“Someone has to suffer through that I guess,” Jarred chuckled.1 “It might as well be you.”
They fell silent as Jarred turned into a gated driveway, the gates thrown open to allow the cars to enter. Cars were already lining the drive as Jarred maneuvered into an open spot, shutting off the engine. “This isn’t going to be a fun night,” he said sharply, looking over at Kinsley. “I wish I could tell you differently, but I have no idea what my father is going to say or do, so just bear with it, okay?”
“Hey,” Kinsley started, laying a hand on his shoulder. “I’m tougher than I look. I work for your father remember?” She wasn’t scared of Mr. Maloney. Intimidated, yes, but she wasn’t going to tell Jarred that. She felt, well, she wasn’t exactly sure what she felt about the man next to her. He was hurting but put on one hell of a show, but he was hurting.
He nodded but didn’t speak as they climbed out of the car, Kinsley taking a few deep breaths as they walked up to the massive brick house. It was gorgeous and far more expensive than probably her flat was. Every window was lit up on the inside and a man stood at the entrance, dressed in full butler attire as they reached the doorway.
“Master Maloney,” he said as they walked into the interior of the house. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too Timms,” Jarred replied, a rare true smile on his lips. “You’re looking good.”
“Thank you sir,” Timms said, with a slight bow. “Your father and his guests are in the dining room.”
Jarred nodded, his smile fading as Kinsley hurried to his side, grasping his hand. He looked over at her and she smiled, giving him false courage that she didn’t even have. They were going to get through this night and she was going to be the best damn fiancée she could be.
Jarred started down the hall and she struggled to keep his pace, feeling the rigidity of his body in his grip on her hand. What was the big deal between him and his father anyway? Was this really about Jarred not living up to his father’s expectations or was there something else? Something deeper? Kinsley was dying to find out.
They walked into the dining room and she was momentarily taken aback by its sheer size, as well as the extremely long table down the center of the room. All around the room were portraits of what she could only describe as ancient ancestors in gilt frames, not a one of them smiling. The room’s colors were dark as well, giving a whole not so friendly vibe to the room itself. Great, not exactly where she would have expected to have to put on the performance of a lifetime. Her boss was standing near the sideboard as they walked in, hand and hand, his smile going to that of confusion and surprise immediately.
“Jarred,” he said, the other guests all turning to view their arrival as well. “And Ms. Wells. This is a surprise.”
“Dad,” Jarred said tightly, his grip becoming tight on Kinsley’s hand. She tried to keep a smile on her face and look like a woman in love, but doubted it was coming across that way to the guests. “This is Kinsley.”
“Yes, I know,” Mr. Maloney said, arching a brow at Kinsley. “I have to say I am surprised to see you together. My assistant never crossed my mind when you said you had met someone.”
Kinsley felt Jarred release her hand and put his arm around her waist instead, pulling her against him gently. She felt the small electric thrill run down her spine at the closeness, thinking about how his body had covered hers the other night when he was pissed. “It’s more than that Dad,” Jarred said, a grin slowly covering his face. “We’re engaged.”
A gasp went up in the room as Kinsley laid her head on his shoulder, wanting it to look as if they were a couple in love. If anyone in this room was going to believe that they were really engaged, then she was going to have to play this up a bit.
“Well,” a striking blonde in a tight red dress announced, her lips pursed. She was standing near the cart where the alcohol was, a champagne glass in her hand. “This is quite a surprise. I would have never guessed you to move on so quickly Jarred.”
“What, like you Susan?” Jarred said, his gaze narrowing. Kinsley realized that this was the ex-fiancée, the woman who had left Jarred a few months ago. Rachel had been all over that gossip when it happened. From what Kinsley remembered, Susan was from a wealthy family and it hadn’t been a surprise when the two had hooked up. After all, they moved in the same social circles and their families knew each other. She was really beautiful and Kinsley was feeling a bit intimidated at the fact that Jarred’s ex was now going to be a person they were going to have fool tonight. They had lived together, perhaps loved each other. She was going to sniff out the fraud in a hot minute if Kinsley couldn’t play this up well enough. It wasn’t the fact that she would lose the money, but more about the embarrassment for both of them. After all, she could lose her job over this given how pissed off her boss was if the word got out that they had played this up. Not only that, Jarred could stand to lose his inheritance.
Susan laughed lightly as a tall dark haired man came to stand behind her, his hand possessively on her hip. “Jealous Maloney?”
“Not in the slightest,” Jarred laughed, his hand rubbing Kinsley’s hip invitingly. “I wish you a very happy future, both of you.”
“Hear, hear,” Mr. Maloney broke in, lifted his brandy glass. “Congratulations to you all. This dinner has become a celebration of sorts. Come on in, let me introduce your lovely fiancée around Jarred.”
Jarred’s hand did not leave Kinsley’s waist as he escorted her deeper into the room, where she greeted all the guests. The names started to run together and when they arrived in front of Susan and her new husband, the elder Maloney laughed. “Well I guess I don’t need to introduce you,” he said with a chuckle. “Can we play nice tonight?”
“Of course Harrison,” Susan said smoothly, looking at Kinsley with a curious expression. “After all, we have always been like family. Isn’t that right Jarred?”
Kinsley wasted no time leaning into Jarred’s touch, a playful smile on her face as she looked up at him. “I can’t wait to be a part of your family. It can’t come soon enough.”
Jarred looked down at her, his expression intense and Kinsley sucked in a breath, feeling the heat all the way to her toes. He was looking at her like he wanted to devour her and Kinsley couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if this was real. Did people really have this soul searing intensity between them? She had never experienced it before, though she had seen the look pass between Rachel and Jamison a time or two. But from Jarred, she could melt into the wooden floor any moment. Though the little voice in the back of her mind told her this wasn’t real, she couldn’t help but wish it was. He leaned down, his lips brushing her cheek. “I can’t wait to make you mine,” he said softly.
Kinsley’s pulse raced as a wave of longing and need pulsed through her. Everything would be so much easier if she wasn’t this attracted to him. Somehow she doubted any other man would affect her the way that he did.
“Well,” Mr. Maloney said as Jarred straightened. Kinsley swallowed and looked back at her boss, seeing a wide smile on his face. He believed them. Based on the frown on Susan’s face, she was starting to believe as well. This was working. “Let’s all sit down to dinner. I would love to learn more about how the two of you met.”