Page 53 of Proposal Play
“You do have a real talent for playing with light and shadow. I’d love to see how you handle something…more intimate. Would you like me to pose for you after the party?”
I snap my gaze toward him. “No,” I say. Firm, but not too loud.
A throat clears, and I look up to see Asher right next to us. Like a superhero arriving on the scene, he’s towering over the far-too-handsy and way-too-tipsy model.
“My wife is so talented, isn’t she?” he tells Nigel smoothly, but there’s a hard edge to his voice now.
Before I can react, Asher cuts in front of him, knocking the model’s hand off me. Asher grabs my chin and tilts my face up to his, pressing a kiss to my lips that’s anything but subtle. It’s possessive, demanding, and unmistakably territorial. When Asher finally pulls back, there’s a challenge in his eyes as he stares down the man. “Butmy wifedoesn’t have any openings for nudes.”
As if she appeared out of nowhere, the woman in the newsboy cap click-click-clicks, and she’s captured the kiss on camera.
I can barely catch my breath. Beside her are the butler and the host, holding his dog. Mr. Vincenzo narrows his eyes at Nigel, and DaVinci seems to, as well.
“Oh, shoo, you little monkey bat,” the host says, flicking his fingers at the creepy model. “You arrived at my last show hungover and projectile vomited on the runway. You’re permanently banned from the house of Rafael and DaVinci Vincenzo! Do not come to my parties and hit onthe talent! Do not even think about crashing my parties again! Now, go!”
I’m still reeling from the way the host saidtalentwhen Asher lifts a casual hand. “I’d be happy to see him out.”
Still holding the judgy dog, Mr. Vincenzo claps with glee while the hockey star curls a hand tightly—probably too tightly—over Nigel’s shoulder, cutting through the crowd that’s watching with avid eyes as he sees the creep out, the butler by his side.
As they go, Asher’s words repeat in my head—My wife is so talented. The way he said them, the way they felt like warning shots, the way they made my stomach flip…
But I stop lingering on them when Mr. Vincenzo turns to me, with utter concern in his eyes. “Do you need anything? Anything at all? A moment to rest? Some chocolate? A Xanax? An aperitif? Would you like to pet DaVinci?”
“I’m…good,” I say, “but I will take you up on the last one.”
He offers me the dog’s sleek head, and I stroke it a few times. “He’s very soft.”
“We both use the same shampoo.”
Of course they do.
Asher returns a minute later, dusting his hands. The tiny man reaches for Asher’s arm and thrusts it in the air. “You saved my party! You’re a hero, and you’ve earned a spot in my memoirs!”
So much for lying low.
20
SAFETY NET
Asher
I should feel bad for interfering in her work life, but I don’t.
Sure, she didn’t want to be singled out, but that jerk crossed the line. Even though Maeve’s busy painting again, the sight of his hand on her still burns through me.
I duck away from the action to call Soraya. She’s been texting me all evening about the upcoming fundraiser—something I should be paying attention to—but I’m still stuck on that bastard. And the way he touched my wife. My fists clench.
“So, does that work for you?” Soraya asks.
Shit. I wasn’t listening. I stop pacing, drawing a deep breath. “I’m sure it will, but could you go over that again? I think I missed some of it,” I say, playing it off like I wasn’t distracted.
She chuckles softly. “Sure, and also…congratulations! I’m sure you have a lot going on, being a newlywed and all,” she says.
I close my eyes, not even surprised anymore. Is there anyone who doesn’t know?
Not after that kiss in front of the photographer, genius.
“Yeah, life’s been a little wild lately,” I say.