Page 112 of Puck and Prejudice

I step into her space, wrapping my arms around her tiny waist. “Nothing. I just wanted to do this.”

I’m kissing her before she can stop me. PDA isn’t a smart idea when we’re pretending to hate each other, but after seeing my friends get bent out of shape defending her, I have to remind her that she’s mine.

After a while, she pulls back. “Jackson… what are you doing?”

“Sorry, gorgeous. I’m having withdrawals.”

Her cheeks turn pink. “Well, you’d better control your urges, or your friends will discover our secret pretty quickly.”

I caress her face. “Right. This should get me through dinner.”

“Good.” She steps back. “Let’s go before they come back to rescue me.”

I clench my jaw. “They totally would.”

She arches a brow, and her lovely lips curl up. “You’re not jealous, are you?”

“No,” I reply, but it sounds more like a growl.

Shaking her head, she laughs, and it’s a glorious sound. I want to bottle it. I didn’t realize how hard it’d be to pretend I hate her when all I want to do is touch and kiss her.

Dinner will be torture.

ChapterForty-Five

IZZIE

Jackson and I enter the restaurant together but keep a safe distance between us. Grayson and Frederico are already seated, facing each other. That means I’ll be looking at Jackson’s handsome face all night. I’ll have to remember to not make googly eyes when I look at him. It will be hard when his proximity alone makes my body tingle.

“Everything all right?” Grayson asks when I pull out my chair.

“Yeah, everything is fine.”

“Let me help you with that.” He makes a motion to stand, but Jackson beats him to it, and he nudges my chair forward.

“I got it.”

“Thank you,” I say.

“Good to see you got over your bad mood,” Frederico pipes up.

Jackson ignores him and sits down.

“Maybe you spoke too soon,” Grayson murmurs.

“I’m tired and hungry. Let’s order.”

Jackson is grumpy for real, but I know I’m not the reason. Or maybe I am. He’s having a hard time pretending, just like I am. I glance at the menu to distract myself from the desire that’s simmering just below the surface. “Everything looks good here.”

“You should get the surf n turf. It’s the best,” Jackson blurts out, surprising me.

“Oh. Thanks for the suggestion.”

Frederico leans closer and whispers, “Maybe you shouldn’t, considering it’s Darcy who’s suggesting it.”

Jackson glares at his friend. “Really? Why would I lie to her?”

“Surf n turf sounds lovely. I’ll order it if you do too?” I smile sweetly.

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