Page 27 of That Fake Feeling

“Theseare good for the elderflower stuff.”IpassConnortwo glasses behind my back without turning around.

Hisfingers brush over mine as he takes them.

Iforce myself to ignore the goose bumps that shimmy up my arm, and focus on investigating the basket’s contents. “Ooh, and there are strawberries.Itwould look super romantic ifIfed you those.”

Ipull them out and turn to face him, dropping back to my knees and sitting back on my heels.

“Sure.”Connorunscrews the cap off the bottle and splashes out two drinks.

Mygaze is drawn to him as he concentrates on pouring.I’mclose enough to see fine lines and signs of fatigue around what are otherwise startlingly blue eyes.Ihadn’t noticed how piercing they were before.Maybebecause the last time he was this closeIwas distracted by his lack of clothing.

Hehands me a drink, andIhold it up to him. “Gazeat me adoringly and clink my glass.”

Hetips his head as a wide, natural-looking smile spreads across his face. “IfIdidn’t know better,I’dthink you’d done this before.Doyou pretend to be in love with people often?”

Itap my glass against his. “Oh, this isn’t based on practice.It’sbased on desperation.”

“Andwhat is it that’s made you desperate enough to do this,RoseBellamore?”

“Nothingyou’d be interested in,”Isay through my fake smile.Timeto change the subject. “ButIthink you’re probably desperate for strawberries.”

Itake one out of the carton and dangle it by its little green stalk in whatIhope is a photogenic style. “Liedown.”

“What?Why?”Helooks as horrified as if he’s just been told elderflower water is the only drink he’s allowed to consume for the rest of his life.

“Likethis.”Iarrange myself on my side, propped up on one elbow and facing him.

“Oh, fuck.”Heshakes his head. “Seriously?”

“Yes, darling,”Isay in an over-the-top seductive voice asIaffect bedroom eyes and exaggeratedly tap the blanket in front of me. “Comeon down here and let me drive you wild with these strawberries.”

“Jesus.”Hesounds irritated, but he can’t help his mouth turning up a little as he raises those piercing eyes skyward.Ican work with that.

Idrop my head, look up at him under my lashes, and run my fingers up my thigh.

“Yeah,lie next to me, my little sugar dumpling.”

“Holyfuckballs,Rose.”He’sactually laughing now.

It’sa real laugh.Onethat lights up his face, erases all traces of fatigue from his eyes, and makes them sparkle.

Helies down opposite me.

“Oh, that’s way too far away, myBigBrainbabe.”Igrab a handful of hisT-shirt and tug it toward me. “Comeso close thatIcan see your love for me oozing from your pores.”

“Ifyou think that’s romantic, you’ve been hanging out with the wrong guys.”

Hescooches toward me on his side and leans on his elbow just inches from me, his fingers pushed into his hair, holding it back off his forehead.

Ican indeed see his pores.Andhis light brown lashes.Andthe day-old stubble on his chin.Andthe veins in the arm holding up his head.And, through the hole the branch tore in his shirt, a patch of soft-looking skin near his waist.

“Comeon,” he says, tapping the box of strawberries. “Feedme.”

“Oh, yeah.”HowdidIlose my focus so quickly?Ipick out the smallest bright red fruit and hold it in the air. “Let’sjust give the poor paparazzi time to see what it is.”

“Ican’t believe how quickly you’ve gone from innocent teacher to seductress-for-hire.”

“JustbecauseI’ma teacher doesn’t meanI’minnocent.”Iturn my head slightly and look at him out of the corner of my eye as ifI’msaying something super sexy.