Repaying the Debt

Chapter5

Chapter Five

“It doesn’t matter, I don’t want to get married.”

“So, what does that have to do with me?” Tightening my arms around my middle as if it could take away the slowly building panic attack that was trying to pull me under.

“I told my father that I was engaged.” Frowning, I tried not to squirm as he pinned me down with a look before continuing on. “I told him that we wanted a long engagement so that she could finish her schooling.”

“That’s good, you could put him off for a while-”

“He was fine with it for over a year, now he wants to come meet his future daughter-in-law.” Leonardo grumbled, his teeth sinking into his lower lip. Hand clenching into a fist at his side. “He’ll be in town in two days.”

“So in two days, I just need to pretend that we’re getting married?”

His hand unclenched, and he nodded at me. “Yes, just while he’s here.”

“I mean if you think I can do it. I still don’t understand why you can’t ask one of your fans to do it. I’m sure that Chrissy would be more than happy to.” I said, my words coming out in a rapid rush.

Leonardo moved to crouch down in front of me, taking my hands from around my waist to hold them in his. I felt sparks move along my skin and I cursed my stupid hormones. He looked good, but I knew that looks can be deceiving, he was probably a playboy like I had told Chrissy earlier and I didn’t need to read into things. No matter what she had told me or what my body was telling me right now. “They would give themselves away. I saw you out there, you didn’t freak out. Didn’t rush me or Cy with questions. You are going to pretend that we’re together for a few weeks while my father is in town.”

“A few weeks?”

“Yes, just while he’s in town. When he leaves, you and I can both go back to our lives.”

“I don’t know if I can do that.”

Leo’s lips twisted up into a smile that was anything but friendly. His hold on my hands tightened. Not hurting me, but making it clear that I wouldn’t be able to slip away easily. “Then I guess we need to talk about you paying for the damage you caused.”

I trembled, taking another deep breath as I looked up at the ceiling. “I don’t have that kind of money.”

“I can call the police and let them sort it out.” He stood up, pulling his phone from his pocket.

My heart dropped into my stomach and I realized that I didn’t have much choice. “No, wait.”

He smiled at me, tucking his phone back into his pocket. “So you don’t want me to call the police?”

Looking away from him, I shook my head. I didn’t want him calling the police, but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad pretending that we were engaged.

“You’ll do it?” He asked and I nodded. Unable to speak as a lump formed in the back of my throat. “Good, I’ll take you home with me tonight.”

“Wait, what?” I stood, looking at him. Wishing that I had just stayed seated. Standing close to him like this made it harder to think. Hard to not just give in to what he wanted.

“I can’t have you going home and chickening out.” He said, staring me down. There was a challenge in his eyes when I didn’t back down to him and give in. I didn’t know what that meant, but it sent a chill up my spine.

“I, I’m not.”

“Good.” he pulled out his phone, not backing up away from me. I watched his long, delicate fingers move across the screen as he tapped out a message. “I’m arranging for my driver to come and get us. I’ll wrap up things and then we’ll head home.”

“But Chrissy, my friend. We came here together. I can’t just ditch her.” I said, taking a half step back from him. That proved to be a mistake as I tripped over the stool behind me.

His arm shot out, wrapping around my waist. He pulled me against his chest. Warmth spread across my cheeks. I brought my hands up, trying to push myself away from his firm chest. He didn’t let me go, instead, he held me tighter. He brought his head down, his lips brushed against the shell of my ear. His warm breath made me shiver. “Please, be careful.”

He turned the two of us, moving me away from the step stool before dropping his arm from around me. I nodded, finally looking up at him. My gaze moved to his lips and I thought about how soft they looked. What would they feel like pressed against mine?

“We won’t have to kiss, will we?”

“We might. Does that scare you?” He asked. I started to nod my head and he hooked a finger under my chin. His touch made my heart do a funny little flip and I knew that it shouldn’t. I had only just met him and now I owed him so much.

“It does.”

His gaze moved to my lips, his tongue swept across his bottom lip, and he leaned closer to me. I closed my eyes. “It does me too, but I promise that’s all I’ll ask of you.”

I opened my eyes, and he brushed his lips against mine. His lips were just as soft as they looked. The kiss was over before it had begun and it left me wondering if I had imagined it. He stepped away, grabbing my hand. “Marry me, Izzy?”

“Okay, I’ll do it.”

A smile spread across his face and it felt like I was the center of his world for a brief moment. There was a commotion from the hallway and Leo looked towards the door. “We should get back out there.”

He turned back towards me, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear before pulling me towards the door.

Once we were out among the guests in the gallery, he let go of my hand but kept me close. Chrissy kept trying to catch my eye. I gave her a smile, mouthing the words that I would text her. Cy stood beside her, a strange, secretive smile on his face as he looked back and forth between Leo and me.

We walked around together, Leo talking about the different art pieces that he had created. A brief touch or a glance spared my way in the few quiet moments that he had. I pasted on a fake smile for the cameras, easily slipping into the role that he had given me.

Before I knew it, the night was drawing to a close and Leo was leading me outside.