Page 50 of The Match Faker

God, I was rubbish at this. I should be getting into character too. I needed to smile a bit more. Then I’d look happy. I started grinning and tilting my head to the left and then to the right.

‘What’s wrong?’ Liam’s face creased.

‘Nothing,’ I said, my cheeks beginning to tremble, ‘I’m smiling because I’m so happy to be on a date with my hot boyfriend.’

‘You don’t look like you’re smiling. You look deranged. Maybe take it down a notch. And what’s up with your neck? Did you pull a muscle?’

‘No! I’m trying to look playful,’ I murmured. ‘Like how flirty women move their head seductively and then play with their hair.’ I tugged a tendril from my updo and wrapped it around my finger. ‘Ouch!’ I’d pulled too tightly.

‘This is explaining a lot,’ Liam sighed.

‘What?’

‘Now I understand why you didn’t want to take GCSE drama… And if this is how you flirt, it kinda explains why you’ve been single for a while.’ He smirked.

‘Arsehole,’ I mouthed, shooting daggers with my eyes.

‘Now, now,’ he whispered, the corner of his mouth twitching. ‘Play nice. Remember, you’re supposed to be crazy about me.’

There was a knock at the door and we quickly sat up straighter. Liam reached over and put his hand on top of mine.

Whoa.

A bolt of electricity shot through me.

My eyes bulged and I remembered I had to compose myself.

He’s touching my hand because he’s acting. Like I should be doing right now.

‘I’m so glad we reconnected after all these years, sweetheart.’ Liam looked into my eyes and his gaze was so deep it was like he was staring into my soul. Someone give this guy an Oscar.

Now it was my turn to say something.

Lights, camera, action!

‘Me too, honey pie.’ I grinned, then remembered what he’d said about taking it down a notch, so tried to reduce my expression to a simple smile.

This acting thing was harder than it looked. And it was weird holding eye contact for so long. I was tempted to look away, but had to keep up the pretence, so I followed his lead and stared deep into his eyes.

He had really nice eyes. They were dark brown, like rich, creamy chocolate buttons, but they also sparkled like someone had sprinkled them with diamonds.

And his lashes. Like I’d said the other day, they were unbelievably long and curled up at the tips like he’d used one of those painful-looking eyelash curlers. It was so unfair.

His eyebrows were pretty amazing too. Thick, but naturally defined. They framed his face perfectly and I bet he’d never even had to suffer getting them plucked, waxed or threaded.

Actually, looking into Liam’s eyes wasn’t as hard as I’d first thought. Maybe it was because I’d compared them to chocolate buttons.

Yeah. In future, whenever I needed to do this faking stuff, if I just imagined Liam was covered in chocolate, it’d be easy to pretend I liked him.

A vision of melted chocolate drizzled over Liam’s bare chest, along his muscular arms and all over his body flashed into my mind.

‘Sorry to interrupt.’ The waiter stood at the table, clutching plates.

I was glad he’d spoken. I didn’t like where my train of thought was going. I should not be imagining Liam naked or covered in chocolate.

Get it together, girl. Time to perform.

‘Oh!’ My hand flew to my chest dramatically. ‘I didn’t even see you come in! I was too busy gazing into my boyfriend’s amazing eyes.’

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