The Job Read Free Page B

her cheeks flushed, her breathing
labored, she looked just like she felt—on edge and…
    “Beautiful.”
The one word delivered in his husky voice made her insides tighten in need. When
he pulled her back into his large frame, bending his head to drop a kiss on her
exposed shoulder, it felt the most natural thing in the world to let him.
    “Why?”
she whispered.
    Nathanial
stiffened and pulled away. “Why what?”
    Alex
glanced back at the mirror, touching the necklace briefly. When he didn’t
answer her, just strode to the door to hold it open for her, she sighed.
    “Please,
Nat, talk to me.”
    He
blinked at the use of his childhood name. His mouth set in a grim line. Alex
could almost see the walls going up around him, as he shook his head.
    “We’re
already running late. I’m not in the habit of explaining myself to my escorts.
Just do your job, pretend to be my doting girlfriend, and once we’ve made an
appearance, you’re free to go, as you find my company so abhorrent.”
    “I
don’t…”
    Nathanial
held his hand up to interrupt her.
    The
icy disdain on his face made her stiffen her spine. This, right now, wasn’t the
Nat she remembered. Picking up her clutch bag, she threw her head back and
forced herself to walk toward him.
    Nat
took her hand once they rounded the corner to the lifts, making her jump
slightly. All the air left her lungs when he snaked his arm around her waist and
left it there.
    “Smile,
you look as though I’m leading you to your execution. You’re in love with my
money, remember.”
    That
brought her head up. She glared at him, but her snarky comeback died on her
tongue, as the lift door opened, and a smiling bell boy waved them in.
    “Good
to see you again, Mr. Longton. Heading up to the ballroom, I take it? I must
say it seems very well attended.”
    Alexandra
tuned out the rest of the conversation, as the lift made slow progress up to
the roof. By the time they reached their destination, several couples had
joined them. The air was stifling with the combined scents of perfume and
cologne. Alex breathed a sigh of relief, when the doors slid open and they
stood in a marble foyer, which led out onto the enclosed rooftop space, where
the ball was being held. Live classical music floated toward them. When they
gained admittance after Nathanial had flashed his invite, she inched closer to
Nat’s protection, as they were immediately engulfed by folks.
    Mindful
of her role she fixed a smile on her face. It was going to be a very long
evening.

 
    Chapter Three
     
    Nathanial
had to give it to her. Were it not for the death grip she had on his hand, he
never would have guessed how uncomfortable Alex appeared to be. Her polite
smile stayed in place throughout the interminably boring and unavoidable round
of introductions. While he bristled inside at the way folks ignored her, talking
over her head, she took it on the chin. Then again, this was her job, so why
shouldn’t she?
    Still,
a sliver of doubt had planted itself in his chest. The longer he observed her
the more that unease grew. He’d have expected her to lap up the attention, but
in the unguarded moments, when they were briefly left alone, something about
the way her shoulders sagged made him wonder. It was that same flash of hurt
he’d glimpsed in her eyes when he’d thrown that off-hand comment at her about
loving his money. Fuck only knows what possessed him to do so, but she’d looked
so goddamn beautiful. It had felt so right putting his mother’s jewelry around
her graceful neck, he’d had to do something to stop himself from acting like a
lovesick fool.
    The
realization that this woman still had the power to bring him to his emotional
knees didn’t sit easy with him, and it made him lash out.
    “If
you don’t need me for a second, I’m gonna go powder
my nose.” Alex’s whispered words into his ear got his attention. He reluctantly
released her, and forced a smile on his face.
    “Sure,
you know where they