Page 74 of You've Got Male

“Just excited for Camila to take the floor.”

“Uh-huh. Well, that’s what I’ve been debating.”

Her eyes went wide. “You have?”

“And it’s driving me insane,” he said and rested his hand over hers. “Is that okay?”

“What if people see?”

“Isn’t that the point?”

A feeling deep inside her said that wasn’t the entire truth. “Is that why you’re here and holding my hand? For people to see?”

No hesitation. No pause. Just one concrete word that punched her in the chest. “No.”

“Then why?”

“Because I want to. How about you, Evie? Do you want to?”

Surprisingly, she did. And it would be so easy. All she’d have to do was flip over her hand and they’d be connected in a way that was more than pretend. Which was why she took a moment to really think through the ramifications of her decision.

Holding hands was such an innocent gesture, but that’s what made it so dangerous. What they’d done the other day was raw lust. This would fall into the affection category.

When was the last time she’d been affectionate with a man? And since when did she want to be affectionate with this man?

Since he came to your rescue.

Evie wasn’t in the market for a prince, but he’d made her feel like a princess today. And she wanted to keep that fantasy going—just for another few moments. Then she’d go back to Rational Evie whose diet did not allow sweet gestures, sexy seductions, or knights in shining armor.

“Just for show,” she lied and flipped over her hand, and when his fingers laced between hers it not only felt natural—it also felt somewhat right.

“Until it isn’t,” he said, tightening his fingers around hers.

Evie didn’t pull away.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Jonah

What the hell?

One minute they were holding hands, sharing secret smiles, and he was even gently grazing the underside of her wrist, loving how she shivered. The next, she practically jumped out of her skin, jerking back like she’d come in contact with a viper, then twisted toward him.

Her face was red and her eyes sparkled with unchecked panic. “I didn’t think this through,” she said over the chatter bouncing off the walls of the arena.

“Think what through?” he asked, afraid she was retreating back a step, undoing the one they’d advanced a moment ago.

“Today. This.” She gestured to the arena.

They were in the University of Colorado Boulder’s basketball gymnasium. One side of the stands was packed with spirited-colored parents and the other was a mosaic of teens in cheer uniforms that were way too short in his opinion.

Note to self: enroll Waverly in fencing.

“When you offered to be my beard, I was desperate, so I agreed.” Not the reason he wanted to hear for what he thought was a pretty amazing afternoon. “But I didn’t think of how this would all play out.”

“Hey.” He took her hands again. “Whatever it is, I got you.”

Her expression became even more pinched. “That makes it even worse.” She took a deep breath. “First, I want to start by saying I’m sorry. Second, I want to tell you that if you want to leave, I understand. You see, my parents just—”

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