Page 55 of The Bad Wedding Date

Charlotte’s mouth dropped open. “I knew it. I knew you were lying to me.”

Lying to her already ranked high on my small list of life regrets, and I had a feeling I’d never forget the look she gave me before I walked away and let Dean into the room.

“Hey, Charlotte,” he practically sang, the fucking idiot. “Nice to meet the woman causing trouble among the elite today. Gutted I couldn’t have met you earlier. That wasn’t the way it was meant to go, but you’ll have to ask the big man here all about that. He makes the rules, not me.”

Fucking. Dean.

17

Charlotte

Istared at the handsome man who waltzed into Fraser’s room. With his light hair, clean-cut features, and eyes that somehow managed to undress you whether you approved or not, I didn’t have to dig very deep to see his confidence. He wore his arrogance like most wore their aftershave; without shame, wafting it right under your nose until you breathed him in.

Then I realised what he’d said.

That wasn’t the way it was meant to go.

Turning to Fraser, I watched as he closed his eyes for a moment too long before he dared to open them again. With a simple raise of my brow and a fold of my arms, I waited.

“Woosh, it’s a little frosty in here. Did someone turn on the AC?”

“Shut up, Dean,” Fraser growled, never tearing his eyes away from mine.

Gifting him with a parting look that told him exactly what I thought about him, I turned to Dean. “And you are?”

“Dean.” He grinned. “Jones.”

“Dean Jones, huh?” I shook my head and huffed out an unamused laugh. “Funny. I’ve been in your company for less than a minute, and I know your last name. I wish I could say the same for your friend here after spending all day by his side.”

Dean scowled before he turned to Fraser. “What have you done to upset her already? You’ve only been on the job for half a day.”

“Job?” My eyes widened, watching as Fraser brought a hand to his temple and rubbed at it. “Job?” I repeated.

“Charlotte, I—”

“I suggest you get to the point of all this instead of standing there and saying my name like it’s a song to try to distract me.”

His hand fell, and he stared into my eyes in a way that made me swallow lightly. I hadn’t meant to say that.

“You don’t have to look at me like that, either,” I added. “I’m not as fragile as you’re worried I am. I know the pretence is over. None of it was real.”

“Was it ever meant to be?”

My nostrils flared. “No.”

“Then, I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Right.” I nodded, not sure who I was trying to convince.Fake date, Charlotte. Fake date.

Still, I’d given him an element of trust along the way, and he’d gone and destroyed it in a matter of minutes. I thought I knew better than that, and the betrayal of whatever this was stung already. He’d lured me in. He’d charmed effortlessly, and like an idiot, I’d fallen for it.

Dean cleared his throat and took a step away. “I think it’s time for me to leave you two alone.”

“No shit,” Fraser muttered, reluctantly turning to Dean and offering him a look I’d seen him flash at only Matteo, Tristan, and Penn all day.

Dean cringed. “I’ll be nearby with Joey if you need me again.”

“Who the hell is Joey?” I snapped.

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