Page 22 of Never Fake Date the Financier
His warm breath causes goosebumps to rise along my neck. This is the closest his lips have been to mine. My heart is hammering so fast that I’m dizzy. The world around me is beginning to spin. But when Adrian brushes his hand against mine, I’m tugged back to reality.
“I hope you don’t mind.”
It takes me a few moments to realize he’s talking about holding hands.
I shake my head. “Not at all. Just playing the part.” I slip my hand into his, trying to ignore the fluttering feeling in my core and the electricity arcing through my body. I clear my throat, tugging him along toward the front desk. “Let’s go, honey bear.”
Adrian laughs, falling in beside me. “Honey bear?”
I glance at him as we slip past couples dragging suitcases behind them. “It’s your favorite pet name. Remember?”
“That’s not-you’re not…” He pauses, and I keep going, but he maintains his grip around my hand and pulls me backward into him.
I get flashbacks to our first meeting. The first time I ran into him. I feel just as disoriented, but for the first time, I feel like I have a little more power. I’m in control of how this weekend goes. Although I don’t plan on sabotage, I think I might have a little fun.
“Consider it payback. If you can make up my whole backstory, I can have a little fun with pet names, sugar lips.”
His gaze turns dark. Trancelike as he stares at my lips. My skin burns as my heart hammers, and I get the distinct feeling that he wants to kiss me.
“We never broached the subject of kissing.” Dark. Raspy. Gruff. Adrian’s voice rumbles through me.
I swallow hard, refusing to stare at his lips. “Why are you bringing it up now?” My voice is soft and thin in comparison to his. A wisp of smoke.
He brushes the back of my hand with his thumb, eyes trained on mine. “Just crossed my mind.”
“Kissing me?”
The corner of his mouth tugs upward. “I would never think about kissing you,” he says in a voice that makes it very clear that it has crossed his mind. Multiple times.
I clear my throat. “We’re not kissing unless it’s in front of your parents. Your brother.Your ex.”
“So it’s not off the table then.”
I try to speak. I open my mouth to speak. But I can’t formulate a response. Did he just trick me?
“Good to know,” Adrian rasps before moving again. This time, he’s the one tugging me along.
This weekend might be a little more complicated than I imagined.
8
ADRIAN
What the hell is this?
“Um, Adrian?” Ella mutters as she drops her purse on the ground next to her suitcase. “What in the world is going on here?”
There are rose petals scattered on the floor, leading to the living room. Champagne on ice. A spread of desserts and other delicacies on a buffet. Soft, operatic music from overhead. A glittering welcome banner with our names hanging from the ceiling by the windows overlooking the coast.
I move around the room carefully. “I’m… not sure.”
Ella looks back at me. “I thought I said no more surprises. A warning at the very least.”
“I’m just as surprised.”
I glance around. What the hell is this? Is my mom going to pop out from around the corner? It’s like we’re on a honeymoon. Shouldn’t this sort of thing be saved for the bride and groom? And this suite is definitely not the one I wanted my assistant to book. My face falls. There’s only one room off the main living area. There’s…
“There’s only one bed.”
