Page 20 of Just One Fake Date

She got an exasperated look for that. “What aboutthatwas not nice?”

“The fact that you’re trying to charm me into doing what you want. I told you: being nice to pursue an agenda isn’t the same as being nice on principle.”

Tyler swore then, more thoroughly than Shannyn would have expected, then spoke through gritted teeth. “I used to think you were sweet, but you’re actually the most irritating woman I’ve ever known.”

“Do I get a gold star?”

He glared at her. “You didn’t negotiate for it.”

Shannyn laughed, surprised into it, and his eyes gleamed with a satisfaction that almost—but not quite—made her forget about annoying him. “The wedding should be fun, then. Hey, we could have a fight and break up at the reception. Throw dishes. Make a scene. Would that be plausible?”

“Very,” he ceded. “The way I’m feeling right now, it’s not just plausible, it’s inevitable.” He flicked one of those sizzling looks at her as they waited for the elevator. “How is it that you’re better than anyone at pissing me off?”

“Call it a gift,” Shannyn spoke lightly, trying to hide how she was simmering. There was a moment of silence between them and she heard the elevator coming closer.

Salvation was on its way.

But Tyler’s voice dropped low. “What’s it like when you have sex with someone you don’t hate?”

Shannyn did her best to hide her reaction to that silky tone. It reminded her of dark chocolate, and made her just as interested in over-indulging. She smiled at Tyler instead. “You’ll never know, will you?”

He didn’t look troubled. “I might take that as a challenge.”

“It’s another one you’ll lose.”

“Will I?” He surveyed her, smiling slightly, and Shannyn was snared by his gaze all over again.

She knew she should have been relieved when the elevator chimed and the doors opened.

“You don’t have to come downstairs with me,” she said quickly.

“Actually, I do. I’ll get you a pass for the club.”

They stepped inside the elevator in unison. Tyler pushed the button for the ground floor. He braced his hands on his hips and watched the display count down, obviously ensuring that there was distance between them. He was just as obviously not giving her any more chances to annoy him.

He’d given it up.

Shannyn knew she should be glad, not disappointed. She’d stuck to the terms of their deal and convinced Tyler to do the same.

The funny thing was that she didn’t feel very triumphant. It was fun matching wits with Tyler, maybe because it made her feel like she was walking a tightrope, over a raging volcano.

Like she was living dangerously.

And that was the trouble. Shannyn had been going through the motions since the end of her marriage and Tyler had jolted her awake again. She was not going to say that the handsome prince had brought her back from the dead with a kiss. She was not going to go back for more and risk getting hurt all over again.

And there was no way Tyler was ever going to know how much of a difference this night had made to her.

Shannyn would just accept it as the gift it was—and move on.

It had beena long time since Ty had wanted to give any woman a shake. Who would have guessed that Shannyn Hawke would make his blood boil? She’d been cute. Romantic. Sweet. The sex had been amazing, which completely challenged his preconceptions of her.

But now she infuriated him, another surprise.

Worse, she seemed to enjoy it.

If Ty hadn’t known better, he’d have thought she was deliberately provoking him, but that made no sense at all. The simpler answer was that she really did hate him and that amazing sex hadn’t changed one thing. It had just been biological need.

He had a feeling, though, that simple answers had nothing to do with Shannyn.

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