Page 12 of Faking It with the Enforcer

But the fact that he made her uncomfortable is enough for me. It’s enough to curl my hands into fists, enough to heat my blood, my muscles tense and ready for action.

Before I can do or say anything, Emily’s eyes meet mine, and I can see the plea there. I don’t know how to explain it, but I know she’s silently asking for my help. She quickly loops her arm through mine, her fingers gripping my bicep through my coat as she steps close to me.

“Here’s my boyfriend!” she says brightly, her voice laced with a sweetness that catches me off guard and makes my head swim with confusion.

I frown slightly as I look down at her. Surely she didn’t just say what I thought she did? Does she somehow know about the lie I told Coach Ferguson? But how?

She’s smiling up at me, her green eyes wide and pleading. Without saying a word, I can tell she wants me to play along. Right.

Guess I’m not the only one who needs a fake date.

I nod and tuck her against me, my entire body singing with how good that feels. She fits perfectly, her tiny frame molding against me. “Yeah,” I say. “I’m Emily’s boyfriend. And you are…” I let the question trail off, arching an eyebrow at the guy.

“James,” he says quickly, taking a step back. His smirk is gone, much to my satisfaction. His hands are raised in a placating gesture, which shows me James is smarter than he looks, because I could break him in half with one arm.

I still might, depending on what Emily says happened.

“I didn’t know she was taken,” he says, his voice pitched high.

“I told you I had a boyfriend,” Emily says softly, and I curl my arm around her waist, holding her tighter.

“Right, I…I guess I didn’t…” He swallows thickly, eyes darting between me and the road.

“Well, now you know,” I say, my deep voice laced with a hint of a growl. “And you’re not gonna bother her again, are you?”

“N-no,” he says, shaking his head. “Definitely not.”

“Smart choice,” I say.

The guy backs up, mumbling an apology before turning and walking away. I watch him go, tense and ready for a fight. But he doesn’t look back, and soon he disappears around a corner.

“Thank you,” says Emily softly, slumping against me.

I nod, my chest swelling with protectiveness, with a possessiveness I have no right to feel. I look down at Emily, my arm still wrapped around her waist. She’s looking up at me with flushed cheeks, her breath coming out in little white puffs of air.

I want to kiss her so fucking badly that I almost do it.

“Thank you,” she says again. “He was bothering me all day. He asked me out and I said no, but he wouldn’t leave me alone.I told him I had a boyfriend, but he acted like he didn’t hear me. So when I saw you, I figured I’d tell him you were my boyfriend to see if that would make him back off.”

Is it just me, or did her cheeks get pinker when she said the wordboyfriend?

“Happy to play along,” I say, swallowing around the disappointment clogging my throat that this isn’t actually real. “In fact, I have a funny story for you. Come on. Let’s get out of the cold.”

I tuck her hand into mine and lead her back across the street to where I parked. I open her door for her and help her up, resisting the urge to buckle her seatbelt for her, and then slide in behind the steering wheel.

I pull out smoothly into traffic, navigating the busy Toronto streets as I head home.

“So what’s the funny story?” she asks, rolling her neck. She must be sore and tired after her day. I should offer her the use of my fancy shower so she can ease the soreness in her muscles.

“So, every year, the team does this bachelor auction thing. It’s for charity, and I’ve done it in the past, and honestly, I hate it. It’s just not my thing, and I didn’t want to get roped into doing it this year, so…I lied to my coach and said I had a girlfriend. When he asked me who I was dating I said your name.”

She laughs softly, the sound like soft, tinkling music. I glance at her, relieved that she’s not mad. I mean, I didn’t think she would be given the lie that she just told, but I’m relieved all the same.

“You told your coach I’m your girlfriend?” she asks, her cheeks pink, her laughter ringing out in the confines of the SUV. Her green eyes are glittering as she bites her lip and I feel like I’m standing in the sun.

“Yep,” I confirm, a grin tugging at my lips. “What’s that saying about great minds thinking alike?” I come to a red lightand our eyes meet, our laughter slowly dying off as we stare at each other.

“Great minds, huh?” she says quietly, and I can’t tell what she’s thinking right now. “Definitely ironic that we both thought up the same lie to get out of a yucky situation.” She lets out a soft giggle. “And here I was thinking I was dragging you into my mess.”

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