Page 83 of The Rebel Billionaire

I had the fleeting thought that he could see everything that passed through my mind. Taking the easy way out, Ilookedaway.

Beside me, Charlie said in a low voice, "I forgot to mention it. There's a thing tomorrow, black tie. I'm supposed togo,but. . ."

She looked miserable and embarrassed. I was missing something. Maybe she didn't want me to go with her. Maybe she didn't want to drag her tattooed badass fuck-buddy to a charity benefit. If the Winters family was attending, I could bet it would be filled with the highest echelon of Atlantasociety.

"It's probably safe enough," I said, glancing up at Aiden. Beside me, Charlie whispered, "Doyoumind?"

I still couldn't read her and I wasn't going to ask what was wrong. Maybe it would've been smarter if I did ask. I never saw the point of uncertainty when a question coulderaseit.

But I wasn't sure I wanted this uncertainty erased. Was I ready to hear her tell me I wasn't the type you brought to a black-tiebenefit?

Aiden was right. I was apussy.

Hoping I was saying the right thing, I looked down at Charlie. "I don't mind. If you're sure you want to go, you're not going without me. I doubt Hayward would dare to make a move with an audience like that. He wants revenge, but he doesn't want theattention."

Looking up at Aiden, I asked, "Will Sinclair provide extrasecurity?"

"Already done," Aidenanswered.

"Then we'll be there," I said. Charlie let out a breath ofrelief.

At least, I thought she wasrelieved.Fuck.

From across the table, Abigail sent me a delighted smile and said, "Thank you so much. I know it's not a great time to be out and about with everything going on with Charlie, but Cheryl was so helpful with our event last month. It was my first for The Winters Foundation, and I couldn't have done it without her. I wanted to return thefavor."

Charlie closed her hand over mine and said, "We're looking forward to it. It shouldbefun."

From the look on her face, you'd think she'd agreed to attend her own execution. Dropping my lips to her ear, I whispered, "I can arrange for more discreet security if you'd rather go onyourown."

I hated making the offer, but I had to do it. If she didn't want to go to this thing with me, I wasn't going to back her into a corner. That would just make both of usmiserable.

She jerked back at my words, turning her head to look at me, her eyes wide andconfused.

"What do you mean? Why would I want to go without you? I didn't think you'd want to go, and I didn't want you to feel like youhadto. . ."

Shetrailedoff.

Fuckingfuck.

Charlie sounded as messed up about all of this as I was. I liked her family, and dinner was excellent, but at the moment, I wished us back at her house, naked on herfuton.

Just like it was before things started to getcomplicated.

As the word passed through my head, Isighed.

This shit was why I didn't do complicated. Charlie and me naked made sense. Once you threw in the rest of the family, their social status, their past and mine, Charlie and I shot straight past complicated intoimpossible.

"Is everything set up with Sophie?" Possibly sensing the tension between Charlie and me, Maggie interrupted with a distraction. Charlie let out a breath and leaned forward to meetMaggie'seyes.

"She's moving in the day before Aunt Amelia does. I think she'llworkout."

"Have you met her?" Jacob asked Aiden. Aidennodded.

"She's certainly competent. It remains to be seen if she can keep Amelia undercontrol."

"Isn't your Aunt Amelia in her eighties?" Abigail asked Jacob. Helaughed.

"She is. But Amelia's what her generation would have called a pistol. Age may have brought her a few health problems, but she's stilltrouble."