Free Compromising Kessen by Rachel van Dyken Page B

breathtaking at the moment, he didn’t even dare look into her eyes.
    “Shall we?” She smiled, holding her hand out.
    He shook his head. “And so it begins.”
    The doors of the house opened and he led her to his waiting SUV. He opened the car door just in time to see the first paparazzi fly out from behind the bushes.
    “My lord, do you have a comment?” a man asked behind the snapping camera.
    Christian smiled tensely and opened the door. Obviously he had no comment. How had he not seen the photographers in the bushes? How did this happen twice in two days?
    He pulled on his designer sunglasses and looked over to a patiently waiting Kessen. She was looking around the car.
    “So, no carriage, huh?”
    “You read too much.”
    She shook her head. “Don’t I know it.” She pulled out matching designer sunglasses and threw them on. “You know this isn’t going to disguise us, right? We’re driving around in money, putting money on our faces, and, oh yeah, our last names scream money. What did you have in mind for a date anyway? Because I doubt it’s going to be private enough.”
    He smiled triumphantly. “Oh, it will be private.”
    The car took them around to the front of The Ritz and stopped.
    “I thought you said private.” She reached for her door handle.
    His hand shot across hers. “I know chivalry is dead in America, but we open car doors for women here.”
    Whatever he said must have shocked her enough to let go of her death grip on the car. She nodded her head, and to his surprise, managed to wait a whole five seconds for him to arrive at her door to open it. He pulled her arm into his own and escorted her inside amidst the flashing lights of photographers.
    They passed a few tables in the hotel lobby on the way. Every single one of them had a newspaper with a picture of the two of them lip-locked on the front. Titles ranged from “Match of the Century” to “Marriage Made in Stock Market Heaven.” He groaned outwardly, pointing at them as they passed.
    Kessen’s groan matched his own. She had more to lose in this, and he knew she was aware of that. They were launching a new line of products just this month. Bad press wouldn’t go well with how much money they had invested into the new coffee creamer for Newberry and Co. good press, however, would make it a success, skyrocketing her father’s business into the hundred million mark.
    She hadn’t a choice in the matter. Normally a stolen kiss on a balcony would do nothing to seal your fate with someone, but since they were so high profile, and since both their families were that manipulative, it did exactly that and then some.
    The ballroom they entered was set up with tables loaded with food. The sight seemed to upset her when she saw they were alone, but it was nothing more than a brunch.
    He had her just where he wanted her.
    “Throw this on.” He tossed her a baseball hat and workout clothes.
    “What?”
    “Put. It. On,” he ordered, now standing closer to her than he would have liked. She looked mischievous and then she began pulling her clothes off.
    Whatever her ploy, it worked. His face felt so red and hot, he thought he would pass out.
    She approached him and smiled. “Do you think you want to rephrase your command?”
    He cleared his throat and closed his eyes; it was the only way to keep him from doing something they would both regret. “Please change over there, while I change over here.” He pointed to a corner of the room with a makeshift sheet in front of it, specifically designed for changing.
    Her lips were inches from his. It wouldn’t hurt, just one little kiss. He leaned in just as she moved to whisper into his ear, “Thought so.”
    The room was most definitely spinning. Though he would be a fool to admit it. And what kind of perfume did she wear? It was intoxicating. Christian normally despised perfume, thinking it too fluffy, but hers was spicy and seductive. It was an almost identical fit to her