Page 49 of Fiancé for Hire

The moment the words slid from his mouth Drevon knew he had screwed up.

She stiffened in his hold, and hurt flashed in her eyes, but just as quickly, it disappeared. In its place was sadness.

Shit, I’m an idiot!

“Baby, I’m sorry,” he hurried to say, but Antika pushed against his chest to get out of his hold. “We are way past the way things started between us.”

When he didn’t immediately release her, she said, “Let me go.”

There was no anger in her voice. She didn’t curse his stupid, insensitive ass out. She didn’t even raise her voice, which only elevated her classiness in his eyes.

A low growl bubbled inside of him, and Drevon reluctantly dropped his arms from around her, but he stayed close.

“Tika, I didn’t mean—”

“No,” she said and touched his arm before snatching her hand back. “You’re right. I’m being silly. This was just a job for you, and we got carried away. I’m going to freshen up, and then we can leave.”

“Antika…” He reached for her hand just as she started to turn, and he was glad she didn’t pull away. “I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No apology necessary.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes as she eased out of his hold before turning away.

Drevon punched the air hard enough to throw out his shoulder, then turned back to the lake. How stupid could he be? Why’d he bring up the damn arrangement, especially considering he’d temporarily forgotten about it?

He ran his hand over his low haircut.“I’m an idiot.”

I have to fix this.

“I knew something was shady between you two.”

Drevon whirled around and saw Edward in the shadows, leaning against the house. Two tall bushes were slightly concealing him. He moved forward, swaying slightly with a drink in his hand. He tossed back the dark liquor, then threw the glass in the bushes behind him.

I knew something was shady between you two.Edward’s words played on a loop inside Drevon’s mind. The guy might be tipsy, but not too drunk to hear what they’d said.

Shit. This is bad.

Drevon debated on how to play this. Maybe he could convince the asshole that he hadn’t heard correctly.

Before he could try and reason with the guy, Edward spoke again.

“Ithink,” he said, drawing out the word, “that people might want to know that your pretty face is a fake,” he spat and bumped into another tree, then shook his head. “No, that’s not right. The engagement is fake.”

Unease clawed through Drevon, and he slowly approached the guy, careful to keep some space between them. He didn’t trust himself not to knock his ass out.

Edward continued speaking. “After I tell everyone, then I’m getting Antika back.”

Drevon didn’t even feel himself move. All he knew was one minute they were standing in the middle of the patio, and the next, his hands were fisted in the front of Edward’s shirt. He slammed him against the house.

“Man, don’t fuck with me,” he ground out close to Edward’s ear and held him in place with a forearm on the man’s neck. “Don’t let this pretty face fool you. Step to my woman, or sayanythingabout what youthinkyou heard, and I will make your life a living hell. Try me and see what happens.”

Drevon might not have been a fighter, but few knew that he had taken karate from the time he was three years old through high school. He stopped before getting his black belt, but he still could hold his own.

He tightened his grip, ignoring the way Edward grasped and clawed at his arm. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes,” Edward rasped. “Yes,” he said again before Drevon jerked his arm away and watched the bastard stumble forward before righting himself.

They locked eyes and neither said a word when a small group of people came out on the patio.

Drevon started to follow Edward inside but a couple of the women who were now outside asked him to take a picture with them.

---