Page 12 of Conveniently Theirs

He sketches a short bow. “My pleasure.”

I’m unwilling to leave him alone, despite his assurances. “What are you going to do?”

He pats his back pocket. “I’ve got a ticket to a show.”

“Aww,” Keni whines. “I want to go to a show, too. In that dome thingie.”

Nodding, Devin takes our arms and moves us toward the exit. “Tomorrow, or the next day we’ll go. Oh, look. There’s the car.”

He waits until we’re settled in the vehicle then leans in Keni’s open window. “Have fun, you two.” He backs away, gives a quick wave and disappears into a crowd of arriving hotel guests.

I put the car in gear and, cautious of the milling crowd, inch forward.

Keni rests her hand over mine on the gearshift. “So we’re really going to do this?”

“We’re really going to do this.”

seven

Devin

Guilt is my companion as I take the elevator up to the suite. I ignore the growly inner voice while I straighten our bedroom. The space needs to be ready for whatever happens tonight.

Whatever happens.

Knowing I can’t stay here tonight, I stuff a few things into a backpack. Then dropping the pack, I stand in the middle of the room. God, I hate this. The not knowing.

There’s too many secrets and any one of them could make this situation implode. Harold’s marriage decree is the least of my concerns. There’s been women who’ve chased after Josh, based I’m sure onhis bank account. A handful of legal documents to protect his fortune and set limits to a marriage to any one of them would have been an easy solution.

We discussed that option at length and to my relief Josh rejected any financially motivated union.

Honestly, I’m not sure why it took so long for him to settle on the fake marriage happening tonight. There’s a part of him that still believes the love he feels for Kendall isn’tthatkind of love. That the desire that makes his cock hard isn’t real.

If he doesn’t come clean with her tonight, I’ll have to sit the two of them down for a serious discussion about their future. Our future. I don’t allow myself to consider the possibility once she knows his feelings, she won’t insist he make a choice.

Her… or me.

His choice is obvious and the weight of the pain nearly drops me to my knees. Josh has known her longer, loved her longer. Maybe it would be better for me to be the one to just walk away before the man I love is forced to turn his back on me.

Over the years I’ve watched Keni and Josh tiptoe around each other in their relationship. I’m convinced the love she feels toward him goes farbeyond simple friendship. She watches him with soft eyes filled with desire and sadness. A perfect match to the emotions filling Josh’s deep brown eyes when he stares at her.

Thank god they’re so wrapped up in hiding their love from each other neither has recognized that same desire and need in me.

With luck, they never will. This situation is already too complicated. There’s no need to add the truth of how I’ve fallen for Keni to the tangled mix. I’ll continue on as I have, doing what’s needed for Josh’s happiness. And hers.

What I feel isn’t important.

I don’t have a martyr complex like some friends have claimed, even though I frequently put Josh’s needs before my own. But I certainly don’t make a big deal over it. Or call attention to any so-called sacrifice. Yeah, I’ve read the books. I know the psychology. Besides, Josh has done the same, putting me and what I want first.

It’s part of a balanced relationship. I’m just not as comfortable when I’m not the giver.

Grabbing the backpack, I exit the suite and head to the room I’ve reserved for the rest of our stay in Vegas. My place to hide, a safety net where no onewill ask questions. Where I can nurse the sorrow and strengthen my resolve.

With that in mind, I return to the suite and grab the bottle of Grey Goose from the liquor cabinet. I’d lied to them—a minuscule white lie and fabrication in the grand scheme of things. I have no dinner plans. No show tickets. Just a lonely hotel room and my thoughts. Tapping the bottle as I stride to my room I make a mental note to reserve show tickets to a variety of productions over the next few days, giving Keni the opportunity to choose. Any she decides not to use, I’ll give away.

I may be at the precipice of a painful life change, but I won’t allow that to affect the promises I’ve made to her. Tucking the bottle under my arm, I press two fingers over my heart. Or those I’ve made to Josh.

The room is nice enough with a view of the brightly lit strip. Even at twilight the glitz and allure of the lights is hypnotizing and I stand at the window for a long time trying not to think about Josh and Keni. Losing myself in the flickering glow isn’t successful so with a frustrated grumble, I pour a half glass of vodka then grab my tablet from the pack.

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