Page 29 of Playing Pretend

He can’t kiss me again.

“Did I overhear correctly?” Pete’s voice carries from inside the conference room.

I flinch.

“Are you going to lunch when you’re meant to be preparing for Capture the Flag?” he adds.

Shit.

I pivot to face him as he walks from the room. “Sorry, team bonding skipped my mind. Thank you for the reminder.”

“You’re not going to miss it, are you?” He raises a brow. “It’s for partners, too. So make sure Rome joins us. I wouldn’t want to keep you two lovebirds apart any longer than necessary.”

“What a blessing.” My tone is brittle. “I promise I’ll be there.” But I’ll be keeping the details to myself. Rome and I need to maintain a wide birth. “I just need to make a call, then get changed.”

“Great.” He claps his hands together. “I’m not ashamed to admit I want the extra exposure to your boyfriend. The more he gets to know our team, the more inclined he’ll be to contract us for the sale of those Bellefont condos.”

Perfect. That’s exactly what I need added to this weekend—my employer trying to seduce the man who is fake seducing me.

“I’ll see you soon.” I retrieve my cell and march away as I dial my brother’s number. If anyone can drag Rome into line, it’s him.

“You calling to admit defeat already?” Rett says in greeting.

“No, but you need to put your business partner on a leash. What he’s doing is above and beyond the call of duty.”

“It’s a shame I’m not there to see it.”

For once, I thought Everett would be on my side with the wholefriendship boundariesandlittle sisterangle. The last thing I need is them teaming up. “Don’t be a jerk.”

“Come on, Piper. You can’t tell me you didn’t anticipate him taking full advantage of the situation. He loves messing with you.”

“And I love messing with him… I just didn’t expect him to disregard decency at a work event.”

“What’s he done that lacks decency?”

“What hasn’t he done?” I scoff. “For starters, he kissed me.”

“And?”

“There needs to be anand?” That was my whole case in point. The cherry on top of this shit-show sundae.

“Piper.” My name is a weary chastisement. “He’s meant to be your boyfriend. I would’ve assumed kissing was a prerequisite.”

I clench the cell tighter, bringing it directly in front of my mouth. “Fakeboyfriend, Rett. This is meant to be pretend.”

“How do you know the kiss wasn’t?”

“Maybe because his mouth was all up in mine. We weren’t playing charades, brother.”

“I think I understand the problem.” He laughs, the sound grating my ears. “You thought he would be animaginaryboyfriend—one who isn’t necessarily around to participate and function in public. But the agreement was afakeboyfriend, little sis. That means all the bells and whistles without the emotion.”

“What I expected was the title without the grabby hands.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, attempting to stem my building headache. “Now I’m not sure what the hell I’m meant to do.”

“And you’re asking me? Nobody is better at diffusing his charm than you. Turn the tables and counter his exceptionally efficient manipulation.”

“He’s not exceptionally efficient. He just has no concern for my current employment.”

“So he’s being disrespectful? Rude? Aggressive?” The laughter leaves his voice.

---