Page 35 of One Pucking Surprise
As he closes the distance between us, I look up, startled by the sudden shift in his energy. He places his hands on either side of me, leaning down until his face is just inches from mine. His voice drops lower, soft and probing. “Is Clarissa the girl Chloe’s cousin Drew rejected you for?”
My breath hitches, and for a moment, I’m caught off guard. “How did you know?” I ask, recovering quickly.
He shrugs, his tone easy, but his eyes sharp. “I could tell. The way you looked at her downstairs said it all.”
I press my lips into a thin line and let out a slow breath. “It was years ago,” I say, brushing it off, though the memory still stings faintly.
“So, are you going to be okay with her hanging around?” His voice is laced with concern.
I meet his gaze, letting my confidence return. “I’ll be fine. But I won’t lie—I’m a little worried she’ll see through our act. And it’s pretty obvious she’s still into you.”
Zach chuckles, leaning in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Into me? That’s a bold assumption.”
“Oh, come on,” I say, rolling my eyes, though I can’t help but smile. “She practically ran over me and your dad to hug you. The entire lawn saw it.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “I don’t care about her. Trust me, we’ve got this under control.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, teasing, though the uncertainty lingers in my eyes.
Zach leans in so close I can feel his breath on my lips. “Absolutely.”
Before I can respond, the door swings open without warning, and Clarissa’s overly chipper voice fills the room. “Zach!” she chirps, stepping inside like she owns the place. “It’s almost time for the golf competition. You know we make the best team. Come on, let’s go.”
My body stiffens, my hands instinctively pressing against Zach’s chest as if to push him back, but he doesn’t move. He stays exactly wherehe is, his gaze locked on mine, his lips still just inches away.
“We’ll be down in a minute,” he says, his tone calm but firm. “And I’ll be partnering with my girlfriend.”
Clarissa’s smile falters, but she quickly recovers. “Oh. Okay,” she says, lingering a moment too long before backing out of the room and closing the door behind her.
The second she’s gone, I let out a sharp breath and look up at Zach. “Do you think she heard us?” I ask, my voice low and laced with concern.
Zach tilts his head, his smirk unbothered. “Nah, I don’t think so,” he says confidently. “We didn’t say much anyway.”
I narrow my eyes at him, unconvinced. “You didn’t think that was a little over the top?”
“What?” he says, feigning innocence, that infuriating smirk still playing on his lips. “We’re selling it, right? That’s the whole point.”
“You’re enjoying this way too much.”
His voice drops to that teasing tone that always throws me off. “Maybe,” he says, his eyes glinting mischievously. “But can you blame me?”
Before I can respond, he presses a quick, deliberate kiss on my lips. It’s soft, fleeting, and completely disarming.
“Zach!” I gasp, my cheeks burning as I shift back slightly. “Doing that in front of everyone was bad enough. Now we’re alone, and you’re still overdoing it.”
He chuckles, clearly pleased with himself. “Just staying in character, baby.”
I groan, though a reluctant smile tugs at my lips. “You’re impossible.”
He grabs my hand, twining his fingers with mine as he starts leading me toward the door. “You’re just mad because I’m really good at this.”
I roll my eyes, letting him pull me along. “No, I’m mad because you’re having way too much fun pretending to be my boyfriend.”
He glances over his shoulder at me, his grin annoyingly charming. “Who said I’m pretending?”
The warmth in my cheeks deepens, and I glare at him, though my heart betrays me with its unsteady rhythm. “You’re impossible,” I repeat, shaking my head as he laughs and tugs me out of the room.
“Come on,” he says, his tone playful as we head down the hall. “Let’s go win that golf tournament.”
