Kiss Me (Townsend Legacy)

Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

T aehyun

“Don’t give me that fucking look,” I tell my cousin as we stand in the private hallway, just off from the right of the main entrance where the Townsend’s Christmas Eve party takes place.

“I only have one look,” he replies casually.

“I’ve seen the way you look at your wife. You have more than one look.”

He slides one hand into his dark jeans. “Don’t expect me to look at you the way I look at my wife.”

A chuckle breaks free of my lips. “No way I want to have that type of psychotic attention on me.”

“That’s because you’ve made someone the center of your psychotic gazes. I didn’t miss the way you were staring at her across the room while she held my niece.”

Ordinarily, I would deny what he’s saying and tell him to fuck off. But the reminder only brings the memory of watching Tania while she played with the baby. Yeah, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

And yes, thoughts of what a kid between the two of us would look like danced around in my head like those damn sugar plum fairies from the opera Tania made me watch the day before.

This woman even has me watching operas.

Insanity.

“Hello?”

A frown bends my lips downward as I bring my attention back to my cousin. “Did you need something?”

He nods. “I came out here to see what the troubled look on your face was about.”

I grunt, unsurprised that my cousin picked up on my dismay. I hold up my phone. “Tania’s first Christmas gift is delayed.” I scowl in disappointment.

“Gift? The only time I recall seeing you scowl like that is when the Takahashis almost undercut our bid for the deal with Shilla Hotels,” Dae needlessly reminds me.

“Bunch of fucking criminals,” I gripe about the Japanese conglomerate that allegedly has ties to the Yakuza. “I still managed to bring that deal home, so don’t bring that bullshit up needlessly only hours before Christmas.”

My cousin raises an eyebrow. “Someone’s suddenly in the Christmas spirit? What’s the gift you’re waiting on, anyway?”

“None of your business,” I immediately reply. “Tania will be the first to know once it arrives.”

If it arrives.

“I’m going back inside,” I tell him.

I want to lay eyes on Tania again. I want to see her smile as she watches the others open their gifts, especially the children.

She’s great with kids and the camp she opens will be a huge success. I can feel it.

“Then when are you going to tell her the truth?”

Dae’s words stop me, having me turn to face him. I narrow my gaze without answering.

“Take it from me. I know how hidden truths can come back and bite you in the ass with the woman you love.”

“The woman …” I trail off.

“Accept it or deny it, but I know you as well as you know me. And when are you going to tell her the only reason you’re with her is to get back at her for turning you down?” he asks.

“She didn’t turn me down, and she’ll never find out about that so drop it,” I tell him through gritted teeth.

I’d come to that conclusion sometime over the past few days. The first time I saw Tania, I wanted her, and yes, I made an attempt. But her assistant, Liza, was actually the one to turn me down. Or rather, sent the waiter from the bar of the ski lounge we were in to do it for her.

I doubt Tania even knew about it.

“Is that why you did it?” an accusatory voice demands, before I can tell my cousin the truth.

I spin around to a furious Tania. “What? No,” I declare after I see the headline of the article on the phone in her hand. “I would never.”

“You wouldn’t? That isn’t what you claimed a few days ago,” she fumes. “Right? You’re the same person who called whatever reporter you know to expose me, didn’t you?”

She lets out a mocking laugh.

“You set this all up, didn’t you? You called Collander on that same day to tell him the truth and you still blackmailed me into this entire week just to get what you wanted. And for what?”

She pushes at my chest.

“To make me look like a fool? To embarrass me over your hurt ego?”

“Dammit, Tania.” I grab her shoulders to try to get her to stop and just listen to me. “I didn’t do this. I would never call Collander or anyone else.”

“But you did make a call. I saw you.”

“I called my dentist,” I confess. “His assistant was confused as well. I never had any intention?—”

“I don’t believe you.” She pushes my arms away from her. “Don’t touch me,” she shouts before running out of the building.

I start for her but Liza jumps in front of me. “Maybe you should stay here.”

I glare at the younger woman, preparing to barrel right through her. But then Dae steps in.

“She’s right,” he says in Korean.

“Fuck off,” I growl, attempting to sidestep him to get to the exit Tania ran out of.

“Listen.” Dae pushes his hand against my chest. “I know more than anyone that sometimes you need to let a woman cool off before you can talk to her.”

I still don’t want to hear shit he has to say. The situation between me and Tania is different than his with Kennedy. I didn’t stalk her for years or lock her in my house.

Though I’m seriously considering that second move, once I get her alone again. I don’t like her being out of my sight.

“Move.”

“No,” Dae says, his voice growing serious. “Let her be with her assistant and calm down before you speak with her again.”

In my attempt to get past Dae, I hadn’t even realized that Liza already left as well.

“Dammit,” I growl, feeling helpless. I hate this feeling more than anything.

“It’ll work out,” Dae assures, putting his arm around my shoulders.

My heart twists inside of my chest because for the first time I’m not certain I believe my cousin.