Page 16 of It's Not All Fake

Beautifully dressed partygoers are milling about and gathered around fire pits on luxurious white lounge seating, bathed in purple accent lighting. The whole scene is sexy as hell.

There’s a large, lighted swimming pool in the middle of the terrace and, as we approach, I see something floating in the water.

We weave around someone obscuring my view and then I see it—a man, floating face down in the middle of the pool. Motionless.

Bright red blood clouds the water all around him.

My heart jumps in shock and I recoil, my hand breaking out of Liam’s grip.

But just as quickly, I realize that it’s fake. The dead guy is just a gimmick. Straight out of a scene in the movie, I remember now. The unsuspecting victim was discarded in the pool after a vampire got him.

I release a breath as Liam chuckles, realizing I was startled. He backtracks to stand next to me, surveying the pool scene.

As I'm trying to steady my racing heart, Liam slips his arm around my waist, causing it to beat even faster at his touch.

“You know.” He leans over to my ear. “That vampire didn’t do a very good job finishing his meal.”

I chuckle, realizing he’s right. “He must have just needed a snack,” I muse.

Liam nods, surveying the leftovers in the pool. Then he feigns a sigh. “Well, I’m thirsty. Let’s get our own drinks.” He motions to the bar.

I smile, enjoying his playfulness.

Liam doesn’t break contact with me for even a minute. He is holding my hand or has his arm wrapped around my waist as he makes the rounds, saying hello to the movie cast and crew and other VIPs at the party. I shake a lot of hands, but I don’t have to say much other than my name. I enjoy watching him schmooze. He is charismatic and it’s easy for him. He’s also efficient, not spending more than a handful of minutes in one spot. I can tell he doesn’t love making small talk and playing the social game, but he’s very good at it.

The fact that he is tall, dark, and handsome doesn’t hurt either. Several women are especially flirty with him. I notice their eyes roaming his lean, muscular frame, though he seems unaffected by it.

I am armor for him now, I think. His shield to make it even more difficult for women to connect with him—and hurt him. Maybe this arrangement will make things worse for his ability to let his guard down and find real love.

I am torn, wondering again if this charade was a bad idea as I recognize the thinly masked jealousy in other women’s eyes as they size me up.

However, another part of me is enjoying myself, especially when Liam wraps his arm around my waist. It isn’t the worst job, pretending to be the girlfriend of a handsome celebrity.

I’m on my third drink when Liam leads me away from a cackling group of actresses who barely acknowledged my existence. They only had eyes for Liam.

“I think I’ve paid my social dues tonight. Wanna get out of here?” His dark eyes search mine, and his tone carries a hint of suggestiveness that excites me—or at least, I think it might. He may have G-rated plans for us after the party, but maybe not. There’s no way I can think logically about boundaries between us right now. Especially not three drinks in, feeling all warm and happy.

I hesitate. I should have been mentally preparing for this moment instead of gawking at how sexy and sophisticated he is all night. I decide to stall.

“Mind if I go check out the view first?” I nod toward the glass railing. We made several laps around the pool to socialize but we haven’t ventured close to the rooftop edge yet.

“Let’s do it.” He smiles, inviting himself along.

I’m glad he does.

My hand still in his, he leads me away from the poolside crowd towards the edge of the terrace. There are scattered couches for lounging and tall decorative plants around the perimeter of the space, also accented dramatically with purple lights.

But this part of the rooftop feels deserted, with only a few other couples taking in the view. He gently pulls me a healthy distance away from them, out of their earshot. As we arrive at the glass railing, and he drops my hand. I’ve been attached to him all night and I’m surprised to suddenly feel naked without the warmth of his hand.

I pull my mind away from the thought of his touch and survey the million tiny, twinkling lights of the city. The ocean is to one side, where it looks like the whole world drops off into pitch black.

I feel a soft, cool wind blowing in from the water. I grasp my forearms as they break out with goosebumps.

“Take my jacket.” Liam quickly peels off his suit coat.

I smile, amused. “More points for chivalry.” He can certainly lay on the charm when he wants to. Is this all for show? I desperately wish I could read his mind right now.

I accept his offer and he drapes his coat over my shoulders. I feel instantly warmer, and I enjoy the smell of his whiskey-scented cologne on his jacket.

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