Vivian cut through the brewing tension with a well-timed interruption. “You and Stella make a beautiful couple.” She shot him an amused glance. “I never thought I’d see the day when Christian Harper would get a girlfriend.”
“Neither did I, but Stella took me by surprise.” The reply was so warm and intimate, I almost believed it.
My heart rate kicked up as the butterflies in my stomach went wild again.
I took a big gulp of wine to calm them down.
It’s just for show. It’s not real.
Christian donned casual affection as easily as he did one of his suits. There was no reason to believe his actions were anything more than playing into our ruse.
Other than our almost but not really kiss two weeks ago, he’d never indicated he wanted us to be real.
Sure, he’d gone above and beyond when it came to the stalker, but that was literally a matter of life and death. It didn’t mean he liked me.
Attracted to me? Possibly, but I didn’t think he wanted anything more than sex.
My head spun. Everything felt too confusing after he kissed me today, even if it had just been to distract me from my nerves.
I firmly believed that if someone showed you who they were, believe them. And Christian had indicated time and time again that he wasn’t interested in a real relationship.
The day people stopped thinking they could change someone who didn’t want to be changed was the day fewer hearts got broken.
I wanted a real relationship one day, but I did not think for a second I could ever change Christian Harper.
It’s just for show. It’s not real.
Luckily, the tension blanketing the table gradually dissolved as dinner went on, drowned by good drinks and good food.
By the time the entrée rolled around, even Vivian and Dante were talking to each other, though their conversations consisted mainly of asking the other to pass the food.
But no matter who was speaking, half of my attention remained tuned into Christian. He sat inches to my right, his presence a living, breathing distraction that crowded my lungs and clouded my thoughts.
Easy smiles, teasing drawls, and skin gilded gold by the dim lighting and wine-fueled haze.
It was my first time seeing him in such a relaxed group setting, and I finally understood how people could get sucked into his charm and underestimate him.
For all his care and concern toward me, I’d never once doubted the ruthlessness that lay beneath his civilized veneer. But here, watching him laugh and joke with effortless grace, I almost believed he was nothing more than a wealthy playboy with only money and good times on his mind.
Christian turned to answer a question from Vivian, but his thumb made another slow sweep over my skin.
It’s just for show. It’s not real.
A tiny bead of sweat formed on my forehead. I was wearing a sleeveless dress, but I was burning up.
“How did you and Christian meet?” I asked Dante, both to distract from Christian’s touch and because I was truly curious.
I hadn’t met any of Christian’s other friends (Brock and Kage didn’t count since they worked for him), and I was dying to know their backstory.
“I was his first client.” Dante leaned back in his chair. “He was a kid fresh out of college—”
“You’re three years older than me,” Christian cut in.
Our host ignored him. “I took a chance on him. Best and worst decision I ever made.”
“Worst?” Christian scoffed. “Do you remember what happened in Rome?” He turned to me while Dante rolled his eyes. “We were transporting jewels to a new store in the city…”
A smile tugged on my lips as he told the story about how he prevented the Russo Group from losing millions of dollars worth of diamonds.
Not because the story was funny, but because Christian was the most unguarded I’d ever seen him.
He was so calculated and in control all the time that seeing him relax around friends was like getting a peek behind the curtain at the real him.
It was nice.
Better than nice.
If he acted this way all the time…
I took another gulp of wine before I finished my thought.
Don’t go there.
“If there’s one thing you should know about him, Stella,” Dante said after he finished. “It’s that he has an overinflated sense of self-importance. We could’ve handled the jewels situation without his help.”
“Trust me, I know.” A laugh rose in my throat when Christian slid a half-amused, half-exasperated glance in my direction.
“Whose side are you on?”
“Easy.” I grinned. “Dante’s.”
The table broke into laughter while he squeezed my thigh and leaned closer until his mouth grazed my ear.
My pulse skipped.
“Not very girlfriend-like of you,” he murmured.
“If you can’t handle a little teasing, you’re not ready for a girlfriend,” I whispered back.
His laughter wound through me like a ribbon of dark velvet.
I relaxed into my seat with a lingering smile.
The teasing, the joking, the opening up about his past (even if it was work-related)…we almost felt like a real couple.
After dinner, Vivian took me on a tour of the penthouse while Dante and Christian discussed business.
Christian’s house was all clean lines and modern minimalism, but the Russos’ was a tasteful ode to decadence. Rich velvets, lush silks, and beautifully cut porcelain, all arranged in a manner that was extravagant but never tacky. The only thing that looked out of place was the hideous painting in their art gallery.
I had great respect for all creative works, but honestly, that piece looked like a cat had vomited all over the canvas.
“I don’t know why Dante bought that.” Vivian sounded embarrassed. “He usually has more discerning taste.”
The compliment came out grudgingly, like she was reluctant to ascribe any positive qualities to her fiancé.
I suppressed the urge to ask what happened between them.
It was rude to pry into other people’s business, especially when they were my hosts and I’d just met them.
We almost made it back to the dining room when we heard voices drifting from a crack in Dante’s office door.
“…can’t keep Magda forever,” Dante said. “You should be glad I didn’t throw it in the trash after the stunt you pulled with Vivian and Heath.”
Vivian froze while my brow knit with confusion.
Who are Magda and Heath?
What stunt?