Page 81 of The Enemy of My Enemy Is… My Fake Boyfriend?

Yes, I had, that morning when I'd confronted him about his cheating. But I knew what Ethan was trying to say, so I simply shook my head no in answer to his question. "You have a point."

"And two..." His eyes went to the window behind me, giving me the distinct feeling he was having trouble articulating what the second reason was.

"Yes?" I asked, hoping again like a fool it had something to do with me. "Two?"

His thumbs brushed the back of my hands as his gaze returned to me, the muscle in his tight jaw clenching. "Two... I like being around you, Stratton."

There it was. It was a simple declaration. But that was all I needed.

As a matter of fact, if he had said anything more, I might have taken off running. What happened with Chase had left me completely fucked up and skittish as a colt.

"I... I kind of like being around you too," I said quietly.

He laughed out loud at my hesitant admission. "God, you crack me up."

His hands gripped me tighter, and I glanced down at them, remembering that he'd just hit Chase and his knuckles might be sore. Raising up our clasped hands, I kissed the back of his softly. I'd never had a man defend me like that before, and it was incredibly hot.

There was something primal and sexy about it, especially because Ethan had so completely clobbered Chase, making it look so effortless and easy.

"Thanks for before."I kissed his knuckles again. "Does it hurt?"

"Nah. And if it did, I wouldn't tell you."

Giggling, that earlier happiness slowly returned to me just as the cleaning crew arrived. It was time to go and probably time to end this night while we were on a good note.

"So we're still on?" Ethan asked me.

I nodded, relief in the air that we'd talked it through and come out the other side. Maybe I was making some progress at improving myself after all.

Twenty-Six

Ethan

Adjusting my tie in the bathroom mirror, I wondered if Aria had made it yet. She was coming to this event with her entire family—her sisters, her parents, the whole damn crew—and I couldn't deny the nerves swirling in my gut.

The Stratton family. Jesus.

I had no idea how we'd made it this far, how things had gotten so fucking involved that I was meeting her parents. After that crazy night when I'd tasted that sweet pussy of hers and then been interrupted by that asshole Chase, I'd experienced such a whiplash of emotions that I hadn't felt in years. If ever.

The dejected look on her face after everything had gone down, when she wanted to end whatever was happening between us, it tore at that thing in my chest I used to call a heart. But it'd been broken many years ago when my parents had died, and it'd never been put back together again, at least not in the right way. I had nothing real to offer her, nothing real to give.

The only thing I did know for sure? I didn't want this to end.

In the weeks since then, we'd just had fun making public appearances together, the fake dating rumors dying down but not completely. We'd also cooled off the physical aspect of our relationship completely, except when needed, like a kiss or holding hands.

I practically had carpal tunnel from all the nights I'd ended up back at my place, alone with my Aria panty collection. It was kind of killing me. But I understood.

Aria had been hurt. She needed time, and I wasn't exactly the best person to help her heal. She needed someone whole, not a broken man like me.

I had no idea how long we were going to stick with our pretend relationship, something we'd never really talked about... an actual timeframe.

But Chase hadn't let up his barrage of nasty leaks to the press about Aria, and as long as he kept doing that, as long as he was standing tall with his company and appearing like the good guy to the world, I was determined to keep this up and somehow bring him to his knees.

Besides, my spy told me that Aria and I being together was still driving him nuts. That alone was worth it all in my book.

Leaving the bathroom, ready to do this thing, I headed into the swanky ballroom of the Grand Astoria Hotel right in the heart of the city. The place was decked out like something out of a dream—sparkling chandeliers, fancy tables, flowers everywhere, people dressed to the nines, all buzzing with excitement.

I looked around for any sign of Aria and her family but didn't see them yet. She had texted me earlier that they were on their way so I knew she'd be here soon.

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