Page 40 of Counterfeit Connection

I watch the numbers light up as we ascend to my floor. “My most recent ex, Martin, and I broke up over a year ago.”

“Have you dated anyone since? Just casually?”

I shake my head. “Nothing I’d even consider relevant. There were dates here and there, of course, but all duds.”

“Silly bastards,” Griffin says and tugs on my hand when the elevator dings. “Lead the way.”

I walk slightly ahead of him, guiding him down the decades old hardwood floors that line the hall until we reach the third apartment from the end. 10C. My home.

I slip the key into the lock and push it open, only to be immediately met with a very hungry gray, British shorthair named Marilyn. She’s loudly demanding I feed her right this instant.

“Someone is cranky.” He laughs.

“Mari has serious attitude when her schedule is interrupted. Hello, baby, Mama’s here. Let us in and I’ll get you.” She sniffs the top of Griffin’s shoes before looking up at him. I’m getting the instantwho the hell is thislook. After I sneak by to fill her food bowl, I’m immediately occupied and more nervous than I was with cameras around. I don’t know what is up with that.

I set the newly filled bowl on the floor, expecting her to dive in and devour every bite immediately. When she doesn’t, I turn around to find her snuggled into Griffin’s neck, purring away. “Well, looks like you’ve made fast friends.”

“Usually, cats hate me with a passion. This one seems to think I’m her boyfriend.”

“Two-timing me already?” I tease.

“How was I supposed to resist this face?” he asks while giving Mari the best chin scratches.

“Look at that. She even has her eyes closed, savoring the sensations. What a little homewrecker.”

“All right, little love,” he says as he bends and lets her plop onto the floor. “Go have your dinner.”

She struts down the short hallway and into the kitchen.

“Follow her lead and you’ll see the living room. If you want to make yourself at home, I’ll work on our tea. I’m just going to slip out of these heels.”

“Sliding into something a little more comfortable?” He smirks devilishly.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, sir… but yes.”

“Now, that is the version of the word a man could get used to.”

Griffin smiles as he shrugs out of his jacket, sliding it over one of my breakfast barstools. Behind my bedroom door, I kick my heels off until they slide under my bed. My purse lands on the chair in the corner. I crack the window next to my closet so the night air can flow in to cool my room. The clip on the bedside table becomes a welcome accessory as I twist my hair up off my neck.

When I return to the living room, Griffin is unbuttoning the cuffs of his sleeves then rolling them up methodically. I can’t explain it, but the sight of him doing that small thing makes me shiver. “Your hair looks as lovely up as it does down.”

“I’m sorry if I was staring.”

“Were you?” he asks.

“I’m going to be honest, Griffin. I don’t know about the outside world, but this night has felt like a full-blown date to me.”

“How does that make you feel?”

“I don’t know.” I turn away from him to busy myself with filling up the kettle. “I guess it’s a little more confusing than I anticipated.”

“Are you reconsidering our arrangement?”

“No.” I shake my head and fire up the stove, placing the kettle on to heat. “Did you feel the same way?”

“If we’re continuing on our path of honesty, yes, I did. You’re very easy to be with, Kaitlyn.” I can hear the soles of his shoes on the tile behind me. I can feel the heat of his body. When I turn around, he’s leaning against the counter next to me. “Why did your relationship with Martin end?”

I swallow the lump that’s instantly formed in my throat. “We’re better off as friends.”

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