was real.
It wasn’t, though. Was it? I was just playing a role.
So why were my toes still tingling?
“Aww, now isn’t that sweet?” My mother sighed and picked up her wine glass. “You two are going to be together forever. I just know it.”
While we were waiting for dessert and coffee to be served, my sister grabbed my arm. “Ladies’ room, please,” she murmured.
I turned to Enzo. “I’ll be right back, honey,” I said, patting his arm as if he might miss me.
He nodded and picked up his wine glass. He’d been a little quiet throughout the meal, but I figured it was just the stress of putting our “relationship” to the test for the first time on such a big stage.
I followed Ellie to the bathroom, and the minute we were alone behind the closed door, she whirled on me and clutched her head. “Oh my God! I can’t believe you guys are going through with this. Look at me. I’m sweating.” She pulled the armpits of her blouse away from her body.
I laughed. “Relax. It’s going great. Mom and Dad are so happy, they’re not even questioning the fact that we’re obviously rushing into something that will be a big fat mistake.” We entered the side-by-side stalls and continued talking.
“Neither are the Morettis,” Ellie commented. “Except maybe Pietro.”
“Well, he’s about to lose the opportunity to be head of the family firm. Understandable why he might be reluctant to offer his heartiest congrats.”
“Mr. Moretti seems a bit quiet too. Think he’s got doubts?”
I’d noticed his silence—which had mirrored Enzo’s—and his curious eyes on us all night. “Hard to say for sure, but he certainly volunteered to reach out to the judge quickly enough.”
“Maybe he expected you guys to argue against it.”
“Hopefully, he noticed that we didn’t.” We came out of the stalls and washed our hands beside one another at the sinks. “We don’t see any reason to push it back.”
She rinsed her hands, shaking her head. “I still can’t believe you guys are going through with it. At least you’re marrying someone hot. Sometimes it’s hard to look away from his face. And I’m not even attracted to men.”
I laughed, reaching for the stack of towels on the counter. “He’s handsome. I agree.”
“Do you guys get along at all?”
“Nope.” Grinning, I dug into my purse for my lipstick. “I mean, we’re learning better how to fake it, and occasionally I get this glimmer of appreciation or maybe even gratitude for him, but then he says something truly loathsome and I remember why he’s the worst.”
She laughed, fussing with her hair in the mirror. “I don’t know, you have pretty good chemistry. Sparks were definitely flying between you at the table.”
“For all the wrong reasons,” I said pointedly. “Our chemistry is not the good kind.”
She shrugged. “Sparks are sparks. And it would not surprise me at all if eventually something catches fire.”
I rolled my eyes and reapplied lipstick. “Not happening.”
Facing me, her expression was wry. “You’re telling me you’re not attracted to him whatsoever?”
“Nope.” But I could feel the heat in my cheeks, and a moment later they bloomed like red roses. “Plus we’ve agreed there will be no messing around. It’s in the contract.”
She burst out laughing. “You guys actually made a contract?”
“Yes. We had to lay the ground rules,” I insisted, recapping my lipstick and tucking it back into my bag.
“So what was that kiss out there?”
The roses in my cheeks deepened their hue, but I turned to face her, meeting her eyes. That kiss. That kiss. That kiss. “That was for show.”
“Looked real to me.”
“That’s because I’m a good actress. Let’s get back to the table.” Shouldering past her, I pushed open the door, and she followed close on my heels.
“You know, you’re really not that good an actress,” she said, her tone amused. “Just saying.”
I was about to argue with her when Enzo looked up from the table, and our eyes locked. My stomach went weightless, and I nearly tripped over my feet. Damn, that asshole was gorgeous. I had to admit, it really wasn’t hard to fake an attraction to him.
But it was fake.
Wasn’t it?
“What the hell was that?” Enzo exploded as soon as we were alone in his car.
“That was our engagement dinner. I thought it went well, by the way,” I said, buckling my seatbelt.
“I meant that kiss. What the fuck was up with that?” He started the engine, glaring at me in the dark.
I shrugged, while inside all I could think was,