“What the hell is an engagement shower?”

Blake leaned in and whispered as guests started to filter into the restaurant Talia had rented out for the evening.

“Apparently it’s a celebration of modern love, blending an engagement party with a baby shower. So, people can give two people free stuff for their kid.” It sounded like a total scam to me, but people were showing up with brightly wrapped gifts, so what the hell did I know?

“We could have bought all this stuff, and then the nursery could have been done, but Poppy wants to see all the gifts first to see ‘what calls to her’.” Blake’s eyes rolled telling me being in love hadn’t changed him as much as I thought. “Things going to be civil between you and Poppy tonight?”

Here we go. “Why wouldn’t things be civil? You mean because your fiancée insults me, and you expect me to just take it? Well don’t worry brother, I’ll keep my mouth shut all night. Just for you.” I clapped his back and walked away, suddenly wishing I had a work emergency to get out of this evening. At least until I caught another glimpse of Talia in a simple black dress that hugged her body like a lover, and those red stilettos that pushed her ass out just so. I couldn’t look away.

It pissed me off that I hadn’t gotten my fill of her yet, and it really pissed me off that fucking her was having the opposite effect. The more I had her, the more I wanted her, and this lust showed no signs of slowing down.

Talia didn’t appear to feel the same way, though. I hadn’t seen or heard from her since I left her place nearly two Fridays ago, which should have made things easier. It hadn’t. It only made me think about her more, specifically about the way she so easily threw herself into sex, giving and taking more and more, all in the pursuit of pleasure. She was a dynamo in bed, and just watching her flash a professional smile at friends and family who entered, directing them where to put coats and gifts. For the past hour she hadn’t glanced at me once, and I knew because I’d barely taken my eyes off her all night.

When all the guests had arrived, she herded them to their seats and I smiled, watching for the moment she realized I made some last minute changes to the seating arrangement.

“We have kind of a different evening in mind for you tonight. Blake and Poppy wanted this to be a family affair so we have a fantastic tasting menu that will give us time to show off gifts between courses. So, find your name and place your drink order.” Talia’s smile was strained, but no one seemed to notice as she took her seat, frowning at her new dinner companion.

Me. “You look beautiful tonight, Talia.”

“Thanks,” she grumbled. “So do you.”

I smiled, but she didn’t seem to notice. “Thanks. I was going for ‘beautiful’ when I got dressed.”

“I’d say you were more of the pretty sort,” Lacey said, laughing at her new spot across from Talia.

I barked out a laugh and pointed at Walker. “Have you seen that pretty boy you’re sleeping with?”

Walker faked a frown, and stroked his jaw. “Screw you. This is rugged handsomeness at its best.”

“That’s right, babe.” Lacey stroked his jaw and the look he gave her was enough to heat the whole place up a few degrees, which only made it worse because it was directed at my sister. “This looks great. You guys did a bang-up job.”

“Thanks,” I said because Talia was on her feet again, heading off to do something or the other. All night she’d been up and down, putting out fires before a flame flickered, and doing it all with ease. “It was mostly Talia.”

“Duh,” Lacey said with an affectionate eye roll.

The first dish came out before Talia returned, a delicious shot of gazpacho that I was happy to have for her because shot glasses were for tequila, not food. She hadn’t returned when the second or third dishes came out, and even Poppy began to look worried. “Where do you think she went?”

Blake rubbed a soothing hand on her shoulder. “Probably making sure all this goes perfectly, Poppy. It’s a big ask.”

“We’re supposed to be enjoying this together,” she insisted in an uncharacteristic whine I chalked up to baby hormones, for Blake’s sake.

She probably should have thought about that before dumping her work and her wedding on her best friend. But I was being civil, so I kept those thoughts to myself.

When the third dish came out, I stood. “I’ll go make sure she’s all right,” I said and ignored the grateful look Poppy sent. I wasn’t doing this for her, no matter what Blake said. Talia deserved to enjoy the food more than anyone, because without her none of it would have happened.

I found her at the end of a dark hall, standing right in front of the emergency exit with her back to me. “You’re right, that is a problem. No, I understand. I’ll be there first thing Saturday to take care of it,” she said as she nodded. “Of course, thanks for letting me know.” She ended the call and growled.

“Hot date this weekend?”

Talia froze and turned to me, arms crossed with an icy look on her face. “How is that any of your business?”

I took three steps forward until my chest brushed against hers and her back was against the wall, leaning in close so our lips just brushed. “Because you’re my business.” Where in the hell had those words come from? She fixed her mouth for what I was sure would be a smart-ass comment, a denial, a rejection or all three, so I cut the words I didn’t want to hear off with a kiss. She relented and melted into me and nothing else mattered. My cock strained against my zipper, and when she rubbed against me wantonly, I knew I had to step back before I ripped her panties off and fucked her right here in this dark hall. “And don’t you forget it.”

Talia was dazed, her red lips parted slightly, and those big eyes were wide with surprise. Good. It was time she felt a taste of what I was feeling, because even though I didn’t want to put a name to it, I knew it was something. “Excuse me,” she said and ducked inside the bathroom.

I smiled at her hasty exit. Unlike the quickie in my office, this wasn’t payback. She was as overwhelmed as I’d been the night in her apartment, and needed a moment to gather herself. A nice guy, hell a gentleman would have given it to her.

I was neither. I ducked my head inside the well appointed ladies’ room until I spotted those red ‘come fuck me’ heels inside one of the stalls. “Welcome to my world, Talia.” I retreated before she could say anything, wearing a satisfied smile and feeling lighter than I had in a week.

When Talia returned to the dining room she was put back together, no trace of the kiss, or my hands in her hair. She drew everyone’s attention again to open a few gifts while they let the decadent food settle, nodding occasionally to an intern in the corner whom she’d offered a day rate for his assistance. The kid sat in the back with empty plates all around and a tablet in his hand, taking notes. Weird. “Okay, now back to your meal.”

“You make it all look so effortless,” I whispered when she sat down.

“No one wants to know how the sausage is made,” she said plainly and drained her martini glass in two big gulps. She devoured the Korean short rib with Asian slaw with a sexy moan that made me grateful for the long tablecloth.

“This is all so wonderful, Talia. Thank you,” Poppy enthused, blue-green eyes filled with gratitude.

“You’re very welcome.” Her smile was genuine.

“When all this is over,” Poppy whispered conspiratorially, “we should talk about a different role for you in the company.”

Talia’s smile was bland, and she laid a hand on Poppy’s. “That’s not necessary.”

That was not the answer Poppy wanted to hear, but waiters dropped off more plates. “Saved by the plates,” I whispered to Talia who only shrugged, and for the first time I could see how exhausted she was.

The makeup hid them well, but the dark purple crescents still showed under her eyes in a much lighter hue. The slump of her shoulders and the way she used the chair to hold her up told me more than she would, apparently. She ate quietly and slowly, like she didn’t even have the energy to feed herself and it gutted me. Truly.

By the time the restaurant was mostly empty, Talia looked ready to fall over as she carried gifts out to the waiting SUV being driven by another intern. “I’ve got those,” I told her as I took the packages from her hands.

“I’m perfectly capable of doing my job.”

I glared at her. “You’re the maid of honor, this isn’t your job.” But it said a lot about how she was feeling lately.

“Whatever. I can handle it.”

“And it’ll be easier to handle with another pair of arms,” I shot back, putting the box of gifts in the car, ignoring her grumbling. “See, we’re already finished.”

“Thanks,” she said angrily. “You can go on home, Luke. I’ve got it covered.”

“I’m right where I want to be, besides you’re too exhausted to drive yourself.”

“I’ll call a cab.” She was damn stubborn when she wanted to be.

“Don’t waste a cabbie’s time by making them come out here for nothing. I’m perfectly capable of making sure you get home safely.” I crossed my arms and stared down at her, waiting for her next argument.

She glared. “Fine, happy?”

“Not yet Talia, but I will be.”

Soon.