Page 10 of Pretty Desperate (Pine Village #6)

“I know a little bit about you, since we both grew up here. I know about your business, and I think we can easily say that’s one of the draws we have to each other. We both understand what it takes to make a successful go of it, even if our businesses are different.”

“Agreed,” she says, abandoning her fork.

I can tell this conversation makes her uncomfortable, but what I’m not sure of is if it’s simply because it centers around a lie or if she has things she’d rather not discuss.

Either way, I get it. I’m not exactly looking forward to telling her about my past, especially since no one knows about it.

I’m taking a huge step forward on the trust scale by sharing it, but I do feel it’s necessary.

In order to make it believable, I feel we should both know all the details.

Eventually.

I’m not saying we have to know each other’s biggest, darkest secrets right this moment, but as the relationship progresses—fake or otherwise—there will be things we’ll have to discuss, because it would be natural that a boyfriend would know his girlfriend’s dating history. And vice versa.

“I think we have a little bit of a grace period in the beginning. The fact we would only know the basics wouldn’t be too far-fetched. We’re getting to know each other, right?”

“Right,” she agrees, nodding her head insistently.

“One of the things we should talk about is affection.”

She swallows hard. “Affection.”

“Yeah, you know, hand-holding and touching. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, but I think there should be some sort of touching if we’re dating.

We’ve already proven the chemistry is there, but I may reach over and take your hand or brush your hair off your shoulder, and I wouldn’t want you to flinch. ”

She takes a deep breath. “I can do this.”

I can’t help but crack a smile. “Are you talking to me or yourself?”

She grins and shakes her head. “Both, maybe? I’m not worried about you touching me, Kameron. Not in the sense you mean.”

“No? Then what are you worried about?”

I don’t miss the way her cheeks turn pink in the cutest blush. The same thing happened after the kiss we shared, and I’ll be damned if I don’t start to get hard. All I want to do is kiss her again, and that’s probably the last thing I should do.

She exhales and takes another sip of her wine, as if she needs the liquid courage to get this part out. When she sets her glass back down on the table, she leans in a bit and meets my gaze. “I’m comfortable with you, Kam. Maybe a little too comfortable.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, wanting a sip of wine, but not wanting to take my eyes off this woman for a single second.

“I liked you kissing me. Maybe a little too much.” That blush?

Oh, it’s a deep crimson shade that spreads down to her chest, to the hint of cleavage I see at the V-neck of her shirt.

“I’m fine with you holding my hand or brushing my hair off my shoulder, Kameron, but you need to be ready for my reaction. ”

My mouth goes dry, and my balls start to ache. “You’re reaction? Do tell, Jilly,” I whisper, leaning closer.

“I’ll probably want to touch you too, maybe run my fingers through your hair. I’m a reactive person. I like to touch and be touched. Even if it’s for show, I’m a touchy-feely girl, so you should probably be ready too.”

She’s a damn black widow spider, and I’m trapped in her web, lost in the sea of her green eyes and full pink lips. I want to taste the wine on her tongue and feel the heat of her touch, even though I know I’ll get bitten.

“Chemistry,” I murmur, replaying that kiss for the ten-thousandth time.

She shrugs and gives me a coy little grin. “It’s there, Kameron, but I also understand what this is. It’s a business agreement, right? So chemistry or not, we have an expiration date.”

I can’t stop my smirk. “So, let me get this straight. We have chemistry, and you’re okay with me casually touching you, holding your hand, and maybe kissing you during the duration of our fake relationship. Not only are you okay with it, but you will reciprocate and be just as affectionate.”

She nods. “Correct.”

“Sign me up, darlin’, because the next few months are going to be pretty interesting.”

She pushes her plate aside and finishes off her wine.

“If I’m being completely honest here, I have to put a little bit of my heart into this.

I’m not saying that to freak you out, but it still bothers me that the whole thing is a lie.

” She holds up her hands when my mouth opens.

“I understand why, and I’m okay with it.

But, if I’m going to play a part, I have to put a bit of heart into it.

That’s how I acted in school. I’m looking at this role like any other I’ve had.

” She drops both hands onto her lap, and her shoulders look tense.

I can’t help but reach under the table and take her left hand.

Her skin is soft as I entwine my fingers with hers, and I didn’t feel her flinch or jump at the contact.

It’s just as she said. She’s okay with me touching her, even if she’s looking at this professionally. “I can respect that, Jillian.”

And I can. I’m glad she’s honest and upfront, and it makes me like and appreciate her even more than I did before.

As a friend, of course .

I might have to remind myself of that every now and again, but I could easily see why a man could fall for a woman like Jillian Kirby.

For real.

She’s gorgeous, hardworking, and driven, loyal to her friends and family, and kisses like you’re the very air she needs to breathe. She’s the breath of fresh air I didn’t realize I needed in my life.

Yeah, she’s not the only one who needs to remember this relationship is fake.

I haven’t had many relationships since returning to Pine Village, mostly because I don’t have the time.

My schedule is crazy and even though my restaurant is only open five days a week, it’s still a huge commitment.

There’s so much more to it than just grilling some steaks and steaming some vegetables.

Women I’ve tried dating in the past don’t see past the superficial of owning a steak house.

They want a man who’s present and available, and for me, that’s hard.

But Jillian gets it. She’s just as committed to her bakery. She works long hours six days a week, including getting up way before the birds because that’s what it takes to make her business work. Yeah, I have mad respect for this woman, and I look forward to getting to know her better.

“Good,” she replies, releasing a long breath and squeezing my hand. “Now that’s settled, what’s for dessert?”