Lochlan by Pax Sinclair

Author:Pax Sinclair
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Kettle Ink LLC

CHAPTER 24

DRIVE-BY LOVE

LOCHLAN

When Granda leaves the room, it takes away our incentive to remain. Geordie and Fiona glance at me as though they want a private word. I ignore their silent signals and bid them a good night before they leave for their rooms. When we're alone, I ask Kenzie to wait with me until I'm sure everyone has gone to their beds to avoid a conversation with Geordie or Fiona. It's a silent ten minutes in the living room, staring at the fire together, until it's time to escort Kenzie back to our suite.

We stroll down a quiet, carpeted hallway. Kenzie walks a wee bit in front of me, staring ahead as if she's walking alone. I don't dare touch her because I caused the unease between us. When I push the door open, she sweeps past me into the room. Standing in the middle of the space, she yanks the halves of her sweater tighter across her body. Her chin tilts up in defiance, but it's as if she's having a problem forming a question.

The room is just as we left it—the section of the bed comforter we laid on is rumpled from our brief session, and our cases, with our clothes exposed, are on the bed. I'd like to continue where we left off and have her screaming my name with pleasure as I planned, but it isn't right to be that selfish after I've been with Fiona. Even I couldn't be that unfeeling, so out of an awkward respect, because there's no etiquette for what I allowed to happen, I keep my distance.

“Sorry I was late,” I say to an agitated Kenzie. “My meeting became more involved than I expected; it took longer to complete our business. I checked the conservatory first, where I'd left you. When I found it was empty, I returned to the room. I must've come back just after you and Geordie left. I waited for a long while; I couldn't imagine where you'd gone.”

“What does that mean?” she asks, frustration reaching her voice. “It sounds like a lot of double-speak. What happened? You were gone too long to just go over the numbers.”

I take the few strides across the room to the table and retrieve my cell and a red envelope that sits underneath it. “Our bargain was for you to help me with the presentation and to be my girlfriend until Granda left. If it wasn't for your help with creating and presenting to the Wine Association, we wouldn't have had so many interested investors. You did an excellent job. Granda pulled me aside to tell me how well you did and that he's glad we're together. You fulfilled your end of the bargain and more. It's my turn to do what I promised. You wanted proof from me we slept together.”

She glances at the bed. “But we haven't; there was no penetration,” she says.

“It doesn't matter; this was all pretend. What we did...” When I can't finish what I want to say, I hand her the envelope.

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