Page 24 of Faking Romance

I roll my eyes. “You say that like you were forced to go to a birthday party for a kid you don’t like.”

“Well, I admit, I didn’t think I’d have fun, and honestly, I was a little worried when Al said he’d find me a date.”

I give a little laugh. “Fine, I was equally concerned when Al asked me to go out on a blind date with someone.”

We both stand there grinning at each other like two middle schoolers. Gray leans over and kisses my cheek and I blush.

“I had a good time with you, Roxy,” he says as he pulls back.

I go to lean in and kiss him on the lips because I’m sort of drunk and he smells good, and damn, he is hot. But then, a little voice calls out from above us.

“Are you guys going to kiss like in the movies?” Ava asks.

Gray’s eyes widen and I’m sure mine do too as we both look up and see Ava leaning out her window.

“Ava, be careful,” Gray says, and damn it if his protectiveness over this little girl doesn’t tug at my ovaries.

“Mr. Gray, Iambeing careful. I only have my head sticking out. The rest of me is on Mr. Pickles,” she explains.

I press my lips together to keep from laughing but my entire body starts shaking. Gray leans down and smiles at me.

“We were just saying good night, Ava. Go back to bed or I’ll have to come up there,” he says.

“OK, good night,” she says quickly and closes her window.

We both burst into laughter.

“Oh my God!” I say as I press a hand to my chest. “Who is Mr. Pickles?”

“Her giant stuffed donkey. Brayden got it for her when she turned three. She had a donkey obsession after visiting a petting zoo,” he explains with a laugh.

“Right. Well, good night…Mr. Gray,” I tease as I unlock my door and step through the threshold.

“Good night, Roxy,” Gray says as he waits till the door is shut and then goes inside the apartment building. I walk to the back of my store and into my small studio, smiling while I change into my pajamas. Maybe this Tin Man has a heart after all.

CHAPTERTEN

Grayson

I sit at the bar. Al is shaking a martini and talking to Carly. Ava is sitting next to Brayden, sipping a Shirley Temple. And Cam and Drew are standing at the end of the bar arguing over who is better at blowjobs, only they are using code words in front of Ava.

“You know I have technique at blowing bubbles,” Cam argues.

“There’s no way. I’ve blown way more bubbles than you. It’s not even a competition,” Drew scoffs.

“Ladies, ladies, ladies, I’m sure you are both amazing at blowing bubbles,” Hutch says as he wraps an arm around each of them and leans toward the bar. “Hey, Al, do we have any of that lager left from last week?”

“Sure do,” Al says with a grin as he pours Cam her martini and then grabs a lager from the mini-fridge.

“Sweet. Thanks,” Hutch says, taking his beer and walking back over to sit with Margie and Cornelia.

“I can blow really big bubbles,” Ava says proudly.

Carly spits out her drink, coughing as she tries to compose herself. Brayden pats her on the back but has to turn away. Al grimaces. And Cam, Drew, and I lose it.

“What? I can. Mom, can I go get my bubble gun?” she asks innocently.

It takes a full thirty seconds for all of us to compose ourselves.

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