Be a Doll(94)

I checked one last time that the red lipstick on my lips hadn’t run off or if any was on my teeth and then I smiled, the kind of real smile that changed my whole face. Happiness was etched all over me and I was too scared to face the reason why I felt it, but it was too late not to know that the reason resided in my heart.

I turned around, left the bathroom and was met with Mathis standing in our bedroom, hands in his dark gray slacks. He was handsome. In fact, handsome was too tame of a word considering the way desire immediately pooled in my belly and my heart sped up. In his dark gray suit, a tie a shade or two lighter and a crisp white button-down underneath, he was perfect. His big body and the muscles I had spent the better part of last night burning to memory in the bed made me crave more explorations. When he took his hands out of his pockets, I also craved them on my body to make me come hard, touching me with such a possessive touch that I would pant with need. In fact, my breath accelerated at the mere thought.

“You look incredible, Lila,’’ he said, voice rough with need, a tone I recognized well now. It spoke directly to my core, making me fidget. My breasts became more sensitive and I thanked the padded bra because I knew my nipples would have been showing through the thin fabric of the dress otherwise.

“It’s this necklace. It’s gorgeous.’’

He shook his head and walked to me to place a soft kiss on my forehead, something he had done this morning when he said goodbye before leaving for work when I was still in bed.

“The necklace is a pretty thing, but you are the shining beauty.’’ His hands trailed along my bare arms before he held one of my hands and laced our fingers in a move so intimate that I knew I blushed under the foundation that hid the stigma of the little sleep I had had the previous night. “Ready for this dinner?’’

“Remind me again who this Mr. Tober is. I know this is very important.’’ What I didn’t say was that after he had explained to me last night who Mr. Tober was, I had realized that the man was probably the main reason of my change of last name in the first place.

“I’m not worried about you. Tober will be charmed.’’ I elbowed him as I passed him to get my clutch from the bed. “Tober is retiring, but because he has no children and nobody in his family interested in taking over the company, he’s selling it. The man is impossibly attached to family values and has a certain viewpoint regarding business and family. Another businessman, Hartmann, is stomping on my playground and he has been courting Tober for a while, showing off his family to convince the old man to pick him as the next owner of the company. He’s been playing the wholesome American man card.’’

“You sound like you have a strong dislike for Mr. Hartmann,’’ I pointed out, frowning in concentration while I digested all of this and checked my clutch to make sure I had everything I would need.

“I’m known to be hard, cold and demanding in business, but everybody would tell you that I’m fair. Hartmann is smarmy and conniving. He doesn’t mind playing dirty if need be and he is so far from a family man that I wonder how Tober could have fallen for that. It’s rather well-known Hartmann has had a mistress for years and constantly misses his kids’ birthdays and other important events.’’

“If I understand correctly, this is as much about getting Mr. Tober’s company as it is winning it over Mr. Hartmann.’’

I turned to face him and found him putting his wallet in his inside pocket and his cell phone in the pocket of his slacks. He nodded then, the serious expression on his face reminding me that Mathis Grimes was still a shrewd businessman, not just the man who started to mellow right in front of my eyes.

“Very astute. Beauty and brains.’’ He took my hand and led me out of the bedroom and down the staircase after checking the time on his expensive watch. “Tober won’t be able to resist you, little wife. I’m not worried.’’

***





LILA


“Mr. Tober’s party…’’ the maitre d’ said and checked the list in front of him before nodding and offering a smile that was perfected for his job description. Empty, polite and well rehearsed. “Erik will lead you to your table.’’

“Thank you,’’ Mathis said and placed a hand on the small of my back, his eyes harsh on the young man who would be our waiter tonight, catching him while his eyes wandered over me with more interest than needed for such a situation. Feeling Mathis’ tension reaching a new high when he had been already quite on edge all evening, I wrapped my arm around his lean hips to remind him that I was there with him and to keep his mind on the most important thing tonight.

“Please, follow me,’’ Erik said, his smile freezing on his face when his eyes met my husband’s and he promptly turned around after snatching a few menus and walked away.

“Asshole,’’ Mathis mumbled right before he led me further in the restaurant, passing by tables and nodding at a few people on the way, but never stopping to exchange words with anybody, keeping me close at his side while his hand stayed possessively on the small of my back, treading dangerously between appropriate behavior in such a high scale restaurant and inappropriate when his fingers skimmed the swell of my ass.

“Calm down,’’ I mumbled discreetly, a smile gracing my lips while my stare on Mathis’ profile was heavy.