Page 50 of Playing Pretend

He turns for the bathroom, flinging the towel over his shoulder. “Keep talking dirty, Pip. You’re only giving me more inspiration.”

“We’re in our suite. This isn’t part of the challenge, remember?”

He clucks his tongue and walks from view. “Sorry. I forgot. My apologies.” There’s no apology in his tone. Not an ounce as the bathroom door closes behind him.

I grab my cell. Slip into sandals. Then escape the room as I text a pleading message to Cassidy, asking for her room number.

She replies in a heartbeat.

Cassidy

315. I just got out of the shower.

I’m at her suite in seconds, banging my fist against the door.

She answers in a towel, her face crimson with sunburn. “What’s the emergency?

“Can you keep a secret?” I invite myself in, sliding past her to enter the much smaller suite with a crumpled unmade bed, the curtains drawn.

“Is this something spicy? I promise my lips are sealed.”

“I mean it, Cass.” I place my cell on the tiny dining table and turn to her. “This is abigsecret. One that can’t get back to Pete or Max or anyone else in the office.”

“Hold that thought for one second.” She strides to the alcove with the fridge and snatches at the mini bar. “Vodka or gin?”

“Both.” I’m not sure more alcohol is the answer, but I crave the dulling effects.

She lobs the tiny vodka bottle at me, keeping the gin for herself. “Okay. Now, what’s going on? Is everything okay?”

“No.” I bark a delirious laugh and crack the lid. “Not one single thing is even close to being in the realm of okay.”

“Then lay it on me.” She drops to the bed. “Has Julian caused more problems? Have you broken out in a messy heat-burn sex rash from your extracurriculars with Rome?”

I raise the bottle and take a gulp, the liquid burning down my throat. “In answer to your first question—yes.” I take another gulp. “When it comes to the second—no… But in the future, who the hell knows? The crazy part is that we’re not actually dating. We’re not even a couple.”

There’s an awkward pause where my friend stares at me. “Excuse me? Run that last part by me again.”

“It’s a long story.” One with future job prospects I’m not ready to share. “The main gist is that Rome is here as a fake boyfriend to keep Julian at bay.”

“Oh…”

“It wasn’t meant to be complicated.” I take another gulp. “Julian had been calling constantly. Texting incessantly. I wasn’t even going to come to the resort—”

“But then Rome offered to be your plus one?”

I nod because for the most part, it’s true.

“And now you’re in love?”

“No.” My eyes bug. “I think it’s some weird, rekindled childhood lust thing. But that’s only natural, right? He’s an attractive guy who keeps touching me—”

“Not to mention he plays his role exceptionally well, girlfriend. I could’ve sworn you two were the real deal.”

“I know. He’s gone above and beyond the call of duty where his hands are concerned.”

“It’s more than that. The way he looks at you. Chef’s kiss.” She places her fingers to her lips, smooching them. “But you implied something else had happened with Julian. What did he do?”

“Everything and nothing at the same time.” I scan the room for the trash can, finding it under the table. “To sum it up real quick, he admitted he stayed in our relationship even though he knew it wasn’t working. Apparently, he thought it would mean he had a better chance of scoring the Bellefont contract.” I dump the empty bottle in the trash, then turn back to face her wide-eyed shock. “That’s when Rome entered the scene.”

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