Page 36 of Love is Fake

“There she is!”

Lennox turns around smoothly and my throat goes dry at the sight of him all dressed up. If I thought he was irresistible in gym-wear, in the charcoal-grey suit he’s wearing, he’s positively devastating.

“Hi.” I swallow, forcing myself to saysomethingas they both look at me. “If you guys are in the middle of something, I can come back.” I take a step back, not wanting to intrude on whatever’s got them both so tense.

“You look…” Lennox stares at me, more than just a little slack-jawed.

“You look like you’re gonna have to be beating every dude in that place off with a stick, Iz-meister!” Kai interrupts, looking me up and down with frank admiration. “But we all know you only have space in your heart for one man.” He waggles his eyebrows at me, making me giggle and I wish he was coming too. Having Kai there would make this thing a whole lot less daunting. One on one time with Lennox while we’re working is one thing, but this is a whole new ballgame.

“We should make a move,” Lennox rumbles, setting off butterflies in my stomach.

“Sure.” I try to smile the nerves away, but one look at Lennox in all his suited glory makes that impossible.

As we step out of the front door, I’m half-expecting to see a limo, but instead I’m faced with a classic sportscar. My eyebrows lift all the way up to my hairline and I realize how much my dad would love to see this thing of beauty.

I circle the car, taking in its mint condition, right down to the black paintjob that’s been waxed to a high shine.

“69 Mustang?” I ask, thinking out loud. I don’t miss Lennox’s surprised glance as he nods, confirming my guess.

I shrug. “Daughter of a mechanic, remember? Just because I can’t drive for crap, doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a classic. This our ride?” I ask, not above feeling excited at the prospect of driving around in one of these rare babies.

“Figured it was a good occasion to break out the batmobile.” Lennox winks at me, making me laugh. “Besides, it’s easier for you to get in and out of than the truck.”

I’m touched by his thoughtfulness, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t also a little disappointed not to need Lennox to help me into this car.

“After you.” Lennox opens the passenger side door for me, and I manage to slide in without making a fool of myself, which I count as an early win.

As Lennox hops into the driver seat I’m immediately aware of how much smaller the Mustang is than the truck. He seems to fill up the space with his body, with his presence, with the cedar smokiness of his scent. God, I could get drunk off that smell.

Our seats are close together, making it impossible for me to ignore him and even more impossible to avoid thinking about how good he looks in his suit.

I’m grateful Lennox receives a call almost as soon as we start the short drive to the resort where the party’s being held. I look out of the window, watching the world go by while I try to calm my heart. It’s beating so loudly it’s impossible for Lennox not to hear it.

“Sorry about that,” he clicks off his earpiece, ending the call as we stop in front of the valet of the resort.

“It’s fine.” I wave his concern away, my nerves already re-focusing on the task at hand; walking into a room full of powerful people, none of whom I know.

Lennox puts his hand on my lower back, guiding me gently through the lobby, smiling and nodding at people as we go. “You’ll be fine,” he says. “I’ll be right next to you the whole time.”

His words and his hand on me both comfort and stir something deep inside of me. I smile up at him gratefully and my heart catches in my throat as our eyes meet and, for a moment, I forget everything apart from the man in front of me and the way he’s looking at me.

“Breathe, Isabella,” he says quietly, and I snap out of staring at him like a psycho.

Please let me get through this without making an idiot out of myself.

I take a deep breath as instructed and feel less like I might be about to pass out. That is until we walk into the function room and it feels like every eye in the place swivels towards us.

“Is this what it’s like?” I ask under my breath.

“What what’s like?” I hear the frown in his voice, but I’m too busy looking at the floor so I don’t trip down the damn stairs to see it.

“Being you, having everyone stare at you as soon as you walk into a room,” I explain.

Lennox chuckles, a low, warm sound that makes the deepest parts of me vibrate with awareness.

“You think they’re looking atme?” His hand on my waist tightens automatically as I misstep, stopping me from toppling over. I send him a grateful glance, my heart stopping in my chest at the way he’s watching me. “They’re looking at you, Isabella. You’re stunning.”

My face warms at his compliment, but I’m saved from having to respond by a group of people welcoming us to the event.

---