Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 60768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
I lift my chin, trying to ignore the way my pulse jumps. “Rules before we walk out that door. No signaling for help. No slipping notes or making eyes at waitstaff. No doing anything that might make Serafina think you’re not fully committed. If she doesn’t get what she wants from that hack, Enley pays for it. Tonight we play the happy married couple. Perfectly. You understand?”
He holds my gaze, something softer flickering behind the heat. “I understand. I’ll behave. For Enley.” A small, crooked smile tugs at his mouth. “And maybe a little bit because I like the idea of being your husband for a few hours.”
I narrow my eyes, but my cheeks feel warm. “Don’t get any ideas.”
“Too late,” he murmurs, offering his arm like a perfect gentleman. “Shall we, wife?”
I take it, telling myself the goosebumps racing up my arm are from the cool evening air and nothing else.
The drive into town is quiet, tension humming between us like a live wire. When we pull up to Bella Italia, Tammy and Mark are already waiting outside, waving like we’re old friends. Tammy’s eyes go wide the second she sees my dress.
“Oh my God, Orchid! You look stunning! That dress is killer. Poe, you lucky man.”
Poe’s hand settles at the small of my back as we walk up, warm and possessive through the thin fabric. Goosebumps erupt all over my skin again. I’m turned on. Shamefully, stupidly turned on by something as simple as his palm resting there like it belongs. I can’t show it. I can’t let him see how easily he affects me.
Inside the restaurant the lighting is soft and romantic, candles flickering on every table. The host seats us at a cozy booth in the corner. Poe slides in beside me, his thigh brushing mine under the table. I keep my posture straight, but every point of contact feels electric.
Tammy dives right in, bubbly and relentless. “Okay, spill. How did you two meet? Was it love at first sight? I need all the details.”
Poe glances at me, eyes sparkling with mischief, and jumps in smoothly. “Work actually. She was the toughest person in the room and I couldn’t stop staring. Took me months to wear her down.”
I laugh lightly, playing along. “He was persistent. Annoyingly so. But he grew on me.”
Mark chuckles. “Sounds familiar. Tammy made me chase her for six weeks before she finally said yes.”
The conversation flows easier than I expect. We talk about honeymoon stories, favorite foods, the ridiculous things couples fight about. Poe keeps his hand on my knee under the table for long stretches, thumb tracing lazy circles that make heat pool low in my belly. Every time he leans in to whisper something in my ear (a fake inside joke for the neighbors, or a quiet “you okay?” just for me), his breath brushes my skin and I have to fight not to shiver.
He’s good at this. Too good. The way he looks at me across the candlelight, like I’m the only woman in the room, makes my chest feel tight in a way that has nothing to do with the performance.
Tammy sighs dreamily at one point. “You two are so in sync. It’s adorable. When are you going to start a family? The neighborhood needs more cute kids running around.”
I nearly choke on my wine. Poe’s hand squeezes my knee gently under the table, steadying me.
“We’re taking our time,” he says smoothly, flashing that charming smile. “Enjoying being just the two of us for now.” His eyes flick to me, warm and intimate. “Right, babe?”
I nod, forcing a smile. “Exactly.”
The food is excellent, the wine flows, and the evening slips by in a blur of easy laughter and shared stories. Poe never breaks character. He refills my glass before I ask, steals a bite of my tiramisu with a playful grin, and keeps that hand on me in small, constant touches that keep my body on edge the entire night.
By the time we say goodnight in the parking lot, Tammy is hugging me tightly and Mark is clapping Poe on the back like they’re old buddies.
“Next time at our place!” Tammy calls as they head to their car. “We’ll do a barbecue and you can tell us more about that honeymoon in Italy!”
We wave until they drive off, then climb into our own car. The second the doors close, the performance drops. The air feels thicker, heavier. Poe starts the engine but doesn’t pull away immediately. He turns to look at me, eyes dark in the low light.
“You were incredible tonight,” he says quietly. “That dress… fuck, Orchid. I meant what I said earlier. You look stunning.”
My pulse kicks hard. I’m still buzzing from every touch, every heated glance across the table. I want to lean over and kiss him. I want to feel his hands on me without an audience. But I can’t. I won’t.