Page 32 of Pretend for Me

After signing some non-disclosure paperwork, along with a prenup that my legal team required after our chat at the restaurant a few days ago, Piper mentioned that she’d be bringing along “a few essentials” for her extended stay, but she definitely hadn’t prepared me for a kid and rabbits.

She waves a dismissive hand in between us. “Oh no, I have about six other suitcases, a couple boxes of shoes, and a few more full of knick-knacks that your chauffeur is bringing by later.” She must see the look of shock on my face because she continues, “I didn’t want to have to keep schlepping to my condo every time I needed clean underwear, you know? So, I brought a few extra things to make it feel like home around here. Just the essentials, like I said.”

“Right . . .” I say, hesitantly. “Just the essentials.”

Gently setting the cage down in my foyer, she introduces the boy beside her. “This is Rome, my best friend Sarina’s son. He’s off school today for one of those mystery teacher work days, and since both my besties had to be at the salon, I told them I’d watch him. But truthfully, I’ll do just about anything to hang out with this kid.” She looks at Rome adoringly, making him blush. “You’re excited aboutspending the day helping your aunt move in, aren’t you, Romeo?”

Rome nods enthusiastically, his eyes gleaming behind his glasses. A light blue strap secures them to his head and his frames have tiny Saturns depicted on them. Lowering his book, the kid shoves his hand out at me for a shake. “I’m Roman Kabir Arora-Weston, but you can call me Rome. I’m six years old, and my mom says I’m going to be a ‘new clear’ scientist because I like space stuff.” He proudly displays the cover of his hardback. “See? This book is calledCool Space Facts for Kids.”

I take his small hand in mine. “Space facts, huh? What’s the coolest one you know?”

Rome thinks about it for a moment, his mouth twisting to the side. “That a million Earths could fit inside the sun!” His eyes go wide. “A million! Can you believe that?”

I shake my head. “That’s pretty unbelievable. Want to know my favorite space fact?”

Rome’s brows shoot up, his glasses shifting on his face as he nods.

“Did you know that the moon is actually shaped like a lemon?”

Rome’s mouth hangs open. “No way! Really?”

I nod, feeling satisfied having impressed the kid. “Really.” I grin. “By the way, you have a pretty impressively long name, Roman Kabir Arora-Weston.”

He beams with pride before sticking out his right hand enthusiastically. “It’s cuz I’m half Indian American, like my mom,” he declares, before sticking out his left hand, still holding the book, as if literally showcasing his dual heritage. “And half Caucasian American, like my dad. See?”

“I see.” I chuckle because the kid is cute as fuck. “Well, guess what?”

“What?” he asks, leaning against Piper’s leg.

Smiling down at him, she absentmindedly brushes his hair off his forehead, and for reasons I can’t quite comprehend, the gesture tightens my chest.

I clear my throat, sticking my left hand out and mirroring his enthusiasm. “I’m also half Indian American because of my dad.” I throw out the other arm. “And Caucasian American because of my mom.”

“Whoa!”

I raise a brow, placing my hands inside my pockets and rocking back on my heels. “Looks like we have a lot in common, kid.”

Rome grins up at Piper. “Aunt Piper, can I stay here with you sometimes?”

“Um . . .” Piper hesitates, glancing from him to me. “Well, that’s up to Mr. Dev?—”

“You’re welcome to stay here anytime you want, buddy. Maybe you could even teach me more about space.”

Rome gives me a toothy grin before his gaze drifts to my living room, where something has caught his eye. “You play with Legos?”

I follow his gaze to the small shelf with some boxes neatly stored in them. “Yeah, sometimes when my ten-year-old sister, Deena, comes over.” I tilt my head to the shelf. “I’ve got bracelet-making kits, cross-stitching kits, tons of art supplies, and Legos. Want to go check them all out?”

Before I’ve even finished speaking, Rome has toed off his shoes and is rushing to the living room with his book. I turn back to see an indiscernible expression on Piper’s face. The rabbit cage is now next to her feet, and the rabbits themselves have huddled together in a corner, their chests quickly rising and falling with each breath.

She pulls all her hair over to one shoulder and for the first time, I notice that she’s wearing some sort of off-the-shoulder faded pink shirt, revealing the strap of somethingblack and lacy underneath along with the constellation of moles traveling down her collarbone.

And not for the first time since I’ve met my stunning fake fiancée, my dick hardens inside my pants at the thought of ripping that lace off her to lick and suck each one of those tiny moles down her body.

“Thanks for letting me bring him over,” she says, making me rip my eyes from her smooth skin. “He’s pretty easy, but I’ll warn you, once he’s done with that book, he’ll literally repeat each fact until you have blood coming out of your ears.”

I chuckle. “He seems like my kind of kid.”

Piper pulls her bottom lip in between her teeth, but I see a smile lurking behind it.

---