“Fine. Fine. Fine.”The tickling stops, and I take a second to catch my breath.
“Truth is, I graduated high school, thinking I was going to become a doctor, but I quickly realized the field wasn’t for me. Yes, I could save people’s lives, but I could also lose them, and the thought of telling people they’d lost their loved ones hit a little too close to home. Also, Ihatethe sight of blood, so I picked the next thing I was good at—chemistry. You can’t do much with only a bachelor’s degree, which is why I decided to continue my education.”
I finish my overly long and far too personal explanation with a nod. I don’t usually share that much about myself with people I barely know, but Nate has a way of bringing me comfort. As weird as that sounds, given the short time we’ve known each other.
“Is that answer good enough for you, Nate?” I tease, shrugging it off.
Nate gives me a satisfied nod, a soft smile tugging at his lips. In an instant, his gaze dips to my mouth, lingering there for a moment before his thumb brushes along the corner. A dollop of cream finds itself there before he licks it off.
Those lips on mine. My hands on the lapel of his suit. The crowd disappearing into nothingness at the engagement party. As wrong as it might have been, everything about that moment felt right. I sink deeper into his lap, inching closer in the hopes of feeling a trace of what I felt that night as Nate’s eyes grow hazy.
Realization hits me as my head draws closer with a tilt to the right. I push off his lap, finding my way back on the floor. Nate seems to register it a moment later when he turns off to the side, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly.
We werethiscloseto kissing again—outside the bounds of our fake engagement.
“I’m—”
He doesn’t have to finish before I cut him off.
“Why a famous engineer?”
The whiplash catches Nate by surprise, but he answers, nonetheless.
“My late grandfather was a pilot, and whenever my family would fly with him as our captain, he’d give me his hat and show me around the cockpit. I never cared much for anything except the buttons. They looked cool. I wanted to click themand see what they did. That’s when I knew I was going to make planes.”
“You really liked clicking the buttons that much?” I ask in shock.
Nate nods in response.
“You know, now that I think about it, your story checks out. They say most skills are transferable, and given that you’re really good at pressingmybuttons…”
He pulls back in mock offense. “Is that a way to speak to your fiancé?”
“Fake fiancé,” I correct with a taunting gaze as I lean forward.
Nate draws closer as well, grabbing the safety glasses from the top of my head and lowering them to the bridge of my nose. His hand brushes the side of my face, sending a spark of electricity down my neck before tucking a loose piece of hair.
“Fake anything doesn’t have chemistry like we do.”
I punch him in the gut, and he falls back on an elbow, laughing and clutching his abdomen like I did any damage. The thing is, I couldn’t have. The man is as hard as a rock.
“The only chemistry we have is taking place in that lab. Now enlighten me, Mr. Archer. Aside from bringing me these pastries, what do you want? We ate, and we’re done, so why are you still here?”
I’m asking him that question when I should be redirecting it to myself. The problem is…the more time we spend together, the more obvious that answer becomes.
“A man can’t spend time with his fiancée?” he probes.
I want to roll my eyes, but all I can do is smile.
I should hate him, goddammit. And I’m sure I did at one point, but it’s getting harder the more I get to know his character.
“You’re taking time away from my chemistry. I’m basically being held against my will,” I say, even when I no longer feel that way. At the start of this conversation, I’m sure I did, but now, not so much.
“What will get you to stay?” Nate lifts a brow, challenging me.
My eyes light up at the suggestion. We might be playing a game, but I’m not above bribery.
“Anything?” I ask.
