Page 19 of Faking With You

“Why not?”

She rolls her lips together. “I guess. If you want.”

I grab her jacket and hold it up for her. She slips into it, tying it around her waist and watches as I slip into mine. I open the door, and she slowly leaves, watching me over her shoulder.

“Penelope, we’re going to lunch. I’ll be back.”

My hand finds the small of Eliza’s back as we walk to the elevators. When we step inside, I face her and run my thumb across her cheek. “Thank you for the food.”

She smiles softly. “Of course.”

I kiss her again, not seeming to be able to stop myself, loving the way her smile grows every time I do. I’m also realizing that I’m blurring the lines between what is real and what is part of this deal. No one is here to see us kiss right now, so it’s not something I need to do, but rather something I want to do.

As we pull apart, the doors to the elevator open and people slowly get in. I know Eliza feels the eyes on us as she ducks her head. I slip my hand into hers and entwine our fingers. We walk hand in hand to the restaurant, which isn’t far from my office.

As we make our way to the table, she looks at me hesitantly before stopping in front of table with six people. Their eyes immediately turn to us, and Eliza’s cheeks pinken.

“Everyone, this is Mac, my boyfriend. Mac, this is everyone.”

I watch the guy beside the empty chair deflate at her statement. He obviously had a thing for Eliza, and she probably never even knew it. I pull out the other empty chair for her and take the one beside her admirer.

“Boyfriend?” one of the girls at the other end asks.

“It’s new,” Eliza says as she lays her napkin on her lap.

“How’d you meet?” her secret admirer asks.

“Mac plays hockey with some friends. We met when I started going to watch.”

“You watch hockey?” another girl asks.

“I think she more catches up with her friends rather than watches,” I say, and Eliza looks at me.

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“Love, you’re not even facing the ice most of the game. I think the only one who actually watches is Liv.”

“The whole reason we go is because of Liv. She’s a hockey nut.”

“Don’t tell me you regret going,” I say, a teasing tone taking over my voice.

She shakes her head and takes a sip of water, looking at me through her lashes. “I’d never say that.”

All eyes are on us, and Eliza clears her throat and faces everyone else, changing the subject to something that happened at the office. I don’t know what they’re talking about, but I use the time to watch Eliza. She’s different with her coworkers versus her friends. There’s a reservedness to her as she talks with them. She sits straighter and is less casual in the way she talks. I’m reminded of the way she described her parents and her upbringing. I have a feeling there are very few people that she feels she can fully relax around.

When we finish eating, we stand outside the restaurant and I pull Eliza in close. Her heels still have her nine inches shorter than me. She looks over at her coworkers, but my fingers find her chin and turn her to face me.

“Thank you for coming by.”

“You’re welcome.”

She licks her lips, and I smile. I find her secret admirer over her shoulder as I lean down. My eyes find Eliza’s again as our lips touch. She leans into me, and a possessive feeling over takes me as my arm wraps around her back and holds her close.

“When will I see you next?” I ask.

She smiles and shrugs. “You have a game in a couple of days, don’t you?”

I nod. I don’t want to only see her at the game.