Page 47 of Fake

“And why is that?” she asks with a pout.

“Don’t you remember being so overcome with passion that you don’t care where you are or who can see? You’ve obviously let the fire burn down.”

Garrett throws an arm around Angela’s shoulders and pulls her close. “There’s no need to feel sorry for me. Our fire is doing just fine.”

Nathan dips his chin and shows his palms. “I’m just saying.”

His hair falls into his eyes again and his grin comes fast and easy. This is the real version of him. I know it. The villain is a mask. I wonder how hard it would be to help him remove it…

Angela studies her cousin’s face, grinning incredulously. “You know, I’ve been hearing all these stories about how much happier you look now that you’re with Mina and I have to say, I didn’t think it was true. But look at him,” she says to Garrett. “There’s not a glare or a growl anywhere. That might even be an actual smile. It’s amazing what falling in love with the right person can do.”

Angela pokes Nathan’s cheeks and he ducks out of reach. “It’s a little early to be talking about love.”

His gaze locks onto mine and a jolt of electricity blasts through my veins. His eyes are storm-thrashed, filled with…longing? Loathing? I don’t even know.

“Yeah, for you,” Angela retorts, “but as an interested third party, I can point out the obvious without making it too weird. And maybe this leads to a conversation that will deepen your relationship and growly Nathan might be gone for good.”

The look on her face suggests she thinks I’m a saint or miracle worker. I better set her straight before she expects more than I can deliver. “I promise you; he still glares and growls and snorts…”

“I do not snort,” Nathan says, following the statement up with a derisive snort while the rest of us burst into laughter.

“That was just bad timing,” he says, trying to look serious, but giving in to a chuckle.

“Bad timing, perfect timing, potato, po-tah-to.” Angela bumps her shoulder against Nathan’s. “You know we love you, right?”

“Is that what you call it? Because I’ve been a little iffy.” Nathan wraps an arm around my waist. He’s relaxed. His boundaries are down. His whole vibe is warm and inviting without a frozen barbed wire to be found. I could fall in love with this version of him.

If only he’s willing to take off the mask…

“Are you guys coming or going?” Angela asks with a bob of her head toward the entrance to The Pact.

“Going.” Nathan’s thumb traces my hip, and a tremble of excitement clenches my core.

“Oh, I see, that make out moment was the lead-in to a night of passion?—”

“You really could use a filter, you know?” Nathan puts his hands on Angela’s shoulders and turns her towards the entrance of The Pact. “Why don’t you go inside before you ruin the moment more than you already have.”

“Going. Going!” She pivots, walking backwards as her husband guides her. “Hey! We’re taking the boat out tomorrow. You two should come with us. I need to get to know the woman who’s putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.”

Nathan huffs a laugh and shakes his head. “We’ll be there, as long as you promise never to say something like that again.”

After Angela and Garrett disappear into the restaurant, Nathan steps away from me. “I don’t even know what to say other than I am really, really sorry.”

“It’s fine.” I wave away the apology, my lips aching from his kiss. No. That’s not quite right. My lips are aching for his kiss.

I lick them in case that helps. “I’m fine to add an extra date to our schedule. It’s not like we’ve been sticking to our two-date agreement anyway.”

“What?” Nathan pulls back, confusion drawing his brows tight. “No. I mean yes, I’m sorry if I should have talked to you about going out tomorrow first. But I was apologizing for the kiss. I saw them coming and really wanted to sell us being in this relationship and I just kind of did it.”

Oh.

Right.

Obviously, that’s what I should be upset with him about.

The kiss.

Not a spur of the moment double date with his cousin.

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