“You don’t got to. We can talk about whatever you want.”
He stepped into my apartment without an invitation, and I pushed the door closed behind him with too much force. It shut with a loud bang.
He gave me a once-over. I had on old sweats and no makeup, but of course he looked at me like it didn’t matter at all. His gaze settled on the towel wrapped around my hair. “Better get a move on,” he said. “Our reservation’s at six-thirty.”
My jaw dropped to my knees. “What?”
His dark eyes sharpened, studying me. “It’s Sunday. We got a date.”
I took a step back. I didn’t like being so close to him or smelling his cologne, but I couldn’t outrun the reminder of Friday night. I could still feel the cold leather of the table against my heated skin. I still felt the lingering pleasure he’d given me, and he hadn’t even needed to take his clothes off to deliver it. What would it be like if he had?
Wait, no. I didn’t want to think about that. I scowled. “Are you shitting me?”
“We made a deal.”
“No. It’s off.” He’d lied for more than a year.
One step was all it took, and he was right in front of me, so close my breasts would brush his chest if I took a deep breath. His eyes were soft and warm. “I know you’re mad. You got every right.”
I was defenseless against him when he was wearing armor made of fine blue wool and gold silk. I stood like a statue as he hesitantly moved in, setting one hand on my waist. The warmth of it seeped beneath the cotton of my shirt.
“But,” he said on a low voice, “I held up my end of the deal, and now you’re gonna hold up yours, Court.”
My voice faltered. “What are you gonna do? Make me?”
He was prepared for that. “I can be persuasive.” A light smile tugged across his lips. “If that fails, I got other ways.”
“Other ways?” I repeated.
“We have a verbal agreement and I’m betting my attorney agrees.”
It was clear Julius was kidding, but my eyes went down to slits. “Keep Kyle out of this—” Except I was a hypocrite now, wasn’t I? I’d gotten Kyle involved with my fake date scheme, trying to force Julius into action.
His other hand rested gently on my waist, and I allowed him to hold me. I told myself it was because I was too tired from my workout to move, and not because I liked the feeling of his hands on my body.
“No,” I said. “I’m not going.” On the ridiculous date, or leaving his hold?
Julius’s expression sobered. “You don’t want to, I’ll give you an ‘out.’ You let me say my part about Tariq, and when I’m done, I’ll go.”
“I told you, I’m not ready to talk about it.”
He looked almost pleased with my answer. “Okay. So, put on that red dress and let’s go.”
My face heated with annoyance. It’d probably match the dress perfectly. “I said no—” He picked me up like I was nothing, squeezing a gasp from me as he put me over his shoulder. “What the hell?”
I bounced against him as he marched toward my bedroom, and could feel the vibrations of his deep voice through his back. “I said I’d tried to persuade you.”
“Put me down!”
We made it through the doorway and he did as I asked, dropping me gently onto the edge of my unmade bed. I glared up at him.
“I didn’t make my move when I should have, but no more. You’re gonna let me talk about this, or put on the dress.” His eyes were desperate. “Pick one.”
“Fine,” I said in a huff. “I agreed to dinner, so I’ll go, but don’t expect me to say anything.”
“You’re gonna go the whole night without a word?” He couldn’t have looked more skeptical if he’d tried.
So, I could be a bit of a talker, but if needed I could be—oh, shit.The whole night. I’d forgotten the final term of our deal. Date. Red dress. Night in his bed. There was no way I’d stay mute through all that, but his dubious expression made me desperate to try.