Page 28 of Fake Fiancé for the Billionaire Rockstar

Out of everyone she told me about, I still don’t know as much about my own fiancée. It’s nice to have information on everyone else that surrounds her, but I need more.

I clear my throat and slide the notebook away, its pages a chaotic mess of scribbles that look like I was possessed mid-sentence. Carmen blinks at the notebook, then back at me, her brow lifting slightly. “What are you doing?”

“Taking a much-needed break, you’ve provided me with plenty of information that I highly doubt will be important for the trip.”

She rolls her eyes. "That’s what you say now, but what if they ask you something and you don’t know it?" Her voice holds a challenge, but I see the vulnerability underneath.

I smirk, pushing aside the endless details about her family. "I think I can handle it, Sunshine."

Then, more softly, "But what I really want to know is you—the woman behind all of this."

Carmen sighs, a strand of hair falling across her face. I resist the urge to tuck it behind her ear. “You already know me,” she says softly.

“I know the manager,” I counter, leaning in slightly. “I want to know Carmen.”

She regards me carefully, her eyes searching mine. Finally, she nods. “One question each. Complete honesty.”

I can’t help the smirk that spreads across my face. “Challenge accepted, Sunshine.” The nickname rolls off my tongue, feeling more like an endearment with each use.

It’s quiet for a few moments while I think of the best question to ask, then I clear my throat. “What other instruments do you know how to play?”

“Damn, I didn’t expect that to be one,” she mutters, then starts counting on her fingers with fierce concentration on her face.

“Drums, obviously, guitar, piano, violin, and saxophone.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal and adds, “I’m best at drums and guitar, weakest on the saxophone.”

“What made you get into music?”

She lifts a finger and shakes it with a frown. “Uh uh, we agreed that you get to ask one question.”

I lift my hands up in the air. “Hit me with it, then.”

Carmen grabs the drink sitting in front of her, one that she’s barely touched since we sat down a couple hours ago, and takes a sip while silently thinking about what she’s going to ask. I’m eager to know what she’s most curious about—my personal life, or something mundane?

“Are you against relationships?”

“What makes you ask that?”

She glares at me for responding with a question but doesn’t act as though I’m not allowed to do that.

“You’ve never been in one, not even when Mack was still your manager. Everything I’ve read about you has always been squeaky clean up until I came into the picture.”

I let out a sigh and shrug. "It’s not like I’m totally against relationships, but I’ve had some experiences that made me back off from looking for anything serious."

The truth is, I’ve had plenty of flings, but always on my terms. I never let anyone get close enough to hurt me—it’s just easier that way. But lately, I’ve been wondering if I’ve been missing out on something.

“Hmm, would you be willing to share any of those experiences?” she asks softly.

Her words hang in the air between us, and for a moment, I just stare at her. There’s something in the way she’s looking at me, like she’s daring me for more. A challenge I didn’t see coming, one I’m not sure I’m ready for.

My pulse quickens.

Without answering right away, I shift forward in my chair, my hands resting on my knees as I study her. Carmen’s soft gazedoesn’t waver, and that pulls me in even stronger. She's asking me to let her in, something I never do.

But as I look at her, I realize I’m too far away for this conversation, both physically and emotionally. I rise slowly, my eyes never leaving hers.

I take my time, moving deliberately around the table, my steps measured, as if I’m giving her a chance to stop me.

She doesn’t.

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