Page 67 of Weddings, Revenge & Fake Dating

“Sounds terrible.” He chuckles and sits on the mattress. “What’s on your evil agenda today?” He strokes my leg.

“Well . . .” I take a sip and set the cup aside to share something I’ve been mulling over. “I’ve decided to give wedding sabotaging a rest.”

He stiffens. “And the fake boyfriend too?”

“For that, I think I’d like to renegotiate our contract.”

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jeanie

Hot Zombie Dance Date

Nathan appears unsure about the direction of this conversation. I’m unsure too. This is all new.

I may have marched toward the territory of no regrets, but last night I took a shortcut by skydiving off a cliff. I landed with open legs, where Nathan promptly went down to meow-meow town. Now I have feelings for my divorce-cation fling.

Nathan’s posture straightens. He pretends to adjust the lapels of a suit jacket, even though he’s brawny and shirtless. “The lawyers are listening.”

“Could we hang out today, no agenda?”

He mock-gasps. “Jeanie Benton, are you asking me to be your real wedding date?” He clutches fake pearls as his mouth opens in the shape of an O.

“As friends is fine too,” I rush to say. Because I don’t want to assume anything, I clarify. “But only for today. Tomorrow, we’re back in destruction mode. Deal?”

“If you still think I only want to be your friend, I need to make you come harder.”

“Is that possible?” I giggle.

“Consider it my new mission.”

He releases a calculating laugh before tickling me until I cry for help. The tussle deviates. Somewhere along the way, tickles become caresses, and then caresses become kisses.

His strong fingers curl inside me, pressing against my wall. Their moves are as skilled as Nathan’s dancing.

By the time he’s done, I’ve come again.

The total? Maybe it’s best to recount after our first official date.

Sophia and several bridesmaids are in organization mode outside the hotel.

With a clipboard in hand, Sophia directs wedding guests onto tour buses. When everyone’s accounted for, we’re whisked to a marina in South Beach where several party boats await.

Nathan and I sit beside each other on the open-air top deck.

In front of everyone, he’s usually in flirty-fake-boyfriend mode, but with our new agreement, he seems nervous. If I weren’t so nervous too, I might think it was cute. The issue is, anything we do today can’t be confused as fake dating. For the first time, we’re being completely real.

When the length of his arm presses against mine and he takes my hand in his, a life ring has been tossed in my direction. We grin at each other. Finally tethered, we’re back on solid ground, laughing and teasing. This time, though, it’s all for us and no one else.

The boat motors beyond the marina to Star Island. Over a microphone, a tour guide rattles off the names of several celebrities who have lived there.

“I danced in a music video filmed on the island,” Nathan says like it’s no big deal.

“What!” Sophia exclaims when she overhears. “This is so unfair. I can’t even get Roman to take dance lessons for our first dance.”

He fills in the backstory. “I was on set with a friend. They needed extra bodies for a club scene. It was my first big dance job.”

“That’s incredible. Isn’t that incredible, Roman?” Sophia shoves his arm, urging him into the conversation.