Page 37 of Faking It with my Small Town Billionaire

Jake is grinning mischievously. “What do you want? Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” Orson says without hesitation.

“Ooh,” Phil wails, as though Orson’s put himself in danger.

The rest of the table is whooping encouragingly. Of course, I know exactly the reason he’s picked dare. Right now, truth is a very fluid word for the two of us.

“Get him to run around the garden in his bare feet,” Phil cackles.

“No, sing us a song,” Gary yells.

“What about a dance?” Peter snorts.

Jake is eyeing Orson, a smile dancing on his lips. Clearly, he has something fun in mind. It’s written all over his face. I lift my glass to my lips, and just as I’m about to take a sip, Jake says, “I dare you to kiss your beautiful wife.”

I swallow a gasp and tense. Thank the Lord I hadn’t taken a sip of my wine, or else Wendy would currently be wearing it.

“I can’t embarrass Lily like that,” Orson says, though I can hear the lack of conviction in his words.

“Oh, come on,” Gary says. “She’s your wife. You won’t embarrass her. He won’t embarrass you, will he, Lily?”

I’ve been put on the spot, and as every eye looks directly at me, I can feel heat rushing from the soles of my feet right to the top of my head.

“Come on, guys,” Orson begins.

I don’t know where the words come from, but they fly out of my mouth, anyway. “Of course he won’t.”

I shift to look up at him, and all I can see is uncertainty. Not for himself, but for me.

“It’s okay, sweetheart.” I smile.

He turns to the others. “You are all going to pay for this,” he snarls playfully.

“Yes, yes,” Wendy says, waving a hand like she doesn’t believe a word he says. “Just kiss her already.”

When his full lips reach mine, it feels better than I could ever have imagined. And I imagined it often all those years ago. My heart dances, sparks fly across every part of my being, and as I grip his thick bicep, I don’t want to let go. I can feel the heat of his hand as it rests on my back. I’m intoxicated by his aroma, and I slip into absolute bliss in the moment.

“All right, get a room,” someone says from across the table.

That sets us both off laughing, and the moment is broken. Which is probably a good thing. Right?

I flash a glance up at him, and I’m completely taken aback when I notice his eyes full of desire as he gazes down at me.

Holy cow!

Did he feel it too?

You know he did. You felt it when he kissed you.

Maybe I did. Maybe I’m too terrified to imagine that there could be something more between us. But as his gaze lingers, making me blush, maybe I don’t have to use my imagination.

15

Orson

Seven weeks ago, I told my best friend that I had married Lily Harper. I’d repeat the entire conversation, but I’m pretty sure Jake could teach some government agencies a thing or two with his interrogation techniques.

It was always going to be a shock for anyone. But it was going to be worse for Jake. He knows me too well. He’s also a psychologist, so he can read my mind. At least, that’s how it feels sometimes.

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