. . .
Ellie
Ellie’s Guide toProfessional CuddlingBeing a Fake FiancéeNOT Falling for Your Fake Fiancé, Tip #18: The Cuddle Code exists for a reason. Follow it.
Cade’s lips lingered for a long moment, soft and steady against my skin. I would’ve enjoyed it, but I was too busy fuming as he slowly pulled back.
My frown deepened, brows drawing together.
“What the heck was that?” I demanded.
The corner of his mouth lifted. “A kiss.”
My mouth opened and closed as his words sank in, then I spluttered.
“No, it wasn’t. That was—That was—” I was too angry to speak properly, and the frustration mounted until I stomped my foot against the floor. “You kissed my forehead, not my lips!”
His thumb traced my jawline distractingly. “You’re drunk, Ellie. I’m not kissing you when you can barely stand.”
“But that’s not fair.” I scowled, crossing my arms. “You tricked me!”
His brow rose. “It got your mind off being sick, didn’t it?”
Trapped between him and the bathroom vanity, I batted his hand away before covering my face with both hands. “This is so embarrassing. I thought you actually wanted to kiss me. Oh my god, kill me now.”
He was close enough that I could feel his chest vibrate with a chuckle. “Who said I didn’t want to?”
My stomach had no business fluttering at the smooth way he’d said that. “But—But—Agh!”
The wine really wasn’t doing my speech any favors.
Ducking under his arm, I stumbled to the door and wrenched it open. The bones in my legs might’ve been replaced by Jell-O, but I still wobbled a few steps before pitching to the side—saved by Cade grabbing my arm to hold me steady.
“Stop helping me!” I snapped, shrugging out of his grip with a glare. “I’m mad at you.”
His answering grin was infuriating. “I didn’t think you were capable of holding a grudge, Darling.”
“Well, you were wrong.” I huffed. “I can hold a grudge when it comes to stuff like this. You can’t tell a girl you’re going to kiss her and then not follow through. It’s just cruel.”
Amusement danced in Cade’s eyes, and he lowered his voice. “Oh, I’ll be following through.”
My brain temporarily shut off, and I gulped. Any anger fizzled away. “Oh.”
The glint in his eyes brightened. “Yeah.Oh.”
I quickly averted my gaze to the rest of the cabin, spotting Whiskey sitting at the open balcony doors. A gentle—and much-appreciated—breeze drifted inside and kissed my warm cheeks like a cooling balm.
Cade must’ve opened the doors to cool down the room when he brought Whiskey out, and that did funny things to my stomach.
“I need my pajamas,” I said, blurting the first thing I could think of that didn’t involve how grateful and embarrassed I was that he was taking care of me. Or that he planned to kiss me later.
Cade took it in stride and grabbed his navy blue college T-shirt from the closet. I didn’t think anything of it until he bunched the fabric up around the neck hole and went to put it over my head.
“Whoa!” I jerked back, swatting at him. “What are you doing?”
I almost fell backward, but Cade grabbed my elbow again. He righted me before forcing the shirt over my head. “You’ll be more comfortable sleeping in this.”
I blinked. He cared about me being comfortable?
