Page 22 of Fake Dating My Valentine

“I do want you, but it would be selfish to pursue this.”

“Your ten minutes are over, ladies and gentlemen.” The Sheriff’s voice called out over the noise. He wore a satisfied grin, probably because he wasn’t on the platform like a zoo animal on display. “Start making your drinks and in five minutes I’ll unleash the good folks of Holiday Grove on you!”

Ten minutes later, Torey and I moved in the small space like a well-oiled machine, like we’d done this together a million times. “Remember that time you tried to make cookies with me and Nix and we kept bumping into each other in the kitchen?”

I hadn’t remembered that until this moment. “I was like a damn bull in a china shop.”

“And you ate so many of the cookies.” She laughed and sent me a wistful smile.

“I was a growing boy,” I insisted. “Still am.”

“That’s just a way to justify eating like a tiger.” She laughed again and the sound was incredible, full-bodied and rich like a good Scotch. She finished six cocktails and set them on red napkins and took the seventh one for herself.

“Maybe, but some days you have to eat when you can and because of that we all tend to eat like we don’t know when our next meal will be.”

“Because you don’t?” Her blue eyes were curious.

“Just depends on the mission objective and how far we are from actual civilization.”

“That must be stressful.”

I shrugged. “You get used to it.”

“Are you close with your team, or whatever you’re called in the Army?”

“Hell yeah. It’s killing me that I can’t be there with them now.”

Torey surprised the hell out of me when she set her empty glass down and put both hands on my chest, gazing up at me with those big blue eyes. “I’m really sorry you got hurt, Ryan.” She was so sincere that I had to look away.

“Thank you.”

“And you need to tell Nix.”

“Well with all this foreplay you might as well go on and give us a big fat kiss.” The shaky voice belonged the oldest living person in Holiday Grove, Edith Rockwell.

“Edith you dirty ol’ bird,” Torey teased and looped one arm around my shoulder. “I expect you to donate big for both drinks for this.”

“I’m on my second Lover’s Delight, honey. Gotta get my kicks where I can.”

Torey tilted her head back and laughed, so beautiful and carefree. So fucking enticing that I just had to have her. She gasped when she felt my lips on her throat, skimming up her chin before I found her lips.

“Now that’s a hot move,” Edith cooed. “Boy’s got skills.”

I laughed against Torey’s mouth but I took my time and savored that kiss, certain it wouldn’t happen again without Edith’s interference. My tongue swept across her soft, pillowy lips in a slow back and forth motion, happy to take my time with her.

Then she moaned and all of my good intentions flew out the window. My grip tightened at her hips and slid around to the lowest part of her lower back and pulled her close enough that she felt the effect she had on me. She moaned again and my tongue slipped into her mouth, danced with her tongue until her fingertips dug into my flesh. It was the kind of kiss shared by lovers reunited after a long absence, filled with longing and need.

“All right, all right.” Sheriff Cook’s voice was full of amusement but it was the muffled laughter and whistles that brought me back to the cocktail event for charity. “Save the rest for later.”

“Don’t stop on my account,” Edith added, her voice suddenly closer. “I’ll have another Better Than Sex since no one is lining up to prove me or this drink wrong.”

More laughter went up as Torey and I separated. Her smile was bright but the look in her eyes was a mix of bewilderment and disappointment. At least that’s what I thought it was.

It was hard to tell. One minute she was having fun, smiling with her whole body, and then the next it was as if she remembered my words and everything suddenly felt fake. She was phoning in her smiles and her laughter, and worse, her joy.

For the rest of the event her emotions went back and forth between genuine and fake. It was enough to make my head spin. Maybe it made me an asshole, but I liked it when she forgot I’d hurt her feelings and showed me the real Torey.

I liked the real Torey.

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