“Who’s been keeping your bed warm, Annika? If memory serves me correctly, you were always ready for a roll in the hay. So tell me, whose paycheck are you after now?”
Even a pissing match with Annika can’t take my attention away from the moment Paige comes out from behind the curtain. She looks like virtue and sin wrapped in a gold and silver dress. Seeing her try the dress on the other day did not prepare me for the sight in front of me. In Kelly’s store she wasn’t wearing heels that I want to feel dig into my ass. Her hair wasn’t done in soft waves that I want to run my fingers through. Her lips weren’t painted like the ripest apple I’ve ever eaten.
There are no words to describe the beauty that is Paige Blackstone in this moment.
It’s not just how she looks. I knew Paige was nervous. She had never done anything like this. I know the heels freaked her out. I overheard her tell Kelly that the last time she wore heels, they were half the height and were worn to a funeral. I doubt anyone could tell. She is walking down the runway like she owns it. Her smile is lighting up the room brighter than the spotlight shining on her.
At that moment, I could picture us together, me in this tuxedo and her in that dress, attending any social function the state of Virginia had to offer. Annika used to go work the room, and I would let her. That’s not how it would be with Paige. She wouldn’t leave my side. I wouldn’t let her. I’d need to touch her. To make sure every man knew that she was mine.
“So that’s her, huh?” Annika says. “She’s pretty, I guess.”
It takes a Herculean effort to not tear into her right now, but I don’t. “Listen to me and listen good. You leave her out of this. We are not seeing each other. She has nothing to do with me leaving you. You leave your poison away from her. Or else.”
She turns and gives me a defying glare. “Or else what?”
“Or else I’ll try harder to prove you’ve been fucking around on me for months. Don’t test me, Annika. You won’t win.”
Realizing that I’m right and she likely doesn’t have a leg to stand on, she stomps away, leaving me alone in the back of the event room.
“What was that all about?” Mark asks, sliding next to me.
“I hope nothing,” I say as the lights come on as the fashion show ends.
The women scatter, or maybe stumble, to the auction tables and Mark and I head to the back to wait for Paige and Charlie.
“She’s not causing problems for you, is she?”
I shake my head. “No. The only reason she even bothered to try today is because we were in the same room. She doesn’t like to put a lot of effort into things. Unless it’s spending my money.”
Before Mark can reply, Charlie and Paige come from behind the curtain. And… fuck me. My jaw drops more now than it did when she was wearing the dress that made me want to bow at her feet.
She’s now in a simple flannel, leggings, and boots. Her hair is still in the soft waves and she’s still wearing the makeup she had on, including the lipstick that I’d love to see stained on different parts of me. It’s like the two sides of Paige have come together to make the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on.
She’s off-limits. She’s off-limits…
“So, what are you two up to?” Mark asks, oblivious to the fact that I haven’t blinked since my gaze landed on Paige. “Charlie and I are going to go get a bite without children. Want to come?”
No. I don’t want to come along, Mark. I want to take Paige somewhere where I can kiss the rest of her lipstick off.
Charlie steps up next to him, and I can tell immediately she realizes I’m not exactly on board with the idea my brother proposed.
“Or we could take these last few kid-free hours and find a place to get naked?”
Mark doesn’t even say goodbye. He just grabs Charlie’s hand and pulls her toward the exit. Charlie turns her head back to me and gives me a wink as I mouth the words “thank you” to my sister-in-law.
I really do love that woman.
“Do you want to go get a bite to eat?” I ask, putting my hand on her back to lead us out of the venue.
“As much as I would like lunch, I have a lot to do today. I didn’t think this would be an all-day affair.”
Her answer is a little short, which is very much not like Paige.
“Is everything OK?”
She nods. “Fine. It’s fine. I’m just tired is all.”
I might be shit in the marriage department, but even I know the word “fine” never means fine.
