Page 73 of Playing Pretend

It’s light. Endurable. Not enough to falter my stride—only my pulse.

I hold my chin high, my shoulders straight, and stop a foot from his side. “Good evening, everyone.”

Pete turns to face me with a smile. “Good evening.”

“Evening.” Cassidy beams.

Rome inches closer, our shoulders brushing as he murmurs, “You’re stunning.”

This time my cheeks don’t heat at his attention. My heart does. It squeezes and twists with warmth. “Thank you.”

He slides a palm across the curve of my back.

“No touching,” I whisper.

“Nounprofessionaltouching,” he counters. “Lesson number three—you need to be more aware of specifics when negotiating.”

Touché.

“You really do look amazing,” Cassidy gushes. “I wish I could pull off a dress like that.”

Rome snickers, his mouth moving near my ear as he murmurs, “Should I tell her I’ll spare her a thought when I’m pulling it off later?”

“Don’t you dare.” I elbow him in the ribs, then smile at my friend. “Thank you. This is the first chance I’ve had to wear it.”

Pete finishes his drink and places it on the bar before retrieving his cell from his pocket. “Should we head inside? I think my lovely wife is already on her way to the conference room.”

“Well, we’d better not keep her waiting.” Cassidy leads the way toward the building.

Pete keeps pace at her side.

I follow, attempting to gain a breather from Rome’s touch, only to be pulled back by his hold on my wrist.

“Can I get you a drink first?” He drags me around to face him.

“No, thanks. I’m not drinking tonight.”

He raises a brow. “And why is that?”

Self-preservation. “I don’t want to lower my guard when you’ve gone to great lengths in an attempt to push me off-balance.”

“This isn’t a push.” He releases my wrist. “Merely a nudge.”

“It’s overkill.” I hold his gaze, acting unfazed by the toy that continues to gently vibrate inside me. “And entirely inappropriate. But you already know that.”

“You agreed I could play the boyfriend role while I was here, didn’t you?”

I don’t answer. Not only because it’s a rhetorical question, but because I don’t want him to point out another lesson I need to learn.

“I’m still within the scope of my role.” He raises a hand, placing his fingers beneath my chin, gently sliding his thumb back and forth along my throat. He slays me with those dark, deep eyes, his infallible confidence making my chest hum. “If you were mine, I’d constantly be placing you in positions not only similar to the one you’re currently in, but far more illicit. Am I wrong in thinking you should’ve expected this type of behavior?”

He’s wrong in thinking I could participate without getting emotionally invested. That I’d be able to brush it off with a laugh and pretend like it was all fun and games instead of a major complication to our friendship. But it’s only one night.

I can do this.

“It’s another valuable lesson learned,” I purr, pretending he has absolutely no hold over me. “I’m hungry. I’ll meet you inside.” I turn and walk toward the main building.

He doesn’t follow.

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