Page 48 of Hoax and Kisses
With a nod, I flip my notebook closed. “I would never do anything you’re not comfortable with.” I make my voice as gentle as I can. “You can trust me, I promise.”
“I do.” She turns and shuffles for the door.
“Oh, and Zoey?” I say as she reaches for the knob.
She looks over her shoulder, waiting.
“Wear something warm. I’ll bring blankets, but it’ll be a bit chilly.”
“No towel, then.”
Instantly, heat licks at my skin. “Exactly.” My voice comes out hoarse.
“Noted,” she replies, amusement coating the word. “See you tonight,honey.”
Chapter Thirteen
ZOEY
“See? Improvement from the last time I opened the door, no?”
Matt stands in the doorway, surveying my leggings and oversized turtleneck sweater.
He cleaned up nicely tonight. A canvas jacket over a flannel button-up shirt, along with a simple pair of jeans and boots. But it’s his unbound hair, some strands still wet from the shower, that holds all my attention. I want to run my fingers through it, see if it’s as soft and thick as I remember.
“I don’t know about improvement,” he says under his breath as he steps back so I can exit the house, “but definitely weather appropriate.”
I blush, hopeful that the color rising in my cheeks isn’t visible beneath the faint glow of the moon, and close the door behind me.
Neither of us speaks on the ride to the park, though his knee won’t stop bouncing. The man is nervous. It’s endearing and honestly, understandable. I’ve spent most of today workingand then went out for a run to take my mind off what the two of us are doing. To keep from thinking about what will happen if I don’t secure the lot. Dad was pissed when I called him with the news that the meeting went sideways. “Deception after deception,” I believe were his exact words.
As we roll up to the park, Matt navigates into what seems like the last available space.
“You weren’t lying when you said it was popular,” I muse, looking around.
Dozens of people sit on blankets spread out over the grass, bundled up against each other in front of the big screen at the far end of the green.
“Nope. Nobody wants to miss the last one of the season.” He unlocks his phone and taps at the screen quickly, then puts it away. “Ready?”
I smile weakly, my heartbeat speeding up like a hummingbird taking flight. “Let’s go.”
As I climb out of the vehicle, the gentle air soothes my heated skin. The scents of buttery popcorn and cotton candy waft from a grouping of food trucks lit up by strings of lights hanging from nearby trees.
“Can you help me out?” Matt asks in the back.
“Coming.” I circle the truck and find him snagging blankets from the bed.
“Take these two. I’ll get the rest,” he says, holding them out.
I obey, tucking them under my arm while he picks up the what’s left, along with a small basket.
“Do you always come this prepared?”
“Only when I have someone to impress.” He winks.
I steady myself on the frame of the truck.
Oh, okay, so we’ve started pretending. Shit, it’s gonna take some getting used to.
