Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Then, without warning, Simon pulled away.
I stared up at him, breathless, my lips still tingling from the pressure of his mouth on mine. Kissing him had been overwhelming and electric—the kind of kiss that rewired something fundamental inside you—and already I wanted to do it again. Wanted to thread my fingers through his hair and pull him back down to me.
But his attention had already shifted.
“Good,” he muttered, his voice rougher than usual as his gaze moved past me toward the auction tables. His jaw was tight, his expression carefully neutral, as if he hadn’t just turned my entire world upside down. “I think Alexander saw that.”
I blinked, the words taking a moment to penetrate the haze of desire still clouding my thoughts. “What?”
“He saw us arguing.” Simon’s green eyes finally met mine again, but there was something guarded in them now. Controlled. “That’s why I kissed you. We need to maintain the cover story.”
My heart plummeted.
Of course. I should have known. I did know, somewhere beneath the romantic notions that had taken over the moment his lips touched mine. This was a performance. A calculated move to convince Alexander we were a real couple.
I followed Simon’s gaze to where Alexander and Brenda stood examining the silent auction items. He wasn’t looking at us now, but it made perfect sense that Simon had kissed me after catching the man watching our tense conversation. What else was he supposed to do? Let Alexander think we were fighting?
I told myself it didn’t bother me. That it made sense. That I had no right to feel disappointed when I was the one who’d invented this fake relationship in the first place.
My lips still burned from the kiss. My heart felt like it was being slowly crushed in a fist.
Who am I kidding? I’m hurt. Hurt that Simon could brush off a kiss that had left me reeling. Hurt that what felt earth-shattering to me had been nothing more than strategic maneuvering for him.
But then I caught something in Simon’s expression, a flicker of something unguarded before he shuttered it away. His breathing wasn’t quite steady. His hands, which had dropped to his sides, were curled into loose fists, as if he was fighting the urge to reach for me again.
Maybe that kiss hadn’t been purely performance after all.
Or maybe I was just seeing what I wanted to see.
I cleared my throat and pasted on the best smile I could manage. “Right. Of course. The cover story.”
Simon’s gaze sharpened, those green eyes studying my face with an intensity that made me feel transparent. Like he could see straight through my careful composure to the chaos underneath.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine.” The lie came out too quickly, too bright. “I just… I think we should leave.”
If he noticed the disappointment threading through my voice, he didn’t show it. I hoped he was simply oblivious to what I was feeling. I was already embarrassed that I’d let myself believe, even for a moment, that the kiss was real.
“You’re right,” he said with a curt nod. “I think we’ve accomplished what we came here to do.”
What we came here to do. My stomach twisted at the reminder that this entire evening—including that devastating kiss—was about securing Alexander’s business.
We were close to the ballroom exit when Alexander appeared in front of us, Brenda at his side.
“Heading out?” he asked warmly.
Simon’s expression transformed, an easy smile sliding into place. “I’m afraid so. But I’m hoping we can meet next week to discuss a potential partnership.”
Alexander nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. “We could do that. But I want to be honest with you, Simon. Chuck has formally expressed interest in working with me as well.” He paused, letting that sink in. “Now, I’m not opposed to partnering with both of you, but I have a feeling that might not be something you’d be comfortable with.”
He must have noticed the animosity crackling between Simon and Chuck during dinner. It would have been impossible to miss. The tension had been thick enough to cut with a knife.
“I don’t think Chuck and I could ever work together,” Simon said honestly, his voice carefully neutral despite the muscle ticking in his jaw.
I could see the curiosity in Alexander’s eyes, but he didn’t push for an explanation. He simply nodded.
“I hope you’ll give me the opportunity to work with you regardless,” Simon continued. “I believe we could accomplish great things together.”
Alexander’s gaze flicked to me, then back to Simon, and I knew in that moment that my impulsive claim about us being in a relationship had been the right move. Simon wasn’t thrilled about it, and that kiss had made it abundantly clear that keeping my real feelings separate from our fake relationship was going to be torture. But Alexander was taking Simon far more seriously now. The wariness from earlier in the evening had been replaced by genuine consideration.