Feint and Misdirection by Helena Maeve

Author:Helena Maeve [Maeve, Helena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Erotic Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Published: 2014-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“You’re very quiet,” Jaime said, as they pulled to a stop in the parking lot. “Did you have a good time?” It had taken him long enough to notice that Imogen wasn’t her usual talkative self. Then again, he had spent most of the evening working the crowd while Imogen had stuffed her face with canapés.

Her diet was ruined. Her mood had been spoiled since she’d stepped through the door of the party only to be greeted like an old friend by people who wouldn’t have given her the time of day if she hadn’t been there as Jaime’s plus one.

Jaime killed the engine. “Imogen?”

“I’m fine,” she lied. “I think I’d just like to go to bed.” She should’ve asked Jaime to take her home, back to the apartment she shared with Desiree. Too late now.

She expected to see him sigh, disgruntled at being refused his due, but Jaime only nodded. “Right. Okay.”

They rode up to the penthouse in perfect silence. Imogen made no move to reach out to Jaime. Perhaps sensing her mood, he didn’t try to steal so much as a kiss. She was sure he’d get fed up sooner or later. His apartment wasn’t a hotel and he had already spent the evening providing her with entertainment—albeit of the kind that left her feeling like an imposter.

But Jaime left off complaining as they undressed for bed. He brushed his teeth without the added bonus of pointed, exasperated sighs. Imogen found him propped up against the pillows by the time she’d finished removing her make-up. Her bruises showed once again, mottling her face and peeking under the hem of the baggy sleep shirt he’d loaned her.

Jaime glanced up from his book, gazing at her over the rim of his reading glasses. “Do you mind the light? I can—”

“Why did you tell those people I was your partner?” Imogen probed, her smothered indignation finally capsizing.

“I’m sorry,” Jaime said, sidestepping the question. “I know it was premature.”

“You think? We’ve known each other all of ten days!” And slept together for most of the nights in between, true, but that didn’t a relationship make. Imogen had said as much to Russell. She told herself she believed it.

Jaime dog-eared the page he was reading and set the book aside. “What do you suggest I should’ve done? I didn’t want to introduce you as the woman I sometimes sleep with.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Imogen snapped.

“Of course there’s not,” Jaime scoffed. “But I’d like to think we’re slowly moving beyond the casual.” He sat up, folding his legs in front of him. “I like you, Imogen…and I’d like to think you like me.”

Imogen clamped her mouth shut against the eager acquiescence that wanted to slip out. She didn’t know why she always felt so compelled to give in to Jaime when he used that soft, patient tone with her. She just did—and that was enough to make her chafe against imaginary fetters. “You couldn’t say that to me first?”

“I was planning to.”

“When?”

“Tonight.” Jaime smiled wearily, one corner of his lips tipping up.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.