Page 58 of Never With You
“I wasn’t even looking,” I bluff to save face. “Have you seen your parents yet?”
“Nope.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Actually”—he straightens, setting his drink down on the bar—“I’ve been thinking, and I have an idea that could help both of us.”
My weight shifts like I already know I won’t like whatever he has to say.
“What if we pretend to be together during the trip? We could be boyfriend and girlfriend for my parents and make Isaac jealous.”
One boisterous laugh spits out. “You’re joking, right?”
Except, nothing about Nate’s expression says he’s joking.
“You want us to fake date?” I clarify.
“Yeah, why not?”
“I can think of a hundred reasonswhy not.”
“It’s the perfect plan. It solves both of our problems.”
“No, it solvesyourproblem. It does nothing for me.”
“Think of how you felt earlier when you saw Isaac with a new woman. You’d be flipping the tables, giving him a taste of his own medicine.” His brown eyes turn sultry. “When I get done with you, I’ll have that man so jealous he’ll beg you to take him back.”
When I get done with you?Why is my mind latching onto those words and running wild with them?
I fold my arms protectively over my chest, not liking the stirring inside. “Who says I even want to make Isaac jealous?”
Nate’s eyes fall over me and my outfit. “You’re already trying.”
“It’s just a dress,” I lie, pushing an unconvincing smile over my mouth. “I’m not begging for anyone’s attention. I’m over Isaac. Thriving, actually.”
“That’s not how it seemed earlier when you were hiding under the table.”
I glare back at him. “Your idea sucks and would never work because we can’t stand each other.”
“That’s exactly why itwouldwork. The whole thing would be fake—a means to an end—without worrying about real feelings getting involved.”
“I don’t even think I could fake liking you.”
Nate takes a step forward, suddenly in my personal space. His dark stubble is at the perfect length, his cologne is working overtime, and his brown eyes glimmer with just enough cockiness to tear down my best defenses.
The deepness of his voice catches my breath. “Are you scared you might end uplikingthis arrangement?” His finger lifts, trailing softly down my arm, leaving a burning wake of chills as it goes.
I hit his hand away. “I’m scared I might end up getting fifteen to twenty for dismembering you if you ever touch me like that again.”
“Fatal attraction?” His brows lift with amusement as he laughs.
I roll my eyes, using the gesture as an excuse to step back from him. “Listen, you’re on your own. For once, you’ll have to be a mature adult and face your parents.”
Whatever charm he had moments ago drops. “I didn’t think it was possible, but I actually dislike you more than I did when we started this trip.”
“You’ll get over it.” I glance at the clock on the wall and then look around at the group gathered, recognizing a few faces from check-in earlier. “It’s six p.m., and we only have half our group.”
“Typical.” He looks at his Apple Watch for confirmation, not trusting me with the time. “I’ll head to the dock with the first group. You come with the rest.”
