Mine to Lose by T. K. Rapp Page A

here first; now all the others will have to meet these
standards, at a minimum. He gives me an appreciative nod and I wrap up our
meeting with Lisa, letting her know that I’ll be in touch soon. Walking out of
the Ivy, I feel even more confident that I will be able to provide everything
that is needed for this event.
    “So how’s your husband?” Trey asks as we
approach his car.
    Bemused, I look at him, and then down to
my hand, fidgeting with my engagement ring. “I’m not married. Why do you ask?”
    “Whoever he was looked ready to kick my
ass the other night,” he answers, as he continues walking, leaving me standing
in place, realizing where I know him from.
    Fuck!

CHAPTER 9
    To say the ride back to his office was
uncomfortable is an understatement. Awkward? Yes. Hell on earth? Absolutely.
    I would be lying if I said that I didn’t
find Trey attractive, because he is. Riding in a car with Mr. Miller, my client
was professional. Easy . But riding with Trey Miller, the handsome
stranger that wanted to save me not too long ago, I felt vulnerable. For some
reason, learning that he was the guy from the other night made me feel exposed.
There was a need in me to find something about him to connect the would-be-hero
to my client.
    I tried to keep my gaze from falling
anywhere, except on him, but it was hard to ignore his presence. I was aware of
his arm between us and watched as his strong hand flexed when shifting gears.
He had taken his jacket off before getting into the car, so his white fitted
dress shirt left very little to the imagination.
    He clears his throat and speaks with an
apologetic tone. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
    “I’m not uncomfortable,” I lie. “It’s
fine.”
    “I told you I knew you from somewhere,”
he says. When I look at him, an amused smile crosses his lips. Is he
flirting with me?
    “Yes.” I return his smile and nod. “You
did say that. Guess I should have listened. I have to admit, I’m a little
embarrassed now, knowing that was you.” I can feel my cheeks turning hot. “I
don’t drink in front of my clients.”
    “Well, lucky for you, I wasn’t a client that
night.” His eyes remain fixed on the road ahead. “Just a guy who wanted to help
a girl out,” he finishes, causing my pulse to quicken.
    Neither one of us says anything else for
a few minutes, but then he glances at me, and speaks up again. “So if you’re
not married, why did he call you his wife?”
    My body tenses and my throat feels tight
as I try to give a light response. “Actually, we’re engaged, and you know how
territorial men can be.”
    “Is he going to be okay with you
coordinating this event?” he asks, with a genuine concern that I appreciate.
    “Ryan? He’ll be fine, not that he’s
around right now anyway,” I answer. Why did I say that?
    “What do you mean he’s not around?” he
asks, baffled by my response.
    I huff an annoyed breath, “He just moved
to California this weekend for work.”
    “And you didn’t go with him?”
    “Obviously I didn’t,” I retort forgetting
for the moment that this is a client, allowing my anger to seep through. Not
that I owe Mr. Miller an explanation, and yet I can’t seem to stop
revealing too much of my personal shit.
    “It’s none of my business,” he admits. “I
apologize for prying.”
    I nod and give Trey a tight smile, trying
my best to change the mood.
    A short time later, he pulls into the
T.M. parking lot and I try to remain cool as I exit the car. I grab my
belongings and notice that he’s waiting at the front of his parking space for
me. I gather what’s left of my pride and I walk over to shake his hand. “It was
nice meeting you.”
    He reaches his hand to take mine and holds
it gently, sending tingles throughout my body. “I agree. I hope I didn’t make things
awkward.”
    The only thing that’s uncomfortable are
the butterflies that decide to take up residence in the pit of my stomach at this
very