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“You said my body language needed work. I’m working on it.”

His gaze bore into hers, although she wasn’t sure what he was trying to read in her eyes. “Is that what you’re doing?” he asked.

“Yes.” Her hand slid to the hair at the nape of his neck and tangled into the silky strands there. “Why else would I be doing this?’

“I assume you’re just trying to prove me wrong, no matter what I say.”

“That doesn’t sound like something I would do. By the way, a real boyfriend wouldn’t look shocked and a little horrified when his girlfriend is flirting with him. A real boyfriend would reciprocate. You should probably work on your body language.”

She knew he wouldn’t. He would just keep dancing, feeling uncomfortable, and that would teach him to give her a bad time about her body language.

Should she do more? Pushing things further could turn everything awkward when he came over to stay with her grandma.

Best not to do something she’d regret later.

And yet, somehow, she found herself moving closer until hardly any space remained between them. They were nearly embracing. She’d forgotten how it felt to slow dance with Jace, to move to the rhythm of his body. “I’m only trying to be more convincing, so your family won’t mock you.”

“That’s good of you.” His words had a husky tone, and that seemed like a compliment.

The music wrapped around them, low and steady, and the heat in his eyes sent a flutter through her chest. Every little shift of his hand or lean of his body pulled her deeper into the moment, made her more aware of him until her nerves were all on alert.

His hand moved up her back, lingered there, and returned to her hip. “This display of affection is probably a bit much for our second date … in a public place…” His gaze traveled the dance floor, although he resisted outright looking over his shoulder to see if Lucas and Riley were watching.

From her vantage point, she could see them talking at the table, heads bent together. “You wanted me to be the bad girl type. What can I say? Bad girls move fast.” That’s when Marlowe decided she was totally going to do something she would definitely regret later. She was going to prove her believability and make him sorry he’d broken up with her all in a single, decisive move. She was going to kiss Jace Clark on the dance floor.

CHAPTER 8

Marlowe had never considered herself overly impulsive. Turned out she was wrong about that. Because even as she rose up on her tiptoes, her fingers sliding through Jace’s hair, she knew this was impulsive.

His breath hitched. She half expected him to step away and put an end to this.

That would be the sensible thing to do, fake relationship notwithstanding.

Instead, he lowered his head just enough. She guided him the rest of the way, closing the distance until her lips brushed his in a soft, quiet kiss. A kiss that almost immediately turned deeper.

She’d been mistaken earlier when she said there was no electricity between them. It hummed through her veins now. It had just been delayed. It had been waiting for a kiss.

Man, that instant chemistry made all this more complicated. The old memories were running through her mind—the two of them standing entwined on her doorstep. And sitting in his truck. And…

Nope. Her thoughts shouldn’t go there. She’d meant for this kiss to make him regret dumping her, and instead her heart was the one revving dangerously. Her entire body hummed with energy. She shouldn’t catch feelings for a guy who was only dating her to irritate his family.

He lifted his head a fraction, and a lazy smile spread across his lips. “So, what else do bad girls do?”

Like she knew. In her smoothest voice, she said, “Buy me a can of spray paint, and I’ll show you.”

He chuckled, a rich hum that brushed over her skin like a touch. “That offer just became a lot less tempting.”

She pursed her lips into a pout. “Hey, baby, we can do so many things … that would upset grocery store managers.”

Another laugh. That low, easy sound was familiar in all the wrong ways. With the feel of his hands on her skin and the music buzzing under her feet, the lines were definitely blurring. She breathed in his cologne, a scent that was warm, crisp, and too tempting. “By the way,” she murmured, “you get bonus points for smelling amazing. Very boyfriend of you.”

“Playing the part,” he said.

She hadn’t expected him to kiss her again, but his lips dropped back to her mouth. He gave her a kiss that was soft and sweet and made her pulse thrum. Yeah, apparently kissing wasn’t making him uncomfortable at all. Were any of the old feelings resurfacing in him too?

He drew back slightly. “Are Lucas and Riley watching us?”

Or maybe he just wanted to put on a good show for his brother. A flash of unjustified irritation went through her. She kept her eyes on Jace. “I don’t know. It would seem suspicious if I checked right now. I should be enthralled by your kiss, not looking around for your twin brother.”