Page 40 of Until I Find You

“You two are just pictureperfect together.” Mari holds up her fingers like she’s framing a photo. “Look at them, Geoff.”

“I’m looking,” Geoff says, nonplussed.

Jack and I exchange a look. We’re sitting side by side at dinner.

The kids are home with pizza. And I’m on a double date with Jack’s mother and stepfather, pretending to be in a relationship with him because she demanded it of us.

I think Jack’s smiling. It’s subtle, but I’ve spent enough time with him that I’m starting to be able to read him quite well.

I haven’t stopped thinking about what he said before we left the house. About how I always look incredible. How hemeantit.

Jack lifts his arm and rests it on the back of my chair, his fingers tracing a line down my bare arm. “Yeah, I think so too.”

I resist shivering because this ispretend.

But something is different. Something has shifted. His confidence. His control.

This isn’t the Jack I woke up next to yesterday.

It started when Kevin reemerged from the cottage, I didn’t have to say another thing. Jack was in charge. He negotiated about the uncultivated land, he made smart points about the degradation of the equipment and when all was said and done, he’d worked Kevin down well below asking price and even further below Jack’s predetermined budget.

And then Jack said we would think about it. So off-handed and casual andprofessional.

It was really fucking sexy.

Maybe being here in Hawaii has made all of this real for him. Tangible. Or maybe he needed to name the business, realize that he has a stake of his heart in it.

Whatever it was, I like it. I like it a whole damn lot.

And I want more of it.

Though the touch of his fingers on my arm is brief, it makes my nerves tingle. So much so, I lean into his side. I tell myself I’m just playing the part. Giving Mari the show she expected when she found out her son was in a relationship.

Based on how much she beams when she’s in the room with us, I’d say we’re doing a good job of selling it.

Is it faking it if he touches me and I think I’m wet, though?

I’m so fucked.

“What do you think? Another drink?” Mari looks around the restaurant for the waiter.

“Mari…” Geoff says. “It’s a school night.”

Mari waves her hand. “So? I’m not going to school. Besides, you only get to meet your son’s girlfriend once. You know this is the first time Jack has brought someone to meet me.”

Jack’s jaw hardens but he doesn’t react otherwise.

“That’s a big honor.” I smile. To further sell the image, I place my hand on Jack’s thigh. Not too high to be suggestive.

I know I’m pushing the limit of things between us. I can’t help it, though. I’m compelled. Could be the alcohol. Could be the wires are getting crossed.

I can’t shake the way he said, “Us,” yesterday during our toast.

Business partners.Lifepartners. It’s only a silly daydream. I’ve known him for less than a month all said and done. But we’ve spent so much time together through those weeks, and I’ve known from the beginning I’m attracted to him.

Everything is going to go back to normal when we get back to New York anyway. Might as well have alittlefun with the fake relationship. Sell it really well.

That’s what I’m doing. Selling it.

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