Page 45 of Reckless King

The way he’s looking at me feels too real. It’s been a long time since a man’s attention has caused my skin to tingle and butterflies to take flight in my stomach. It’s all wrong for this situation.

“You’ll call me when you need me?” The breathiness of my voice makes my words sound far too suggestive.

Instead of teasing me about it, his gaze flickers to my lips. Of its own volition, my tongue darts out and wets them.

His eyes darken to a molten bronze. Does he want to kiss me again? Do Iwanthim to?

Maybe it’s all the wine I’ve had tonight, but the line between what’s real and what’s fake is rapidly blurring in my head, and Ican’t risk that. This thing we’re doing is supposed to be safe for the very reason that I’d never mistake it for real.

So I inhale shakily and step back, breaking the tension that flares between us.

Tate scrubs his hand over his mouth, then drops it and smiles. “I’ll definitely let you know when I need you. And when I do, I have no doubt you’ll come.”

My jaw drops at his obvious insinuation. Before I can think of a retort, he takes a step back of his own. “After all, that’s the deal, right? You come when I need you. To play my girlfriend, that is.”

I shake my head and bite back a smile of my own. I’m reading too much into Tate’s behavior. He’s just being his typical flirtatious self. I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed that he’s just messing around, but I know which one of those Ishouldbe. I take hold of the door handle. “Good night, Tate.”

With a dip of his head, he regards me from beneath his lashes. “Good night, Violet.”

Almost reluctantly, I swing the door shut between us, then drop my forehead against the smooth wood. I’ve got a horrible feeling that keeping this professional might be more difficult than I thought.

CHAPTER TWENTY

VIOLET

“Now ladies, transition into downward dog.”

With a huff, I force my body to surrender to the instructor’s command. Why did I let Anna talk me into an early morning yoga session? It’s been so long since I’ve had the time or motivation to exercise, and my body is rebelling. All I can do is hope I’ll appreciate it after the torture is over.

“You kissed him?” Anna whispers to me from where she’s effortlessly folded in half.

A bead of sweat trickles down my temple. “I had to make it believable.”

“And it had nothing to do with this Amy woman making a move on your man?”

I try to glare at her, but my trembling arms almost buckle, and I quickly concentrate on my wobbly form. “He’s not my man.”

Thank goodness the instructor leads us through a cooldown next.

As we finish, and I’m sprawled on my mat on my back in savasana pose, Anna whispers, “You know that, and he knows that, but she didn’t know that. Which meant she was being completely disrespectful.”

I sigh. “She was.”

The instructor shushes us, and we quickly close our eyes and relax for the next few minutes. But if I thought the conversation was over, I was wrong.

“So when are you seeing him again?” Anna asks as soon as the instructor releases us with a parting namaste.

Wiping the sweat from my forehead with my towel, I heave myself to my feet. “I’m not sure. He said he’ll let me know.”

Anna casts me a look. “You almost sound… disappointed.”

“What? No. I just wish there was more of a schedule, you know? So I’m not waiting around for a phone call and putting my social life on hold.”

“Vi. I love you, but your social life sucks. I can’t imagine you’ll have to worry about canceling any big plans when he calls.”

She’s right. And the smug look she’s giving me says she knows it.

“Okay.” I might as well admit it. She’ll drag it out of me eventually anyway. “Maybe I’m a tiny bit disappointed. I enjoyed last night more than I expected.”

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