Page 59 of The Bad Wedding Date

“We used each other today, Charlotte.”

“I used you withtransparency. I used you because you agreed, even after walking away once. You came back. That was an agreement.” Her eyes fired with something—just a flicker of emotion—before she pushed it back down. But fuck that. I wanted her emotions, no matter the range of them. I wanted her snark back because this lifeless, quiet-voiced version of this woman scared me. I’d seen it too many times in my life, and it was impossible to forget the way it usually ended.

“It was an agreement.” I half-smiled. “And now I’m agreeing to let you stay for the night because, deep down, I know you want it.” Her scowl was immediate, but so was the blush of her cheeks. I loved the way her ivory skin turned rosy-red so quickly. “Despite everything that’s come to light, you can’t deny that you and I had chemistry today.”

“We’ve also had a lot of alcohol.”

“You’d not touched a drop at that bus stop. I still saw that look in your eyes.”

Pushing up from the sofa, she stood, folding her arms over her chest, and I sank back into the cushions, staring up at her. She had returned, in some form or another, her feisty streak back, and I had to control myself from showing that relief with a smile.

“You’re such an arrogant arsehole, Fraser Scott,” she hissed. “And let me be clear: if I wasn’t as exhausted as I am right now, and if I hadn’t had too much to drink, I would be heading back down into that ballroom and asking someone to call me a taxi to take me home. If I stay the night, it’s my choice, not yours, and it has nothing to do with me being attracted to you.”

“Whatever you say. You’re the boss.”

“You’re damn right I am.”

“Just tell me one thing before you storm into the bedroom. Tell me you trust me to take care of and respect you.”

“I can’t do that. Not with someone who’s lied to me.”

“Tell me…”

“I’d rather go to Hell.”

“No, you wouldn’t.” I shook my head.

Her eyes searched mine, and I could see her growing angrier by the second. “Screw you, Fraser.”

Let’s go,a part of me thought, but I shut that down quickly. I wasn’t like those other guys. I wasn’t about to manipulate her into wanting me the way I wanted her.

When I didn’t respond, she marched away, leaving me to smile brightly as I stared out at the twinkling lights of the city I’d grown up, fought wars, and saved lives in.

Charlotte trusted me all right, and that’s why she was allowing herself to stay.

The other stuff I could work on.

That would come in time.

For now, I just had to keep her safe until Matteo Vega was far away from The Savoy Hotel, which shouldn’t be long considering the intel Wade had managed to put together. Matteo was to stay with a friend in a secure estate out in Essex, away from the press or anyone else he may have angered around here. Although it wasn’t ideal, once Charlotte was fast asleep, I’d get Dean and Joey to track him down, and they could find a way to take him back to our apartment in SoHo so we could take care of him the way I’d been dreaming of taking care of him for the last decade.

I’d finish that man before he got on a plane and escaped back to paradise.

I’d end him with my own bare hands.

For now, Charlotte had to come first, and that realisation shocked me more than the first time I saw her glowing brightly beneath the rays of the London sun.

I hadn’t put anyone before the destruction of Matteo Vega in over a decade.

Not even myself.

* * *

It didn’t take her long to use the bathroom and emerge with her hair down around her shoulders. The sight of her in the reflection of the window as she headed to the room made me suck a deep breath. I imagined lying over her body and resting between her legs as I pushed a hand through her thick, soft hair and brought her lips to mine. But no sooner had she stirred something inside of me without even trying, she walked into the bedroom that was supposed to be mine, wearing nothing but one of the hotel’s white robes, her dress now draped over her arm.

She was a demon tempting my sainthood, and my eyes wandered to whatever path she happened to be on.

After a few telltale sounds of her getting into bed and nestling under the covers, there was very little noise. I thought she’d drifted to sleep until Wade forwarded me a text she’d just sent from her phone to that of her best friend Jonah’s.

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