Page 26 of Forever Fallen

“Exactly. You do your thing and I’ll handle mine. We can reside in the same house and set boundaries as we come across them – like no flushing while the other person is in the shower… and no prancing about in only towels or shucking them to embarrass the other person.”

“I do not prance,” he said flatly.

“Fine, no posing.”

“I don’t pose either.”

“I’ll be fine – and youwereposing,” she said evenly, trying to keep her voice calm. “And If I remember their names correctly? Armadillo is waving hello, Reaper.”

“Ryan, Sophie… my name isRyan, and you are being stubborn.”

She shrugged, not arguing the point.

Ryan glowered at her and didn’t move… and then his expression smoothed, setting off warning bells in her mind. The man was a tactician. He argued, manipulated, and forced things into going a certain way – and this calmness was not going to bode well for her.

“You know they are watching us right now,” he began.

“So?”

“So, you probably should turn towards me so I can kiss you instead of staring off into space and pretending like you are numb to everything going on in your part of the world – especially since I’m not included in it.”

“Let me guess, ‘sell this fake marriage stuff’to your buddies…” she said bitterly, remembering his words.

“That was the agreement.”

Sophie turned to look at him and met his dark eyes. His hand raised up to brush her hair back as he tucked it behind her ear.

“You’re going to make me work for this, aren’t you?” he mumbled quietly, watching her.

Was he staring at her lips?

She caught her breath as he touched her cheek, tracing her jawline, and she bit her lip, feeling something stir within her.

He slowly leaned forward, and she found herself doing the same instinctively, unable to pull her eyes from his as her lips parted slightly in anticipation.

*rap, rap, rap!*

“Hey! Ya’ shoulda’ done that before work…” Armadillo hollered, banging noisily on the window. “Class is supposed to be starting now and we are waiting on you, Reaper.”

Ryan hesitated, still close to her, their breath mingling in the small space of the car.

“Are you going to be okay today?” he asked gently, surprising her.

“I’m fine,” she replied evenly, trying to hide the tremor in her voice. She did not want to let him know how he affected her, and that stupid image of him posing in that pink towel was forever ingrained in her mind. “I’m always fine.”

His eyes searched hers and she had to look away before he saw the truth in her expression.

Shewasn’tfine.

She was barely hanging on and struggling to keep her breakfast down already. Her stomach was a mess and she’d cried herself to sleep last night.

“What time will dinner be ready?” he asked pointedly in this arrogant tone that reminded her of when he was pointing out their seats on the airplane.

“Excuse me?” she balked, her eyes widening in shock.

“You’re the wife, the woman… so what time will my dinner be ready?”

“GET OUT,” she hissed in disbelief, feeling her anger boil to the surface at the insufferable arrogance of the man who was trying to actually kiss her to make a show for his buddies to save his own wretched hide.

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