Page 63 of In the Offensive Zone with My Fake Bride

“Right. Then how about a secret for a secret? You tell me what you do for fun, and I will tell you something I’ve never told anyone before.”

She side-eyes me. “Not even your friends?”

“Nope.” I pop my ‘p’ like she does.

A smile slides onto her face and grows. “You swear you won’t back out on me?”

With a hand on my chest, I muster as muchemotion into my voice as possible. I want Lily to trust me. “I promise I will never back out on you.”

A myriad of emotions swirl over her expression so quickly, I’m lost in identifying any of them.

She gives her chin a subtle lift. “I watch videos of cats and otters on TikTok.”

Rolling my lips inward, I do my best not to laugh, no matter how adorable I find this. “And puppies, too, I suppose.”

Her expression turns dead serious. “No. They make me suspicious.”

“Suspicious? How can a cute little puppy make you suspicious?”

“They’re too happy. Now tell me yours.”

I run my fingers around my mouth. This will either endear her to me forever or shatter my chances with her. “When I was a teenage boy, I nicked one of my sister’s romance novels.”

Forget the smile. She’s all out laughing now. “Why?!”

Why did I choose this secret to tell her? I hold my hands out in surrender. “I was a teenage boy who wanted to understand what all the fuss was about. I never expected to actually enjoy them.”

Her eyes widen. “You still read them?!”

I spin around and head toward the kitchen. “I’m in the mood for ice cream. Care to join me?”

If it were any other woman, I’d be concerned at how she’s studying me with one side of her bottom lip tucked between her teeth like I’m a piece of chocolate she’s craving. Or that hamburger she wanted.

Did I just discover a way in to Lily’s heart? Is my bodyguard actually a bit of a romantic?

In that case, I’ll go with sweets. “I have cappuccino explosionandheavenly hash.”

I take both containers out of the freezer and hold them up.

She runs her tongue over her bottom lip, which kills me to watch. “Both?”

“Ah, I see. You’re an all-or-nothing kind of woman.” The very best kind, in my book.

“If you say so.” She sits on one of the barstools.

I bring two bowls from the cabinet and set them on the counter by the ice cream cartons. After dropping a scoop of each flavor into both, I slide one over to Lily and hand her a spoon.

“Thank you.”

“You’re most welcome, luv.”

A slight blush rides up her cheeks as she focuses on her first bite.

We Brits call everyone ‘luv,’ but I know Americans find it odd sometimes, considering its counterpart here in the States. But I’ve already made peace with the fact that I’m in love with this woman, so I will let her think it’s a British quirk, but I will mean it in its truest sense until I can express it in truth to her. I hope that if she hears it enough, she’ll start to believe how very lovely andworthy of loveshe is.

I settle onto the stool next to hers with my bowl in hand. And then an idea strikes me. “Practice ends early tomorrow. Can we get permission from your handler to go to the aquarium?”

She laughs and chokes at the same time. “My handler? I’m not a spy.”

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