Page 38 of Keeping The Virgin

“Jennifer, Phineas, meet Karini,” he says.

“Karini,” Phineas says with glee. “What a beautiful name. Pleasure to meet you, darling.”

Ah—I sense a lesson presenting itself. This is a test to see how smooth and polished I can be whenever I meet Cage’s friends…or acquaintances…or whoever these people might be.

Jennifer only gauges me with suspicion, but since she’s standing way too close to Cage, I’m thinking she’s into him. That’s why she’s being judgy about me.

But I pull out all the stops from the book of Miss Manners, allowing Phineas to kiss my hand. Then I shake Jennifer’s.

She does hate me. I can tell.

“Cage,” she says, taking him by the arm. “You must see the Brooklyn collection.”

“Yes,” Phineas echoes. “You simply must.”

Cage grins down at me as if he has no idea about her interest, or maybe he doesn’t care. “Jennifer owns the gallery,” he says. “Phineas is the artist whose work is on display.”

I politely nod and seem interested while keeping my mouth shut. Better to come off as mysterious rather than embarrass Cage.

The couple leads us over to a teeny room with color pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge at different times of the day; they’re all lined up as if recording how the light moves over the structure hour after hour. Jennifer thinks it’s fascinating. Phineas preens.

I see a server approaching with the champagne, and I think about going for it before I see Cage catching me.

Okay, okay, I’ve had enough booze. But doesn’t he understand that I’m still a little nervous around these people and that I really want to do well for him?

As Jennifer oozes more compliments about the photos, someone comes in the room and tells Phineas that there’s an interested buyer. He’s off in a flash, but that leaves Jennifer, who keeps touching Cage’s other arm.

Excuse me? Myboyfriend.

Maybe I’m making things too real now, because I’m the one who gets possessive. I snuggle up to him closer, just to show Jennifer that he’s off limits.

Cage’s arm stiffens, and I realize that I’ve failed this particular test, stepping over a line when I wasn’t supposed to, being toointimate.

But where is that line with Cage, and why does it always feel as if it’s moving?

After Phineas returns to fetch Jennifer, leaving Cage and me alone in the small room, my pseudo boyfriend looks down at me, his gaze darker than ever, his mood absolutely black.

Without him saying a word, I know rehearsal is done for the night.

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