Page 45 of Merry Fake Bride

Given my track history, my feelings aren’t exactly trustworthy, but it’s the little things that stick in my mind about him and it’s infuriating.

I should hate him.

I do… no, I don’t. But I should.

Instead, I can’t stop thinking about him.

The way he grabbed the seatbelt to help me when the car lurched instead of my arm.

How he held the umbrella over me without crowding my space.

How he escorted me through the building lobby with motions and movements rather than touch.

He doesn’t draw attention to it, but it’s the most important thing I notice—that and how it makes me feel safe.

The longer we spend together, the less I feel I have to be on my guard about an unexpected hug or touch.

He exists in my bubble without breaching my boundary, and I’m not even sure if he knows he’s doing it.

As the heat from the water soothes deep into my chilled body and the aromatic lavender scent warms my lungs, my eyes droop and I sink into a pleasant darkness with only my thoughts for company.

His timing was exceptional.

In truth, I really had no idea how I was getting home, so it’s insane luck that he found me when he did.

I need to charge my phone and contact my friends, then tell my parents where I am just in case something happens.

I’ll leave out the part about Kairo, though.

Underneath the comfort of the bath chasing away the terrible chill of the storm, guilt stirs in my gut that I’m even here.

Sharing space with the enemy?

My parents definitely wouldn’t understand.

As I soak away every last frozen raindrop that pierced my skin, gentle classical music drifts through the air from somewhere in the penthouse and Kairo pops back into my thoughts.

Mostly his face and how he resembled an adorable puppy when shaking the water from his hair.

He’s so handsome for an asshole.

Eventually, the water cools to an uncomfortable temperature so I climb out of the magical tub where I’m greeted by heated tiles on the floor and a warmth in the air that rivals that of the water.

I wrap myself in a big white fluffy towel and give the lovely bathroom a final glance, then I head into the bedroom where my next concern is immediately answered before the thought even fully forms in my head.

On the bed, Kairo’s massive bed, covered in a soft lemon duvet and surrounded by enough pillows to make a nest, lies a neatly folded pile of clothes.

Next to the bundle is my phone taken from where I left it on the dresser and placed on a portable charger.

I tap the screen and it immediately comes to life.

Wow.

He thinks of everything, huh?

I can’t fight the small smile that creeps across my lips as several texts from my friends fill the screen.

Each one is drunker than the last as they desperately check up on where I am.