Page 25 of Fake Engaged to the Enemy

“It won’t blow up in our faces. That is, so long as you don’t give everything away,” he teases.

“Oh, so you think I’m the one that will give it away?” I stuff my notebook into my bag and grab out my water. “Ha! You’re far more likely to fumble up than I am.”

George’s eyes sparkle. “Is that so?”

“It is.” My water has gone warm, but I don’t care. I gulp it down.

Probably because my mouth’s gone so dry.

It’s the heat. That’s why. Nothing else.

“Want to make this interesting?” George asks. “Two hundred dollars says that I can be more convincing as your fiancé than you can as my fiancée.”

I finish off my bottle. “Ha! That’s an easy two hundred for me. You’ve got a bet.”

George holds his hand out, still smirking.

I gaze at his hand, then a slow smirk grows over my face. “Oh, you think so, do you?”

“How are you going to play this if you can’t even shake my hand?” he asks.

“You misunderstand.”

My heart starts pounding. Because of the heat.

Grandma’s teasing from earlier comes back to me.

And she’s right. Fake dating is one of my favorite genres of romance. And no, this wasn’t going to end with George and I falling in love.

But…

But kissing always comes up. People don’t buy you as a couple if you don’t lip lock at least once.

“A handshake is no way for an engaged couple to act.” I lean forward, tilting my face up to him. “Let’s seal this bet with a kiss, shall we?”

George leans back.

Um.

Okay. I pushed too far.

George takes off his sunglasses. His eyes rove over my face, scrutinizing me.

“You’re right,” he says. “Score one for Catherine. A real engaged couple kisses all the time.”

“Just don’t slobber all over my face this time,” I warn him.

George looks affronted. “I think I’ve learned a few things about kissing since then.”

He puts his arm around me, pulling me tight against him. My heart thrums.

There’s little preamble. He leans in, brushing his lips to mine, then pauses. His eyes meet mine, checking to make sure it’s still alright.

I nod and he kisses me.

It’s light and sweet.

My knees go weak.

---