The Favor

Tiffany turned back to the mirror and took a shaky breath. Knowing I was the last person she’d want comfort from, I walked out of the restroom.

Dane was waiting a few feet away, deep in conversation with a man I didn’t recognize. Pasting an easy smile on my face, I crossed to them. “Thanks for waiting for me,” I told Dane, sure my needless guilt didn’t show in my expression or voice. But his eyes narrowed.

Before he could ask what was wrong, I introduced myself to his conversationalist, who flirted shamelessly with me. For all of five seconds. The moment Dane slid an arm around me and drew me close, his hold nothing short of proprietary, the other man’s sentence trailed off.

“It was good seeing you, Richard,” said Dane. “We’ll talk again soon, I’m sure.” He led me away and whispered into my ear, “What’s wrong?”

I sighed. “I saw Tiffany in the restroom. She asked me some questions. She’d already guessed there was more between me and Owen than being childhood friends.”

“I’m not surprised. He’s been staring at you most of the evening.”

He had? I’d been so wrapped up in Dane, I hadn’t noticed. “She’s hurting right now.”

“That’s his fault. Not yours.”

“I know. I still feel bad. In her shoes, I’d be devastated to hear my husband named our child after his ex. It’s not like she can change the kid’s name. Well, she could, but it would be hard to make the little girl understand why it needed to be done. I don’t know if he truly sees that what he did was wrong.” I let out an exasperated sound. “I wish he hadn’t come here tonight.”

“I don’t. He needed to see us together and get the message that you’re taken. And it’s better for his wife that she knows the truth. She would have learned it sooner or later anyway.”

“Maybe. But I detest that I was the one who put that look on her face.”

He slid his hand up my back and squeezed my nape. “Bear in mind that later—when she’s no longer hurting—she’ll be glad you were straight with her.” He paused. “You ready to leave now?”

“More than ready.”

Dane pulled his phone out of his pocket and rattled off a text, no doubt summoning Sam. “Now, if you can, wipe the anger off your face or people will think we’re fighting.”

I drew in a long breath, dug deep for calm, and blanked my expression. “Better?”

“It will be when you smile.”

I thought of Freddie, who could always lift my mood, and felt my mouth curve. “Done.”

He squeezed my nape again. “Good girl.”

Oh, he shouldn’t have said that. My body went all tingly again. “What about your paintings?”

“They’ll be sent to my home.”

We returned to our table, said a quick goodbye to his family, and then made our way downstairs. People stopped us here and there, wanting to speak with Dane, but he artfully dodged their efforts to draw him into deep conversation.

Outside, we slid into Sam’s waiting car. Noting that the privacy partition was up, I turned to Dane and said, “Think we accomplished what we came to do?”

“You mean convince people we’re a couple? Yes.”

“What happens next?”

“Next I put my ring on your finger. But not until we’re in Vegas.”

And now my belly was rolling again. “Do I get to pick the ring?”

“No.”

I frowned. “Why not?”

“You’ll pick something understated.”

“So?”

“So I don’t do ‘understated.’ People know that.”

I huffed. “Fine. Just don’t pick something too big and expensive—that’s all I ask.”

“Hmm.”

Not liking that noncommittal sound, I shook my head and turned my gaze back to the window. What a freaking night.

Chapter Six

Having written my to-do list for the following day on a virtual sticky note, I switched off my computer, gathered my things, and slipped on my coat. Dane was out of the office, so I didn’t need to pop in and say goodbye. I just headed straight for the elevator.

Most of the employees had already left the building, so I didn’t pass many people. Since my “serious relationship” with Dane became public a week ago, some of my co-workers had changed a little toward me. Talk would sometimes stop when I entered the break room. Smiles were occasionally too false. I’d hear people whispering nearby, but they’d shut up if I turned to look at them.

Two women in particular were getting on my last nerve. They mostly just did petty stuff like sneer or titter or pointedly ignore me, but I kind of felt betrayed. These were people I’d once chatted with regularly and had drinks with at Christmas office parties. Now, they treated me like I was a pariah. I figured it was jealousy, since both females had tried and failed to seduce Dane years ago.

I supposed that back then they’d comforted themselves with the fact that he made a point of not sleeping with his employees. It was no doubt a kick to their ego that he’d seemingly now made an exception for me. Still, there was no need for them to be so freaking bitchy.