Page 27 of Royal Charmer
“Thanks.”
I watch as he turns and strides away, his posture stiff. It’s strange how he suddenly became so tense after the easy way we’ve been together. This is not good. We have to look comfortable with each other to be a believable couple.
“Wait!” I hurry to catch up with him.
He turns and grins. “I told you women run to me.”
I laugh, glad he’s back to his laid-back charming self. “Seems like it got a little weird back there when I offered to let you touch my hair, which is totallynota requirement of a fake fiancé, but people will expect a certain comfortable intimacy between us.”
He stiffens, his gaze darting to the side. “What do you mean exactly?”
I don’t know where this is coming from, but somehow it makes perfect sense. We need to move past any awkwardness to be believable. “We should practice kissing so it looks natural, don’t you think?”
He clears his throat. “I…well, it seems…” His gaze shifts all around me, not quite meeting my eyes.
I stifle a sigh. This is not going how I hoped. He’s not tempted by me in the least.
I step kissing close, deciding we just need to go for it. “You do want to be believable, don’t you? Just kiss me.”
“On the lips?”
I huff. “Where else would you kiss me? Wait. Never mind. You know what I mean. What’s the problem? You don’t want to kiss your fiancée?”
He swallows visibly. “No, I mean yes, of course we should practice.”
I close my eyes and wait impatiently.
Nothing.
I crack an eye open. He’s somehow stiffened even more, his arms straight at his sides, his gaze just past my ear. “Lucas!” I hiss.
He leans down and gives me a peck on the lips. And before I can shift us into real kiss territory, he puts his hands on my shoulders, turns me, and gives me a little shove back toward my room. “Go write.”
I rush back to my room, cheeks burning, equal parts disappointed and embarrassed. I’ll have to lean on my imagination to fill in the good parts.
Chapter Eight
Lucas
I’m in my study the next afternoon going over the business finances in preparation for the meeting with the bankers when there’s a knock at the door. “Come in.”
Gabriel strides in and stops in front of my desk. “A fake engagement. Bold but misguided.”
I close the laptop and suppress a sigh.
It occurs to me that Anna could’ve conveniently not claimed responsibility for the idea. She’s probably sticking with her story that it was Alice’s idea, and Gabriel probably thinks I went along with it because I let my cock lead the way, as usual. But I’m not going to point a finger at Anna. I won’t do anything to cause a rift between her and Gabriel.
I spear a hand through my hair. “Look, it’s not a big deal. I went over all the angles and there’s literally no downside.”
He shakes his head. “I understand you want to spend time with Alice, but this is not the way. It’s too far. The lie will come out and then no one will trust us.” He blows out a breath. “We finally set things right after Emma ran away from her own wedding and her wretched ex told anyone who would listen that our family was rife with dishonorable, cheating liars. You’ll only rekindle those flames. And word will spread. Our family’s reputation will be ruined beyond repair. No bank will take a meeting with us once the deception is revealed.” Emma is our younger sister, and she was right to bail on her wedding.
“It won’t be revealed. You’re overreacting. This is nothing like what happened with Emma. It’s a harmless white lie.”
He clenches his jaw. “You’re right that this isn’t like when Emma ran scared. It’s worse. It’s deliberately misleading people. I’m asking you to stop. Spend time with Alice in some other way.”
How can I let Alice down by cancelling our engagement plan when she’s so ecstatic about the inspiration? Just to appease my brother’s unfounded worries? No, I refuse.
“It can only help with the bankers,” I say. “I’ll look less like a party guy, more serious and committed, which I am, by the way,completelycommitted to this business. I just need to present a new image.”
