Page 86 of Perfectly Complicated
I watch her leave, trying to figure out what I can do now—and I come to one conclusion:Warn Brendan.
I text him a heads-up about the situation. His response comes through instantly: a single angry emoji, then three dots that disappear, then nothing. Yeah, he’s ticked. And rightfully so. But at least he knows what’s coming.
Part of me wants to help Brendan stop being so thick-headed and pursue this girl. But I can’t make him do the right thing if he flat-out refuses.
I adjust my tie for the hundredth time, hating how the thing feels like it’s strangling me, when I hear footsteps on the stairs.
“Are you ready?” I call out, checking my tie in the mirror one last time. “I have your shoes.”
When I glance up, my heart—my entire world—stops.
Janie appears at the top of the staircase in an emerald-green satin gown and it steals my breath. The gown melts over her curves, catching the light as she moves, showing off how beautiful she is. Her hair falls in soft waves, brushing the tops of her shoulders, one side pinned back behind her ear.
Janie’s always been naturally pretty, but she teaches small children and has a baby, so dressing up is a luxury. And I like that version of her too—the woman who wears sweatshirts and pulls her hair into a ponytail. But I’ve never seen her this way—as if she was born to be admired.
I try to speak, to put into words how incredible she looks, but as she walks down the stairs, I realize that I’m utterly lost to the woman in front of me.
“You are…” I begin, then stop, shaking my head.
She reaches the bottom, and runs a nervous hand over her waist, smoothing the satin. “Well?” she asks, shyly spinning around so I getthe full view. And the full view is even better. The back of the dress plunges low enough to expose most of it, which means every time I touch her, there will be nothing between my hand and her skin.
“Perfect is truly an inadequate word for you right now,” I finally say.
A soft smile curves her lips. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”
“I try, but man, do I hate wearing a tie,” I say, adjusting the knot again.
“If it’s bothering you, get rid of it.”
“I don’t know if I should. Mr. Marco will be in a tux.”
She walks over and starts fiddling with my tie, standing so close I can smell her perfume—something sweet and Christmasy that makes me want to bury my face in her neck.
“I don’t care what Mr. Marco thinks,” she says, her fingers working the knot loose. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable on our first real date.”
She slides the tie off and tosses it onto the table by the door, then unbuttons the top button of my shirt. Her fingertips brush against my skin, sending heat through me.
She glances up at me from under her lashes and it’s enough to make me want to skip the party entirely. Forget Mr. Marco, forget my teammates, forget everything except this moment.
“Janie,” I murmur, my voice rough.
“Hmm?” She smooths her hands down my chest, straightening my collar, completely unaware of what she’s doing to me.
We need to leave now, or we’re never making it to this party.
“How do you feel now?”
“Better.” I reach for her coat, trying to get my heart rate to slow down. As I hold it out for her, I admire her reflection in the hallway mirror. She doesn’t see me at first until our eyes catch in the mirror and she gives me a soft smile before I press a kiss to the side of her neck, then another. She’s going to be the most beautiful woman at that party, and shehas no idea.
I shake my head slowly, marveling at her as I brush my fingers down her shoulder blade.
“What?” she asks, her brow furrowing.
“I remember the last time I watched you walk out this door with another man,” I tell her, holding her reflection. “And I promised myself I’d never let that happen again—that the next time you were on a man’s arm, it would be mine.”
Then I offer her my arm and she slips her hand through it. “I’m honored to be with you tonight, Rourke Riley.” She glances up at me, and I realize I’d promise her anything right now.
I reach out and tuck a loose curl behind her ear, letting my fingers trace the shell of her ear. “You’re going to be the most beautiful woman in that room, and every single person is going to see exactly what I see when I look at you.”
