Page 24 of Man Cuffed
“I don’t want to convince them I’m in a relationship. That’s not good enough. I want them to think I’m in love. Or better yet, I’m with a hot chick who fucking adores me. Worships me.” He pauses. “Can’t wait to rip my clothes off.”
“I feel like I’ve auditioned for this already.”
“Auditioned?”
“It’s your lucky day, Maguire. Not only do I work as a server, I’m an actor. An actor who pays the rent waiting tables. Big shocker, I know. My life is a cliché.”
“Just like mine,” he says. He seems like he’s about to say something else, but he stops himself.
So I press on. “Why do you need to convince your family that a hot chick worships you?” This guy could have any girl he wants. “It helps me to understand motivation,” I offer.
He crosses those tough guy arms. “I just do, Trouble.”
“Trouble?”
“That’s you. Trouble. And don’t ask nosy questions.”
Oooh. That means it’s serious. Maybe the Maguire clan has a dark secret.
Or maybe I’m just a drama queen. But I’m okay either way. I like Maguire. I wanted adventure. Going with him to a family wedding is like being cast in a live improv show. I fucking love it. Plus, it would be nice to be in love for a night. Even if it’s only pretending. And hopefully he’ll pretend he worships me too. Goes all moony over me. Every girl deserves a little moon.
“Maguire,” I say, lowering my voice just a smidge.
“Yeah?” he asks.
I take a step closer. Reach out my hand and then tug him by the collar so I can whisper in his ear. “I would love to go to your family’s wedding with you. Just don’t lock me up.”
I see his jaw clench so I decide to finish the scene. “But you can cuff me later if you want.”
I smile.
He growls a little.
I feel tingles. But I let him go. Step back. Wait.
We just stand there, simmering in our own tension.
“I have to go to work,” he says eventually.
“Right now?” I yelp.
“Of course. Hence the nap. I don’t get off until—”
“Four,” I say, remembering what I overheard earlier. “A.M.”
“That’s right.” He frowns. “The walls are really that thin?”
“They really are. Didn’t you ever notice?”
“Your apartment was vacant for a while before you moved in.”
“Oh.” That explains so much. “So...do you think I could leave out the front door instead of the way I came in?” I ask.
“I think,” he says, barely hiding a smile tugging at his luscious lips, “that’s probably a good plan.”
7Is That a Euphemism?
Maguire
