Page 63 of Arrogant Heir
Now I’m curious. ‘How doesthatwork?’ I ask.
‘Well, I don’t know all the details, but I think the deal is his girl accompanies him to events—and they sleep together when they want—but there’s no serious commitment. He pays for her apartment, so it’s a win-win. They just pretend they are a regular couple, but it’s a fake relationship.’
‘Sort of like having a mistress in the old days?’ I ask.
He nods. ‘Similar, I guess, but they’re both single, so none of the sordidness and cheating.’
‘I see. Still sounds tricky, though,’ I say. ‘I can’t imagine fake dating long term. Isn’t it as if their whole lives are a lie?’
Seb shrugs again. ‘I don’t know. It suits them for now, and I guess when it doesn’t suit them, they’ll end it. It’s not as easy as it looks being an unmarried Rochester.’
‘Yes, I’m seeing that.’ I smile.
‘I’m going to order something stronger and have a walk about to see who’s here,’ Seb says. ‘Back soon, you two. Be good!’ He rises and saunters off.
‘He’s got a nerve,’ Damian mutters.
‘Why?’ I ask, amused by his grumpy expression. My insides flutter because he obviously minds that Seb would like to fake date me too, as ridiculous as the whole thing is.
Damian gets the attention of a server and orders us more drinks. He ignores my question and I let it go.
What’s it to him, anyway?
The dinner and auction pass in a blur of fine dining and champagne. An endless round of guests approaches our table to say hello to the Rochester brothers, and my face aches from smiling.
I’m relieved when the formal part of the evening is over and the DJ blasts out the latest sounds and couples stream towards the dance floor.
I turn to Damian. ‘Want to dance?’ The champagne has rubbed the edges off my inhibitions, and I’m taken aback when he refuses.
‘I don’t dance,’ he says, the ghost of a smile on his full lips, and traces of the arrogant heir reappear to taunt me.
‘Oh really? That’s a shame. Why not?’ I ask.
‘Not my thing,’ he says.
‘Right, okay then.’ I’m irritated he won’t attempt to please me when I’m so clearly out of my depth helping him, but I hold my tongue and turn to Seb.
‘Seb, do you dance, or do you keep the same strict no dancing policy as Damian?’
He laughs, and his smile warms my irritation. He mock bows and holds out his hand. I glance at Damian, whose expression I struggle to read, before accepting Seb’s hand and moving towards the dance floor.
If you won’t bother to dance with me, Damian Rochester, I’ll dance with someone who will.
The combination of popular dance music and the champagne make me lightheaded, and I dance with abandon, loving every minute. It’s been too long since I went out and enjoyed myself like this. Seb and I are comfortable with each other and he’s a good dancer.
In between tracks, I catch sight of Damian looking pissed off. It might be nothing to do with me dancing with Seb, but they have a weird sibling rivalry dynamic, so my guess is he’s annoyed.
Seb swirls me around the dance floor and, as always, we have a lot of fun, but there’s no chemistry between us other than friendship. At this moment, it feels like I’ll only ever have eyes for Damian. My gut tells me he’s the one for me, but it might be the aftermath of too much alcohol and the most erotic sex I’ve ever had. I could be overdramatising my feelings and once I’m away from him and see Simon again, I’ll have more perspective. I don’t want to be the tragic woman who falls for someone I can never have.
The music switches abruptly to slow and Damian appears, all broad shoulders and square jaw. His green eyes flash as he cuts in and Seb graciously moves aside.
‘I thought you don’t dance,’ I say.
‘I decided to make an exception for you,’ he says, his eyes lock on mine and my heart chugs and splutters like a failing engine.
He towers over me, and I feel his hard body against me as we hold each other and gently move to the beats of the love song. My head drops briefly to rest against his chest. His hands encircle my waist and I struggle to breathe. Slow dancing with Damian feels like a dream. The scent of his aftershave teases my senses and evokes vivid memories of us both losing control that afternoon and I feel dizzy with wanting him all over again. I want this moment to go on forever.
Emboldened, I say, ‘You don’t have to be jealous of Seb, you know.’