Page 117 of Desperate Pucker
“What was all that about?”
“What do you mean?” The corner of his mouth quirks up. He knows exactly what I mean.
“Why’d you make it sound like we’re together? And that we were about to get engaged?”
He doesn’t say anything until we’re in his car. When he hops in the driver’s seat, he turns to me, pinning me with a fiery gaze.
Then he cups my face in his massive hand and kisses me, hard. When we break apart, I’m dizzy.
He traces his thumb over my lips, pinning me with his stare. And then he says something that has me floating.
“It’s fun pretending to be yours, princess.”
Chapter 41
Ryker
Ipark my car in front of Maddy’s apartment building.
I turn to her. “Have you eaten yet today?”
She shakes her head, her eyes big and glittery. She’s looking at me with the same wonder in her gaze that she did just a few minutes ago, when I told her that it’s fun pretending to be hers.
“Let me cook lunch for you then,” I say.
Her pretty mouth curves up in a small smile. “Okay.”
I wasn’t planning on pretending to be her boyfriend at the boutique. But when Kara Salonga teased us about the wedding dress and getting engaged, it just felt natural to go along with it.
Because honestly? In that moment, I wished that I could be her boyfriend. Sitting there, watching her try on dress after dress, looking so beautiful that it was hard for me to breathe, it felt real. It felt like we were a couple having a romantic day out together.
I didn’t want it to end.
I swallow back the wave of feelings zooming through me. I didn’t expect this to happen, to feel this strongly for Maddy, this quickly.
After my breakup with Alina, I wasn’t interested in ever getting serious with someone again.
But then Maddy came along. And every day I’m with her, I like her more and more.
More than just a friend I hook up with.
But that’s all this will ever be—two friends hooking up. She’s not ready for anything more, remember? Neither are you.
An uneasy feeling drags through me. I shove aside that silent reminder and focus on the moment. We step out of my car and make our way to her apartment.
She unlocks the door, and I follow her inside.
“Hey, darlin’!” I look up when I hear an unfamiliar Southern accent.
“Mom. Hi.” Maddy looks surprised as she walks and hugs her mom, who’s just a couple of inches shorter than her but with the same fiery red hair.
I linger by the front door, feeling awkward.
Her mom looks past Maddy’s shoulder and beams at me. “Well, hello there. Who’s this handsome fella?”
“I’m Ryker.” I set the garment bag over the back of a nearby chair, walk up to her, and hold out my hand, but she pulls me into a hug.
“I’m Celeste, and I’m a hugger.”
