I didn’t have to fake grinning at him as he broke off, and the soft smile on his face made my stomach flip.
It’s not real, I reminded my stupid overexcited body.
“I missed you,” Kit murmured, apparently oblivious to both his mother and his guest, who I hadn’t seen yet.
“It’s been twenty minutes,” I said, still smiling. It might not have been real, but neither was the hazelnut flavor in my favorite brand of creamer. Not being real didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy it.
“That long?” Kit tutted. “I have been most remiss, I promised you kisses every five minutes. I must owe you dozens by now.”
Something was definitely going on, but Kit was finally looking at me like he liked me, and I didn’t exactly care why.
“I’ll just see myself out then, shall I?” a voice called from behind Kit.
I peeked around Kit to catch a glimpse of a blond man with ruffled hair, flushed cheeks, freckles, and the kind of smile that said he could get whatever he wanted with a wink and a nod.
Wasn’t Kit meant to be talking to a Duke?
Shouldn’t a Duke have been… old?
Kit’s hand tightening on my arm stopped me from saying anything.
“If you could,” Kit said without even looking at his guest. “I really must attend to Andy.”
I couldfeelKit’s mom’s gaze boring into the back of my skull, but I planned to play along.
“Starting with all those kisses you owe me?”
“Starting with all those kisses I owe you,” Kit agreed, taking my hand and tugging me toward the stairs.
* * *
“Oh,”I moaned loud enough to hurt my throat, pressed up against the door to our room. “Oh god,Kit,” I added, banging my fist on the ancient wood, arching my back and letting out a wordless cry.
“Andy,” Kit spoke up from where he was sitting on the bed. “Could I ask what you’re doing?”
I turned around and banged on the door a couple more times for effect.
“Making sure your mom hears,” I said, softer, heading over to join him.
“While I appreciate the sentiment, I doubt she’d hear through that door. It’s solid oak.”
“Well, I want her to think we can’t keep our hands off each other,” I said.
Kit licked his lips. “You do?”
I wanted to kiss him again. And again. Andagain.
“It’s what I signed up for, right?” I shrugged. “I get a free vacation, you get an adoring boyfriend. That’s the deal, isn’t it?”
Kit’s face fell, but I couldn’t work outwhy. Thatwasthe deal.
“I never intended to insist that you be all over me,” Kit said. “I hadn’t really... to be honest, I didn’t...”
“Think this through?” I asked.
Kit sighed and flopped back onto the bed. “This feels rather like a disaster.”
I flopped down on the bed next to him, happy to be lying down for a second and not wanting him to suffer alone.
