How to Fall in Love (49 page)

Bingo.

~*~*~*~

“A
, open up!” I yell, pounding on Autumn’s door later that night.

It takes her ten minutes to answer, and when she does her eyes are frantic. She looks like she’s on some serious drugs or something. It’s a little concerning.

“Shit, what’s wrong?” I question, scanning her face. She’s really pale.

“It’s, ah,” she whispers, looking past me into the darkness, “it’s nothing.”

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I think I did,” she murmurs, more to herself than me. As if realizing this, she shakes her head and wipes the fear off her face. “What’s up?”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Okay, you did not just brush that off.”

“It’s nothing, Tia,” she says, shaking her hand casually.

“You’re such a liar. I thought we were friends; soul sisters, and what have you . . .”

She snorts. “That one time we combined blood was not enough to make us soul sisters.”

“No, you’re right. We should have sacrificed ourselves.”

She laughs softly, but her voice is strained. My friend has a secret; I wonder when she’s going to tell me what it is.

“How’d you go the other night?” I ask her. “Get laid?”

“Ah,” she says, the shaky voice back. “Yeah.”

“With who?”

She waves her hand. “No one special.”

“You’re lying again. Oh come on, who was it? You can’t leave me hanging like that?”

She walks over to her coffee machine and lifts the top, taking a bag of beans from beside it and pouring some in. When she lifts her arm, I see faint bruises on her skin. I rush over, jerking her shirt up. She’s got fingerprint bruises all up her arms.

“What the hell?” I gasp. “Someone hurt you?”

“No,” she says quickly, pulling her sleeves down. “It’s nothing, Tia.”

“Stop lying,” I yell. “You have bruises on your arms.”

“I just got into a brawl at the bar the other night, that’s all.”

“You’re not being honest,” I say, narrowing my eyes at her.

“Can you drop it? Please, just drop it.”

I swallow, but the panic on her face is telling me right now is not the best time to push this. Whatever is going on, she’s clearly not ready to talk about it.

“Just tell me one thing. If a man is hurting you . . . you’ll tell me?”

She nods, her eyes wide. “Of course.”

“Don’t let anyone hurt you, A.”

“I won’t.”

We both stand in silence for a moment before she says, “So, those bikers, do you know much about them?”

Why is she interested in them?

I shrug. “No, just that Reign hired them for security.”

She nods, looking away.

“Did one of them do that to you?”

She shakes her head quickly; too quickly. “No, no, of course not.”

“A . . .”

“I’m thinking I might go away for a while. Maybe a holiday.”

Autumn is running again.

“Are you ever going to tell me why you run so much?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I like travelling, is all. I’ve got restless feet.”

“Autumn, you’re such a bad liar.”

She gives me an innocent expression. “Seriously, I just feel like a break. Work is slow, and I’m seriously ready for a holiday, maybe the Bahamas.”

I watch her, narrowing my eyes.

I have a strong, horrible feeling she’s lying to me.

And I don’t like what that could mean for her.

CHAPTER NINE

“Wear the purple one,” Reign says, flicking through my closet.

“No, the purple one shows my ass cheeks.”

He gives me a look out of the corner of his eye. “And?”

I push past him, pulling out my favorite black dress. “Black is better for a business lunch.”

He shakes his head. “No, black is sexy, but not professional.”

“And my ass cheek hanging out of my purple dress is?”

“You need to look sexy, understand?”

I throw my hands on my hips. “Excuse me, Sex God, but not all of us look like you.”

He sighs and turns to me. “Stop talking and find a damned dress.”

“I don’t have anything you expect me to wear, Reign.”

He pulls out a red dress. “Perfect.”

I stare at it. “Red? Seriously?”

“It means we’re fucking.”

I sneer. “It does not!”

He shoves it at me. “It does. Now get dressed. We’re late.”

He leaves the room and I stare down at the simple but sexy red halter-neck dress. Not wanting to argue, because quite frankly I couldn’t be bothered, I put it on. I slide the soft material down over my body and smooth it out with my hands. Then I let my hair down, running a brush through it before sliding a pin into one side, holding it up just slightly.

Ready.

I walk out to find Reign waiting at the door. He gives me a once-over and then nods. “Good, let’s go.”

“You make me feel so beautiful, Reign.”

He hooks his arm through mine and pulls me out of the apartment. “I’m sure you don’t need me telling you how good you look, Tia. Pretty sure you already know that.”

Well then.

Smooth.

We arrive at a local Italian restaurant downtown, and I see a group of businessmen standing in a circle, most of them with women on their arms. Slutena is here. I thought she was out of town.

I turn to Reign. “You told me she was out of town for a week.”

“I lied,” he says, his voice deadpan.

I gape at him. “Why?”

A shrug. “Because you wouldn’t come otherwise.”

I cross my arms. “How would you know?”

“Because you hate her, and it makes you uncomfortable when we’re together.”

Shit.

“Whatever.”

He helps me out of the car and we slowly approach the ground. Slutena’s eyes move over Reign and her lips purse.
That’s right, bitch, you think he’s taken
. I run my hand up his arm and tuck myself closer, which earns me a narrow-eyed stare from him. What? He pays me to make her jealous; that’s what I’ll do.

“Tiani,” she purrs. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Reign decided to bring me at the last minute,” I say with a smile.

“Of course,” she says, her voice stiff. “Reign, it’s good to see you again.”

God he’s fucking her with his eyes. Why do I hate that? Like a pathetic little child, I press myself closer to him. He puts his arm around me, squeezing my hip in warning. Oh, no. If he wanted to bring me here to throw forward some pathetic little plan, then he will deal with it, and with me.

“Shall we go inside?” a tall, balding man says.

“Lead the way,” Reign says.

We wait until everyone goes inside, and then he leans down to me. “Stop it, Tia.”

“Stop ogling her ass like a goddamned pervert. And you invited me here to make it look like we’re
fucking
. If you don’t want to make her jealous what do you want to do?”

He gives me a withering glare. “Don’t be a bitch.”

“Bite me, Reign. If you don’t want me to do my job, I’ll leave. I didn’t want to come in the first place. If you think you can just get her back, why bring me?”

“Point made,” he growls. “Now act like a lady.”

I snort as he pulls me inside. We take a seat at the table and Slutena plants her perfect ass right beside him. He’s squashed in the middle of us.
Well, this isn’t weird.

“Tiani,” another old man says, “what is it you do?”

“I work for Reign,” I reply, forcing a saccharine-sweet smile.

“And you’re his girlfriend also? That must be strange.”

No, old man, it isn’t. “Reign treats me with respect and we get along so well, so it’s not a problem.”

“Yet,” Slutena mutters.

“I’m able to keep it in my pants when it comes to his personal assistants,” I say to her, still smiling. “So there won’t be a problem. Perhaps you should try it.”

Reign squeezes my leg so hard I jump. Ouch. Bastard.

“Ignore her,” he says. “She’s having a bad day.”

She’s glaring at me, and I give it right back. One of the older men clears his throat. “Uh, well, shall we order before we go over the business plans?”

“Fine by me,” I grate out.

Reign turns to me, his eyes blazing. “Can we talk, outside, for a second?”

He stands and turns to the group. “Excuse me, gentleman. If the waitress comes by, we’ll both have the salmon.”

Then he pulls me away from the group.

“What if I don’t like salmon?” I say as he drags me towards the front door.

The moment we’re outside, he turns to me. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” I say, crossing my arms. “I just don’t like that woman.”

He leans in close. “I don’t fuckin’ pay you to like her, I pay you to do as I ask. So do it.”

Then he turns and storms back inside.

I won’t lie; my heart aches a little. He changes when he’s around her; he turns into a giant asshole—an asshole I don’t know. I straighten my shoulders, take a deep breath, and then walk back inside. He is right about one thing: he does pay me to do a job, so that’s what I’ll do.

Get it together, Tia.

“I’m so very sorry for my rude behavior, gentleman,” I say, addressing the group as I approach the table. “Please forgive me.”

They all stare at Reign, and then look to me.

“Not a problem at all, dear,” one says.

“I’m going to head to the bathroom, if you all don’t mind.”

I look down at Reign whose jaw is tight as he stares at his glass. With shaking fingers, I reach over and stroke the side of his jaw. He jerks and turns to me. Big risk I’m about to take, but if he really wants Slutena to believe we’re a couple, then he needs to make it look real. I lean down so close I can smell him. God, he smells good.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur, and then I press my lips to his.

I’ve never kissed Reign. I’ve thought about it—believe me—but I’ve never had to do it. We’re always playing a breakup scene or a cheating scene. Never a happy-lover scene. His lips are soft, yet rugged and manly. I push myself closer, deepening the kiss. He lets me. I don’t complain.

By the time we pull back, I’m feeling short of breath and flustered. The moment I catch a look at his lusty, golden eyes, my heart skips a beat.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” I stammer, before turning and rushing off.

Not before I catch a glance at Slutena’s face, though. Her lips are tight, her eyes narrowed, her chin raised.

That kiss was a success.

~*~*~*~

I
giggle, my cheeks flushed with the alcohol swimming through my body. Business lunches aren’t so bad after all. After we ate and everyone loosened up, the drinks started. Now it’s well into the early evening and we’re all under the weather. Turns out old dudes are funny and can really let their hair down. Well, they would, if they had hair.

“Another,” I say to Reign, sliding up beside him at the bar.

“Thinkin’ you’ve had to much,” he says, staring down at me.

“I’m thinkin’ not.”

“Tiani,” he warns.

“Reign.” I smile.

He orders me a vodka and orange, and hesitantly hands it over to me. God he looks good, tie all loosened, sleeves rolled up. Yum.

“Are you finished eye-fucking me?”

I lift my gaze to his. “I never denied you were an attractive man, Reign Braxton. I’m allowed to look. Mrs. Mufflepuff still knows what’s good for her.”

“What the fuck did you just call your pussy?”

Mmmm, pussy on Reign’s lips sounds great.

“Mrs. Mufflepuff. I read it on the Internet.” I shrug. “It suited her.”

“Her?”

I scoff and smack his arm. “My lady parts . . .”

“You name your lady parts?”

He looks confused.

“Don’t you name your, errr . . .” I stare down at his pants.

“My cock?” he offers.

Whoa, there go my cheeks.

“Uh, yeah,” I mumble, dragging my eyes away.

“Uh, no,” he responds, smirking.

“Well, you’re missing out. Allow me—”

“Don’t even think about it,” he warns.

He stands and with a pout, I follow him back to the booth. I watch as he looks around for Slutena. Typical. His eyes stop across the room and his back goes rigid. She’s on the dance floor, grinding against a tall, attractive man. And when I say grinding, I mean grinding. There are hips rubbing, necks being kissed, and hands grazing breasts. Totally X-rated.

“She’s doing it on purpose,” I say to Reign, putting my hand on his arm.

He’s so stiff. I turn him to face me, and his jaw continually tics as if he’s about to lose his shit any second.

“Calm down, big guy. If she suspects it’s getting to you, she wins. Do you trust me?”

“What?” he bites out.

“I said, do you trust me?”

He nods with a sharp jerk of his head. 

“Come on then.”

“Where are we going?” he asks.

“To dance,” I say.

He shakes his head and puts his hands up. “No way, I’ve seen you dance.”

I put my hands on my hips. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He leans in close. “It means you can’t. That spastic little jiggle you do is completely unflattering.”

“Are you talking about my excited dance, because that and my sexy dance are two very different things!”

He raises his brows.

“Stop being a prude, come on.”

I take his hand and lead him out onto the dance floor. I turn him to face me and take his hands, placing them on my hips. He looks down at me, confused. Not bothering to explain, I step closer and begin rubbing my hips against his, sliding my arms up and around his neck. His eyes flash and he quickly catches on, rolling his hips with mine.

Oh, boy.

Orgasm alert.

I close my eyes, drowning in the music and Reign as we move, our bodies sliding against each other, our heavy breaths joining. The song heats up, and I can see Slutena out of the corner of my eye, watching us, her face tight. God, I feel like a fifteen-year-old doing this right now; what happened to just talking it out? With a shake of my head, I tilt my face up and look at Reign.

“Kiss me.”

“What?” he asks.

“She’s watching. You want to make it burn, then kiss me.”

He hesitates, but soon his lips are descending towards mine. Talk about stop breathing. I try to concentrate on starting to breathe again as our lips lock for the second time today. Oh. Wow. This time Reign doesn’t hold back. His hands pull my body closer to his, then he parts his lips and slips his tongue into my mouth. Oh, shit. I think my knees are going to buckle.