away, he takes what he wants. What we both want.
His hand cups my cheek, angling my face to deepen the kiss, and his tongue slides against mine with slow, hungry precision. My fingers clutch the front of his shirt, my body leaning into his, desperate for more.
By the time he pulls back, my breathing’s a mess and my mind’s not far behind.
He grins like he knows exactly what he’s doing to me then shuts the door and rounds the car. I blink after him, stunned.
When he slides into the driver’s side, he throws one hand on my bare knee, squeezing slightly, and starts the engine with the other.
“We’ll take it slow,” he says, eyes still on the road. “I know this is a surprise to you. But make no mistake, Anita, I wasn’t putting on an act back there. I’m all in if you’ll have me.”
His tone is even, but the weight behind his words lands in my chest like a thud. He’s dominant, yes. Bold. A little cocky. But there’s something else simmering underneath.
Conviction. He’s not playing. And, despite everything, that turns me on more than I care to admit.
