Page 34 of The Spy Who Ghosted Me

Cash unceremoniously took my right hand out of my pocket and held it between his own, warming it and making me feel things I shouldn’t. “I know you want to, and you have every right to, but you can’t act like you’re indifferent toward me, even in private. That’s how covers get blown.”

“I’m so sorry—I didn’t read the spy manual.” Was there such thing?

Cash offered me a small smile while drawing me closer to him. “I know this is difficult, and I’m sorry. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. We need to get our story straight.”

“What’s our story?” I snipped before reminding myself to play my part, a part I’d once played so well. Stepping into the role of his girlfriend then was by far the easiest and best thing I had ever done. Sadly, I hadn’t known Cash had assigned me a role that was purely fictional.

My less-than-cordial response made Cash’s brows furrow.

“I’m sorry—I’ll make sure to change my tone.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I’m the one who’s sorry for putting you in this position. But it is important we make everyone believe our story.”

“Right, story. Make-believe.” I sighed.

Cash ran a finger down my cheek, leaving a trail of sparks. “There is nothing make-believe about my feelings for you.”

“Why should I believe that?”

“You would be a fool to, but it doesn’t make it any less true.”

That was quite the endorsement. “Anyway, what’s our story, baby?” I meant to sound cute, but it just sounded like I was mocking the entire situation. Which I was.

Cash breathed out, exasperated. “Sabrina, please.”

“Fine. Fine.” I took a deep breath in and let it out, trying to draw on what I’d thought were the best two months of my life, when I couldn’t imagine it without the man who held my hand. “What should we tell everyone?” I said as sweetly as I could.

“The truth.”

My eyes popped. “What?”

“Not the entire truth,” he amended. “But enough of the truth.”

“What’s the truth?” I could hardly tell anymore.

Cash placed our clasped hands between us and drew me closer to him until I could see how his blue eyes sparkled in the sun and take in how inviting his minty breath smelled. I had a feeling we were so going to mix chemical cocktails, and part of me didn’t hate it. At. All.

“The truth,” Cash whispered, sending his warm breath sailing over my cheeks, “is that I’ve thought of you every day since we went our separate ways, and I hate myself for walking away from you. But my life wasn’t in a place where I could think of having a long-term relationship. I had some baggage from my past I needed to work on.”

“What kind of baggage?” I foolishly got sucked into the words I’d wanted to hear for the past three years.

“Growing up in foster care and not knowing how to be in a relationship. We’ll leave out the part where I’m a ruthless bastard who has to save the world occasionally.”

I couldn’t help but smile. I had to wonder what types of missions he went on. Did he really save the world? Why couldn’t he just save mine? Stop thinking like that.

“There’s the smile I’ve been missing.”

I immediately went back to my stony face, desperately trying not to fall for this charade we were putting on.

“Sabrina.” His lips moved to hover above mine. “I know you hate me, but please, for your protection, you need to believe me.”

“That sounds like a good line.”

“It’s no line.” His lips brushed over mine.

I stopped breathing, a rush of every good chemical coursing through me. I should totally hate myself for how amazing it felt. Instead, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the ride only he knew how to take me on.

He brushed them one more time, his teeth taking a little nip before he quickly ended the trip.

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