Page 29 of Pretending I'm Yours

I nod as I lean against the island, watching him work the corkscrew into the top of the wine bottle. “I get that. I mean, I had a few really close friends when I was growing up, but in general, I was always more comfortable with adults than other kids my age.”

“Because you’re smart,” he says.

I shrug. “I mean, yes, I did well in school, but I wasn’t reading a few grade levels ahead of the rest of my class. Sounds like you’re the smartest smarty pants in this room.”

He laughs as he pours the wine, again seeming a little self-conscious, which…I like. Unexpectedly, I find this vulnerable, slightly unsure of himself Anthony as compelling as the confident charmer from the garden earlier tonight. “Well, my grandmother always said a high IQ is only useful if you have the street smarts to know what to do with it.”

I frown. “And you don’t think being a male escort is the best thing you could have done with your high IQ?”

He bites his bottom lip, looking troubled as he places his hands palm-down on the island on either side of the two glasses of wine he’s poured.

Instantly, I know I’ve said the wrong thing.

“I’m sorry,” I hurry to add. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just curious. Personally, I think a male escort is a great thing to be! Any job that helps people and makes you feel like you’re doing good work in the world is wonderful in my book. No judgement here. At all. I mean, I’m so grateful for the time we’ve spent together so far. It’s been…really special.”

He looks up, an expression on his face I can’t quite read. “You’re…”

“A jerk?” I supply after a beat, my shoulders inching closer to my ears.

“No.” He shakes his head as a slow smile lilts across his face. “Not at all. You’re lovely. Inside and out. Not many people would look at an escorting job that way. And I’m grateful for the time we’ve spent together, too.You’respecial.”

Now it’s my turn to feel self-conscious. I shrug awkwardly. “Well, thank you, I just… I just want the world to be a kinder place. If we could all stop judging each other, and lead with compassion, that would be a lot easier.”

“Agreed,” he says, sliding one wineglass across the island toward me. He then lifts his own. “To a kinder, gentler world.”

I lift my glass, clinking it against his. “To a kinder, gentler world.”

I hold his gaze as I take a sip of the wine, tingles flooding through my entire body as the lightly fruity, oaky red slides smoothly over my tongue. The wine is excellent, but it’s the eye contact that makes me keenly aware of the way my lips caress the edge of the glass.

Suddenly the fact that we’re in a place where no one is going to bother us hits full force, making my stomach flutter. We may have gotten off track with the drama at my terrible hotel, but now we’re safe and cozy and…alone.

Aside from a very tired cat who is already snoozing like his life depends on it…

“Good?” he asks.

I nod. “Very good. You have excellent taste in wine. And food. And dessert.”

He smiles. “Thank you.”

“And I love your decorating style.” I nod over my shoulder as my brows glide up my forehead. “Up for a tour? I’d love to see the rest of your home.”

And your bedroom…I silently add, feeling a little bit wicked. But it’s okay to be thinking about his bed. Anthony knows I’m attracted to him, and he doesn’t seem to mind.

In fact, he seems to like it when I’m turned on and begging for him to take me.

The memory makes my skin heat as he circles around the island.

“Of course,” he says. “I’ll show you your room first. I put your suitcase in the corner, but feel free to unpack as much or as little as you want. Until recently, I had a friend staying with me for a little while, so the closet and drawers should be empty. Please make yourself, and Pudge, at home.”

“Thank you so much,” I say, following him down the narrow hallway. “I know I said I was fine with the hotel from hell, but this is so much better.’’

He casts a smug grin over his shoulder as we pass a cute bathroom with a yellow cast iron tub and a shower curtain showcasing a black-and-white picture of the city skyline. “I mean, I hate to say I told you so, but…”

“Nah, I think you like it,” I tease, my nerve endings humming as he pauses in the doorway to the small bedroom. Just the feel of the sleeve of my sweater brushing against his chest as I stop beside him is enough to make things low in my body pulse.

I pause, glancing up, breath catching when I see him watching me with a mixture of hunger and affection that seems so real.

Geez… I’m going to have to watch myself with this man. He’s so charming, so exactly the kind of man I’ve always hoped I’d meet, and it would be so easy to forget that this is all pretend.

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