One Night: Promised(142)

Disgusted and fighting my way from his hold, I swing around and stab at his impassive face with furious eyes. ‘You’ll get nothing more from me.’

‘I beg to differ.’

I flinch at his arrogance and confidence. I’ve never slapped a man in my life. I’ve never slapped anyone.

Until now.

The power of my small palm across his face creates the most piercing sound, the smack echoing in the noisy air around us. My hand is on fire and judging by the instant red mark on Miller’s tanned skin, so is his cheek. I’m shocked by my actions, and my frozen body and stunned face are proof of it.

He clasps his chin, seeming to click his jaw back into place. Miller Hart doesn’t give much away, but there’s no denying his surprise. ‘You have a vicious swipe, sweet girl.’

‘I’m not your sweet girl,’ I retort nastily, leaving Miller rubbing some life back into his cheek. Taking the stairs fast I don’t veer left for the exit, the enticement of my Bellini too much to resist. I land at the bar and knock it back quickly, gasping and slamming the empty down, drawing the attention of the barman.

‘Another?’ he asks, swinging straight into action when I nod.

‘Livy.’ Miller’s whisper in my ear makes me jump. ‘Please go home and wait for me there.’

‘No.’

‘Livy, I’m asking you nicely.’ There’s an edge of desperation in his tone which makes me swivel on my stool to face him. His face is straight, but his eyes are pleading. ‘Let me fix this.’

He is begging, but he’s just confirmed that there is, indeed, something to be fixed. ‘What needs fixing?’ I ask.

‘Us.’ His one-word answer is spoken quietly. ‘Because there’s no me or you any more, Livy. It’s us.’

‘Then why lie? If you’ve nothing to hide, why lie to me?’

He closes his eyes, obviously trying to keep his cool, and then reopens them slowly. ‘Believe me. It’s simply business.’ His eyes and tone are full of sincerity as he leans down and kisses me gently on the lips. ‘Don’t make me go without you tonight. I need you in my arms.’

‘I’ll wait here for you.’

‘Business and pleasure, Olivia. You know my rules.’ He pulls me gently down from the stool.

‘So you’ve never mixed business and pleasure with Cassie?’

He frowns. ‘No.’

I’m frowning now, too. ‘Why the meal in a posh restaurant, then? And the oysters and touching across the table?’

Our furrowed brows are matching, but before Miller has a chance to clear up the obvious confusion, we’re confronted with Cassie.

At least who I thought was Cassie. This woman, while stunning and in possession of an amazing figure from behind, is older – by fifteen years, at least. She’s obviously wealthy and very exuberant. ‘Miller, darling!’ she sings at him. She’s drunk, waving a champagne flute in my face.

‘Crystal.’ He starts twitching, pushing into my back. ‘Please excuse me for a moment.’

‘Of course!’ She dumps her backside on my recently vacated stool. ‘Shall I order more drinks?’

‘No,’ Miller replies, pushing me onward. C? Crystal? I’m confused, but my poor, overloaded mind won’t allow me to voice it or ask questions.

‘There’s no need for your friend to leave,’ she purrs, and I look back, seeing her smiling at me. No, she’s not smiling; she’s smirking. ‘The more the merrier.’

I frown and look up at Miller, who looks like he’s gone into shock. He speaks up, but his jaw is tight, making his words seem threatening. ‘I told you this was just dinner.’

‘Yes, yes.’ She rolls her eyes dramatically and pours the rest of the champagne down her throat. ‘And would this sweet little thing be the reason for our change in etiquette?’

‘That’s none of your business.’ He tries to remove me from the bar, but I’m as stiff as him now, hindering his attempts.

‘What’s she talking about, Miller?’ I ask more calmly than I’m feeling.

‘Nothing. Let’s go.’

‘No!’ I twist out of his hold and face the woman.

She seems oblivious of the tension bouncing between Miller and myself as she demands more champagne from the barman before handing me a card. ‘Here. Doesn’t look like I’ll need this any more. Keep it safe.’

I take it without thought and glance down at the ivory embossed words, seeing only Miller’s name, telephone number, and e-mail. ‘What’s this?’

Miller goes to snatch it, but my nimble hands move faster, pulling it from his reach. ‘It’s nothing, Livy. Please, give it to me.’