Page 58 of Daring to Love You
“Do you do anything else besides help out at your parents’ B&B?” Mr. Mathews asked.
“Actually, Dorian also has her own small business,” Lynix said, telling those at the table about her baking business that she had on the side.
Dorian smiled at him and how proud he sounded when he told everyone that he was thinking about secretly signing her up for one of the baking shows on HGTV. Claiming she could out cook and bake anyone on any of those shows.
Questions came at her from left and right, his brothers asking about her family, the business, and whether she’d bake for them sometime.
“Can’t imagine any of those little jobs being enough to live off of,” Mr. Mathews interjected. “Is that why you’re with my son? So he can be your sugar daddy?”
“Be careful, Dad,” Lynix said, his tone lethal enough to make everyone at the table stop talking. “I won’t have you disrespecting my woman.”
“What?” The elder Mathews shrugged, trying to look innocent while Dorian’s heart dropped. “I’m sure I’m not the only one at the table thinking the same thing. Just because she walks in here in a designer dress and diamonds dripping from her ears, doesn’t make her one of us.”
“Dad!” the brothers barked just as Lynix jerked out of his seat.
Dorian gasped as everything seemed to play out in slow motion. Lynix charging toward his father, and his brothers practically leaping over the table to stop him.
“What is going on over here?” Bridget hissed, seeming to come out of nowhere. She’d been circulating throughout the room, talking to those in attendance, and had been gone for a while.
Dorian was glad to see they’d only caught the attention of the tables closest to them. No one else seemed to notice the rise in tension. Most people appeared to be having a good time talking, laughing, and some were even on the dance floor.
She stood and reached for Lynix’s hand. “Dance with me?” She stated it as a question but didn’t wait for an answer as she pulled him toward the dance floor.
She ignored him when he suggested they leave the gala. His father was a jerk, but it warmed her heart knowing Lynix was willing to fight for her honor. The line between fake dating and what felt like a real relationship was blurring for her and, apparently, him too.
Once they reached the middle of the dance floor, Lynix relaxed and pulled her close. Dorian was thankful the band was playing a slow song because in his arms was exactly where she wanted to be. And one nice thing about her ridiculous high-heel shoes was they made her taller. It was easier to wrap her arms around his neck.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
He frowned and tightened his hold on her. “I should be asking you that. I’m sorry about my dad. He was way out of line. When we finish dancing, we’re out of here.”
“We can’t leave yet. Your mother would be disappointed if we left early.”
“She’d understand.”
“No, I want us to stay a little longer,” Dorian insisted.
“Well, if we do, we’re finding someplace else to sit. There’s no way in hell we’re sitting at the table with my father,” Lynix said gruffly. Then he lowered his head and kissed her sweetly.
God, she loved when he kissed her. He could be intimidating with others, but he was always gentle with her. Making her feel special, like she was the most important person in the world.
That’s why she could no longer fight her feelings for him. It was no use. She loved him. Somehow, she had fallen in love with Lynix Mathews and had no clue how she was going to tell him.
An hour and a half later, after dessert, drinks, speeches, and more dancing, Dorian was ready to call it a night and get out of her shoes. She was glad Lynix was also ready to leave. He had told her that had it not been for her, he would’ve left already.
As they headed to the other side of the ballroom, they stopped periodically for Lynix to greet people he hadn’t seen earlier in the evening. Considering he didn’t start working for the family business until recently, he knew quite a few of the family’s business associates.
They had just passed the dance floor when Lynix started laughing, and Dorian glanced up to find him grinning from ear to ear. She followed his line of vision and spotted a guy approaching, wearing the same silly grin as Lynix’s.
“Dude! They just let anybody up in here,” the man said with a laugh before he and Lynix greeted each other with one of those man hugs that included a handshake and pounding each other on the back.
After introductions, Dorian took a step away to let them catch up with one another. She glanced around the ballroom, impressed with the sheer number of people who had attended. Though some had already left, there were still plenty of folks in the room.
Dorian’s gaze landed on a tall, thin woman who was heading their way wearing a gorgeous white and silver evening gown.She was one of the most beautiful people in attendance and considering her seductive walk, and the attention she was getting from a few men, she knew it.
“All right, sweetheart, sorry about that,” Lynix said and placed his hand at the small of her back and kissed her. “I haven’t seen that guy in years. Not since he moved back East to be closer to—”
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”
