Page 48 of How To Fake A Fiancé

After introducing Kami to Mom, and then being shooed out of the room, my brother and I stayed out in the hallway. With the door shut, we couldn’t hear anything that was being said. I debated with myself as we waited outside. Should I put my head up against the door and try to eavesdrop? What could they possibly be talking about? Were they getting along? I was sweating bullets as I thought of all the possibilities.

“You’re serious about this girl, huh?” Matt’s voice brought me back to reality.

I shook my head. “You have no idea.”

“I’m married. Of course I know what it feels like being in love. Constantly wondering what the other person is thinking and feeling. Impossible to not look over at them at any given moment.” He paused. “She was worried about you if that helps anything.”

Wait, did I hear that right? Had I been so in my head that I failed to see her watching me? “She was worried?”

He nodded. “When she and I were over at the vending machines. We were talking, but most of her focus was on you.”

I don’t want to give myself false hope, but could I be making more progress than I initially thought? “Do you think I have a chance with her?”

“I may be on the outside looking in, but I’m not blind. I see something between you two.”

He’d hit the nail on the head. “Yeah.”

I’d spent the next few minutes catching Matt up on where I was with Kami.

“Do you know why Kami is so cautious?” Matt asked.

“I wish I knew the whole story, but as far as I know, her caution doesn’t have anything to do with me personally. I’m hoping the more we get to know each other, the more she’ll open up.”

I want to be honest with how I feel about her when I feel it, but at the same time, I have to take into consideration telling her everything at once might overwhelm her, especially since she’s someone who isn’t that big on commitment. Another big question of why that remains unanswered.

“Will you be absolutely crushed if this relationship with her doesn’t work out?”

I hadn’t wanted to think about that happening. “I’d be devastated.”

“You think she’s the one?”

It may be too soon for me to say this, but I can’t deny the growing connection we have. “I know she is.”

My brother sighed. “I had a feeling you were going to say that. If I’m being honest, I think she likes you way more than she’s letting on. She just needs a little bit more time to come around.”

That was when I decided to ask her, as I drove her home, to have dinner with me the following Friday. She paused for a moment before agreeing with a smile. I laid awake in bed filled with excitement.

I look over at Kami in the dimly lit restaurant. Wearing her hair down, she has on a rose-gold necklace and matching earrings. The black dress covering her body is formfitting, hugging each and every curve and falling just past her knees. She completes the look with small black heels as glittery as the night sky. Every inch of her is breathtaking. Without so much as moving, she stuns and amazes me. As though I’m meeting her all over again.

After the hostess grabs two menus, she escorts us to a table covered with a white tablecloth, and a chair on each side. I can only hope Kami likes this.

I pull out the chair for her. She takes her seat, and I push it back in place.

My goal tonight isn’t just to show her a good time but also to gain her trust. No doubt she’ll test me. But that won’t change what I feel between us. Sure, I’m helping her trick her family into thinking we’re a couple, but that won’t change the fact that I intend to play for keeps.

I take the seat on the opposite side of her. “You look beautiful tonight.”

She looks down into her lap. A light blush creeps onto her cheeks. “Thank you, but you don’t have to do this.”

“Do what? Compliment you?”

“Any of this.” She gestures to the restaurant around us.

“Why not?” I challenge. “I’m with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, and I want to take her out to a nice dinner. I’m doing this because I want to, not that I feel obligated to.” No doubt she’s thinking it’s more the latter.

She looks at me, puzzled. “You…wanted to do this?”

“I do.”

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