By His Vow: Chapter 19

I lie in bed and stare up at the ceiling as images from our meal last night play out in my mind.

I held firm on not going until we walked out of the building to find Lewis waiting for us. By the time Kingston pressed his hand against my lower back, directing me toward the open door, I knew it was over.

We had eyes on us. All I could do was smile and greet Lewis as I climbed in the back.

I can tell myself all I want that I thought my argument about being busy might eventually fly, but I knew the truth then, and I still know it now. It was never going to work.

From the moment Kingston stepped into my office, nothing I said would have mattered.

He’s Kingston Callahan. He always gets his way.

What I wasn’t expecting was for him to be the perfect gentleman and for the night to turn out to be the best date I’ve ever had.

He was thoughtful and attentive, and when he asked me a question, he actually listened to the answer like he genuinely wanted to hear it. It was mind-blowing, and nothing like I’ve ever experienced from him before.

He’s always been my older brother’s best friend, who never had time for Miles’s annoying little sister. But last night, I wasn’t a little sister. I wasn’t an employee. I was just Tatum, the woman on a date with one of the city’s most eligible bachelors.

Even now, with the bright light of a new day streaming through the curtains I failed to close properly last night, I’m as confused as ever.

Something unexpected and totally unwanted flutters in my stomach as I think about the end of the night when he delivered me home. He didn’t come up. He didn’t even attempt it. Instead, he walked me to the main doors of my building before twisting his fingers with mine and pulling me close.

The heat of his body practically burned mine through our clothes, and I’d be lying if I said that desire wasn’t thrumming through my veins.

It has been all night.

The eye contact, the way he watched me from across the table, the innocent little touches he gifted me. All of it was beginning to drive me crazy.

More than crazy.

I shouldn’t have wanted to drag him up to my apartment as much as I did, but I couldn’t help myself.

Thankfully, one of us wasn’t fueled by desire and had managed to keep his head. Either that or the chemistry I was feeling was totally one-sided and he hadn’t even considered the possibility.

I shake my head. Surely not.

It can’t be possible. The air was practically crackling between us.

He had to have felt it…

My heart sinks a little and embarrassment threatens that he didn’t.

His actions outside sure led me to believe he didn’t want me like I did him.

He didn’t even follow through on his promise of making it worthwhile…assuming a happy ending was where he was going with that comment.

Rolling over, I press my face into my pillow and scream quietly, needing somehow to get rid of the frustration and lingering desire I’ve been unable to shift.

All he did was brush some of my hair behind my ear and then kiss my cheek as he wished me goodnight.

Kissed my freaking cheek.

This is Kingston Callahan we’re talking about. I don’t think he’s ever only kissed a woman’s cheek before.

Along with my brother, he’s the ultimate manwhore.

They always have been.

So why am I different?

Because he’s been told to spend time with you…

I slam down those stupid thoughts.

I refuse to allow myself to even consider that I’m not worthy of a man like him.

I am. Hell, if we’re being honest, I’m worthy of a lot better.

He’s arrogant, egotistical, powerful, dangerous…and not just with the way he makes me feel.

I’ve never cared to dig into anything I’ve seen in the past that appeared to be untoward, but I know that not all of our fathers’ business deals were above board. Some of our clients…well…the less I even think about it, the better.

I don’t want to know. I have never wanted to be involved any deeper in the family business than I am right now.

I have my team, a role I love. That’s all I ask for.

I have every intention of doing my job until I deem the time is right to start over in the place that truly owns my heart.

“What do you mean it isn’t on the system?” Lori shrieks from the other side of my ajar bedroom door. “I booked it. Hell, I put it in myself. I know it was there.”

“Fucking hell,” I mutter as I throw the covers off and pad toward the bathroom while she continues to rant on the other side of the door.

I freshen up before going to find out what’s going on.

I didn’t get much sleep last night. Between reliving every element of our “date” and the impending dread of what today is going to hold, I mostly just tossed and turned and watched the clock tick around. I’m feeling it now, too. My eyes are sore, my body is sluggish, and my head already pounds gently, a sure-fire sign that I’m stressed.

“Fucking assholes,” Lori mutters to herself as she paces back and forth in our living area.

She’s got her cell clutched tightly in her hand and Griz watches her with a confused expression on her face.

“What’s going on?” I ask, gently scooping Griz up and snuggling her against my chest.

When I fell asleep last night, she was cuddled up with me, but she must have gotten fed up with my restlessness and retreated to her own, much more peaceful bed. The only place I know she won’t have gone is in with Lori. That girl snores like a freight train to the point that even Griz can’t put up with it.

Griz purrs as I tickle her ears, and it instantly makes me feel better. A snuggle with my girl always helps me put things into perspective.

“My leave for today has magically disappeared. I’m meant to be in the office right now,” she explains angrily.

“Oh,” I say, my heart sinking at the thought of not having her with me today.

“I’m not going in. Obviously,” she states fiercely, rolling her eyes. “There is nowhere else I’m going to be today than by your side. Fuck them.”

“Lori, it’s your job. I know it fucking sucks, but still. You need it.”

“I don’t care. Today is too important for them to ruin.”

“It’s really not,” I mutter. I’d happily go to work today instead of the show I’m going to be forced to endure. Spending the day as Jonathan Warner’s grieving daughter is the very last thing I want to do right now.

“It is, Tate. I’m not letting you do it alone. No fucking way. They can fire me if they want. Screw them.”

“Lori,” I warn.

“I’ll get a waitressing job. Sweep the streets. I’m done with them. This is the last straw, I swear⁠—”

“You need to calm down. It’s not that big a deal.”

“Tate.” She sighs, stepping closer and tickling Griz’s head. “You have been there for me every single day since we met. You’ve picked me up and put me back together time and time again. But you…you’re so fucking strong, level-headed, and…stable. I’ve never been able to repay you so⁠—”

“I love you, Lor. But you really don’t need to⁠—”

“I do. Fuck work. Fuck my stupid boss. I’m spending today with you, and tonight we’re getting off-our-heads drunk. And I might just ring in sick tomorrow as well,” she announces.

She won’t; her work ethic is too strong. But I appreciate the sentiment all the same.

“Come here,” I say, holding my arm out for her to join our snuggle. She’s getting all angry and emotional, and I fear I’m already going to have to deal with enough of that today without her joining the party.

“Okay,” she says after a few seconds. “I think I’m good now. You want coffee?”

“Yes. God yes.”

She laughs as she walks into the kitchen and grabs my favorite mug.

“So, I saw some pretty cute pictures of a certain date last night. Care to spill the deets?” she says.

I sigh, hating that I’m going to have to be honest.

What I want to say is that he was the irritating asshole we all know and love and it was nothing but a turn-off.

But that’s far from the truth.

“It was amazing,” I confess in a rush as I settle on a stool at our breakfast bar.

“Oh?” she asks, looking over her shoulder with intrigue glittering in her eyes.

“He was just⁠—”

The buzzer goes off and my spine straightens.

“No,” I breathe, immediately picturing Kingston standing at our front door with a bottle of that green shit in his hand.

Every freaking day he’s attempted to get me to drink it. And every day, no matter how he delivers it, I dump it down the drain.

“Oh my god, Tate. That is totally him,” Lori says excitedly.

“You do know this is an arranged-marriage situation, right? He doesn’t actually want me. Or the other way around.”

Her brows lift in suspicion. “Is that right?” she taunts irritatingly.

“Yes,” I snap as the buzzer goes off again.

“Well,” she says, gesturing in the direction of the front door. “I’m not going.”

“I thought you were meant to be supporting me today.”

She winks and blows me a kiss as I slip from the stool and stalk toward the front door, still with Griz in my arms.

I don’t bother looking through the peephole. What’s the point? I already know what awaits me.

A hot-as-hell man wearing a pristine black suit and carrying a health drink made by the devil himself.

I’m just not lucky enough to find anything else.

I pull the door open, and the second I do, I’m assaulted by his scent.

My mouth waters instantly and I’m taken right back to last night when he pulled me up against his hard body.

Damn it.

No. Damn him.

He shouldn’t look or smell this good.

It’s not fair.

“Good morning,” he says, his deep voice washing over me like thick, delicious silk.

My skin erupts in goosebumps but thankfully, it isn’t my reaction to him that captures his attention.

His eyes drop to Griz as she snarls at him.

He stares at her with a deep frown between his brows.

“It’s so weird. Pussy usually loves me.”

I allow myself to drop my eyes down his body and appreciate just how freaking good he looks.

It should be illegal.

But then I come up short at what he’s holding.

Surprise, surprise.

“Was there something you wanted other than to insult my pussy?” I ask, my brows lifting.

“I would never,” he says quietly. “I’m sure she’s beautiful once I get to know her.”

The chemistry I remember all too well from last night crackles between us.

“I brought you breakfast, and then I’m going to escort you to your parents’.”

“I’m more than capable of getting there myself,” I mutter, taking a step back to let him in.

I can stand here wearing only a tank top and booty shorts, blocking his entry for the rest of the floor to see, or I can concede to what we both know is going to happen anyway.

“I’m aware of that. But given the significance of the day, you shouldn’t have to.”

“Right,” I mutter, letting my nose lead the way toward the freshly brewed coffee.

His stare burns into my skin, and when I risk a look back, I find his gaze locked on my ass.

Hmm…proof it wasn’t totally one-sided last night, maybe?

“Kingston,” Lori muses. “What a surprise.”

“Lorelei,” he greets.

“Would you like a coffee?” she asks a little reluctantly.

It’s funny seeing her reserved attitude toward him when she’s been so pro him in private.

I guess she’s just as confused as I am about all of this.

“Not necessary,” he says, placing the tray and bag in his hands on the counter. “I have everything covered.”

“I’m not drinking that shi—” My words are cut off when I find that there’s more in the takeout tray than just a green juice.

There’s also coffee.

Two large coffees, in fact.

“Skinny cappuccino with a double shot and extra foam?” he asks, holding a cup toward my best friend.

Her chin hits the floor right alongside mine.

“How? How did you know that?” I whisper.

He turns to me, my coffee in his hand with a devastating smile spread across his face.

Fuck. I was right earlier.

This man is beyond dangerous.