Page 43 of Love is Fake

Kai’s eyebrows move up so high on his forehead they almost fall off. “She’s single?”

“At the moment,” I confirm, smiling as his eyes light up like a kid at Christmas.

Kai sidles up beside me, looking the picture of innocence. “You know, youcouldjust give me her number?”

“Nuh-uh, no way.” I shake my head. “I don’t just hand out my best friend’s number to random guys.”

He winces as though my words really and truly pack a punch. “Random? You wound me, Izzy.”

I watch him, nonplussed by his Oscar-worthy performance. “If you want her number, Kai, you’re gonna have to grow a pair and ask her for it.”

“Fair point, well made.” He nods and slaps me on the back like I’m one of the guys. The gesture, regardless of how simple and how natural it is, makes me smile. His easy friendship is a welcome relief from the intensity of whatever the hell has been going on between Lennox and me.

“So whereareyou going looking all fine and shit?” Kai repeats his question, watching me as I retrieve my phone from the shelf where I left it.

“I, my inquisitive friend, have anactualdate.” Something I wish I was a little more excited about.

“With a real-life man?” Kai raises his eyebrows in shock. “I thought you ‘didn’t date’,” he adds, using air quotes for emphasis.

“I don’t date people I work with,” I correct him. “There’s a difference.”

Kai follows me out of the room, keeping pace with me as I head towards the front door at speed. “Does Nox know?”

“Does Nox know what?” The deep voice makes me stop in my tracks.

Ah, hell no.I curse under my breath. I was so close to a clean getaway.

Lifting my eyes, slowly, I see Lennox standing between me and outside, between me and safetyawayfrom this conversation. He looks achingly good in his low-ride jeans and black shirt. Seeing him standing there is giving me flashbacks of last night, how he pulled me against his body, how I ran my fingers up and down his strong chest.

Stop, Izzy. Stop right there. No daydreaming about the man who apologized for the best kiss of your entire life, as if it were something he was ashamed of.

“Does Nox know he doesn’t get to butt in on everyone’s life?” I look right at him, seeing the way his jaw ticks in annoyance.

Kai looks between the two of us, sensing the tension ratcheting up a few notches. He starts to ease his way backwards, slowly like you would if faced with a charging elephant.

“I – um, forgot I left…the couch…on fire.” He turns on his heel and heads in the opposite direction, like he can’t get away fast enough.

I have an idea to do the same, seeing the thunderous expression on Lennox’s face, but I also know the worst thingyou can do is turn your back on an angry elephant, or bear, or Lennox. Better to face the danger head on.

“You’ve been avoiding me.” It’s not a question, it’s an accusation.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I mutter under my breath, but the look on his face tells me he’s heard me.

“I came to find you earlier – but you’d run back to the pool house.”

My chin lifts even as my face burns at little.Busted. “I didn’t run. I needed to get ready.” I shrug.

“You have a date?” Lennox’s lip curls in distaste as he looks me up and down with his self-important stare.

“Yes, I have a date!” I throw my hands up in frustration. “Why is that so hard for everyone to believe?”

I may not look like a Victoria Secret model, but I don’t think I look like I live under a bridge either!

“If you’re fishing for compliments, Isabella, it doesn’t suit you. I already told you last night that you’re a beautiful woman.” Lennox manages to make even that sound like an insult and I flush, hating that he’s made me feel like a little kid again. There’s also the fact that we’re back to the formality of ‘Isabella’. His eyes dip to my exposed cleavage and I blush even harder, resisting the urge to pull my top all the way over my damn head.

“Who’s the lucky guy?” he asks, and his sarcasm is like a punch to the gut.

The tidbits of anger it fills me with is what propels me to answer, even though I know I shouldn’t, I shouldn’t even be entertaining this ridiculous back and forth.

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