Page 60

When he reappeared, clean-shaven, his black hair gelled back, and his icy-blue eyes almost clear next to the turquoise button-down... I had to remind myself to take a breath. Paired with perfectly fitted black slacks and black dress shoes... I think I moaned out loud.
“You look really nice.”
I snapped to at his words and straightened my palms down my hips and tops of my thighs. I knew I looked good in the formfitting, shin-length dress that was the lightest dove gray. That may or may not have been the reason I chose it, along with lipstick-red heels. So I wanted to see what would happen if I tempted fate a little bit. Sue me.
“You look great, too. You clean up well.”
“Thanks.”
I smiled at him as he helped me into my coat, and I caught a whiff of his clearly expensive cologne. Wow. Okay.
We locked up and made our way out to my car, then headed to church. As we pulled into the parking lot, I suddenly realized I’d have to explain his presence to my parents.
He seemed to sense my hesitance. “What’s wrong?”
“I haven’t told my parents.” I faced him. “About you.”
His brow furrowed in confusion.
“I mean, I know we decided on the cover story and that I could tell the truth to anyone on a need-to-know basis, and I think that includes my parents, but I just...” I sucked in a breath. “I just didn’t want to worry them with everything going on, you know?” I faced him again before he could respond. “And they’ll never buy the old friend routine either.”
Before I could say anything else, he leaned over and kissed me.
Like the wanton woman I was, I groaned and sank right into him, letting him take the lead with his skillful mouth as he slid his tongue along the seam of my lips, seeking entrance.
My hand found itself clutching the collar of his shirt as things grew heated quickly, but before I knew it, he drew back to stare at me with hooded eyes.
“Wha—?” I tried but couldn’t form words.
A half smile formed on his luscious lips. “Just tell them we’re dating.”
“Dating?” I echoed, not comprehending, my brain a puddle of goo.
“Yeah.” He flicked his gaze to indicate just over my shoulder. “Since they just witnessed that, I don’t think it’ll be too hard for them to believe.”
“What?” I spun around to find my mom’s pleasantly surprised face as she waved at us with Elizabeth on her hip.
I shot back around, feeling my face heat. “Oh, shit.”
“It’s fine.” He cupped my face in his hand, and as usual, I melted into it. “Since you don’t want to tell them the truth and you don’t want to tell them the old friend story, tell them we’re dating. You can tell them the whole truth when everything’s over. They’ll understand.”
I thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right. Okay.”
“Okay.” For good measure, he leaned over and placed one last quick kiss on my lips. “Now let’s go to church.”
Yeah, the dating thing wasn’t hard to sell. Especially when Elizabeth practically threw herself down to run to him and wrapped herself around his legs like an adoring little octopus.
“Man Jusin!”
“Hey, little Juice Monster!”
She giggled, then raised her arms to him, silently demanding to be picked up.
He shot me a questioning look before bending to scoop her up like he’d done it a hundred times.
She wound her tiny arms around his neck and smiled at him like she’d just won the toddler lottery. The whole thing made my heart ache.
My father cleared his throat, and I knew I had to do something, and fast.