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‘You hungry?’ he growled.

Her skin turned pink and she ducked the question by focusing on his screen. ‘That’s the one you’re going with?’

‘There are three but I’m not sure.’ His gut churned. ‘Doesn’t feel right.’

‘Because…’

‘You’ve just endured a fake porn-video scandal. Is this really any different?’

‘Yes, because this time I get to control the narrative. They’re always going to take pictures—or fake them; at least these we’re releasing ourselves.’

‘But would you prefer a formal portrait rather than supposedly stolen snaps?’

Her flush deepened. ‘I don’t want to take more photos.’

Right. He rolled his shoulders, feeling as if cockroaches had infested his skin. ‘Take a look, then—I sorted those but you decide.’

She stared at his choice. Three photos in a sequence—him lowering his head to hers but not actually ending in a kiss. Just him drinking in her eyes and her gazing at him as if he were the hottest thing she’d ever seen. Which he was.

‘You didn’t use any of us actually touching,’ she mumbled.

‘It wasn’t in the script.’ He glanced up at her. ‘Was it?’

She kept her gaze on the screen. ‘What is in the script?’

‘That the paparazzo couldn’t get more pictures because security chased him off. No one’s gotten this close to the cove before so we’re thunderously angry, but such is the extent of the interest the guy thought it worth the risk.’

‘It’s solid. Send it.’

His chest tightened. ‘You’re sure?’

‘Yes.’

He clicked the confirmation to Rafa and turned before she could back away. ‘There’s a heap of food in the fridge all prepped and ready, so you won’t hurt yourself if you want a midnight snack.’

‘Amazing. Thank you.’ Tilly gritted her teeth and immediately fossicked in the fridge, mostly to try to cool herself again.

She would pretend it had never happened. Say nothing. Ever. Never admit that she’d just touched herself in the shower and imagined it was him. She’d thought the release would have ended her physical tension. Wrong. One look, one second beside him and she was hot all over again and reliving the feel of his rock-hard body against hers. But he was second-guessing the photos and clearly regretted everything.

‘Want to watch the narrative unfold?’ He nodded towards the screen.

‘You think it’ll be that quick?’ She perched on the edge of the seat next to his.

It was far easier to look at the screen than at his face.

‘They’ll all want to be first with it.’ He split the screen on the laptop so two news outlets were displayed.

The articles were already about them but in the absence of much information about them as a couple, they’d gone with their pasts. So she was presented with a photographic grid of several of Alex’s exes. Fantastic. She shoved a spoonful of yoghurt and fruit in her mouth before she said something stupid. After only a few bites the breaking news banner suddenly flashed. Exclusive photos!

Alex refreshed the feed and swore as he read the article then checked other sites. Tilly’s cheeks flamed as her sensual energy hummed. In seconds they were the trending topic on the three largest social-media platforms. Every news outlet carried it as their lead story.

‘Our fake frolic photos are officially sexier than your fake porn film.’

That ‘fake’ moment at the cove had been the sexiest of her life.

‘I knew it would blow up but I didn’t expect it to be this big, this quick,’ he added. ‘People are buying the fairy tale. They’re going to be disappointed when it ends.’

‘Disappointment is inevitable in life.’ She was a disappointment.