Page 40 of Accidentally Falling for My Fake Wife

A napkin appears in my line of sight. “Thank you,” I say, taking it and wiping off whatever goop is on my hand.

Inhaling one more breath to boost my courage, I finally lower my head to meet Adam’s gaze. A gleam is there along with that smirk, still in place.

A giggle bursts out, and I bite my bottom lip, shaking my head. I hear Adam join in, and I snort. My eyes go wide, and I cover my mouth.

Adam throws back his head and roars. The laughter I’ve been holding back bursts out of me, and the two of us are doubled over.

Without glancing around, I feel the eyes of everyone in the coffee shop watching us.

Gasping to catch my breath, I look up to find Adam watching me. His eyes are soft, and he’s wearing a crooked smile that makes my heart leap. I turn my gaze away and look out the window, needing a moment to collect myself before turning back to him.

“Sorry about all of that.” I point under and around the table with a self-conscious grin. “When I heard Brie’s voice and realized she was meeting Joshhere, I panicked.”

“So you mean you don’t normally hide under tables?” My gaze whips to him, and I laugh again at the earnest expression plastered on his face.

“No.” I beam. “I don’t normally hide under tables.”

“What a shame.” His response catches me off guard, and my eyebrows shoot up. “Cause you looked pretty adorable doing it.”

My face flushes, and warmth fills my stomach with the tenderness in his eyes. Unable to drag my gaze from his, we stare at each other while the air crackles.

“Excuse me,” a shy voice interrupts. Turning, a young boy stands in front of us, holding a Sharpie out toward Adam, and an older man behind him says, “Would you mind signing my jersey?”

I look over at Adam, and his expression knocks the breath from my lungs. It’s a look I’ve seen Josh wear whenever someone asks for an autograph, but it’s never had this effect on me before.

“Of course.” A smile so bright that I might need shades crosses his face as he takes the sharpie from the boy. “Where do you want me to sign it?”

“Can you sign it on the nine? That’s how old I’m going to be next week,” he says excitedly as he turns around. I look toward the older man, and he smiles at me. I smile back.

“Happy early birthday! I hope it’s the best one ever.” Adam says as he pens his name on the back of the jersey.

I watch Adam and let my gaze roam over his face. A flutter dances in my stomach.

Yeah, this may be one of the most attractive things I’ve ever witnessed.

“Thank you! Good luck tomorrow.” The boy grabs the older man’s hand and whispers to him.

“Thank you so much.” The man looks at Adam. “He hasn’t stopped talking about you since we walked in.”

“It’s nothing,” Adam replies. “It’s probably one of the things I enjoy most about being a professional football player.”

Narrowing my eyes and pursing my lips, I give him a questioning look.

“Well, besides actually playing.” We all laugh, and I watch them walk away, the boy bouncing the entire way.

I just look at Adam, a grin on my face.

“What?” he asks, a shy smile covering his lips.

“Nothing,” I say, not ready to delve into or examine my feelings. More importantly, I'm not ready to say them out loud to him. “So, Chase, huh?”

Watching his face switch from shy to amused makes a butterfly flit in my stomach.

“Chase is my middle name.” He responds with a shoulder shrug, and the corner of his mouth lifts. “I don’t tell strangers on the internet my real name. It’s why I have a username. Oh, wait! I just got yours.”

“My what?” I draw my eyebrows together and tilt my head.

“Your username.” That smile of his is now beaming in my direction and I feel like a piece of chocolate between a marshmallow and a graham cracker over a campfire flame. “Not Josh Owen’s Sister…Clever. Very clever.”

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