Page 43 of Counterfeit Connection

“Then I guess I won’t tell you,” I whisper back in his ear before giving his hand a gentle squeeze with mine. The only way his fingers leave my skin directly is to place his warm touch in the small of my back. He hasn’t allowed our connection to break since the moment we filed out of our car on the red carpet.

When we each have a drink in hand, I ask, “Would you like to toast?”

“At this point, it would be an uttered wish more than a toast.” We give each other a knowing smile before Griffin leans forward, placing a kiss on my cheek that’s dangerously close to my lips.Damn. I wish his aim, for once, would have been off.

“Well…Hello, Griffin.” A rich toned female voice drips over my shoulder from behind me.

The shimmer that was in Griffin’s eyes literally a split second ago has faded. There’s an instant tension that radiates from his body. Whomever is behind me is someone he not only didn’t expect to see, but is someone he wishes he wouldn’t have.

He nods curtly. “Sheridan.”

I don’t know what possesses me, but I rotate my body around so instantly my leg pops from the slit of my dress. My arm threads through Griffin’s around his back in a very protective way.

“So, who have we here? You’re not one of his usual dates to these things. I assumed the redhead would be on your arm.”

“Classy as ever I see. Her name was Hannah and she’s married now, but I know you know that. Kaitlyn, this is Sheridan Tate. Sheridan, I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Kaitlyn Logan.”

I know this mean girl game. It’s shit I’ve dealt with all my life, and not just in the personal arena either. Yes, my research skills are good, but what is even better is my uncanny ability to size up a human being in record time.

In the few seconds it took me to adjust my position to face her, I’ve gathered she’s a jealous ex, with a nasty streak that rivals the worst humanity has to offer. Her Botox is failing and her best quality is probably how quickly she’ll fall to her knees to get what she wants.

“Girlfriend?” Her face, best as it can, contorts as though Griffin’s spoken to her in some yet unnamed language.

“Yes, that’s me.” I smile. “Griffin, you didn’t tell me any of youroldacquaintances would be here tonight.” Every bit of emphasis on the word old was absolutely intended. I need this woman to know she didn’t walk up to some mouse who just plopped into the big city off the farm. I want her to know I can give as well as receive.

Griffin’s hand wraps around my right hip. The tips of his fingers flex and retract, showing me not only his anxiety, but his approval for how I’m handling this challenge. “I’m sorry about that, sweetheart. I didn’t know Sheridan still ran in these circles.”

“Surely that’s not true, Griffin,” she says with a smile on her red-painted lips. “You know I’m nothing if not very, very generous. In fact, you know that personally.” She reaches out to touch his arm but he expertly shifts out of her reach.

“Gross,” I say plainly, uncaring that she can absolutely hear me. I wasn’t trying to hide it.

Griffin chimes in much more posh than me. “Sheridan, we have a room to work and many people who are waiting for a conversation. If you’ll excuse us.”

“But, I…” she says, however, we quickly move away from her and out of her earshot.

“What in the hell was that?” I ask him. “She’s your ex? You certainly pick good ones.”

“Not ex-girlfriend, per se. A former… acquaintance.”

“Apparently a generous one,” I say under my breath, like a child.

He halts in his tracks and whips around to face me, grinning. “Are you jealous?”

I think for a moment then decide to use his words against him. “Not jealous, per se.”

Griffin’s smile grows wider as he removes the drink from my hand, placing both of our glasses on a server who’s passing bywith an empty tray. “One of the things I love most about you is your ability to quickly assess a situation and act. What if I told you she was still watching us?”

The subtle rage at our interaction wells up inside of me and the only way out of it is through. I take two small steps forward to close the physical gap that exists between us. “How do you feel about PDA in a room full of your peers?”

He chuckles huskily under his breath. “Until three seconds ago, hated it.” Griffin softly tilts my chin up to meet his eyes before reaching in for my lips. I wrap my hand around his bicep over his jacket to not only steady myself with this new warmth I feel, but to absolutely show to Sheridan, and any like her in the room, Griffin is mine…even if it’s only for now.

The kiss makes my heart flutter in a way I wasn’t expecting. Is it because I know it’s getting under her skin or simply because I’m kissing Griffin Shaw?

I can taste the delicate hint of warm alcohol on his lips and the slight sweetness from his toothpaste. I want to bottle it up and use it as a hit of serotonin when I’m feeling sad. A kiss from this man could change the world.

Sooner than I’d like, he pulls away and my eyes blink open, finding him staring at me.

“Did you kiss me with your eyes open?”

---