Emilia watched me for a moment wearing a bemused smile. “Yes, I’m sure you are. And how sweet that the real you would be all sleuth-y to figure out your girl’s ring size, but the fictional version of youdidscrew it up, because how else would we explain me not wearing it?”
I tried to think of another reason that would justify the absence of the ring… and came up empty.
“Fine,” I sighed. “You win.”
“Cheer up—we can turn this into a cute story, and then make a big deal when I have it on.”
“We probably should talk about what we like doing together. Hobbies, that sort of thing. In case it comes up.”
Emilia trailed her fingertips along the edge of her glass and lowered her lids to a seductive half-mast. I found myself gulping in response.
“If we’re making this look ready for reality TV, we only need to haveonehobby,” she said in a low voice. “Fucking.”
I cleared my throat, which had gotten mysteriously tight. “Oh come on. How can we possibly suggest that on TV?”
“Look at yourface!” She threw her head back and laughed. It took her a few seconds to work through her giggling. “It’s all about the implication of it, not coming out and saying the words. We can say we have great chemistry. We have a magnetic relationship. We just click when we’re together. Like that, you know?”
She’d caught me off guard but I decided it was time to turn the tables on her.
“So, if I understand you,” I said, locking onto her eyes with an unblinking stare. “That means we’ll have to act the part as well. I mean, we can’tclaimto have incredible heat between us and then not touch each other, right?”
“Oh?” Her voice shook on the single syllable.Victory.
I tapped my chin, pretending to think it through. “Stop me if you disagree, but I think it’ll be expected for me to place my hand on your lower back, right above your ass, to guide you into a room.Rightat the curve. My touch will be nice and gentle, but firm enough that you feel it through the fabric of your clothes.”
She cleared her throat and grabbed at her wine glass. “Okay. Y-you’re right—people will probably expect it. That’s fine.”
I leaned closer to her and lowered my voice. “And sometimes, I’ll walk over to you and gently place my palm against your cheek. I’ll stare into your eyes for a few seconds, then slowly pull you into a kiss. It’ll be soft and quick because it’s a stolen kiss, but it’ll be hotenough to make everyone believe that it has you desperate for more. Of course, you’ll have to look at me like you’re forcing yourself not to drag me into the nearest empty room.”
Emilia had her wine glass hovering in the air, like she’d forgotten she was holding it. “Uh-huh.” Her face was flushed and I knew it wasn’t from the wine because she’d barely tasted it.
“When I want it to look like I’m feeling particularly horny for you, I might walk over and whisper dirty things just loud enough that someone might overhear. Stuff I want to do to you.”
I shifted, because my little fantasy was starting to feel real. Emilia’s breathing had gone shallow.
“Likewhat?” Emilia’s voice was a whisper.
I didn’t have to think very hard to conjure up what I wanted to do to her, because I’d already been thinking it. “Like … how I’d unbutton your business lady blouse with my teeth.”
She nodded silently, her eyes wide.
“I’d slowly pull that silk aside so I could stare at your perfect breasts.”
“Sounds nice,” she murmured. Her eyes dipped down to watch my mouth.
Fuck it. I was going there.
“I’d slowly run my thumb around your nip?—”
“I have a Castroville artichoke,” the waiter said, clearly unaware of what he was interrupting.
Emilia popped upright. “That’s me.”
“And scallop carpaccio for you, sir,” he placed the plate in front of me.
“Thank you,” we said in unison.
We stared down at our plates silently. I’d been hungry when I ordered it, but now the only thing I wanted to devour was off limits.
