“And that’s the third thing I noticed about you.”
She frowns. “What?”
“Your lips. That bright pink lipstick you were wearing in the Hamptons made it nearly impossible for me to tear my eyes away from your luscious mouth.”
Surprise and shock are written all over her gorgeous face. “My, Mr. Lindström, you were coveting another man’s girl.”
I arch a brow. “I had the inside scoop your ex-boyfriend’s mother was going to give you the boot the very next day because you weren’t made of fine hockey legend stock.”
She gasps. “You didn’t admit to this when I told you the story.”
I shrug. “I had planned on taking that secret to the grave, but now that we’re in a fake relationship, it’s important for me to be honest with you.”
“Ah, your conscience got the better of you.”
“Something like that.”
I tangle a strand of blonde hair around my finger. “I get to confirm my theory. Your hair is as soft as silk.”
Heavy lidded eyes stare at me from behind dark lashes.
I let go of her hair and run my thumb along her lower lip that still retains a faint stain of red lipstick.
Her lips part and her breath hitches.
“You know what just occurred to me?”
She shakes her head.
“We didn’t practice kissing. That’s irresponsible of us. People in relationships kiss.”
“There are rules to fake dating,” she says. “In all the books I’ve read, practicing the kiss is a pivotal moment in the story.”
“Is that so?”
She responds with an enthusiastic nod.
“So, if I wanted to extend our arrangement, we’d have to practice. It’s part of the rules of fake dating.”
Curiosity glimmers in her eyes. “Why would you want to extend our arrangement?”
“Active Kids holds a charity lunch the day after the evening gala to sponsor kids from lower income homes who have a chance at the Olympics.”
“And you want me to show up as your fake girlfriend?”
“That’s why I’m attempting to renegotiate our arrangement.”
“Will the press be there?”
“Of course.”
“Why would there be PDA?”
“Remember, it’s an image makeover. I’m supposed to be more approachable.”
“I dunno, mister. Sounds to me like this urgent need to practice kissing is more self-serving than to sway the press’s opinion to see Kaz Lindström no longer as the beast on and off the ice, but rather Kaz Lindström, the man so taken by his fake girlfriend, he can’t keep his hands off her.”
“Can’t it be both?”
