Page 10 of Fake It 'Til You Feel It

She turns, arms crossed, her eyes blazing. The dress does nothing to make her seem less intimidating, though the way it fits doesn’t help my self-control.

“If you’re done, we have breakfast with Harris in twenty minutes.”

I step closer, needing to close the gap between us. “You’re not as immune to me as you think.”

Her gaze shifts to my lips, and I watch the gears turn in her mind as she contemplates her options. For a second, it feels like she might kiss me. I allow myself to imagine what kissing her again would be like. Unfortunately, a knock at the door spoils the moment.

“Housekeeping!”

Dana stiffens as the spell between us breaks. “Convenient,” she says dryly, her voice just uneven enough to betray her.

“Inconvenient,” I counter.

Her lips twitch like she might laugh, but she moves past me. Her shoulder grazes mine and my pulse thunders.

The door opens and a young maid wheels in a cart stacked with fresh towels and bottled water. She barely glances at me at first—until I flash her a slow, lazy smile.

“Ah, perfect timing,” I say, shifting to make my presence seem effortless, casual. The kind of presence people notice.

Dana crosses her arms, watching me with open suspicion.

The maid straightens under my gaze, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. “Will you be needing anything else, Mr. Clarke?”

“Not unless you can talk some sense into my fiancée,” I muse, letting the word linger. “She insists on keeping me on my toes.”

Dana barely holds back a scoff. The maid, however, lights up with interest, her eyes darting between us.

“Oh? That’s what keeps things fun, doesn’t it?” she says, laughing softly.

“That’s what I tell her,” I sigh, shaking my head fondly. I glance at Dana like she’s the best and worst thing that’s ever happened to me. “But you know how it is—she’s stubborn, but still the love of my life.”

Dana tilts her head, her expression sharp. I can feel her irritation like a second pulse in the room as I move into her space. I rest a hand low on her back, already feeling like it’s second nature. Casual. Possessive.

The maid giggles, looking at Dana now with something bordering on admiration. “Well, I think it’s sweet.”

“You hear that, sweetheart?”

“Oh, he’s something alright.”

The woman quickly finishes up, but I keep my hand exactly where it is. When Dana moves, I move with her, like it’s instinct. She doesn’t shake me off.

I see the moment the maid files this away for later. Whatever she reports to Harris, she’ll tell him that Nathan Clarke is charming, his fiancée is sharp-witted, and they’re disgustingly in love.

Exactly as planned.

The moment the maid is gone, Dana shuts the door with more force than necessary. Then she rounds on me.

“Love of my life?” she asks, arching a brow.

The accusation in her tone is softened only slightly by the way she crosses her arms, hip cocked in annoyance.

I grin, adjusting the cuff of my shirt. “She was looking at you like you walked out of a romance novel. I figured I’d give her the full fantasy.”

Dana exhales, tilting her head toward the ceiling, clearly done with me already. “Nathan..”

“Dana,” I mimic, voice smooth.

The maid barely looked at me when she’d come in, but I’d caught the curious, approving glance she’d sent Dana’s way. The kind of look that said, “good for you, landing a man like that.” She had no idea that Dana was the one keeping my life together, thatIwas the lucky one here.

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