Page 19 of Suddenly Married

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Luc poured the coffee into his mug. The black liquid streamed down his throat, heating his palate. He’d almost blown it the previous night. If Kira had left without him, the paparazzi would no doubt have noticed, and he’d yet again be poorly perceived in the media. He didn’t care before, but now he needed a good rapport with his father.

Memories from what she told him the night before flooded his mind, and his chest squeezed. He wished he could punch the bastard who made Kira suffer. He’d been a bastard himself, both in the literal sense and otherwise, but he’d never cheat on a woman who was in love with him—and with her sister.

Another sentiment took a hold of him, a weird sense of claim, protection. He didn’t want her to suffer because of anyone, and he hated the resentment in her voice. Did she still love Andrew? He sat his mug on the counter and popped his knuckles.

Maybe she still did.

Maybe that had been why she’d refused to sleep with him. Not that he proposed, but for a while, the silent invitation had hung in the air. They were both aware.

He jammed his hands into the pockets of his lounge pants. Why did the reason why she didn’t sleep with him matter? She probably had dozens of reasons, all of them valid. He knew sleeping with her and having more access to her would perhaps help him with this end goal, but he’d be a fool if he didn’t admit that being with her had become an obsession. He wanted her, to kiss her again, to feel her skin against his, to fuck her until they both lost track of time.

He guessed reasons, on either side, didn’t make it right. Or happen. But mon dieu, he wanted it to happen.

His phone buzzed on the counter, and he scooped it up, quickly recognizing Richard’s phone ID.

“Bon jour, Richard.”

“Morning, Luc. I’m calling you because I read a blind item on Page Six that got my attention.”

“Blind item?”

“It’s when they write about a celebrity and what they supposedly did but don’t add names so readers can figure out on their own.”

“Ah.”

“It was about that party you attended last night… it mentioned a very new couple had a tiff. And the man is French. They may as well have said your name.”

“But they didn’t.”

“No, but how are you having tiffs with Kira? You just married. You can’t do that in public.”

He couldn’t bring up talking to Samantha Fraser, it’d only enhance suspicion. “I apologize… wrong call.”

“We don’t want people to start talking. We need to squash this as soon as possible. I made a reservation for you two at a restaurant. Go with her today and you’ll be seen. I’ll tip off a couple photographers.”

“But I have plans for lunch,” he said, thinking about the virtual meeting he had scheduled with his VP from France. He couldn’t simply let his own business go indefinitely… he hadn’t gotten to where he was without being thorough.

“Then change them. This is more important,” Richard said.

“I can’t recall the last time someone used this tone with me, Richard.”

“I mean no offense. But we need you to behave and you know it.”

He sighed. Taking Kira to lunch was no sacrifice, was it? They usually had working lunches, or she stayed behind at the office and ordered takeout if he had a business meeting. But actually eating out during the day with no work to do? First time. “Okay, fine. What’s the place called?”

Hours later, he led her through the entrance of one of the most exclusive restaurants in Manhattan. He was keenly aware of the sets of eyes on them as they followed the hostess, and when he sat at the corner table, he knew right then that Richard had carefully orchestrated this whole thing.

A circus animal would have more privacy than them.

“Is this good?” she asked, leaning closer.

“Yes. Perfect for our goal,” he said. He’d told her about Richard’s call, and his quick plan to get them to bury the relevance of the blind item post. Though… if he was honest with himself, he liked being with her.

Did he like that he liked being with her? No.

Seducing her for information or simply to get her on his side should he need her loyalty were much more pragmatic reasons. Those reasons he could understand, and live with. But looking forward to sharing space with her, being on the receiving end of her lovely smiles or sarcastic stares was a different story.

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