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Madison left her pajamas on the bed behind her, her hands on her hips. “I’m glad we got it out of the way. That we won’t have to do any of that ‘catching up’ business during the wedding.”
“Okay. I think it’s safe to say that we passed the test. I’m pretty sure Jen bought it.”
“Hm.” Madison was not interested in a play-by-play of the evening’s events.
“You seemed to get into it, at the end.”
Madison inhaled a shaky breath. Had Payton noticed how she’d reacted every time Payton touched her?
“Think you need the help of alcohol though,” Payton added when Madison remained silent. “Might need to start early at the wedding.” She was smiling, but Madison took it as criticism, that she hadn’t done as good of a job tonight as Payton had.
“Yeah, well,” Madison said with a sigh. “We can’t all be actresses.”
“Except you knew that I wasn’t acting.”
Madison blinked. “What?”
“That’s the real reason you asked me to do this, right? Because you knew I was attracted to you.”
Madison raked a hand through her hair. What made her think that Payton wouldn’t see through her plan? “I’m sorry.” That was all she could manage to say. Because it was true. She had been feeling guilty, and there was no point in denying it now.
Payton nodded. “I can see how easy this made things for you. Choosing me.”
“Unless, of course, you hate me by the end of this trip,” Madison said.
“I should probably be mad at you.” Payton took a few steps into the room. “But like I said, I get it. It was an easy way to make this look real.”
“I still shouldn’t have done it. And just to be clear, I’ve never…” Madison’s voice trailed off. Was she really going to get into this now? When she was exhausted and a little drunk?
“What?”
“It was always fine.” Madison forced herself to meet Payton’s eyes. “I didn’t feel like you once looked at me inappropriately is what I’m trying to say. I could see it, but it was entirely innocent.”
Payton exhaled a slow breath. “Well, we haven’t even been here twenty-four hours, and already this has been an eventful trip.”
Madison couldn’t read Payton’s expression, but she put herself in Payton’s shoes for a second, and she knew exactly how she’d feel. “Are you embarrassed?”
Payton nodded. “Extremely.”
“Don’t be. I’m flattered.” Madison felt her lips curve into a smile. “Honestly.”
“I still shouldn’t have made it so obvious.”
“You didn’t. Not really. I’m just good at reading people. And I haven’t had anyone look at me like that in years, so I guess I saw it right away.”
“Okay, well that can’t be true,” Payton said, smiling again, her eyes bright.
Madison had to look away. “From women I mean.”
“Ah.”
Payton’s perfume filled the air around her. When had she gotten so close? If Madison reached out, she could easily grab a fistful of Payton’s shirt and… Wait, what?
“Is everything okay?” Payton asked softly, her eyes searching Madison’s.
Madison blinked. She had no idea how she’d let her imagination go there. She was going to blame it on the wine, and while Payton had a point that this was easier for her with a few glasses of wine, it was a dangerous game to play with someone who hadn’t been with anyone in years.
“Yeah,” Madison said. “I’m fine.”
