Page 110 of Puck and Prejudice

“Anyway, what should I tell them?”

“Wait. They don’t know I’m coming to dinner?” My voice comes out high and squeaky.

“No.”

“Oh.” Disappoint washes over me. Maybe Jackson and I aren’t really a couple.

He gets out of bed and walks closer. “I didn’t want to tell them about us before I checked with you first.”

I feel relieved, and that makes me realize something important. I was a fool for believing I could shut off my feelings for Jackson. Even if I had remained strong and not given in, my heart would never have escaped unscathed. But now there’s no turning back. I want to take the plunge with him.

“What do you think we should tell them?”

A glint of mischief shines in his eyes. “Chad and Jane were pretty confident that their plan would work.”

“True. Annoyingly so.”

Jackson smirks. “Would you be opposed to the idea of pretending their plan failed, and we can’t stand each other now?”

A zing of excitement goes through me. “Pretend for how long?”

He snakes his arms around my waist. “Just until the wedding.”

“Hmm… I’ve never lied to Jane before, but shedidkeep her relationship with Chad a secret from me for months.”

“Are you saying you’re game?”

It’s impossible to resist him when he uses his boyish charm on me. That’s just one of his superpowers. Sex god is the other. “Yes, I’m game. But that means Grayson and Frederico can’t know either.”

“I know.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t go to dinner then.”

Jackson pulls me closer. “Hell no. You’re coming.”

I tilt my head. “How are your acting skills?”

“I did theater in high school.”

“Shut up. You did not!”

“I’m not lying. I swear it.”

“Then why do you have that shit-eating grin?”

He leans down and kisses me nice and slow, making my toes curl. When he pulls back, I’m a little dizzy. “Because you don’t believe me, and I’m about to prove you wrong.”

I step back, needing some distance before I combust on the spot. “Fine. For our plan to sound believable, maybe I should head down to the bar first and pretend I didn’t know they’d be there. The idea to invite me to dinner has to come from them.”

“That’s perfect. How much of a head start do you need?”

“Fifteen minutes?”

He steps into my space again and rubs a thumb over my lips, sending chills of need down my back. “You got it, gorgeous.”

Damn it, Jackson. Stop making it harder to leave this room.

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