Page 79 of Rules Of Engagement: St. Louis
“This is quite the surprise,” she said.
“Funny thing about that. I could have sworn I asked you to be my date for this event two weeks ago.”
Her chin lifted slightly. “In my defense I didn’t know it was this specific event, and I told you I wasn’t available.”
“Right. Because you had other commitments. You could have been more specific about what kind of commitments you had.”
“Christian—”
“This Saturday belongs to us, am I wrong?”
I was tired of pretending this didn’t hurt. I didn’t want to pretend like seeing her with another man was just business as usual.
“This Saturday night belongs to us and still does,” she replied, her voice steady. “That hasn’t changed.”
The distinction in her words—Saturday night, not Saturday—was loud and clear. She was drawing the lines again, reminding me of the boundaries I kept trying to cross.
“Right,” I said, nodding slowly. “No expectations. No explanations. No complications. I got it.”
I turned to go.
“Christian, wait.”
“No, Naomi. You’ve made yourself perfectly clear. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
I walked away without looking back, pushing through the terrace doors and into the warmth of the ballroom. Dahlia was waiting by our table, her expression questioning, but I couldn’t face her concern right now.
Instead, I found the nearest exit and escaped into the hotel lobby, then out into the night air. My driver was waiting, and I slid into the back seat of the Town Car without a word.
Maybe the rules were protecting us both. But to me, this was prison.
Chapter
Seventeen
NAOMI
The jazz quartetwas wrapping up their final set as Nathan swirled the last of his cognac in the crystal snifter. The gala had been a success by every measure—donations exceeded projections, the governor had made his promised appearance, and Nathan’s foundation would be featured in next week’s society pages.
But I felt like I was watching it all through glass, present but not really there. My mind kept drifting to the terrace, to Christian’s wounded expression when he’d walked away, to the way a knot had formed in my throat when I’d seen him with Dahlia on the dance floor.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
I blinked and noticed Nathan studying me with curiosity etched in those sharp eyes.
I offered him a soft smile. “Thinking about work. There’s a situation I need to handle Monday morning, and I’m trying to figure out the best approach.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie. There was always some situation requiring my attention. But the situation occupying my thoughtshad nothing to do with business and everything to do with the man I’d rather be with in this very moment.
“Anything I can help with?” Nathan asked. “I know some people in various industries if you need connections.”
“That’s sweet of you to offer, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. It’s one of those things that requires the right timing.”
Nathan nodded, accepting my deflection.
The evening was winding down around us. Other couples were saying their goodbyes, collecting their coats and car keys, making plans for late-night drinks or early morning brunches.
“What do you say we continue this conversation somewhere more private?” Nathan’s hand rested on top of mine across the table, yet as big as his hand was, it was remiss of the heat that radiated from Christian’s palm. “My penthouse has an excellent view of the city, and I have a bottle of wine that’s been waiting for the right occasion.”
