Page 41 of Faking It

She nods back, then glances to her right. “James, while this is your idea—”

“And mine,” Jared cuts in from around another desk, his laptop opened in front of him.

“And Jared’s,” Cheryl goes on. “You’ll need to sign this NDA, too.”

“Understood,” he replies in that raspy tone that keeps warming my insides whenever he speaks. I look over at him for the first time since entering the room. Our eyes meet. Damn it, he’s been staring at me.

And now, I can’t look away. My negative feelings aside, there’s no denying how good looking he is. A quintessential heartthrob. Chiseled jaw, piercing dark eyes, thick brows, pouting lips, silky-looking, shoulder-length hair I’d love to run my fingers through—

Tori elbows my side.

“Mhmm?” I mumble to her.

She inclines her head to the paper Cheryl slides toward me. I reach into my purse for my lucky pen and read through the straightforward details, then sign. As I hand the paper back to Cheryl, I notice Carter’s still watching me. What is he thinking? Is he having second thoughts about being a fake boyfriend to a girl like me?

After what he heard that night, I wouldn’t doubt it.

“Now that we’ve settled that important detail, let’s get the show on the road,” Cheryl says, clapping her hands. “Miss Kent, my team will arrange a meeting with your agent to negotiate your contract, after which we’ll provide the schedule.”

“Thank you. I look forward to it,” I reply, standing as everyone does.

Cheryl offers me her hand with a genuine smile. “It’s not quite official, but welcome toMahogany Productions.”

I smile back, then go around the room, shaking the hands of everyone else, Carter and his team included. He’s the last person on the end of the table, and for a moment, I debate whether to approach him. Then, I see him coming and stretch my hand out. He gently swipes it away with a smirk.

“There’s no shaking of hands. Not when we’re madly in love.” He opens his arms for a hug, and I scoff, leaning in quickly before stepping back.

“There’s no need to pretend in here,” I point out.

“I know, but it’s good to practice.”

My expression tells him exactly what I think of that lame response. “I’ll see you around,” I reply, turning to go.

He grabs my wrist to stop me, and my body instantly heats in response.Stupid hormones, be still.

Twisting my wrist in his grasp, I turn to face him as his team and the others file out, leaving us, Jared and Tori. “We’re still not in public, Carter.”

“Which leads to what I’m about to ask. Do you want to have lunch somewhere? You know, so we can get to know each other.”

I scoff-laugh, although I find nothing funny. “You do know what fake means, don’t you? There’s no need for us to know each other.”

“Really?” He cocks his head inquiringly. “What happens when we do a press tour and they ask you a personal detail, like the most sensitive spot on my body?”

Ignoring his obvious attempt to flirt, I reply, “Press tours are so far away. We can do a crash course a few months from now.”

Carter hums. “I don’t like to rush, Ana.” His eyes drop to my lips. “Once you get to know me, you’ll realize I love taking my time.”

Okay, so that comment is way hotter than it needs to be. Warmth pools in my belly. I rub the area, wondering why he’s affecting me like this. I don’t want to feel this attraction to him. Carter is dangerous. He might not hurt me with his hands, but that mouth could ruin me.

And not in the way my smutty thoughts are running right now.

I shift my eyes from his delectable-looking lips and turn to Tori, who’s watching us with an amused expression. “Ready to go?” I ask her, and as she nods, I move away from Carter without another word.

“Mhm. This should be interesting,” Tori mumbles, walking beside me as we head toward the elevator.

“What?”

“This fake arrangement. I’m interested in seeing how long before the lines between real and fake get blurred.”

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