He didn’t need his friend to meddle like this. It was painfully obvious that Victoria wasn’t making any overtures about him accompanying her to the military ball. In fact, she was the first to stand and stretch her arms. “I’m going to grab some water,” she said with a fake smile. “In fact, I kinda need to head out soon.”

From the floor, John tried to behave nonchalantly. “Sure. I’ll see you tomorrow for our appointment?”

“Of course,” she said as she backed away. “It was nice to meet you, Chris.”

“I hope to see more of you, Dr. Reese,” he said with a sly grin. “Your things are in my office.” She gave a breathless laugh as she shook her head and exited the room. Once they were alone Chris let out a sigh. “Now I get it.”

“You asshole,” John said through gritted teeth. “I wasn’t planning to force myself on her little trip.”

“Yeah, I noticed. And it’s a crying shame too. You’re exactly the kind of dude who could impress her parents.”

“Did you see those moves?” John asked. “The man who taught her that would gut me if he knew I was banging his daughter.”

“I saw everything, man. Dr. Reese, as you keep calling her, is a fine woman and complicated as all get out, but she’s into you,” Chris said in an even voice. “I’m trying to do what any good wingman does: set you up for a spike.”

And he’d missed completely. “It’s too soon to take that step.”

“Are you guys still in some kind of situationship?”

“Maybe?” John was still learning new facets of her personality and every discovery was fascinating. It didn’t add up to a real relationship though. After a week of fooling around and one date, Victoria didn’t seem terribly interested in dropping the rigorous schedule of their sordid affair. But dammit, attending a ball with a handsome man seems like her style.

John could be her duke.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

After such a vigorous workout, Victoria expected a restful night’s sleep. But she was nowhere near tired. Her mind was a super highway of rushing thoughts keeping her eyes open in the darkness of her bedroom. Between school stuff, Mom stuff, and John stuff, she didn’t know which to tackle first. School drama she could handle when she saw John tomorrow as their scheduled appointment was actually work-related. Victoria had hoped they could come together to compare notes on their proposal so she could begin editing the first draft. She had to trust what John had said when he had her pinned on her back that evening. She needed to skip the middle man, Kenneth, and have enough confidence to approach the president anyway.