“This place is gorgeous,” I said, glancing around.
“My bossy girlfriend requested a fancy outing. I complied.” He winked.
“Good thing I put on this dress. Oh... I just realized you attend about a million fundraisers and functions. I’ll have to come with you, right? My wardrobe will need a makeover. I have a few cocktail dresses, but I’ll need gowns for those events, especially the Ballroom Galas. How much do you think I’ll have to spend on new clothes?”
Even though I made good money, I remembered only too well what it was like to not have any to spend it on frivolities.
Hunter set down his menu. “Josie, I’ll pay for any extra costs you’ll have because of this... issue.”
I rolled back my shoulders. “What? Why?”
“Because it’s fair. I can’t expect you to empty your account to keep up with my lifestyle. You’re the one doing me a favor. Don’t forget that. You can use the money only to buy whatever it is that you need for these outings. You can sell or donate all the clothes once it’s all over if it makes you feel better.”
Damn. He actually was making sense. I would be needing fancier clothes to mingle with his crowd, and I certainly wouldn’t want to blow my paycheck for that. Until now, we’d mostly spent our time together doing things we could both afford. But if I were his wife, I would have to join him everywhere.
“This sounds a lot like I’d be... kept.”
“That’s not what it is. You know I’m making sense.”
He held my gaze stubbornly, as if daring me to contradict him. I felt my cheeks flush.
“I forgot how persuasive you are,” I said finally.
“I sense you’re going to give me many opportunities to prove that skill.”
“Are you saying I’m stubborn?”
“Very stubborn.” His gaze dropped to my mouth for a split second before snapping back up to meet my eyes.
I swallowed, then sipped my cocktail to give myself something to do. Why was I suddenly out of sorts?
“We should plan our next steps,” I said. “Your current visa is still valid for a year,
but I think it’s best to move things along as soon as possible. You’ll get your green card quicker.”
“You want us to announce it to the family Saturday at Amelia’s birthday?”
My stomach rolled. This was it, right? Once we told the family, there would be no going back.
“Okay. I’ll talk to my family too. And the wedding?”
“As you said, the sooner the better. Three weeks?”
“That’s not very believable.”
Hunter leaned in, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Josie, no one would question that I’d convince you to marry me in three weeks. We’ve known each other for most of our lives. We know everything there is to know about one another. Why wait when we’re so in love?”
Well, damn. He sounded so persuasive that I wasn’t questioning it either. And I couldn’t argue. The faster the better.
“Fine, Mr. Fiancé. I’m accepting your very romantic proposal.”
Hunter grinned. “And I didn’t even have to get down on one knee.”
I flashed my left hand. “I’m still expecting a ring. Don’t think you’re off the hook about that.”
“Yes, ma’am. Your wish is my command.”
Our dessert was delicious, and the cocktails complemented it perfectly.
“I know you want another round of the crème brûlée,” Hunter said after we’d cleaned our plates.
“Who wouldn’t? But it’s best if I stop while I’m ahead. I have a wedding to get ready for.”
“You are fucking sexy, Josie.”
My breath caught at the raw edge in his voice. He’d never called me sexy. He’d complimented me often, but this felt different. Carefully, I glanced up. The look in his eyes was feral. I didn’t want to read anything into it, but my body hadn’t gotten the memo. My pulse sped up.
“Don’t argue with me.” He leaned in slightly, dominating the space—and me.
“I’m not.”
His eyes flashed, and I felt all that power he emanated like a physical force.
We ended up ordering ice cream and panna cotta and shared them. It was a good thing Hunter asked for the check right afterward, because I was eying the strawberry pancakes as well, and I really couldn’t indulge in that too.
When I rose from the table, I accidentally caught my heel in the leg of the chair.
“Easy there, tiger.” Hunter hurried to my side, and before I knew it, he had an arm around my shoulders, his fingers pressing slightly into my arm. He held me so close that I couldn’t help registering that he smelled like both the ocean and the forest.
“Hunter, Josie, what a surprise running into you two here.”
Bernard Wagner stopped in front of us, watching with a curious smile. He was a mutual acquaintance from our school days.
“Hi, Bernard,” I said smoothly.
“You’re not leaving, are you? It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Anything new?” he asked.
Hunter wasn’t loosening his grip on me. If I hadn’t been so lost in him, perhaps I would have foreseen his next move. He pulled me even closer, so that my right breast was pressed against his steel chest.
With a wolfish smile, he told Bernard, “As a matter of fact, yes. Josie and I are engaged.”
Even as Hunter tipped his head down to mine, I didn’t realize he intended to kiss me—until his mouth touched mine. I parted my lips without hesitation. I nearly moaned at the unexpected shot of pleasure. Every cell in my body seemed lit by a fuse, reacting to the kiss.
I was completely overwhelmed by him—the possessive grip on my arm, the delicious feeling of his lips on mine. When the kiss stopped, I nearly pulled him back by the collar of his shirt. I didn’t have time to gauge his reaction, because he focused on Bernard, who congratulated us.
I was in a daze as we exchanged some more pleasantries, and none of the words registered. I was still acutely aware of Hunter’s grip on me as we walked to the elevator. Once inside, we were alone.
“We did well out there, didn’t we?” he asked, and I instantly deflated. What was up with that?
“Yes, I think we did.”
Hunter watched me carefully. “Josie, did I do something wrong?”
“No, no. Just... took me by surprise.”
I’d assumed our first kiss would be when we announced it to the family, that we’d talk about it before. But that didn’t explain why I was so out of it, and I felt uncomfortable with Hunter still studying me.
“You’re a hell of a kisser. Threw me off my game,” I said, to lighten up the mood.
Hunter grinned. “I see. Now I know what to do next time we have an argument.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I think we need to set some rules.”
“I’m all ears.”
I cocked a brow. “Why are you so agreeable? You’re not a fan of rules.”
He leaned into me as the elevator doors opened. “I didn’t say I’ll follow them.”
He resumed his hold on me as we walked out. There was no need for it, and he knew that. My heel was fine. Did he just want to make a public statement? I stopped short of asking him, because of course he was making a public statement. The show had started when he’d kissed me, and now I had to roll along with it. The valet already had a cab ready for us. We’d arrived together, and by the looks of it, Hunter wanted to take me home, but I couldn’t be this close to him right now. Not after he’d kissed me like that.