Page 42 of Sexted By Santa
I nodded mutely, still too unsteady for words.
“Well, we should mingle,” Ella said. “Grant?”
I glanced over to see Grant eating Jaxson up with his eyes. When he caught me looking, he smirked a little, then flicked his gaze to Jaxson and smiled knowingly. As if already making plans for the two of them later when I was out of the picture.
Did he sense that my relationship with Jaxson wasn’t real—or did he just not care? I scowled. It hardly mattered. Jaxson might not be mine, but he was mine for this date, and I didn’t like Grant looking at him as if he were a steak to be devoured.
“You should go mingle too, Grant,” I told him. “Other fish in the sea.”
He chuckled. “Sure, Professor. But you better make sure your bait is sufficient.”
I gaped as he walked away. “Can you believe his nerve?”
Jaxson smiled. “He’s very sure of himself.”
I looked away, unable to ask the question burning on my tongue.Will you take him up on his blatant come-on?Barry’s gaze was sympathetic. If he saw through me so easily, did Jaxson too? My palms felt clammy as a nervous sweat broke out.
Fake date, Christian. You’ve got no claim on him.
So why did it feel as if Jaxson returning that man’s interest would be a slap in the face?
“How about we get a drink?” Barry suggested.
He was a good friend. The best. I nodded enthusiastically. “A drink sounds great.”
“Is it okay if I catch up in a minute?” Jaxson asked.
I tensed, braced for the news he wanted to go chat up Grant. “Do what you need to do, I guess.”
He met my gaze, his expression a little too perceptive. “I just want to check on Tori before I join you.”
I felt like an idiot—again. Of course, he would need to keep tabs on his daughter. “Right. Sorry. I can go with you if you like?”
Jaxson shook his head, glancing toward Barry. “It’s fine. Get a head start on that long line with Barry. I’ll be along shortly.”
“Okay.”
“And Christian?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m here with you tonight. No one else.”
He held my gaze an extra beat, ensuring I got the message. I did. I was an insecure, silly man. Jealousy had no place in a fake date. I knew that. Jaxson did too. If he backed out of our second date, it would be my own fault. But maybe it’d be for the best. The pull between us was so strong, at least from my side of things, I didn’t know how much longer I could convince myself that Jaxson wasn’t meant for the likes of me.
12
JAXSON
“It’s so nice to see you happy, Professor Kringle, but shame on you for keeping secrets from us,” a rosy-cheeked woman named Martha said, wagging her finger at Christian. “Your boyfriend is lovely, and we are an open-minded bunch, I hope you know. We were so sad to hear about your divorce. But look at how it’s all worked out! Love wins.”
Christian went rigid again—as he had every time someone commented on his divorce. The poor man detested it. Luckily, most of his colleagues had the tact not to mention his ex. Only a handful had been inconsiderate in their curiosity. Not that the others had missed the fact that the professor had a boyfriend at his side. There were a fair number of eyes following our every move.
I rubbed my hand up and down his back, uncertain if my touch was comforting him or merely adding to his tension. But if he remained this uptight, I wasn’t sure how convincing we’d be as a couple.
“Relax,” I murmured under my breath. “This is a happy night with your boyfriend.”
Christian blew out a big breath and downed the rest of his drink. But he did lean more into my touch, so progress? I took it as permission to curl my arm around his waist and tug him even closer. I might be taking the slightest bit advantage of this fake dating thing, but I liked the feel of Christian against me. Besides, I reasoned, if it helped him cope with the scrutiny of busybodies like Martha, then what was the harm?
