Page 30 of Fake Married to the Grumps

The slow stroke of his eyes over the full length of my body made me shiver, and then he smiles and I nearly forget to breathe.

I lower my gaze to my feet. Slow music buzzes around us a second later, and I glance up to find Ethan’s hand outstretched towards me.

His eyes challenge me. His brows stay arched and I inhale deeply, steadying my insides before placing my hand in his. He easily swoops me to the dancefloor, and our bodies glide rhythmically, matching every beat of the song.

“Mandy is a distant cousin,” he whispers to me, his eyes never leaving mine. His arms around my waist pull me closer to him, and his touch imprints on my skin.

“It’s not my business.” My words are a mere whisper, and he dips his head closer, moves back to twirl me around, then draws me close again.

“I know it’s not,” he whispers in my ear. “But I’m telling you, anyway.”

My world tilts, and everything else evaporates as I stare deep into his eyes. I’m swept away by the tides of my growing feelings for him. The warning bells in my head remind me of everything that could go wrong if I let myself fall for him again.

My head is clear, but my heart betrays me and longs for something else.

The dance with Ethan lasts a few minutes before he moves on to dance with Mandy. While they glide around the dance floor, I find myself another partner and try to enjoy the dance, but each time I look up from my dance partner’s shoulder, I find Ethan’s eyes on me.

Watching and gauging,like he’s trying to figure me out.

The pressure in my chest builds, and I know I need to get away from him, so after the dance ends, I hurry out of the reception hall to get some fresh air.

The breeze outside helps me relax, but my pulse still thunders.

I’m still struggling for control when Ethan calls from behind me and makes my pulse jump again.

“Are you alright?” he asks, his forehead furrowing with a frown when I turn back to look at him.

“You,” I mutter, shaking my head as I try to put some distance between us.

“Me?”

“Just … Stay back,” I order, raising a palm up to stop him from coming closer to me. When I’m near him, I can’t think straight.When he touches me, I melt, and every feeling I’ve tucked away for the past five years comes rushing back.

I lick my lips nervously, then ease out a deep breath.

“You’re pale,” Ethan says, ignoring my raised hand. He moves to me, takes my waist, and pulls me close.

“And flushed,” he adds as he plasters the front of his palm to my forehead. “You don’t feel well?”

“I’m fine … I just need a minute,” I stutter before pulling away from him.

I need a minute away from you.

“Come with me,” he says, pulling me with him before I can object.

“Where are we going?” I ask when a valet hands over the keys to his Mercedes. Ethan holds the door open for me to get in, walks briskly around the car, gets inside, rolls open the car’s rooftop, and clicks the start button to bring the engine alive.

“You’ll see,” he says with a smile before zooming down the road.

The speed heightens the breeze coming at us inside the car. It ruffles my hair, fills my lungs, and makes me cry out in excitement.

Ethan’s laugh mingles with mine, and he takes a turn and drives further for a few minutes before he pulls to a halt at the parking area in front of the Griffith Observatory Trail.

“No way … You’re kidding,” I say with a laugh, instantly knowing what his intentions are as I look up the busy path. “This is insane!” I thunder with another laugh, recalling the last time I came up this hill with him and my brother.

Ethan had dared me to hike up the hill in a race with them to see who would return to the starting point first, and I ended up on the evening local news after a rescue team came to rescue me.

“You quit up there because your legs wouldn’t move.”

---