Page 70 of Fauxmance in the City

“I found this at the townhouse.” In his hand is a beat-up white envelope—the letter from Christophe.

I take it from him, crumpling it in my fingers.

“You’re not going to read it?” Sam takes one step into the apartment.

My knees shake, and I stumble sideways. Sam grabs my elbow, righting me, and an electric current runs down my back.

“Don’t,” I say.

It’s too intimate being in my apartment with him. I shimmy my coat off, dropping it to the floor, and walk into the living area. Sam takes another step inside, and the door shuts with a click.

“I heard Max and Jess broke up. I thought you might be with him,” Sam says.

“I never liked Max!” I throw my hands up exasperated.

“I know.” Sam smiles wryly.

I chuck my heels at the shoe rack in my entryway. The shoes nearly hit Sam, and he jumps out of the way.

“Don’t be cute,” I say.

I stalk to the kitchen, but I don’t know what I’m doing there. I’m all aflutter with Sam here. I’d been desperate to speak to him, but now I was tongue-tied.

“We need to talk,” Sam says.

It feels like someone ratchets every muscle in my body, and I freeze. Nothing good ever comes after those words.

“Gillian fired us,” I say, pushing Sam first.

Panic flashes across his eyes. His hand darts out, wrapping around my arm. It goes against every feminist urge in my body, but his aggression fires up my libido, and my breath turns ragged.

“Why?” The one word squeezes out from his clenched jaw.

“I told her the truth.” I grimace as his hand tightens.

“Did you do it to punish me?”

“No! Geez, Sam. I might be mad at you, but I’m not hateful.”

“Why did you do it?” He drops my arm.

“I don’t want to lie anymore.”

“Nice. Real nice.” He runs his hand over his face roughly. “After everything I’ve done for you, you decide to grow a conscience and ruin my life.”

I take a moment to compose myself. “I didn’t ruin your life.”

“She fired me,” he roars.

“Only for a second,” I hurry to say, shaky from his outburst. “You’re not fired anymore.”

Sam’s nostrils flare. “What are you talking about?”

“We were fired. For a few hours. Now we’re not.”

He cocks his head, unsure if I’m telling the truth.

“What?”

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