Page 24 of Sly Like a Fox
“Something like that.”
He starts clearing dishes, and I help without being asked.Something feels domestic and comfortable about the simple task that makes me wonder what it would be like to have this kind of partnership extend beyond our mission against Anklor.The thought should scare me.Instead, it makes me want to linger in his kitchen a little longer.
I carry plates to the sink and watch him rinse them with the same methodical precision he applies to everything else.“You know, most of the men I’ve dated would have expected me to clean up while they watched TV or checked their phones.”
He turns off the water and looks at me with genuine confusion.“Most of the men you’ve dated sound like idiots.”
The blunt assessment makes me laugh.“They really were.I’m starting to realize I set my standards embarrassingly low.”
“What made you realize that?”He faces me fully, giving me his complete attention.
“You.This.”I gesture between us.“The way you treat me like an actual partner instead of a decorative accessory or a convenient conquest.”
Fenton turns off the water and faces me fully.“You deserve to be treated like a partner in this operation and in general.”
The sincerity in his voice makes my stomach flutter.I lean against the counter beside him, close enough to catch his scent.“Careful.Talk like that, and I might start developing actual feelings for you.”
His expression grows serious.“Would that be such a terrible thing?”
The question hangs between us, loaded with implications neither of us is quite ready to address directly.We’re supposed to be business partners planning an elaborate con.Getting emotionally involved would complicate everything.
The smart thing would be to laugh it off, maintain professional distance, and keep our relationship focused on the mission.The smart thing would be to protect myself from the possibility of disappointment or heartbreak.Instead, I step closer to him.“It would be terrifying.”
He doesn’t move away.“Why?”
“Because I’ve never been part of something real before.All my relationships have been temporary or designed to get me something I needed.”I look down at my bare feet on his expensive hardwood floor.“I don’t know how to be genuine with someone who might actually matter.”
He touches my chin lightly, tilting my face up to meet his gaze.“You’re being genuine with me right now.”
His touch heats my entire system.“This is new territory for me.”
“For me, too.I’ve spent three years focused entirely on revenge.I haven’t allowed myself to think about connection or partnership or anything beyond completing my mission.”
The vulnerability in his admission makes my heart beat faster.“And now?”
“Now I’m wondering if maybe there’s room for both.Justice for my family and something new for myself.”
The way he’s looking at me makes my pulse quicken.I see heat in his expression but also something that indicates he’s thinking about possibilities beyond our immediate partnership.
I step back reluctantly, breaking the spell before we cross a line we’re not ready for.“I should probably go home to change clothes and figure out what to tell Chloe about where I spent the night.”
Disappointment flickers across his features before he masks it.“Tell her you met someone interesting.”
I retrieve my trench coat from where it’s draped over a chair.The fabric is wrinkled from being hastily discarded last night, but it’ll have to do.“That’s definitely true.When do we start the serious preparation for the charity gala?”
His expression shifts back to business mode.“This afternoon if you’re ready.We have a lot of ground to cover before you can convincingly pass as my sophisticated fiancée.”
The word fiancée sends an unexpected flutter through my stomach.“Fiancée?”
He moves close enough that I have to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact.“Recent engagement provides the best cover story.It explains why we’re inseparable, gives us legitimate reasons to be photographed together, and allows for the kind of public displays of affection that will help us seem genuine.”
My mouth goes dry.“Public displays of affection?”
His expression grows slightly heated.“Hand-holding, dancing, embracing, and the occasional kiss for appearances.”
“Strictly professional kissing.”I try and fail to sound professional at that moment.
“Strictly professional.”His voice drops lower, and neither of us sounds entirely convinced.
