Page 72 of Things We Fake
“Don’t—not yet. Let’s see if we can fix this. Besides, we’re not sure it’s her. Maybe it’s some sort of freakish mistake or coincidence.”
He gave me a look. “Another hot teacher named Susanne that has the same phone number as you?”
“I wouldn’t call myself hot.”
“That’s your problem, and a grave mistake.”
I melted a little under his gaze.
Since all this had started, the dynamic of our relationship had changed. Damn that moment when Brittany showed up at our table! Before that, I thought we were on the right track. I expected a couple of dates, then some seriously hot sex. But ever since we’d set up this fake engagement, Cam had been more withdrawn. I knew he found me attractive, he’d said so a number of times. I just didn’t understand why he didn’t act on it. Maybe sleeping together would complicate things even more? Or had his feelings for Britt resurfaced when she’d slithered back into his life two nights ago, while he was on a date with me?
I didn’t know him well enough to speculate, and I didn’t feel confident enough to try getting closer to him. For now, it seemed like whatever we had hung in a very fragile balance. I didn’t want to rock the boat. The rest of the world was rocking it enough already.
We picked up some Greek food, and then he drove us home. While I set the table in my kitchen, Cam tookmy laptop to check what he could do about the infamous ad.
“I’m terrified someone at my workplace will see it.” I set the two gyros on plates and put them on the table.
“Do your coworkers surf this kind of websites?”
“I’ve no idea. We don’t discuss our sex lives and preferences in bed during our breaks between classes.”
“It’s probably for the best. I’ll ask my legal team to issue a request to this website to take down the ad immediately. Don’t worry, they’ll be discreet.” He reached for his phone and started typing an email. “We’ll sue if necessary, although I doubt it will come to that. We’re just trying to intimidate them for now.”
I sat opposite him at my round wooden table. “Thank you, Cam. I don’t want you to go to so much trouble. I just… If I only knew it was Brittany, I would confront her and demand she take down the ad.”
Cam finished typing, set the phone aside, and reached for my hand. His attention was focused on me.
“How about you let me try to deal with this for now?” he said. “If it’s Britt, then it’s my fault for dragging you into her line of fire, and I take full responsibility for that.”
He used his thumb to trace slow circles on the back of my hand, making each hair stand on end. His touch was warm and had an electric quality that distracted my focus. I would have done anything he asked me to.
“Okay.” I cleared my throat. “But promise me that you’ll keep me posted.”
“I promise. Now let’s eat.”
We ate in silence, then Cam insisted on helping me clear the table and do the dishes. I had papers to grade,but I didn’t want him to leave just yet. I would rather work all night than waste a single minute of being with him. The truth was that I liked him more every day. I missed him when he wasn’t around, I missed his subtle masculine scent, his strong presence, the touch of his hand holding mine…
“You’re very quiet. What are you thinking?” he asked softly, as we put the last of the dishes into the cupboard.
I felt my cheeks grow warm and prayed I wasn’t blushing. “Nothing in particular. I was just wondering if you want to watch a movie or something.”
He cleared his throat. “I’d like that, but I have some work to do. Maybe another time?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Please don’t worry about the ad. I’ll find a way to fix it.”
“Thank you.”
We were standing close together in front of the sink, the tall window framing the night sky and the city lights beyond. I had to tilt my head far back to look up into his face. If only I could read into those deep, intelligent brown eyes…
They moved slowly over my face, lingering on my mouth a second too long. He seemed to struggle with some monumental decision.
“Goodnight, Sue.”
“Goodnight,” I whispered back.
I swallowed softly as he cupped my cheek. I had a few seconds to anticipate his intention before he lowered his mouth to mine and the world seemed to erupt in flames around us. His mouth was hot and seductive, hislips deliriously delicious. When he slid his tongue against mine I started melting from the inside, barely able to suppress a moan of pleasure. How could a kiss feel so good, so masterful it turned my insides into a creamy mess?
