Page 55 of The Fake Husband Deal

“You need to take a deep breath, Noah. You look great.” He pushed my hands away, and in a New York minute, my bow was tied and straightened.

Lior turned me around and pushed me toward the mirror.

“See? Stunning.”

I studied his gaze for a moment. His dark eyes rarely gave him away, his emotions sealed in a vault.

Not all his emotions. Just the ones I so desperately craved.

In the weeks since our wedding, Lior had fast become one of my best friends.

I didn’t need to pretend with him because he knew to call me on my bullshit, but he also let me be myself.

It had been weeks since I’d felt the need to go out to a bar to connect with people.

It never was just about sex for me. I craved connecting with people on an intimate level.

Well, as intimate as you could get in a bar restroom. But my point was that I needed to see someone’s eyes glazed over as I sucked their cock or stroked them to completion. I needed the gasps, the trembles.

Connection.

What was disconcerting about my relationship with Lior was that while I knew he could give me what I needed and more when it came to sex, even though we weren’t having any, just being his friend was enough.

I’d never had that with anyone.

“I don’t want to add to your anxiety, but my mom is on her way here. She wants to meet you.”

I turned around hastily. “She, what…what?” I yelped. “That is not how you don’t add to my anxiety.”

“I know, but you had to meet her at some point. I promise she’s gotten over the initial shock, and apparently, all I talk about is you, so she’s curious.”

Okay, that got my attention. “All you talk about is me?”

He raised his brows. “Of course that’s what you’d hear. Yes, Noah, all I talk about is how insufferable you are. How you leave your socks everywhere?—”

“I do not.”

He pointed at the floor near the bed.

“I was going to grab those in a minute.”

“Sure you were.” He kissed my cheek. “Once you do, join me in the kitchen.”

That was another thing he’d started doing whenever I was being “insufferable.” He’d say something sweet and kiss me on the cheek.

He was the worst husband ever.

I finished getting ready and tidied my room a little. After my first night here, we decided that I’d come stay here on Saturday and Sunday nights, and during the week, Lior would stay with me if he was working in the city office.

Even though the museum was only an hour outside the city, Lior worked long hours when he was in the office, so he’d gotten used to crashing at the hotel.

Staying with me meant he wouldn’t have to stay in the hotel, which could blow our secret.

His mom would probably not come to the back of the house and see the rooms, but there was no guarantee. I made it look like the spare room was just an extra space for me to get ready rather than the room I slept in.

By the time I walked out, I heard voices.

My heart galloped as I prepared to be face-to-face with my mother-in-law. My very legal mother-in-law, who I’d never met before.