Page 42 of The Wild Card
I make a face and hand it back. “Tastes like dessert.”
“Thank you.”
“So, what does your dessert coffee say about you?” I ask. “And don’t tell me it says you’resweet.”
“Even if I am?” He flutters those long lashes at me, grinning.
“A sweettalker, maybe.”
Collin draws an imaginary sword from an imaginary scabbard and stabs himself in the chest. “You wound me.”
I lift the mug to hide my smile. He’s utterly too charming.
This is a problem. Especially when I think about Brightmark and the expectation that I’m in a relationship with Collin—someone they’re all too familiar with. The whole setup is a badidea to begin with. But when the crush feelings I’ve quickly developed are factored in, it’s a real crisis.
I can’t sustain this lie. Both because my conscience is already screaming and because the more time I spend with Collin, the more I like him. I absolutely cannot keep pretending to be his girlfriend.
Not when the lie is starting to sound like something I’d like to be true.
Meanwhile, Collin is just a nice guy who stepped in to help—probably because he felt obligated to look out for me because of Chase. I wish it were for another reason … but I doubt it. Collin recognized me right away at the festival. So, stepping in to help me wasn’t really an option. It was practically an obligation.
“I thought men didn’t want to be called sweet,” I say. “Something about it being the kiss of death or nice guys finishing last.”
Collin leans a little closer. “I’m too competitive to finish last, darlin’.”
I’ll bet.
I clear my throat. “What does drinking my coffee black say about me? You said I’mone of those.”
“Depends,” Collin says. “It’s more complicated since you sometimes take cream. Is this what you order at a coffee shop?”
“Nope. I like lattes.”
“Flavored or plain?”
“Usually caramel. But if there are fun flavors, I’ll try anything. So?”
I don’t know why I’m so curious about this. It’s not like Collin’s view of my coffee order is some personal opinion on me or anything.
“So, I think you’re a hard one to pin down, Molly-girl.”
Okay, Collin has officially come up with a nickname I like more than darlin’. I can feel a flush spreading over my cheeks.
Before I can drum up a response, Collin gets to his feet and holds out a hand. “I know you said you didn’t feel too bad, but I promised you the best hangover cure breakfast. Or at least, so I’ve been told.”
Eyeing his hand and not moving, I ask, “It’s not a breakfast you’ve actually tried?”
“Oh, I eat it regularly when I’m in town,” he says with a smile. “But I don’t drink much, so I wouldn’t know about a hangover.”
“This is my first one,” I admit. “And I suspect you saved me from the worst of it by taking such good care of me.”
“Because I’m so sweet,” Collin teases without missing a beat. He wiggles his fingers, which I still have yet to take. “Come on, Molly.”
It’s only after I’ve set down my mug and taken his hand that Collin adds something that makes my stomach drop.
“It’ll be easier to have a conversation about how this fake relationship will work once we have food in our bellies.”
CHAPTER 10
