Page 32 of A Billionaire Gentleman

“It was barely a kiss,” I kept going, talking even faster with each word. “I don’t know what happened after that.”

He looked over at Deklin, a thoughtful expression on his face. “He was up early this morning, before me for the first time ever. He was jittery. Strange.” Jude looked down at me. “I think he’s feeling guilty.”

“Shit.” I immediately clapped a hand over my mouth. So much for professional. This just kept getting better. “I’m sorry.”

“On the contrary, Ms. Stafford, this is a good thing.”

It was?

He gave me a half-smile. “If he hadn’t felt anything, he wouldn’t have any reason to feel guilty, would he?”

Oh. I hadn’t even thought about it that way.

“I’ll get the two of you some time alone,” he promised before heading over to where Deklin was standing, inspecting the fuse box.

I didn’t know that Jude’s idea was a good one, but he was the boss. Hopefully, he knew Deklin as well as he thought he did, and this wouldn’t backfire. Then again, this was the man who’d built a real estate business essentially by himself. That wasn’t the sort of thing someone did if they didn’t have good instincts.

When we got into the car several minutes later, Deklin still wasn’t looking at me, but Jude didn’t seem concerned about it.

“A client back home gave me two tickets to a show tonight,” Jude announced, “but as it doesn’t start until late, I think I’ll be too tired to enjoy it. I’d hate for the tickets to go to waste. The two of you should go.”

Deklin glanced at me, but only for a second or two before turning to Jude. “That’s not necessary. If Sofi wants to go, I’m sure she has someone she’d rather go with.”

“Nonsense.” Jude managed to make the word firm but not condescending. “It was given to the family, so at least one member of the family should go. You and Sofi will have a great time.”

I wanted to tell Jude that it was okay. If Deklin didn’t want to go with me, he should just leave it, but it wasn’t my place. Jude and I had a business arrangement. How he handled the personal aspect of things was between him and his grandson.

Deklin sighed, and I was almost insulted by the wary expression on his face. “What’s the show?”

Jude smiled. “Absinthe.”

Fuck me.

The blank look on Deklin’s face told me he didn’t know what that was, but the gleam in Jude’s eyes made me wonder if he did. I’d never seen it, but I knew it was a fairly risqué show, maybe even more than what I’d done at Diamond Stars Lounge. It wasn’t just dancing either. I’d once heard someone refer to it as the X-rated Cirque du Soleil.

This was going to be interesting.

The rest of the ride back to the hotel was quiet, each of us consumed by our own thoughts. I wondered if Deklin was thinking about his fiancée or if he was trying to figure out how to get out of going tonight. Or both.

Jude was probably alternating between scheming and congratulating himself for getting Deklin and me out on a date. Trying to figure out what they were thinking was easier than figuring out my own thoughts on the matter. I couldn’t consider things too deeply, though, or I’d never be able to live with myself for deceiving someone as sweet as Deklin.

They dropped me off at my car, and I went home to eat and get ready, all the while half-expecting a call or text from Deklin saying that he’d decided not to go. I didn’t like how much that possibility disappointed me, but there was no denying it. No lying to myself that it was all about the job, either. I genuinely liked Deklin, and the physical attraction between us was strong too. Even I wasn’t that naïve.

As I put on one of my new dresses – courtesy of the clothing bonus Jude had given me the day I’d taken the job – I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss. When Deklin and I were alone, there’d be nothing keeping him from saying it was a mistake or that I needed to behave more professionally. My stomach clenched painfully. That brief kiss had electrified me in a way that nothing else ever had.

And I wanted more.

Twenty

Deklin

I was startingto suspect that Grandad was trying to set me up with Sofi. Why else would he have left early yesterday and then sent Sofi and me out on our own tonight for something that wasn’t work-related?

He clearly didn’t like the idea of Aurelia and me together, but I didn’t understand why he wouldn’t just come out and say it. He’d never had a problem disagreeing with Dad before.

Still, I wasn’t going to be rude to Sofi, even if she had kissed me. In fact, I could use this opportunity to let her know that I was flattered, but taken. She didn’t seem to be the kind of woman who’d be offended or angry if I handled it politely.

All of my good intentions, however, flew out the window the moment she opened the door, and I saw her in that dress.

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