Page 91 of Forever with the CEO

“Oh?”

“My coffee machine.”

Allison laughed. “That was the first thing I saw in your kitchen, and I thought, ‘How is he going to survive on my poor little Nespresso machine?’”

“So, you don’t mind?”

“I won’t say no to barista coffee,” she assured me with a wink.

Suddenly, I had the urge to move everything I needed here and never leave.Strange...

I took out my phone and said, “Let me just text Frances. I’ve already arranged with her to have my couch moved here, and the guys can pick that up too.”

“That was quick. I’m impressed. So... she knows about everything?”

I nodded. “I figured it was easier. She’s tight-lipped and knows how to keep a secret.”

Just as I finished texting, I looked up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about double-checking with you.”

“No, that’s fine. It’s just a bit weird. I don’t even know what we should keep secret and what we shouldn’t.”

“I think the only people who need to know the truth are those closest to us. Everyone else must think this is a real marriage.”

Allison nodded in agreement.

I wiggled my eyebrows and walked closer to her. She backed up right into the counter. “We should definitely keep what happened in the dressing room a secret,” I said.

It was high time for me to come clean—at least with myself. I couldn’t stop flirting. The more I fought it, the more I seemed to be doing it.

“My God, Nick.” Then she narrowed her eyes and playfully pushed me away. “Wait, so you didn’t share that with anybody in your family?”

“Why in the ever-loving hell would I do that?”

She licked her lips, which only fueled my imagination more. They were plump and perfect, needing to be kissed.

“I don’t know... Yesterday, it felt like everyone sort of knew more than they were letting on.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

“I do. It’s a general thing in my family. Everyone thinks they know more than you do about your own life. Mom and Gran made some comments to you that were insinuating.”

“Oh, you heard those? I was starting to think I’d just imagined them.”

“No, you didn’t. They both said it loud enough for me to hear it too. That’s just their way of putting ideas into your head.”

“About you and me...? Nope, I’m not going to finish that thought!”

I chuckled. “That’s for the best.”

She lowered her arms, and I noticed her nipples were peeking through the fabric, which had absolutely not been thecase before. She looked down and immediately crossed her arms over her chest again.

“But that means that they’re getting their hopes up, right? That this is something more.”

“That’s not my problem. Or yours. Gran’s been getting her hopes up about us all getting married for years.”

“But everyone elseismarried, or at least engaged.”

“True, and Gran has been playing matchmaker for some time.”

“Really? Oh, I’ve heard about meddling grandmothers. Mom used to say that her own grandma was like that, but she passed away long before Nora and I were born.” She smirks. “So, Jeannie was successful, huh? Considering that all your brothers are taken.”

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