Chapter 32
That kiss wasn’t fake
Harley
Ciara forwards another photo of Kaz and me.
I blink.
I’m stunned by the fairytale imagery.
It’s like having an out of body experience.
That girl in the expensive red dress who’s getting kissed to the point where she’s running out of air isn’t me.
That girl is worry free. On top of the world. She has her shit together. She isn’t carrying any baggage.
If I saw that photo hanging on the walls of a New York gallery, I’d put it on my wish list. I’d want to own it because it would be the kind of far-fetched dream I’d never be able to achieve in real life.
Ciara
I thought you said you were involved in a fake relationship. Explain.
Harley
I thought you were having a late lunch at Nik’s parents’ place. Sounds like you were spending too much time on
Ciara
We were. Since my bestie is fake dating a high-profile former NHL player, I put an alert on his name so I can stalk him. You can never be too safe.
Ciara
On the way back to our place, my phone pinged. When I saw that photo, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Ciara
I told Nik, when we got home, I expected him to kiss me like that or else I’d refuse to pop these babies into the world.
Harley
You’re hilarious.
Ciara
I wasn’t joking.
Harley
Did he?
Ciara
Yup. Right in front of our house in full view of our neighbors. I didn’t look as graceful as you did when I tried to kick my leg up, because… three babies on board, but it was pretty romantic. It made me feel like he still wants me.
Harley
Hell will freeze over before that ever changes.
Ciara
God, I love this woman.
For a fleeting moment, I entertain the idea of spilling my guts to her.
Don’t be na?ve, Harley.
The truth would ruin everything.
Ciara
Enough about me. You still haven’t given me an explanation for that caliente kiss.
She’s right, that kiss was hot, hot, hot.
Harley
I’m still struggling to explain it myself.
Ciara
It can’t be that hard, you were there. Try harder.
Harley
Kaz’s dad gets his jollies from putting his son down.
Ciara
Kaz is successful, not in one, but three careers. What’s his father’s problem?
Harley
His sense of superiority is so inflated, it could take over Madison Square Garden.
Ciara
Okay. Not good.
Harley
The man is old enough to be my grandfather, but he made a pass at me, even though he knew I was at the luncheon with his son.
Ciara
WHAT???
Ciara
#Douchebag
Harley
Right? I hate bullies. And that’s exactly what his father is. So, I pulled out my trusted pin—aka my tongue—and poked a big fat hole in said inflated ego. That deflated him real fast.
Ciara
Good on you for standing by your man, even if it is a fake relationship.
My eyes shift to my gorgeous fake boyfriend standing next to me as naked as the day he was born. My gaze lingers on his cock. Even when he’s not hard, he’s a big boy.
I return my focus to my phone.
Harley
I think Kaz has been living in that toxic relationship for so long, he’s accepted it. I wasn’t going to stand for it.
I did for Kaz what I wish someone had done for me growing up in a family that’s so dysfunctional, it would leave most psychiatrists baffled.
Ciara
I’ve been in the crosshairs of Nik’s toxic sibling. People like that are soul-destroyers.
Harley
They are.
I’ve lived with two soul-destroyers my whole life.
I feel Kaz’s attention on me.
I look up at him.
He stares down at me, brows knitted in a frown.
I smile.
He holds my gaze.
What would it take to make you laugh, Kaz Lindstrom?
He shifts his attention back to his phone.
I do the same.
Harley
I’m guessing that kiss was Kaz’s way of thanking me for telling his father to stuff it where the sun doesn’t shine.
Ciara
That kiss wasn’t fake. It was way, way more than a simple thank you.
Harley
You’re wrong.
Ciara
I’m so not. I could feel the fireworks from that kiss across an ocean.