Page 19 of Where We Fall

"Really? You're not a good liar?" I ask playfully. "I would have never guessed that."

Lexi sighs then looks at the group. "Are we sure this client will believe I'm in love with this guy?"

"Hey, I'm quite the charmer."

She folds her arms and looks at me. "Until you open your mouth."

I think she might actually be serious until a tiny smile spreads across her face. My eyebrows curve down.

"Good one," I say, rolling my eyes.

She chuckles at me. When I look back at the rest of the group, they are watching us curiously. I don't know if Lexi and I will be able to pull this off. There's a strange feeling in my stomach, like a warning of what's to come.

Chapter Seven

Lexi

I'monmywayto the airport, not one that I've been to before because apparently, we're flying in a private jet to Chicago.

The palms of my hands are damp as I try to rub them off on my jeans for the tenth time this afternoon. It took a good hour-long phone call with Grace last night for her to talk me up and convince me that I can handle this. It's not so much the pretending anymore that's starting to worry me, it's the weird feelings that being around Marcus is starting to evoke.

I'm normally so calm and cool around the men that I date. It's probably because I'm never that into them. They've been just attractive enough for me to have a slight interest, but I've always felt in control of my feelings with them.

But with Marcus, heat engulfs my body when he looks at me like he wants me. It's a short and fleeting look. Almost as if he catches himself, he turns it off.

I'm worried that when this is all over, these weird feelings for him are not going to go away. That would be a disaster because I love my job.

Grace said if I sense any interest on his side, I'd be a fool not to go for it. I sent her a picture of me the other day and she about lost it. She told me this is my chance to grab life by the balls and make it my bitch—her exact words.

I get what she's saying, but she's underestimating how handsome Marcus is, and how out of my league he is.

Plus, he's my boss. Well, technically Mia hired me, but still.

Either way, it's completely ridiculous. Even if I did catch him looking at me with a sense of interest or curiosity, he'd still never go for someone like me. I may have snooped on his social media page the other night. Over the years, the women on his arm were stunning. I can't compete.

The driver drops me off at the front door of the building. As we're unloading my suitcase, a warm hand finds my lower back.

"I'll get it," a deep voice, that I know to be Marcus, whispers in my ear.

Shivers break out all over my body.

Crap! This isn't good.

"Thanks," I reply, voice hoarse.

I turn around and find him in a long-sleeved gray shirt and jeans. He has a dark baseball cap on and is sporting a warm smile.

"Not a problem." He lifts the handle to my suitcase and starts to roll it in one hand while he rolls his in the other hand.

I follow him into the building where the rest of the group is waiting. It's surreal being at a private airport. Just outside the doors is the tarmac where several different-sized planes are parked.

Gabe and his wife, Alexis, are standing with Mia as they laugh about something. I've only met Alexis a couple of times, but she seems kind. I believe she stays home with their kids right now. Luke and Savannah are sitting in the seats while Savannah rests her head on his shoulder. By the looks of it, Savannah isn't feeling all too well again.

Both couples are adorable together. Luke and Gabe are surprisingly attentive to their wives for being such rich and handsome men.

That's my mom talking through me right there. Somehow, I'm trained to think rich and handsome equals mean and disinterested.

When I look at Marcus, his eyes are on me. He acts like he got caught doing something wrong when he looks away quickly.

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