Page 36 of Under My Skin

“See you soon,” I mumbled before hanging up, then turned to Morgan. “Looks like we’re getting that coffee after all.”

I almost didn’t notice Braden as he walked into the coffee shop. He was wearing a baseball cap and big Aviator sunglasses, which covered half of his face. Clearly, he was trying to make sure he wouldn’t be recognized on sight, which spoke volumes, especially given that we were supposed to be trying to convince the world of a romance that didn’t exist. Being spotted having a casual cup of coffee would have only helped that endeavor.

But he saw me right away, and a smile started to light up his face as he walked to where Morgan and I were standing in line to place our orders.

“Hey, beautiful,” he murmured as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. “Thanks for meeting me.”

And somehow, just that simple gesture seemed to lift some of the weight off my shoulders and help me breathe a little easier. God knew why because I had absolutely no reason to trust anything he said or did – after all, at the very least, he’d neglected to tell me something that pertained to our arrangement before having me sign that damn contract – but I couldn’t shake it. For some reason I didn’t understand, he’d had that effect on me from the second we’d met.

“Of course,” I sighed, unable to stop myself from melting into the half-hug.

Without letting go of me, Braden turned to Morgan, who had an earsplitting grin on her face. “Hey, Morgan.”

“Hey yourself,” she chuckled. “Why do I suddenly feel like a third wheel?”

He let out a quiet snort. “You’re not. You’re here for moral support. But let’s get our drinks first.”

“Yes, let’s. I need my caffeine something fierce,” she practically groaned.

“And you’re not the one with a baby at home,” I teased, forcing myself to disentangle from the bane of my existence’s arm as we stepped up to the counter.

“Hi, Dani,” Claire, the ever-chipper barista, greeted me as she grabbed a cup and started to write my name on it. “Large café con leche with two pumps of toffee nut?”

“Yes, please. And a warmed-up slice of banana bread.” My mouth was already watering in anticipation.

“You’ve got it. Anything else for you?”

I shook my head as I started to pull my wallet out, but Braden discreetly put a hand on my arm to stop me.

“These girls are with me,” he told her.

“Gotcha. Morgan, large iced vanilla latte and a pumpkin scone?”

“I clearly come herewaytoo often,” Morgan chuckled. “Yep.”

Turning to Braden, Claire furrowed her brow and cocked her head slightly, like she was trying to figure out where she knew him from. Which, given that he had yet to remove his sunglasses, wasn’t nearly as easy as it would have been otherwise.

“And what can I get for you?”

“Large iced passionfruit green tea with two pumps of peach, please. And a lemon loaf.”

“And your name for the cup?” she asked as she grabbed a plastic cup and started marking down his order.

“Garrett.”

I looked up at him, shocked that he’d used an alias. I had thought that he’d be the kind of person who’d want everyone in the world to know his name.

“Anyone ever tell you that you’re a dead ringer for the football player Braden Hicks?” she chuckled, scribbling down his phony name.

“Yeah, I get thatallthe time,” he said with a quiet snicker.

After he paid for our orders and dropped a fifty into the tip jar – couldn’t tiptoomuch without giving away his identity, I supposed – we stepped to the side to wait and I turned to him.

“Garrett?” I asked quietly.

“It’s my middle name,” he whispered back. “I use it when I don’t want to get hounded. And today’s definitelynotthe day for that.”

“Fair enough,” I chuckled weakly.

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