11
Jarred leaned back in his chair, his arm draped over the back of Kinsley’s chair, his fingers barely grazing the back of her neck. They had finished the first course of his father’s famous seven course meal, a long drawn out affair as a nod to the previous generations. He couldn’t believe how well this was working out so far, but more importantly, he couldn’t keep his hands off Kinsley. Ever since she had touched him in the car, his fingers were itching to touch her in some way. While he wanted to say it was because he was attempting to prove to his father that he was madly in love with this woman beside him, Jarred knew that his thinking wasn’t exactly the truth. He fucking wanted her.
“So Kinsley,” his father said, steepling his fingers together over his empty plate and giving them both his best businesslike expression. “How did you and my son meet? I’ll be the first to admit I never thought my assistant and my son had much chances at all to form a relationship.”
Kinsley looked over at Jarred shyly, her eyes shining in the dim lighting. Jarred felt a jolt of need straight to his gut at the simple look she was giving him, like he was the best damn man on the planet. How was she doing this? “Mr. Maloney, we met at the company picnic. Jarred tripped over my basket, spilling all my food out of it and by way of apology, bought me lunch. Of course he was an outrageous flirt. But I found him endearing.”
Jarred gave her a grin, mainly because he was pleased with his choice. Kinsley was going to rock this and the innocent expressions she could maintain was going to erase all doubt in his father or anyone else’s minds.
“That sounds very odd of Jarred, except for the flirting part,” Susan said from across the table, doubt in her voice. Bloody hell. Susan was the wild card that Jarred hadn’t anticipated. She knew him better than anyone and she was right, it didn’t sound like him at all.
“Odd yes,” Kinsley continued as the salad course was brought out to the table. “I have to agree I was surprised as well. After all, Jarred does have a reputation in the tabloids, doesn’t he?” Jarred watched as she reached over and touched his arm lightly, giving it a small squeeze. “I didn’t know what kind of guy I was really going to find, but I’m glad that I took the chance.”
Her expression was so genuine that she stole Jarred’s breath away momentarily. She was beautiful and he wanted to suddenly be that guy she was describing. They were just words, but then again they cut deep. Had he ever been that type of guy?
“Well, I still think it’s very sudden,” Susan continued, looking at Jarred with some disdain. “After all, I would have expected him to not want to move on so suddenly after, well, you know.”
Jarred wanted to explode into laughter, thinking that she was one to talk. Hell, she was married now.
“After what?” Kinsley asked innocently. “Oh. You mean after your engagement? I’m just glad you turned him loose. After all, I couldn’t have found the man I love had he married you.”
Holy fuck. Jarred stared, shell-shocked, the room suddenly quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
“Well,” Susan said with a nervous laugh as she looked at her glowering husband. “Of course. The same could be said for myself. After all, I am much happier with Baron.”
The look on Baron’s face told Jarred that he was bored with the conversation while the rest of the table waited on bated breath. “Seems as if we both have gotten what we wanted then,” Kinsley finally said, looking up at Jarred. “I’m so happy with Jarred. He’s changed everything about my life.”
That was an understatement. Jarred knew he’d turned her life upside down, but for the first time in his life, he was glad he had. Kinsley was holding her own, turning out to be far better at this than he’d anticipated. He almost felt as if he needed to give her more money for handling Susan the way she had tonight.
“Hear, hear,” his father said, raising his glass. “You did good son, picking out this gem. Now young lady. I just wish I’d known earlier.”
“When will the happy nuptials take place?” one of the other guests asked politely as everyone turned to their salads. “Have you chosen a date yet dear?”
Kinsley laughed lightly and looked at the woman, giving her a warm smile. “Well, we want it to be a low-key affair so we were going to elope.”
Jarred grinned. Damn, she was good. No fuss, no worries on the pressure of when they were going to actually get married.
“Absolutely not,” his father said, frowning. “Every generation of Maloney has gotten married on this property dating back to the 1600’s. My son will as well.”
“Don’t you think it’s time to break tradition?” Jarred asked, looking his father in the eye. “This is our wish.”
His father shook his head. “No Jarred. You are my only son. You will get married at the estate, end of story.”
Jarred blew out a breath and started to object before Kinsley touched his thigh under the table. “Of course,” she said. “I would hate to break tradition. Jarred and I’ll need to discuss this if you don’t mind.”
“There’s a level-headed woman,” his father chuckled, picking up his fork. “She’ll be good for you son.”
Jarred said nothing, Kinsley’s hand on his thigh having him think of all the things she could do to him under this table. His body felt like it was on fire, his pulse pounding in his ears and he silently urged her to move her hand upward, to his aching cock. One touch and he could very well explode. She was having an effect on him, one that he wasn’t quite sure he completely understood.
Despite the constant tease, the next few courses went well, the chatter at the table not directed at Jarred or his farce of a relationship. He watched as Kinsley charmed the table, Susan glowering on the other side because she wasn’t the center of attention. Jarred hated to admit it, but he was fucking glad that she wasn’t. What had he ever seen in her to begin with? Kinsley was much more than she could ever be.
When the dessert course came out, his father rose from his seat, his glass high in the air. “I can’t begin to explain how much my heart is warmed by the sight of my son finally happy with a beautiful, intelligent woman. I wish you both many years of happiness.”
Kinsley looked back at Jarred and he tipped his glass toward her, his eyes silently thanking her repeatedly. They had done it. She had single handedly won over his father in a matter of hours. He doubted anyone else would have done the same.
“Kiss. Kiss.” The chant rose up from the table, followed by laughter as the alcohol started to take effect. Kinsley’s eyes widened slightly and Jarred looked around the table, seeing the glee in Susan’s eyes. She didn’t expect it to happen. Well damn, he was going to prove her wrong. With his hand, he cupped Kinsley’s cheek, the softness of her skin in sharp contrast to his own. Her breath quickened as he leaned forward, his lips brushing hers ever so lightly before he devoured her with his mouth, tasting the champagne on her lips. She gasped against his lips and his tongue swept in, the rage of need flooding his veins. He couldn’t get enough of her, her taste intoxicating.
When he heard someone clear his or her throat, he pulled back. What the hell had just happened? For several moments, he and Kinsley had been locked in a cocoon of lust and need and heat.