Page 9 of The Christmas Cover Rule
“Worst case, I tell my mom I’m a liar and ruin someone’s trip by sleeping on their floor.”
Before I know what I’m doing, I reach out and catch her wrist in my hand. Her pulse point flutters like a hummingbird beneath my fingertips, and she stills, looking down at where we connect. My eyes don’t leave hers, though; the shining light she carried in them this morning feels far too distant now. My own pulse begins to hammer harder at that realization because when have I ever noticed a change in a woman’s eyes before, especially a woman I don’t even know? It’s both her eyes and the heavy thump in my chest that have me whispering my next words.
“Stay.”
“Really?” It comes out no more than a whisper, but something about her throaty voice and the slight raise of her eyebrow does something to me. “Okay, well… If you insist.” She smiles, sitting back down on her chair, and I briefly wonder if this was all an act. And damn, if it is, I’m in deep shit because I just fell for it.
CHAPTER 6
stella
Sweat forms along my upper lip as I fight my hair with the brush. A slick back ponytail completes my outfit, but the stress of what I have to pull off tonight and the rest of this week does not. Shoulders burning, I drop my arms and tilt my head, looking at myself in the mirror.
What the actualfuckam I doing?
One last drag of my comb through my hair and a quick pep talk, I roll my shoulders back, opening the bathroom door.
Jonas stands at the end of the bed, pulling on a dark linen blend shirt, and the sight of him almost knocks me on my ass. He makes quick work of the buttons and then drags his hand over his chin.
“Damn, Stella.” He blows out a breath, and his gaze trails from my head down to my toes. The intensity in his eyes, mixed with the effortless confidence that seems to be woven into him, causes my stomach to flip. I give myself less than a second with this free-falling feeling before squaring my shoulders back.
“You look good, Stell.”
“Yeah?” I smile, enjoying the look on his face as he stalks toward me, and I lift my chin higher, not wanting to break eye contact with him. “If you saw me in a bar, would you approach me?” I keep my tone playful, but there’s nothing playful about Jonas when he responds.
“If I saw you in a bar, you’d be mine before last call.”
My heart hammers in my chest when his fingertips graze my collarbone as he lifts and untangles my necklaces. His scent that overpowered me and made me blind with lust for him earlier engulfs me now. It’s not a basic sandalwood or cedar, or whatever the other woodsy scents men are wearing these days. No, Jonas smells clean and seductive, but rich and sexy at the same time.
“Well, try not to fall in love with me before the appetizers,” I quip, but it comes out breathier than I intended.
The corner of his mouth quirks before he turns toward the door, unknowingly giving me the space I need to catch my breath. The fresh, salty air caresses my skin as we step out to the waiting golf cart, and I’m finally able to breathe normally again. Until Jonas drops his large hand in mine, intertwining our fingers, and I feel the air knocked out of my lungs once more.
Luna Del Maris nothing short of breathtaking. The outdoor restaurant is nestled right on the beach with tables under massive palm fronds. Bistro lights decorate overhead, and soft music plays from the bar.
My family has spent the last hour and a half laughing and smiling, mostly because of some story my fake boyfriend has provided.
“Oh my god!” My mom wipes away a tear that has fallen, and I can’t help the way my lips turn up. She has always hadthe loudest laugh in our family, and it’s almost always accompanied by tears. “Why didn’t your friend just tell this Camila girl about his promotion being at risk?”
“Miles is more of a ‘no risk, no reward’ type of guy.”
Relief washes over me as my family continues to laugh and engage in conversation with Jonas, without any sort of suspicion pointed my way.
“Mija, I don’t think you ever told me where you two met.”
I open my mouth, but Jonas drapes his arm around my shoulder, effectively halting any thoughts I had. His fingers graze my bare skin until his knuckles run a path down my spine, and I don’t need to look to know his gaze is on me.
“We met at Camila's art gallery,” Jonas supplies.
I suck in a breath and turn to face him. His eyes lock with mine, almost as if they were waiting for me this whole time.
“I dropped by one evening with my buddy Miles, and standing in front of quite possibly the ugliest piece of art I’ve ever seen was the most gorgeous woman that’s ever walked this planet.”
My lips press together, and I narrow my eyes at him, silently telling him,‘Laying it on a little thick, aren’t you?’
He responds by twisting his fingers around the hair of my ponytail, his eyes playfully shining back at me, and then he gives a little tug.
After dinner,Rico gave us a ride back to our suite in the golf cart, and I ran to the bathroom to hide and attempt to cool down. Admittedly, throwing myself into a fake relationship with a stranger wasn’t a fully thought-out plan. The most overlooked part, though, was the way my body would react to said stranger.
