Page 27 of Fake Dating Adrian Hunter
I avert my gaze from Adrian, but Kathy walks by, tilting my head back to him. “Eye contact, remember.”
Adrian grins, confident and self-assured, with a look in his eyes that says he’s won this round. I don’t have any fight left in me. All I know is my heart is swimming in dangerous waters.
ChapterTen
After that scarring yoga experience, I spend the remaining daylight hours avoiding Adrian at all costs because I’m not sure how to act around him. I hang out by my private pool, sketching designs and checking my work emails, even though this is meant to be a work-free week. Come sundown, though, Adrian and I have a date with the two brides that I can’t weasel my way out of.
I arrive solo at the resort’s poolside cocktail lounge, wearing a pink dress with the skirt made of feathers, because I know for a fact Adrian hates the color. He made sure I knew it in high school when I dyed my hair fluorescent pink.
There aren’t any set wedding events tonight, but most guests seem to be scattered throughout the cocktail lounge, their glasses clinking as they chat in small groups with the background music of a live reggae band.
“Verena, over here,” Tory calls. She’s sitting at the bar with Phoebe and Adrian.
A smile lights each of their faces when they notice me. After seeing that kind look in Adrian’s eyes during yoga, I hate knowing this is all an act for him. It takes everything inside me to smile back.
I didn’t cross paths with Adrian before he left my bungalow, seeing as I locked him out of the bathroom while I dressed myself, but he looks effortlessly handsome again, as always. That in itself annoys me, that he doesn’t need to put effort into his appearance. He threw on the first thing he found in his luggage—jeans and a white button-down rolled up to his elbows—and still manages to look sexy.
Adrian stands from his bar stool as I approach. Chills run up my spine as he slips an arm around me, kissing my hair. “Hey, beautiful. No seats left. Take mine.”
“Don’t be silly. Verena can sit on your lap,” Phoebe suggests.
Not going to happen, especially after that downward dog erection. “It’s fine, I’ll stand at the bar. We won’t be here for long, right? Dinner’s not far off.”
“Speaking of which.” Tory eyes me with mirth. “All of our parents want us to gather for a family dinner. They’re just as desperate to hear about you two.”
Kill me. Please.
“Sounds great.” Adrian takes a seat, pulling me between his legs so that I’m leaning into him. His arms wrap around my waist and his face pops over my shoulder to rest beside mine.
Phoebe watches us with a massive grin. “You look amazing together.”
“It’s all her,” Adrian says. “I love this dress on you, Verena. Glad you wore it.”
Damn, he’s one step ahead of me again. His words may as well beI know exactly why you wore pink.
Goosebumps rise over my skin as he plays with my hair, twirling a lock with his finger. “You cold?” Adrian asks with a spark of humor in his words. He rubs my arms and hugs me closer.
“Before I forget, Verena,” Tory says. “Stacy mentioned you don’t have a partner for the first dance. Phoebe and I have been so busy with wedding prep that the odd number in the bridal party slipped our attention. We’ve been thinking, maybe Adrian can dance with you?Please,” she begs him, drawing out the word. “I know you hate dancing and you’ve already said you don’t want to be in the spotlight, but do it for Verena?”
I scoff at Adrian. “When did you ever say you don’t want to be in the spotlight?”
“Consider it done,” he answers Tory. I’m unsure whether to thank or scold my sister for this “favor.”
“Perfect!” Phoebe chirps. “You know, it’s so nice having you around again, Verena. Maybe now that you’re with my brother, we’ll be seeing more of you?”
Adrian answers before I can, meeting me with an adoring smile. “Verena told me she’s coming home to Sitka this year for Christmas.”
Excuse me?I didwhat?
Adrian lightly jabs my ribs. “You said so after yoga this morning. Didn’t you, honey?”
He wants me to play along for who knows what reason. But I can’t. Not with this. Promising my family I’ll return for the holidays is not fair on them. “You misunderstood me. When I saidhome, I meant your home in London.”
“We could always visit you in New York throughout the year,” Tory says.
“That would be nice.” As long as it’s just Tory and Phoebe and not my entire family. I have barriers up around my home turf for a reason. The city is my safe space where I get to be me and not the girl from my childhood. “I do feel bad that I haven’t seen you two much over the years. This might not be obvious, but if you guys ever need anything, anything at all, I’m more than happy to help out.”
“Bitch, please,” Tory laughs. “You’ve already paid for the majority of this wedding. We can’t keep leeching off you.”
