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Preston spots him and straightens at my side.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“Well, one was here when I called you, and then the rest showed up in the five minutes you took to come out here.” Mason looks at Preston. “Mr. King. Welcome back.”

Preston smiles. “Call me Preston, please. I’ve been here so much, you should have been calling me that years ago.”

“Of course,” Mason agrees and then switches his focus back to me. “What do you want me to tell them?”

I take a breath and look at Preston. “They get one interview together?”

He nods. “Yep. One question per reporter.”

I smirk.

“They’re going to hate that.”

“They’re going to have to deal with it. Now, grab my hand and act like you love me.”

I let out a chuckle and turn.

Mason is still standing there. A wrinkle forms between his eyes as confusion washes over his face.

Shit. I forgot he was standing there.

“I forgot to put the toilet seat down this morning,” Preston says quickly. “She’s not handling it well.”

I lean back and smack him, but it makes me laugh.

“Okay,” Mason says before he walks off in the direction of the reporters.

“You can’t slip up like that in front of anyone else,” I scold him.

His hand presses on my hip just enough to move me directly in front of him. He steps close, his toes touching mine as he leans down. His nose brushes mine. “Trust me, Sunny, it won’t happen again.”

I suck in a breath and let it out quickly. My next few breaths feel more like panting.

His lips are so close to mine, and I know I told him he couldn’t kiss me, but if he does right now, I don’t think I’ll stop him.

He reaches up and tucks my hair behind my ear.

My heart is beating fast and loud.

No one has ever made me feel like this. It’s a rush I never knew existed.

“Mr. King, Miss Richford, look over here and smile, please!” someone says, and Preston smirks at their request.

I swear my heart drops into my stomach as I process everything in a split second.

That rush was just him acting.

And by the way the cameras flash and requests are shouted at us, I’d say I’m not the only one who fell for it.

That beating heart of mine now aches.

I feel so stupid.

“You made it!” Brooke says as soon as I walk into Sips and Stories. “I wasn’t sure if you would, since you just got back from LA today, and then I heard about all the reporters at the lodge. I figured you’d be hiding away with Preston in your cabin.”