“Wills is kind of hot,in like awho's your daddykind of way, no?” Taylor leans over, whispering to me in the back seat.
I roll my lips between my teeth, bringing my hand to my forehead. “Please don't.”
She backs up to her side of the car. She shrugs. “What?”
I’ve been in hermit mode since the interview from hell. And I haven’t seen Miles in two days. When he texted me to meet him out tonight, he neglected to mention that it was a celebration for such a huge accomplishment. I only found out from Taylor who found out from Jonas.
As the car pulls up outside the bar, I look out the window and my fingers twist my ring back and forth. I’ve been telling myself I’ve been avoiding Miles since my interview but truthfully I would have avoided him after that night anyway. I let myself catch feelings for him and the rejection stung more than I anticipated. I shouldn’t be avoiding him though. It’s not his fault. He told me from the beginning that he doesn't do relationships. And I don't need any more confirmation that I need to keep my feelings in check. So I’ve played it safe the last few days by avoiding him. I think the close proximity and the tension have just been playing tricks on me. I didn't plan to avoid him forever just long enough to get my mind—and libido—in check.
There's no avoiding him now though. As soon as we walk into the bar my eyes find him. I'd like to think it's because of his sheer size he sticks out, or because he looks sexy as fuck in his massive 6-foot-something frame wearing a three-piece suit and standing at a tabletop next to the bar, but I know it's not. I would be able to find Miles in a packed stadium. I’m attracted to him like a moth to a flame. His eyes find mine and my legs still. I try to swallow the dry lump in my throat with only a second to normalize my breathing before Taylor’s arm loops through mine and she points in his direction. “Ah! There they are.”
My eyes never leave his as Taylor pulls us through the crowd towards the table. “Hey! Congratulations, big guy!” She slaps his shoulder as she passes him to head towards the bar where Jonas is standing.
Before I’ve even set my clutch down, Miles’s hand splays across my lower back as he pulls me flush against his body and his mouth finds mine. His lips are soft. Questioning. As if in answer, my lips part on their own and invite him in. He gets the message because a heartbeat later, his other hand cups my cheek, and his tongue glides along my bottom lip, causing a soft moan to escape my mouth. One which he quickly soaks up with a more forceful kiss. I immediately miss his touch when he pulls back and looks at me. “I’ve missed you.”
My eyes go wide and bounce back and forth between his eyes and lips. “I?—”
“Hey, congratulations Cameron!” A man in a suit claps him on the shoulder interrupting my thoughts. He shakes the man’s hand while keeping his other hand firmly planted on my back.
“Thanks, Dom. Did you get a drink?”
“Not yet, but I heard they were on you tonight.”
“The rumors are true.”
“Alright alright.” Dom smiles and shakes his hand again. “I’ll be at the bar then. Camila, it’s nice to see you again.” He reaches his hand out and I give it a small shake confused about where I would have seen this man before but I smile anyway and he turns to leave.
As I watch him head off, I look around for the first time and notice the room is full of people I vaguely recognize.
A waiter arrives with a tray full of shots filled with a brown liquid. “These are from that table over there.” She points to a table surrounded by people sitting in a booth behind Miles. He picks up one of the glasses and holds it up to them in thanks before turning back towards me.
“Shot?”
“No thank you, I only do clear alcohol.” He doesn't drink his either, but instead puts it back down on the tray with the others “Who are those people? They look familiar.”
“Some colleagues from the office. They were all at the fundraiser.”
Of course. This room is filled with people from the fundraiser. Meaning we’re surrounded by people he works with and the reason behind that kiss was nothing more than for show. Disappointment floods my body but I recover quickly, throwing a pinched smile on my face.
Jonas and Taylor return with drinks but don’t set them down. “Let’s go, the dart boards are open,” Taylor says, motioning her head towards the back.
Miles leads the way and to play up my part I slip my hand into his. He looks back at me and for some reason, his face seems relieved.
“Boys against girls?” Jonas shouts.
“What do I get when I win?” Taylor asks.
I look at Miles who's only trying to hold in his laughter. He seems so relaxed tonight. Like the Miles that I know when it's just us alone together.
“How about a thousand bucks?” Jonas asks, and my jaw drops but Taylor's eyes narrow into tiny slits.
“You’re on,” she says.
“Um, we don't have a thousand bucks to bet, Tay.”
“We don't need it. We kill it at darts,” she says. “Alright, five minutes of practice, and then you’re going down, Jo-Bro.”
I step back, bumping into Miles's hard body. His arms wrap around me, steadying me and his head dips to my shoulders. “You’ve been avoiding me, mi esposa.” My knees threaten to buckle under me at the combination of the name and his touch.
