Page 55 of Faking Romance

Our gazes meet and we stare at each other for a long several seconds. It’s like the entire world around us disappears. A small part of me concocts a half dozen plausible romance novel moments that could occur right now. Gray could walk straight toward me and take my face in his hands and kiss me. He could remember that I love the double-chocolate muffins here and buy me one and then break a piece off and slowly feed it to me while looking at my mouth with need in his eyes. He could ask for extra whipped cream on a latte and then dip his fingers in it while staring at me and slowly suck the cream off them. Damn…that would be hot.

“You OK, Roxy? You look flushed,” Hutch asks as his giant hand flies up to check my forehead.

“I’m good. Just got a little overheated. Must be too much caffeine,” I say, the words coming out too quickly as I look away from Gray’s intense stare.

Carly looks at me with a raised eyebrow and I look down as I reach into my pocket and grab my phone to pay for my coffee. Cam is also giving me a suspicious look as I press my phone to the scanner.

“OK, well, I’ll see you all later. I hope you’ll be at the soft opening,” I say to my neighbors.

The door opens again and Drew walks inside.

“Wow, building meeting or have we just synced up all our period cravings,” he teases.

Gray, Brayden, and Hutch groan, and Drew laughs. “Chillax, bros, I’m teasing. My usual, Cam,” he says.

“Later,” I call out again as I brush past both Gray and Drew in a hurry to get away from all the scrutiny. The more I get to know everyone, the harder it is to pretend to be in a relationship with Gray, that isifwe are still pretending.

“Roxy!” I hear Gray’s voice call out as I unlock the store’s door.

I turn to see him jog across the street. I watch his hair sway and his muscles bunch with each stride. Why did he have to end up being so perfect? It was easier when I was annoyed by him. It was easier before I started falling for him. But now, I wonder if this could actually work. Do we have a real shot at a happily ever after? Maybe.

I’m contemplating that thought as Gray slows and walks the last few steps toward me.

“Inside,” he growls as he pushes the door open all the way and I walk backward as he steps forward, looking more like a lion on the prowl than a man coming to talk to his pseudo-girlfriend.

I swallow hard as he corners me behind some shelves away from the window of the store. When my back hits books, he takes the coffee from my hand and sets it down before placing his hands on either side of my face.

His lips press firmly against mine and I sink against his hard frame as my arms come up around his neck, pulling him closer. Holy fuck! It’s like he read my damn mind.

Our kiss turns frantic, a desperation I’ve never known claws at me. His tongue explores me as if he’s marking me with it, claiming my mouth as only his. One hand trails down my neck and settles on my waist, his thumb slowly caressing the underside of my breast through the fabric of my shirt and bra.

But just as abruptly as he started, he pulls back. We’re silent other than our ragged breathing as we both stare wildly at one another.

I lick my lips which are still wet from our kiss.

His hand that’s still on my jaw moves so his thumb swipes along my lower lip. I suck it into my mouth, and he groans.

“What are you doing to me, wifey?” he murmurs, his eyes searching mine.

I swallow hard before answering. “I’m…I don’t know…I’d like to ask you the same thing.”

His lips twitch and then form a smirk. “We’re fucked. Aren’t we?”

“Probably,” I agree, still breathless.

His hands drop away. “I need to go. I’ll see you at your opening.”

“Soft opening,” I clarify.

His hand comes back up and cups my jaw, his thumb stroking affectionately over my cheek. “It’ll be great.” He pauses and looks around us. “I’m proud of you. You’ve done an amazing job here. I’ll admit, I was skeptical, but I was so very wrong about you, Roxbury Benedict.”

He leans forward and places a gentle kiss on my lips, barely touching them. When he pulls away, his eyes stay glued to mine.

“You’re a successful businesswoman. Don’t let anyone tell you differently, ever,” he says sternly.

I nod because words fail me. His hand falls back to his side and he takes my coffee, holding it out for me. I pick it up and watch as he leaves the store.

Holy shit! I just lived a book boyfriend scene in real life.

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