Page 27 of Carnal Games

Nathan said they’d be uninterested in me. Yet here she is, inviting me to lunch. Luckily, my supposedly fake boyfriend saves me.

“She has classes tomorrow. I’ll bring her home another time.”

“Sure.” Glancing at me, she utters, “Enjoy the party.”

“Thank you. Happy anniversary, Mr. & Mrs. Singhania.”

I’m more than happy to be dismissed as they resume chatting with their friends. As soon as we’re out of their earshot, Nathan swears under his breath. “Man, I need a drink.”

“That was awkward.” I peek at him. “Wasn’t it?”

“Girlfriend?” A cocky voice chuckles. “Did I seriously hear you tell your parents she’s your girlfriend?”

I whip around to face the person who interrupted us.

A tall, dark-haired man steps out from the shaded corner and swaggers toward us. His hands are casually in his pockets while the starched white shirt with the top button undoneunderneath the black suit jacket stretches around thick biceps and a flat torso.

“Nova!” exclaims Nathan, dropping my hand to give the man a one-armed hug and a slap on the back. “When did you get here?”

The name rings a bell.

Nathan’s engaged best friend.

Nova pulls back, studying the two of us in fascination. Despite his lazy stance, there’s an intensity about him. Like his laid-back attitude is a trap. “Is it true?”

“Very much,” Nathan says with confidence, curling an arm around my waist.

“Huh…” Nova’s lips tilt upward. “I move to London and suddenly, you’re a committed man. How did that happen?”

A ball rolls around in my stomach, and I glance away, scared he’d make out I’m a fraud.

“Miracles happen.”

“Iris, is it?” The full power of his cunning eyes makes me want to drop mine.

“Yeah.” Clearing my throat, I remember I’m dating his best friend and need to be a convincing girlfriend. “Congratulations on your engagement, Nova. Nathan’s told me all about it.”

“Did he now? It reminds me.” He turns to Nathan. “Do you have the firefighters on standby? The little arsonist is here.”

Looks like someone’s still butthurt over their car being destroyed. Nathan and I share a glance as I bite back my laugh.

“Found her already?” Nathan smirks.

“Found?” Nova snorts. “I drove her here.”

“See, miracles happen,” he snickers, “you made it here alive.”

“She’s my fiancée. Apparently, it means I need to take her everywhere with me,” he says with mild annoyance. “Doesn’t matter, she’s batshit crazy.”

“Didn’t you burn her book?”

His dark eyes snap my way. “It was just a book. She has a bookshelf full of them.”

“It obviously wasn’t just a book to her.”

His gaze sharpens and narrows. His mouth opens but then something behind me catches his attention, and I’m forgotten. I follow the line of his gaze to two women entering the ballroom while laughing at each other.

One is tall and slim in a formfitting black silk gown while the shorter one, her arm interlocked with her friend, is in a sparkly purple corset dress.

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