Page 60 of Perfectly Faked

Desmond studies us. “It’s perfect,” he proclaims.

Perfect?Maybe Leo is—with that devastating smile and those piercing blue eyes. Gah, how am I supposed to remember what I’m doing when he touches me like that?

“You okay with this?” Leo asks softly, his lips close to my ear.

I nod.More thanokay. It’s incredible. But that’s the problem—it’s almost too much to handle. Being like this with him stirs up everything I’ve been working so hard to ignore.

“Leo, can you whisper something to her?” Desmond suggests.

Leo hesitates for a second before I feel his breath skim my earlobe, sending a shiver through my body. “It’s fake, right?” he murmurs. “The way I look at you for the camera? Because it sure doesn’t feel like it. I didn’t realize you would bethisdistracting.”

I bite my bottom lip, trying to ignore the heat creeping up my neck. “Leo Anderson, have you been checking me out?”

I can feel the low rumble of his laughter against my skin. “Let’s just say, if they wanted me to focus, they shouldn’t have put you in my arms.”

I scoff lightly, biting back my smile. “That’s a weak excuse.”

His voice dips lower, making my pulse skip. “It’s not an excuse, Vic. It’s a confession.”

My pulse spikes.Darn it.LeoFreakingAnderson is flirting with me. I take a shaky breath, trying to regain my composure. “Well, I’m sorry you have to stand this close to me and endure such torture.”

“Don’t apologize,” he says. “Being this close to you is not a hardship. Any guy would kill to be me right now.”

Even though I can’t see him clearly behind me, I can hear the pleasure in his voice. He’s just so unbelievably charming, and the way he’s causing my heart to flutter makes me think an ongoing friendship after this will be impossible.

Desmond waves his hand for the photographer to stop. “Okay, that’s good for now,” he says, checking his watch. “We’re behind schedule. Let’s have you change outfits, and we’ll move to the other studio for the commercial.”

We both step away like we need the distance—or maybe I’m just reading into it becauseIneed some breathing room. My heart is beating wildly in my chest, and it’s all I can do to hide the heat blooming in my cheeks. I immediately spin around and hurry to my dressing room, leaving before Leo notices.

When I reach the dressing area, the wardrobe consultant is already there, rifling through several outfits. She pulls out a skating skirt with a deep slit and pairs it with a tank top and cropped jacket.

“This will look fantastic on you,” she says.

“You really think?” I wrinkle my nose. “It’s kind of tiny.”

“It’s athletic wear, it’s always tiny.” She gives me a smile. “Just wait until your boyfriend sees you. He won’t even have to act for the camera.”

My stomach dips. I’m not sure what Desmond has planned, but the photo shoot was hard enough.

I quickly change, and don’t bother looking at myself in the mirror, since there isn’t time. The wardrobe consultant takes me to the studio, rushing down the hall so quickly I can barely keep up. “They’re waiting on you. Have you heard what they want you to do?”

“Desmond was a little vague,” I tell her.

“He didn’t warn you?” She lifts her eyebrows, and my stomach flips.

“No. What is it?”

“It’s going to be one of those commercials that womenlovefor Valentine’s Day,” she says, then stops herself. “But I shouldn’t be the one breaking the news.”

“Wait. This is a Valentine’s commercial?” Why didn’t anyone tell me this?

She doesn’t have time to answer before she sweeps open the door to the set. A perfectly staged living room scene unfolds before me, complete with a tiny red box on the coffee table.

Leo stands off to the side, deep in conversation with Desmond, his brow furrowed as he listens to his instructions. When the director finishes, Leo rubs the back of his neck and lets out a long exhale.

Is he nervous?Leoneverlooks nervous.

Leo’s eyes flick over to me—and he does a double take before freezing. His gaze drops, sweeping slowly down my body, and the air between us shifts. When his eyes finally meet mine again, there’s something in them—a heat that makes my stomach twist in the best, most confusing way possible.

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