Page 79 of The Contract

“Well, since Elena is obviously not getting the juicy details from you, I think it’s only fair we tell her about your rebellious phase—on your behalf, of course.”

I take a slow sip of my drink, shooting him a look over the rim. “There was no phase.”

Marcus grins. “Oh, I beg to differ.”

“Gasp!” Elena makes a show of her shock, turning her attention to me, interest sparking in her hazel eyes. “Rebellious? You?”

James chuckles. “See, this is why we need to tell her. No one ever believes Damien was once young and stupid.”

“I was never stupid,” I say dryly.

Elena stretches her legs, and it seems natural to put them in my lap. My hands knead her calves, the high arch in her soft feet.

Her cheeks blaze red, but otherwise, she follows my lead. Her eyes lock with mine for only a second.

“Okay, fine,” Marcus follows, his eyes full of amusement at seeing my affections toward Elena. “But he was definitely reckless.”

James leans forward, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Oh, Elena, this is a good one. Greece. Cliff diving. Our fearless Damien, proving he has more balls than brains.”

Elena’s brows lift, her gaze flicking to me with skepticism. “Cliff diving? You?”

Just before James can launch into my humiliation, a shadow falls over our small group.

Adrian.

Because of course it’s Adrian.

“Elena,” Adrian’s voice is all practiced charm, oily and forced. “Need a refill?”

I don’t even give her the chance to answer.

“She’s fine.”

Flat. Uninterested. Final.

Adrian chuckles, shaking his head. “Is the lady not able to speak for herself? Or just not allowed to?”

I’m already fucking turning, already ready to make it clear how close he is to getting thrown overboard, but Elena beats me to it.

“Clearly,” she says smoothly, lifting her very full glass with a pointed flick of her wrist, “I don’t need a refill.”

She leans in, trailing her fingers along my jaw, her nails just barely scraping my skin as she turns my gaze back to her.

“But if I did, I’m sure my handsome fiancé would gladly take care of me.”

She says it all while looking directly into my eyes, a look of admiration in her expression as her finger keeps tracing my jaw.

I smirk, taking her hand and placing a kiss on her knuckles. We thread our fingers together, our joined hands resting comfortably on her lap.

“You were saying, James?” she expertly dismisses the asswipe still blocking our sunlight.

After an awkward moment’s hesitation, Adrian leaves. But the tension in my shoulders lingers a few moments longer.

Marcus nods solemnly, like he’s about to deliver a tragic tale. “Santorini. Perfect summer. Perfect weather. And a cliff that made most people hesitate before jumping.”

James huffs a laugh. “Enter Damien Wolfe—who apparently thinks hesitation is for mere mortals.”

Elena’s brow lifts as she turns to me. “I can’t picture you jumping off a cliff without an extensive risk assessment.”

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