Page 45 of The Season of Secrets

“Then we disappeared around the same time and I avoided his calls for two days so he put two and two together.”

“I can’t believe that was less than a week ago.”Because as close as it feels we’ve gotten, you would think it’s been months.“But you could have invited him to dinner.”

“No, I would not like my pain in the ass best friend there for our first date.”

“Well, we have already slept together, so we could delay our first date if you wanted.”

“I do not want, and Chris knows a million and five people here. He’ll be fine.” He shakes his head as we finally break through the traffic.

A short while later, we are walking through the gallery, him with a whiskey and me with a glass of champagne. “So, are you going to buy anything?”

“If something looks nice, I guess. I don’t know much about art to be honest, but I guess I should, since they’re a big client.” He shrugs and looks around the room. It’s almost exactly what I expected. It’s like a museum with art all over the walls and sculptures in each room. The walls are a deep charcoal gray, giving the room a darker feel and there are lights hanging from the ceiling, giving it an industrial look. “You see something you like?”

“Me?”

“Sure, if it’s something that’s going to be at my house, you’re going to have to look at it too.”

I wonder if I’m visibly swooning right now.

“I’ll let you know if something speaks to me.”

“Wes Beckham!” I hear a high-pitched voice from behind us and when I turn around, I see a woman with long red hair in a white strapless cropped top that looks more like a bra and leather leggings that look like they are painted on her coming towards us. “Darling!” She presses a kiss to each of his cheeks. “I am so happy you could make it.” Her sparkling green eyes flit to me. “Hello!” She kisses my cheeks as well. “I did hear you were bringing someone.” She smiles at me and then at Wes. “Don’t you two make a cute couple!”

“I—I’m his assistant.” I blurt out although I wish I hadn’t. There isn’t anyone from work here and what were the chances we’d be back here with the team tomorrow?Well, we might be?

“Oh! Well, never mind!” She giggles and I can hear a faint Italian accent in her voice. “Thank you so much for coming.”

“Lily Ricci, this is Raegan Graham,” he looks at me, letting his eyes linger on me a beat longer, “my assistant.” He blinks at me, giving me a look that saysthat is not what you are.

“Lovely to meet you. Your dress is gorgeous,” she says turning back to Wes before I even have a chance to respond. “So, my manager thinks I need something for the back door? Maybe another camera? Can you come see?” She turns to me, “We’ll be right back.”

“No, she stays with me,” Wes says immediately.

“Oh. Okay.” She shrugs.

“I can wait here if that’s easier?” I say and he glares at me before guiding me gently in front of him as we follow Lily through the gallery. Before we are even off the gallery floor, someone calls her name and she squeals before taking off in their direction. I stop walking not knowing where to go and Wes chuckles behind me.

“Typical,” I hear him say. I turn around and he waves a hand. He looks me over and narrows his eyes over the glass of whiskey. “What’s with wanting me to go somewhere without you?” He tilts my chin up to look at him. “First of all, it’s rude and I wouldn’t do that to you when you don’t know anyone here. Secondly, I am not letting you out of my sight while you’re wearing this dress. Thirdly, I go somewhere alone with her and suddenly you’re thinking she’s back there giving me a strip tease, and when I get back, you’re all pissed when absolutely nothing happened.” He puts a hand up. “No thanks.”

I scowl at him because theremaybe some truth to that. “Has she ever flirted with you?”

He sighs. “Yes.”

“Have you slept with her?”

“No.” I look in the direction that she flitted off in and he turns my chin to look at him. “My assistant?”

“Well, I am.”

“Yes, but you didn’t have to say it.”

“You wanted me to let her think we were a couple? What if it got back to someone from work?”

“It wouldn’t and if it did, I’d say she was mistaken. I wasn’t saying confirm it, I just wasn’t going to say anything.”

“Oh…” I let out a breath and take a sip of the champagne, wishing like hell I had something stronger. “I guess I’ll let you field the questions regarding us.”

About an hour later we are preparing to leave, having not seen Lily again and Wes having bought a painting that was ungodly expensive for his home office. It was of a woman submerged in the ocean, staring out into the water as the sun began to rise. I wasn’t sure that it was particularly profound but it looked pretty and the colors were gorgeous.

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