“Your chariot, my lady,” he said with an exaggerated bow that made me laugh despite my embarrassment.
“You’re such a dork.”
“And yet you’re blushing,” he grinned. “You look cute when you blush, by the way. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“Stop it,” I said, smacking his arm. “Stop making me blush more.”
“Can’t help it. It’s very entertaining. Besides, these photos are going to be everywhere tomorrow. ‘Derek Peterson sweeps his stunning girlfriend off her feet.’ Literally.”
I couldn’t shake the sensation of his body heat through my thin dress. How easily he had lifted me, how strong his arms had felt around me.
Derek climbed into the driver’s seat, still smirking, and I tried not to notice how attractive he looked when he was pleased with himself.
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” I said, a small smile curling on my lips.
“I really am,” he said, starting the engine, and the smirk softened. “But seriously, Paige. You handled tonight perfectly. I know that seeing Jack wasn’t easy, but you didn’t let him get to you. You were strong.”
The praise warmed me more than it should have.
“We both were.”
“I have years of courtroom experience,” he said, shrugging as he glanced at me. “Speaking of which, Sean texted. He had already seen the photos online. Apparently we’re trending.”
“Trending?” My eyes widened. “Already?”
“Welcome to the digital age,” he said, showing me his phone screen, and sure enough, there were already posts about us. Photos of us arriving together, of Jack’s confrontation, of Derek carrying me down the stairs. The comments ranged from supportive to shocked to scandalized.
“City’s most eligible bachelor finally off the market,” I read aloud. “Derek Peterson debuts new relationship at charity gala.” I looked at him. “This is really happening.”
“No going back now,” he said.
I stared at the ring on my finger, Derek’s ring, catching the streetlights and throwing sparkles across the dashboard. At Derek himself, his handsome profile illuminated by the city lights.
I was falling for him.
No, I couldn’t.
Because it was terrifying to fall for my boss, my childhood friend, my fake fiancé.
It was all fake. We had a contract with an end date.
But I was already breaking rule number four.
PART II
“Y-yeah. We definitely shouldn’t since we’re best-friends, right? But then why the hell does it feels so fucking good?”
15
I’VE GOT YOU
PAIGE
My phone rang at midnight.
I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling and unable to sleep. The gala kept replaying in my mind. Jack’s face when he saw us, the photographers capturing Derek carrying me down the stairs, the weight of his arms around me feeling perfect for something that was supposed to be fake.
The phone rang again, and my stomach dropped seeing Jack’s caller ID.
