Page 52 of The Match Faker

Wasn’t it enough that he had that great body, those eyes, that mouth, and that panty-melting smile? Why did he have to have cute dimples too? It was as if there was some kind of order one great feature, get a dozen free deal on when he was being created.

His dad was good-looking and his mum used to do modelling, so it made sense that he’d inherited their hot genes.

‘Glad you like them.’

As Liam ate his salad and grilled chicken, I polished off the rest of the prawns. He had the willpower of a saint. I didn’t know how he managed to smell the gorgeous aroma of chilli, pepper and salt and not be tempted.

In between eating, we chatted easily, with Liam filling me in on his mum, who still lived in Spain, and me talking about my family.

When the waiters had returned with the mains, Liam put on a show again. This time he’d stroked my hand and my brain scrambled. Before I knew it, we’d finished eating and Liam had asked for the bill.

‘Shall we split it?’ I asked. Fake dating was my idea, so I wish I could’ve paid for everything.

‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘I’ve got this.’

I was about to protest but he shot me a look that said not to bother.

‘Thank you,’ I said as the waiter approached.

‘My pleasure, sweetheart. You know how much I love to treat you.’

The waiter smiled, lapping up Liam’s performance.

Once he’d paid, Liam walked over and pulled out my chair. My traitorous stomach flipped again. Couldn’t believe I kept getting jelly legs because a man moved a piece of furniture I was capable of moving myself.

Just as my stomach recovered, Liam placed his hand on my lower back, guiding me out of the room, through the restaurant and onto the street.

My pulse raced. I tried to calm it down, but I could feel Liam’s gaze burning into me. I made the mistake of looking up at him by my side. Our eyes locked and it sent my pulse through the roof.

‘Did you like it?’

‘Y-yeah,’ I stuttered. It would be much easier if I looked away. But I couldn’t. And anyway it was rude not to look at a person when you were speaking to them, right? ‘The food was great…’

We stopped outside the restaurant and Liam scanned the street.

‘Phil should be here. I asked him to wait outside.’

Just as I was thinking about where I should ask Phil to drop me off and whether to get the train or the bus home, Liam leant forward.

What the…

I froze as his mouth came closer to my face and just as I thought he was aiming for my lips, he moved to my ear.

‘Don’t freak out,’ he whispered, ‘but the couple by the window are taking photos of us, so I need you to smile, then laugh like I said something funny.’

I knew women were renowned for our ability to multitask, but Liam clearly thought I was a magician. All my brain power was currently being used trying to ignore the fact that he was so close to me. I didn’t have any bandwidth left to do anything else.

Liam’s warm breath tickled my neck and his scent was intoxicating. It was woody like always, but it was mixed with the fresh lemon from his water.

‘Any time now would be good,’ he whispered again. ‘And I just spotted a pap across the road, so put your hand on my chest and look into my eyes like you think I’m amazing.’

My hand. On Liam’s chest?

Sure, sure, sure!

No problem.

A fake laugh and a fake touch-up of his chest coming right up!

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