Page 356 of Faking the Goal

She smiles.

A small, knowing smile.

I stare at her for a second, completely thrown by it. I honestly can't decide whether I should kiss her senseless or shake her by the shoulders. The woman is smiling at me like she's just solved a crossword puzzle when she's literally talking about putting herself in danger.

"What?" I ask warily.

Her smile widens just enough to make me suspicious.

"I know where he's taking me."

"Where?"

"My apartment."

Now she's got my full attention.

"I told him I wasn't ready to be seen in public yet." She gestures toward the faint yellow bruises still lingering along her cheek. "I said I didn't want people staring at me, and after everything that's happened, I don't feel safe sitting in a crowded restaurant."

She shrugs lightly.

"So I suggested we have dinner at my place instead. I told him I'd cook."

"You... invited him over?"

"I even told him I'd make his favorite meal."

I stare at her for a long second before a reluctant breath escapes me.

"And he agreed?"

"Immediately." The corner of her mouth lifts, but there's no humor in it. "I knew he would."

"How?"

"Because to anyone normal, it's just dinner. But Charlie isn't normal." Her gaze drops to our intertwined hands. "Inviting him into my apartment... cooking his favorite meal... it feeds straight into the fantasy he's been building for years."

My jaw tightens.

"He won't see it as me being friendly," she continues quietly. "He'll see it as something much bigger than that. Intimate. Domestic. Like he's finally getting a glimpse of the life he's always imagined having with me." She shakes her head, disgust flashing across her face. "To someone as sick as Charlie, that's not just an invitation to dinner. It's the closest thing to a dream come true."

She looks back at me.

"So he said yes without a second thought. Exactly what I was counting on."

Despite everything weighing on my chest, I can't help letting out a quiet laugh.

"That's..." I shake my head, still looking at her in disbelief. "Actually really smart."

"I know." She lifts her chin with entirely too much satisfaction. "It's exhausting being the brains of this relationship."

I arch a brow.

"Relationship, huh?"

Before she can react, I hook an arm around her waist and pull her back against me until she's practically sitting in my lap. A laugh bubbles out of her as she lands against my chest, her hands instinctively settling on my shoulders to steady herself.

"So that's what we are now?" I murmur, unable to stop the grin tugging at my mouth. "We're in a relationship?"