Her perfect rosy lips fell open, then she laughed out loud before pausing to look me up and down. “I have to say, you look very different in a suit.”
“Good different or bad different?”
“Just different. I think I like both versions.”
“Good.”
Taking her arm, I led her to the car I’d hired for the night. There was no way I could get the seats in my work truck clean enough for fancy clothes. And I certainly didn’t want to have to pass up any drinks if they were being offered by potential clients. More deals were made over whiskey than over coffee, Dad always said.
“Before we chug our coffee, I have to give you something,” I said, pulling a little box from my pocket.
“Oh, right!” she said brightly. “You said you’d get a fake diamond ring.”
“I never want to give you anything fake, Claudia. Even if it’s just for one night.”
She gasped as I opened the box, her hand fluttering up to hide her mouth. “That can’t be real.”
“It’s my mother’s ring,” I said, taking Claudia’s hand. Even though this was temporary, it felt like an important moment. “Claudia, will you be my wife for the night?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her lovely eyes shining.
Slipping it on her fourth finger, it fit perfectly. “Dad got it for her on their fifth wedding anniversary. But once she had me a few years later, she gained a bit of weight, and she said it wasn’t as comfortable anymore.”
She stared down at the large square emerald that was flanked by two rectangular diamonds on either side. Then Claudia held it up beside my face. “It almost matches your eyes,” she said softly. “Vaughan, I don’t know if I should wear this.”
“Yes, you absolutely should. I can’t stand the thought of you wearing a cheap ring.”
She bit her lip for a moment as she stared down at the sparkling gems, then looked up at me. “As long as you promise to be my bodyguard all night.”
“Of course, dear.”
I loved the way her eyes lit up whenever I used the slightest term of endearment with her. Every time I looked into Claudia’s sweet eyes, I felt like I was seeing a new side of her. Getting to know her more and more.
Leaning forward, I pressed my lips to her gently, but she flinched backward. “Lipstick. Lauren said it’s long wear, but I don’t know how to fix it properly if it smudges.”
“Then hold very still,” I murmured. I ghosted my lips against hers with no pressure at all, just enough to make her breathing become erratic.
Then I slipped my hand up the back of her neck, taking hold of her without messing up her artfully arranged hair. Tilting her back, I kissed along her throat until she quivered in my arms. Her halting breath, and the way she twitched as I explored her soft skin, made me realize how desperately I wanted to take her right now.
Of course I wouldn’t. It wasn’t nearly time yet. But I couldn’t help the passionate arousal that was crackling through me like flames.
Nipping at her ear, I kissed just below it, nuzzling her until she moaned softly. Then I kissed down her neck, slipping into the top of her dress to trace along the top of her breast.
Her fingers gripped the back of my hair as she held me against her. “Kiss me again,” she gasped. “Please.”
“Lipstick,” I practically growled, holding her tightly in place as I barely brushed her lips with mine. Teasing us both so terribly was probably not a good idea before we had to walk into an event, but I couldn’t resist.
Every gasp, every moan that escaped from those perfect lips made me feel like I was winning her over. Making her mine in dozens of microscopic ways.
Claudia’s breath began to flutter in her throat as she tried to pull my mouth closer. I forced myself to release her, gently pushing us apart.
“Let’s get to the coffee. We’re going to need to stay perky all night long,” I said.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed as her glassy eyes blinked quickly. “Good id
ea.”
As we drank our coffee, I noticed that her eyes kept dropping to the ring. It was hard to tell if she was amused, touched, or whether everything was just a bit overwhelming.