Honestly, I know we’re not the best of friends, and we got off on the wrong foot, but come on, does she really think I’d do that?
She’s still staring at me, her big brown eyes glancing up as her lips are twisted in a frown. They’re not red this time, and I’ve got to say, I kind of miss it. She glances down at her ice cream once again, and I let out a sigh. “Just eat the damn ice cream woman,” I tell her, shaking my head. “It’s melting.”
The corner of her mouth lifts before her tongue swipes out, swirling around the tip of the ice cream, sucking it into her mouth.
Fuck.
I rip my gaze away from her, finishing off my dessert at a rate that will probably give me brain freeze, but I need to focuson something else other than the thoughts roaming around my head.
What the fuck am I doing staring at her mouth? I shouldn’t do that. I don’t even like the girl. She’s a pain in my ass, annoying as hell, and makes being around me seem like a chore. I reluctantly turn around, looking at her again.
She glances up at me, her brows furrowed. “What?” she asks, wiping at the corner of her mouth. “Do I have something on my face?”
I shake my head, but when something flashes behind her, my head snaps up, spotting a camera. Wait, no, two cameras. And where there’s two, there’s more somewhere. I watch as one of the guys talks to the other, shaking his head. Fuck, they’re not buying it.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I grab Madeline by her waist and pull her flush to me. Her lips part open as she lets out a gasp, placing her hand flat against my chest. “What are you doing?” she asks, scowling at me.
Saving your ass, that’s what.“Just go with it,” I murmur, trying not to look up at them.
“We agreed only necessary touching,” she says like she’s offended I’m actually touching her right now.
I narrow my eyes down at her. “Believe me, this is necessary.”
“How so?” she asks, arching an eyebrow. I let out a sigh, and my hand moves half an inch across her back, making her stiffen under my touch. Jesus, this girl really does not like me touching her.
“The paps are here,” I tell her.
Wrong fucking move.
“What?” Her head twists in every direction, trying to seek them out.
“Jesus.” My hand reaches up to cup her face. “Stop that. you’re going to blow our cover.”
Our eyes meet for a second, and she lets out a harsh breath. “We’re not detectives, you know.”
“Good thing we’re not.” I cock my head at her. “If we were, you would have gotten us fired. Or killed.” My eyes glance up, noticing the camera flashing at us.
I rub my thumb over her cheek, hearing her suck in a breath, her eyes widening. “What are you doing?” she whispers.
“I can see them,” I tell her, feeling her soft skin under my fingers as I brush her hair behind her ear. “They’re not buying it. We have to make it believable.”
“You’re ruining my silk press,” she whispers, narrowing her eyes at me.
I glare down at her. “My hands are dry.”
“I can feel your clammy hands,” she murmurs.
I let out a laugh, finding it amusing how stubborn this woman is, but it isn’t until her lips part that I realize how close we are. My eyes instinctively drop to them, and I let myself picture it. Kissing her. Tasting her. I know exactly what she would taste of right now. Rich, sweet cherries. What would it be like?
But when I see the rapid movement of her chest, I know that will never happen.
I let out a sigh, dropping my shoulders. “You don’t have to be nervous. I’m not going to kiss you,” I assure her. “You said that was off limits, and I listen, okay?”
She stares up at me for a while but then nods, licking her lips. I rub my thumb over her cheek again. “We need to givethem something, though,” I tell her, scanning her eyes for any sort of discomfort. We need to make it interesting enough that people talk about it, about us. But I also need to keep it within Madeline’s rules.
“My cheek,” she whispers. I nod, leaning in, and press my lips to her left cheek, her warm skin heating my lips from the touch.
The subtle sound of her throat as she swallows, prompts me to pull back and meet her eyes. I can see how nervous she is, and I don’t want her to be. “You see? That wasn’t too bad,” I tease.
