Page 27 of Hard to Fake

“Done.” Miles’s gaze lingers on my legs. "Not worth twisting an ankle.”

“Beauty is pain,” I say lightly.

“You look good enough without them.”

Miles straightens to his full height, the moon generously highlighting the planes of his cut torso and shoulders.The words wrap around me the way he was wrapping his arms around himself a moment ago.

I'm more than a little drunk and tempted to drop his vest over the edge of the balcony for the good of humankind.

“Why do you want a date?” he asks.

I pull my brain out of the alternate universe in which I’m respectfully licking his chest.

“There’s a contract I want to win with this alum who’ll be there.” I don’t want to explain the details or how my competition is bringing my ex. “The entire weekend is a big social test, and it helps to have backup.”

Miles raises an eyebrow. “Backup with an axe?” He hooks the shoes on the plastic blade of the axe and lets both dangle from his grip.

“No.” I laugh. Is he going to make me say it? “Someone good looking, popular, charming.”

Miles studies me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “Brooke.”

“What?” I’m instantly suspicious.

He steps closer to me, his hand brushing a strand of hair away from my face. “You don't need to prove anything to anyone.”

I feel myself warm, both from his words and the heat radiating off his body. “That’s not what I’m doing?—”

His mouth firms into a line. “I’m in.”

My brows shoot up, a laugh in my throat.“You’re uninvited.”

“I’m reinviting myself.”

My mouth falls open. Miles always knows how to surprise me. "It's the weekend after next. Friday night to Sunday morning.”

“No game until Monday.” He grins. “It's a date."

6

BROOKE

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: URGENT – RSVP AND REQUEST!

Dear Brooke,

It's ten days until the reunion, and you haven't told us the name of your plus-one! If it was anyone else, I’d tell them the cutoff was two weeks ago. But we’re sisters, so I’ll let it slide.

Speaking of, can you sort the seating chart for dinner? I’m attaching it, and I haven’t got a spare moment. Whatever you do, you MUST put us at the same table. We have so much to catch up on.

Love,

Caroline

P.S. There’s no shame in not bringing a date. It’s terribly modern.

---