"Elliot, what is going on?"
I pulled back and held her at arm's length, her dark hair so tightly pinned back that her blue eyes were as fierce as a white walker from the Game of Thrones.
Letting her go, because she looked scary, I secured Danielle to my side. "Danielle, you remember my sister, Laura, right?"
"Yes." She extended her hand. "Hi, it's been a while. Congratulations on your award this evening."
Laura smirked and pulled Danielle into a hug, firing me a smartarse glare over her shoulder. "Yes, and thank you. But it seems congratulations are in order for you and Elliot as well."
Danielle chuckled, nervously, so I butted in. "They sure are. Surprise!"
"Surprise indeed." Laura stepped back and plastered on a fake smile for Danielle.
I didn't like it.
"Shall we take a seat?" I suggested, pulling out a chair for Danielle to sit on.
She smiled, unease in her eyes as they silently spoke to me. "Thanks, but I need the lady's room."
"Good timing, honey, I need the men's." Linking my arm with hers, I excused us. "We'll be right back."
Mum smiled and took a seat while Laura narrowed her gaze. "Don't be long. It's about to start," she warned.
"We won't." I led Danielle through the room, weaving in and out of large round tables covered in white damask cloth - very typical of a gala-type event.
"Elliot, slow down. If you yank me any harder my dress will rip."
I was tempted to yank as hard as I fucking could.
"Sorry."
"It's okay. I get it. Your sister is on to us. She knows. She's going to expose us," she said in a panic, as we rounded the corner. "We can't let her. Your mum will be devastated and mine will be so disappointed. It will ruin the garden rebuild. It will wreck everything. We can't wreck everything. We need to fix the garden. We need to-"
"Hey, calm down." I placed my hands on either side of her face and coaxed her to look me in the eyes. "She won't find out because we won't tell her. She can assume all she wants. If we stick to our guns, she can't prove anything."
Danielle blinked. "I … I guess so."
"Not guess, know. Just take my lead, okay?"
As I was about to let her go, I noticed Laura standing by the entry of the ball room and foyer, watching us.
I needed to send her a clear message and I knew just how to do it.
"I'm going to kiss you."
"What?" Danielle went to step back, but I pulled her to me.
"Laura is to our left, watching, so I'm going to kiss you. Are you ready?"
She stiffened, her eyes wide.
"This is me asking for permission, okay?" I gave her a cheeky smile, then gently rubbed my thumb over her lip.
She opened her mouth just slightly, and I was so fucking tempted to glide my thumb in and out of it, to have her lips wrapped around me. Just the thought hardened my cock, so I pressed my lips to hers, softly, the tip of my tongue unrushed as it enticed her mouth open wider.
The sweetest of sighs escaped her, and she draped her arms over my shoulders, her fingers threading through my hair. Her touch was heaven, her taste bliss, and when we were together, it was paradise, a place and time I never wanted to leave. She was it for me; she always had been.
The sound of a clearing throat pulled me from my nirvana. I looked up, annoyed, to find Laura standing roughly three feet away, her fingers impatiently tapping her arms. "If you're going to actually pee, you might want to do it now. The presentation is about to start."
Danielle stepped out of my embrace. "Yes. Good point. Your brother is always stealing kisses," she said, playfully, and whacked me on the arse as she headed toward the toilet.
It took me by surprise, but I liked it. "And my gorgeous fiancée is always stealing the chance to touch my arse," I called out.
She turned and walked backward a couple of steps, pushing the door open with her butt, a cheeky grin lifting the corners of her mouth. "And what a nice arse it is."
Yep. I fucking loved this fake-engagement game.
"I don't know what you two are playing at, but if Mum finds out you're pulling our legs, she'll be devastated, and then I'll really be mad."
I snapped my head toward my sister, my huge smile morphing into a death-stare. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't I? So you expect me to believe you're engaged to your childhood best friend when you haven't even been dating?"
"Who says we haven't been dating?"