Page 53 of The Betrayal
Just ignore the tension that is slowly crackling between us, but we both made a vow that we wouldn’t cross that line anymore.
We wait silently as he presses for the elevator and my phone chimes in my clutch. Keaton’s brows sit up for a moment at the distinctive sound and my cheeks flame as I fumble to pull my phone out and I see a message on my cam app.
Shit.
Holding my thumb on the screen, I try to sneak a preview.
TallDarkandHandsome: Where have you been? Do I need to arrange another private room for both of us if you’re going to disappear on me?
I swallow the sickly feeling that bubbles deep inside of me, my mouth watering and I squeeze my eyes shut willing for the wave of nausea to leave as quickly as it came on.
“Ari?” The rasp in Keaton’s voice snaps me out of it, my head turning slowly to meet his worried gaze.
“I’m okay,” I smile, “just come over a little queasy.”
“We can go back?” he offers, and I smile at his kind gesture.
“I know, but I’ll be okay… honestly,” I whisper back just as the elevator doors ping open.
“Okay,” he nods, walking forward and I follow as he presses the button for the ground floor.
Silence fills the small space, which gradually fizzles with soft voices of guests that join us on our descent.
Sneaking a gaze at Keaton, my heart thrums in my chest.
I shouldn’t be feeling this way, but I do. Slowly falling into the forbidden territory which is my dad’s best friend.
Slowly falling for him too.
Wish I could stop, but then again, I don’t.
“Come,” Keaton slips his hand into mine, our fingers entwining and my lips tug into a smile. Stepping out onto the floor, we see Dex and Sage waiting for us. Sage looks a vision and Dex looks handsome.
A red, provocative satin dress wraps around her curvaceous frame, Dex is dressed in a lightly checkered gray suit and a satin shirt which matches the darker gray line on his jacket.
“Well, look at you both,” Dex smiles as he kisses me on the cheek before turning his attention to Keaton, our hands slowly pulling from each other’s.
Sage scoops me up in an embrace before sweeping her eyes over my outfit.
“LBD; classic,” she winks before taking my hand as we head for Picasso’s. I felt out of depth, we didn’t do restaurants like this yet here I am. In the Bellagio, about to go into a fancy French restaurant with my bosses, boss’s fiancé.
Like. Make it make sense.
Pinch me.
Because I feel like this is a little too good to be true.
“You look lovely, by the way,” I say softly as I follow her lead.
“Thank you, babe, so do you,” we slow as we stand waiting for the maître-de to acknowledge us.
After a beat, he lifts his head up and scopes us out.
“Evening, welcome to Picasso’s, do you have a reservation?”
“Yes,” Dex’s thick British accent floats between us, “under Rutherford.”
“Ah yes, Mr. Rutherford, please follow me. You’re on the terrace overlooking the river,” he wiggles his brows a little and grabs the menus.