Page 76 of The Holiday Fakers
“In your movies. Your TV shows.”
“You think that’s easy? Faking passion with someone I’m not attracted to?”
“Oh, puhlease. Those actresses were all hot as fuck.”
“It doesn’t mean I wanted to kiss them!”
The dreamy sounds ofSilent Nightenvelop us but have no effect on our little angry bubble.
“Exactly!”
Brody gives me a wide-eyed stare of utter incomprehension. “What?”
To be honest, I’m not sure where I’m going with this word salad either, I’m just pissed that I offered to kiss Brody and he’s not interested.
I put my hands on my hips. “It’s simple.”
“It is?”
“Yes. If youreallywanted to convince people we’re a couple, then you’d know we need to kiss in public. And if you caredabout mein the slightest, then you’d know I can’t do that without knowing what to expect.”
“Piper, I’m not going to force you to kiss me.”
“But you kiss other people you don’t like all the time! What’s wrong with me?”
“Huh? There’s nothing wrong with you!”
“Then why won’t you kiss me!”
He goes still, then his eyes flick down to my mouth and back up, his expression turning from confused and frustrated, to rather,heated…
“Okay. Let’s practice.”
For someone who just ran her mouth, I’m suddenly all out of words.
“Kissing,” he continues slowly, making sure I understandexactlywhat kind of practice he’s suggesting.
“Here? Now?”
He nods, gaze smoldering, then folds his arms and lifts his chin in challenge. “You think we should kiss, but you don’t know what to expect. So let’s do it. Let’s practice.”
I glance around. Everyone is facing away from us. No one’s watching.
When I turn back to Brody, his arms are uncrossed and he’s stepped closer.
“You said yourself it would be a great idea,” he murmurs, his voice low and hypnotic.
I sway towards him until we’re almost touching. “Funny, right?”
His hands skim up the outside of my arms until they frame my face. “Not particularly …”
“What?” I whisper.
“I don’t think it’s going to be funny.”
I swallow. “You don’t?”
“No.” His voice drops even lower. “I think it’s going to be very,veryhot.”
