HOLDEN

I stood outside Harmony’s hotel room, a smirk already playing on my lips. I rapped my knuckles against the door, leaning against the frame with a bouquet of roses in hand. When the door opened, Harmony appeared, her eyes narrowing when she saw the flowers. 

“Seriously?” she asked, though she took them and stepped back inside, giving me room to enter. 

I followed her in, taking my time to admire her look. Dressed in a simple, classic black dress that hugged her figure. I bit my lip. 

“Well, aren’t you a beaut.” I said, giving her an approving nod. 

She rolled her eyes. 

“Thanks.” She said, but there was no warmth behind it. 

I raised an eyebrow, looking at her expectantly. 

Harmony stopped fussing with the flowers, noticing my gaze. 

"What? What are you looking at?"

I crossed my arms, leaning against the wall as my grin widened. 

“Not going to tell me I look like a million bucks?”

She scoffed. 

“Not a chance.” Harmony set the roses down, then folded her arms and squared her shoulders, looking at me as though I were a kid about to get scolded. “You got us into this mess with Weston, and you are going to be on your absolute best behavior tonight. Got it?”

I shrugged, slouching into the nearest chair with that same unbothered expression. 

“If that’s what you want, but it sounds rather boring.”

Her brows pulled together as she continued.

“Now he thinks we’re a couple, Holden. How do you expect me to keep up with this if you’re just going to keep pushing buttons?”

“There are worse blokes you could be going on a fake date with.” I said with a slow grin, enjoying every second of her frustration.

She checked the time on her phone with a sigh. “We need to go before we’re late,” she said, brushing past me toward the door. 

I wasn’t ready to leave just yet; I reached out, caught her wrist, and tugged her back, pulling her onto my lap. She gasped, immediately squirming, but my arm wrapped around her waist. I could feel her glare burning into me as I leaned close, my free hand sliding to rest on her hip. 

“You need to learn to relax a bit, Harmony. You might even enjoy the night.” I murmured, my voice smooth and teasing.

She shoved my hand away and scrambled up, her expression indignant as she folded her arms. Not bothering with a response, she grabbed her purse, gave me a pointed look, and stalked out of the room. I chuckled, letting her have her moment as I followed her. Oh, I’ll have a good time tonight—and by the end of it, she just might, too.

I guided Harmony to our table with my hands on her back, feeling her tense at my touch. I smirked, savoring her irritation as I pulled out her chair with an exaggerated flourish. 

“You’re out with a real gentleman tonight.” I teased, shooting her a smug grin.

Harmony’s scoff was practically audible as she sat down. 

“Funny, I don’t see one.”

I chuckled and slid into the seat beside her, casually placing my hand on her knee under the table. Predictably, she swatted it away almost immediately, her brow furrowing in a silent warning. 

“You know, this kind of disdain will make it obvious we’re faking it.” I said, unable to hold back a grin. 

Her expression shifted, a look of resignation flickering across her face before she let out a defeated sigh. She nodded, and I didn’t waste the opportunity. My hand returned to her knee, a little more confidently this time, and I glanced down at the menu, rubbing gentle circles with my thumb as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

It wasn’t long before Weston and his girlfriend arrived, and I leaned back in my chair with my usual air of ease as we exchanged brief, polite greetings. Weston’s girlfriend looked decidedly less than thrilled, casting a lingering look toward Harmony that I couldn’t help but find amusing. 

The table was engulfed in an awkward silence. I always hated silence. I leaned forward, glancing at Harmony before addressing the table. 

“I’m thinking of going with the steak,” I said, my tone casual. “Nothing like a good meal after a win.”

Harmony glared at me, and I couldn’t help but smirk, catching the way Weston’s expression shifted. My win wasn’t just the race, but the girl beside me, too. 

I watched as Weston draped his arm over the back of his girlfriend’s chair, ignoring the barely concealed tension radiating from across the table. When Harmony’s foot collided with my leg under the table, I jumped and leaned in, whispering close to her ear. 

“Save that for the bedroom.” I said with a grin. 

She scoffed, her cheeks faintly pink as she focused on her menu. I could feel her frustration simmering and decided it was far too entertaining not to stir up further. Weston’s girlfriend spoke up, her voice light but probing. 

“So, Holden, what do you do outside of racing?” 

I shrugged, keeping my tone casual. 

“Honestly? Not much else I’d rather be doing,” I replied. “Racing pretty much takes up all my focus.”

She nodded, turning back to her menu, and I glanced at Harmony, noticing the silent glances she and Weston kept exchanging. I had a feeling of what was going through her head, but I wasn’t about to let her attention stray. I leaned closer to her, my hand still resting on her knee but now sliding just a little higher. 

“You know,” I said softly, just loud enough for her to hear, “you look stunning tonight. Hard not to be distracted.”

Harmony shot me an exasperated look, though I could see a hint of a blush in her cheeks. She glanced around, clearly hoping neither Weston nor his girlfriend noticed how close we were.

“Holden,” she whispered through gritted teeth, trying to brush my hand off her leg.

My hand slid up her thigh, teasing her soft skin. I could feel the tension radiating off her, and I could see the blush coloring her cheeks. I simply grinned, undeterred, and raised my voice a notch. 

“So, Harmony and I are planning a getaway during our little break. Do you both have any plans?” 

Harmony’s eyes widened, and she stiffened, but I only tightened my grip, my fingers brushing in subtle circles as I watched Weston’s reaction from the corner of my eye.

“We have plans, yeah.” 

I nodded. My fingers traced feather-light circles on her thigh, inching ever closer to her clothed core. I could feel her body tremble as I teased her.

“I’m thinking we should go somewhere we can get wet.” I said with a grin. “What do you think, baby?” 

“Sounds fun.” She said with a fake smile, biting her lip afterwards as my finger brushed over the slightly damp fabric. 

I’m starting to think she’s an exhibitionist. 

I applied the slightest bit of pressure against her clit. She inhaled, her hips jerking towards my touch. However, I immediately pulled away once the waitress started approaching our table. I could have sworn I heard her whine. As the waitress took Weston’s order, I fixed her with a heated look, patting her thigh in a silent promise of more to come later.