Chapter 15
15
Stretching out in bed, I sigh happily as I let my body explore every inch of the super king mattress.
God, I slept so well last night – I always know that I’ve had good-quality sleep when I wake up naturally, before my alarm goes off. Back at home, on work days, it takes multiple alarms (and a few snoozes) to force me awake, because I’m always so knackered.
It was warm last night, but nothing I couldn’t counteract by sleeping naked and leaving the balcony doors open. I kept the sheer curtains closed, hoping that it would keep bugs out, so I guess we’ll only know if that was a good decision when I check to see if I’m covered with bites this morning.
The soft, lightweight sheets cocoon me ever so gently, and it’s a truly glorious sensation against my skin, and I slowly open my eyes, the…
I gasp dramatically at the sight of James, crouched down next to my bed.
‘Good morning, gorgeous,’ he greets me with a cheeky grin.
I sit up abruptly, pulling the covers tightly around me – quickly remembering that I’m naked under here.
‘Oh my God, James, what are you doing here?’ I blurt out, my heart pounding for, oh, I don’t know, about four different reasons.
‘I hopped over the balconies – I was going to leave you some flowers on the table, as a surprise,’ he explains, his tone light, like that’s a totally normal thing to do. ‘But then I couldn’t help but notice that you were in here alone. Where is Andrea?’
As my brain wakes up fully, it all starts coming back to me. Shit, Andrea, right! Why wouldn’t he be here? I can’t have James thinking that there is trouble in paradise already, can I?
‘He’s in the bath,’ I reply, lowering my voice unnecessarily.
‘Well then, we’d better be quiet,’ James responds with a grin, making out like this is a secret rendezvous.
I can’t help but feel a rush of excitement – mixed with a strong dose of disbelief, of course. I knew that James was a bad boy but, oh my God, I can’t believe that he’s here now, having snuck into my room, not giving a damn that my (fake, but he doesn’t know that, does he?) fiancé is supposedly only in the next room, having a bath, and that he could walk back in here any second. It seems like he’s getting a real kick of out the danger.
As James reaches out and takes my hand, I notice his playful smirk as his eyes lock onto the engagement ring on my left hand. It’s almost like he’s admiring it.
‘I still can’t believe you’re engaged,’ he chuckles, his tone a blend of disbelief and amusement. ‘All those times you were flirting with me, asking me out for drinks… Were you ever going to let me in on the secret that you weren’t single?’
He isn’t offended, he’s into it.
‘Oh, now, now, James, you know it wasn’t like that,’ I reply, just about matching his playful tone, and ever so slightly edging into flirtatious territory.
I cannot believe the lengths I’m going to just to get his attention, but – dare I say it – it’s actually working. It’s absolutely wild that this is what it has taken to get him to notice me, but he has finally noticed me.
James twists the engagement ring around on my finger, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. I really wish I could read his mind right now. I mean, I have a pretty good idea, but I’d love to know more.
‘Maybe we could finally go for that drink, just me and you,’ he suggests. ‘What do you say?’
This is it, the moment I’ve been waiting for, my chance to show James that I’m not just his dorky co-worker, that I’m someone fun and dateable – someone he could actually enjoy spending time with. And the beauty of it is, I am actually single, free to date whoever I want.
I think it’s clear what James wants – he wants the thrill of the chase, the excitement of stealing me away from the arms of my supposed fiancé. So, I’ll play along and let him think that he’s winning, at least for now anyway. I just need to keep him on the hook, until this week runs its course, and then we can move this into more normal territory.
That said – and this is going to sound silly – even though Andrea and I aren’t really a couple, I still can’t quite bring myself to cross certain lines. Even fictitiously, I can’t betray my morals, so I just need to let James think he’s seducing me away from Andrea, until we can stage our little break-up, and then all is well that ends well.
‘Maybe we can,’ I reply simply, my heart racing with anticipation.
James rises from his crouched position, leaning towards me to place a soft, lingering kiss on my cheek. Oh, the years and years that I have craved physical contact from him. The closest we’ve ever come to physical interaction (and all of that nonsense in the gym definitely doesn’t count) was when he accidentally knocked me over at an office Christmas party. After that night I am always very specific, when thinking about him, that I mean something else when I wish that James would ‘put me on my back’ – you know, just in case the universe is listening.
But now, with his lips grazing my skin, it feels like something real. Maybe the universe does listen.
My phone vibrates loudly on the bedside table, jolting me out of my moment with James. I believe that’s what you call being saved by the bell.
I quickly shift away from him, James taking a step back, so that I can grab it.
Shit, it’s Andrea. Of course, I can’t tell James that – he thinks he’s in the bath.
‘Shit, it’s Rick,’ I lie, trying to sound convincing. ‘He said he was coming here to see Andrea before the meeting…’
‘Okay, I’ll get out of here,’ James replies, excitement evident in his voice. ‘I look forward to seeing you at the breakfast meeting, and pretending we didn’t just have this little meeting of our own…’
‘Go, quick,’ I bark at him, suppressing a laugh.
After James makes his exit, I flop back down onto my pillow, a satisfied grin spreading across my face. I’m playing this game like a pro. From struggling to even get James to notice me, to now having him actively pursue me – it’s quite the U-turn.
All I need to do now is get through this week, fake break up with Andrea, and then I can finally give in to James’s charms. I just need to bide my time.
How hard can it be?