Page 17 of Undeniable Temptation

“Here, have my seat.” Ryan made to stand and was shoved back down by a surprisingly strong hand.

“If I need to sit, I’ll pull up another chair.” She placed her camera bag on the floor. “So… Do you have any ideas about how you want to do this?”

“I’ll leave that up to Flick.” He was already growing tired of being the positive force. If she had a long list of reservations and compounding moral issues, she could pick where they started.

“No, Ryan, you should make the decisions.” Felicity shook her head, her features still filled with apology. “I’m new to this, but I’ll do whatever needs to be done.”

Jesus Christ, did she think he was a pro at media manipulation?

There was a pause as Alana glanced from him to Felicity and back again. “Can I suggest something?” she asked. “Eola Lake is right around the corner and would be the perfect setting. It would allow me to capture an image with a bit of distance to it. We don’t want to slap your fans in the face with something obvious. We want them to create a talking point, to question whether it’s really the two of you together. Because if they talk and argue online, it’ll give us a better chance to get this romance trending.”

“That’s brilliant.” Damn it. Why hadn’t he thought of that?

Alana blushed again. “It was actually Leah’s idea. She called me a few minutes ago and gave some suggestions.”

Of course she did. He’d tried to distance her from the drama set to drive a bigger wedge between them, but that woman was stubborn. She would force herself to the front line no matter what.

“I bet she picked out the perfect spot, too.”

“You know her well.” Alana grinned. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

Ten minutes later, they were in a secluded area beside the water, Felicity’s back against the trunk of a wide tree as he leaned into her.

“How are you feeling?” His thigh was between her legs, his palm plastered beside her head. The position gave him whiplash. Days ago he’d been struggling to assimilate to single-status; now his body was entwined with a complete stranger, and he wasn’t enjoying that either.

“I’m perfect.”

He snorted. “Do you really think you can bullshit me?”

She wove her hand around his neck, the softness of her skin delicately brushing away his solitude. “Put up or shut up, right?”

That pretty much summed up their situation. “Yeah, but if I’m making you uncomfortable I want to know about it.”

“Nah.” She smiled, the first genuine curve of lips he’d received from her. “I’m settling into this like a pro.”

Thank Christ. Although he’d been used to a certain level of sterile disconnect in his marriage, he didn’t want to relive it with Felicity. One woman striving to make him feel inferior was enough for now.

“I need you to keep talking to me, though.” She tickled the back of his neck with her fingernails. “What do you do for fun?”

“There isn’t much fun flowing through these veins at the moment. I’ve got an ex who’s prepared to bleed me dry and a label determined to make my life hell.”

“And here I am, making it even more difficult.”

She placed her other palm on his cheek, stoking the emotion for Alana who was hiding somewhere in the distance with a lens pointed in their direction. They’d been instructed to act casual—loving yet playful. They didn’t want the pictures to have a sleazy vibe. Not yet. Apparently, the money shot was somewhere between flirtation and hot ‘n’ heavy.

“We’re through the worst of it.” He leaned in and winced when she stiffened. “I’m only going to nuzzle your cheek,” he whispered in her ear. “You can tell me to back off whenever you like.”

“I’m still good.” She lowered her hand to his waist. “Just warn me next time. I’m jumpy because the camera scrutiny is new to me. I don’t usually get this much attention.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“There’s nothing but honesty here.”

He still wasn’t convinced. Blake hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d called her hot. Felicity had a non-stereotypical appeal. She wasn’t dainty with her heavy boots, black tight jeans, and the thick eye make-up which enhanced eerily bright eyes. She rocked her own set of rules with her harsh exterior, and leveled it with a soft interior which was poking his intrigue.

“But you smell really good.” She inhaled deeply. “Your aftershave is intoxicating.”

“Darlin’, you smell mighty fine yourself.”

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