“Nothing, I…” I rub the back of my neck, feeling uneasy. The stress of my classes this past week and the late hours working with Declan have taken their toll. But it was the constant calls from my father that pushed me to my breaking point. He’s phoned twice a day, sometimes more, to “help” me become better acquainted with Spencer. He told me his likes, dislikes, favorite political influences, even the way he prefers his coffee in the morning—no, that wasn’t a hint or anything.
My father doesn’t know my favorite color, nor does he care. But he made certain I knew Spencer’s. Blue. No wonder he’d selected that hideous dress.
“Tess?”
I drop my hand away, detesting the awful way my voice shakes when I speak. “I hate the dress, Curran. I don’t want to go to this function. And I think Spencer Woodworth—my date for the evening, and Philly’s probable next mayor—is a complete and utter asshole.”
I’m certain Curran will laugh, or poke fun at me or Spencer. But all signs of humor are lost from his face.
“So why are you going? And why the hell are you wearing that dress?”
I place my hands on my hips and look down. “I have to go. It’s not something I can get out of.”
“Why?”
“I promised.” I didn’t really. It’s more of a forced expectation. But the truth will trigger more questions that I’m not prepared to answer, and I’ve already said enough.
“That doesn’t explain why you’re wearing something that belongs on one of your elderly neighbors,” he bites out. “I mean damn, you have a body that won’t quit and you hide it beneath layers of goddamn tweed and polyester.”
“You like my body?” I’m not trying to redirect him, but it’s the one thing he said that I fixate on. “Even after the weight I’ve gained?”
Curran crosses the room to stand in front of me. “You didn’t gain weight. You gained curves. Men, real men, like curves, not fucking angles.”
I place my fingertips over my smiling lips. “Swearing aside, that’s probably the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“Good,” he says. “Come here.”
There’s no hesitation. I go to him easily, greeting lips as eager for me as mine are for his. Curran lifts me, carrying me to the couch and placing me on his lap.
“I shouldn’t be doing this,” he gasps, before quickly returning to attack my mouth.
My hands link around his neck and my teeth graze his jawline, nibbling their way across and stopping below his ear. “Okay,” I whisper, biting on his lobe.
He curses. Twice. His grip to my hips tightening. “Scratch that. We can’t do more than this.”
“Mm-hmm.” So I do more of this.
“I have to be ready if something happens,” he mumbles.
He startles when my tongue slips inside his ear.
“We can’t get naked,” he insists through gritted teeth. Or at least he tries to.
He pulls me back to his mouth, this time more fiercely, his heart ramming hard against his rib cage and his hand skimming up to knead my breast.
My phone rings. Curran ignores it. I do, too.
But I shouldn’t.
The voicemail feature booms with Spencer’s voice. “Hello, Contessa. It’s Spencer, your date for the evening, but you probably already know that.” He laughs in that rehearsed way of his. “I look forward to seeing you. I’m expected by seven, so kindly be prepared by six-fifteen—oh, and Contessa, be prepared for a long night. I’m sure you have suitable lingerie you can surprise me with.”
He disconnects then. His call was brief, but the damage is done.
Curran pulled away at Spencer’s reference to a “long” night. Yet it’s Spencer’s final comment that sparks his fury and deepens his scowl. “What the hell is that about?”
His sudden anger catches me off guard and adds to the humiliation triggered by Spencer’s call. I slip away from his lap and stand, crossing my arms.
I try to offer an explanation, but I can’t find any words to justify Spencer’s disgusting remarks. Probably because none exist.
“Are you sleeping with him?” Curran demands, rising to his feet.
I raise my chin. “No.”
“But you plan to. Tonight, I take it?” He scoffs. “Come on, Tess. Don’t look at me that way. You asked for honesty. So I’m telling you the truth when I say I haven’t been with anyone since you. Don’t you think you owe me the same truth back?”