Page 10 of Kiss Me if You Can
His lips twist up in a crooked smile. “No. But I am good with body language, and you are…” He coughs, turning red again. “You’re more fluent than most.”
Blushing right along with him, I unlock my phone and open the message.
Emily: Hey, something came up. Do you know @biffthebuffboy? He found out about my meeting with you and insisted on joining us because he’s here in Sun City, like me.
I blink, staring at the words but not understanding them. Of course I know Biff. He’s like the Ryan Reynolds of the fitness world, with a bazillion followers and every ad endorsement deal in the country. Even people who don’t care about fitness know who he is because he reps basically any protein bars that exist. I’m pretty sure he’ll be the next Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson because there’s a rumor that he’s going to be in a movie soon. Basically, he’s a big deal.
Jake clears his throat. “Everything okay?”
I don’t answer, typing out a response with shaking fingers.
Me: Wait, you’re saying Biff is coming to lunch with us?
Emily: I hope that’s okay. He said he’s seen your work and is interested in collaborating with us, and I couldn’t tell him no because his influence alone could be huge for this collab. He could help both of us.
Me: Of course it’s okay!
Emily: Did you bring your husband with you to Sun City?
Uh, what? I most definitely don’t have a husband. I glance at Jake, in case he really can read minds, but he’s still stuck on his worried expression. Why would Emily think I have a husband? I’ve never posted any pictures except with Cam, and I know I’ve made it clear that he’s my brother-in-law because he’s his own level of famous. I didn’t want to ruin the popularity he and my sister have, since their whole early relationship was broadcasted for the internet to see. So why would Emily think…?
I swear under my breath and pull up my profile, scrolling to my older posts from a year ago. Last spring I was obsessed with Cam’s best friend, Kit, and fancied myself in love with him. There’s a high chance I jokingly referred to him as my husband a time or two, and if Emily did her research…
Sure enough, I find a few different posts where I say something about my husband in the caption.
Squirming, I reply to Emily and hope this isn’t going to be a big deal.
Me: Why?
The little message that says she’s typing pops up. Disappears. Pops up again. It keeps going back and forth for so long that I’m convinced there’s a glitch on my phone, but then finally her message appears.
Emily: Biff is a huge flirt. I think he’s harmless, but he didn’t take me seriously and talk business until he found out I was married and he met Rhys. I think it would be a good idea to bring your husband to lunch with us if you weren’t already planning on it. Otherwise, Biff might waste our time because you’re too gorgeous for him not to drool all over you. This is my only chance to really talk with you before Rhys and I head to Africa for our humanitarian trip, and I think we need to move quickly if we’re going to get any traction together.
Well, that is going to be a problem.
“May I?” Jake says, holding out his hand near my phone. I don’t think he’s seen any of the messages, but he’s clearly seen my frustration and worry in my body language. Or in my head, considering I don’t fully believe him when he says he doesn’t read minds.
I hesitate but give him my phone, hoping he’s smarter than me. I have no idea how to fix this problem.
He reads quickly, one eyebrow rising high. “Doyou have a husband?”
I wish he were asking under different circumstances. “No.” I don’t miss the way his shoulders drop in relief, something that does nothing to calm the bees. “But I may have given her reason to think I do.”
He hums, still frowning at my phone. “What if you change the meeting place and do it without him?”
I groan. “Because Emily and I both told people where they could meet us if they want to say hi. I can’t disappoint any followers who might show up. And if Biff the Buff Boy wants to meet with me, I can’t say no to that kind of opportunity.”
He clicks on something and starts tapping, though I have no idea what he’s doing. “He sounds like he belongs in an eighties movie,” he says after a moment.
I snort. “He even looks like the bad guy inBack to the Future. I have no idea if Biff is his real name or if he just stole it from those movies.”
“It’s his real name.” Jake frowns at my phone. “And he has a criminal record. Nothing major, but I’d be wary, if I were you.”
“First of all, how do you know that? Second, if I was worried about criminal records, I wouldn’t be sitting here with you.”
He smirks at me, bringing his dimple out in full force. “Fair point. And as for how I know…” He hands my phone back, which is on my Instagram chats again. “It’s better if you don’t know.”
My jaw drops. “Did you just hack into state records or something?”
