Page 153 of The Hopelessly Bromantic Duet
“Anyway, after the driver drops me off, why don’t you spend the next few minutes heading downtown, holding hands, and getting to know each other better. Because let me tell you how this works.” His stern eyes land on me. “You don’t get out of this fake boyfriend deal until TJ writes.”
What on earth does that mean? “Do I have to chain him to a keyboard?”
“No, Jude. Don’t be ridiculous. Take him out. On dates. Mason wants pages. Whole chapters. A good, swoony, sexy story. So inspire him.”
I wish I could. I wish TJ knew I wanted to inspire him years ago. I wish I’d inspired his breakout book, not Flynn. God, unrequited feelings can suck it.
Slade shifts his attention to my partner in crime. “And you don’t get out of this till the publicity tide turns for Jude. Which I will determine. But let me give you a hint. It starts with coverage that’s full of hearts a-fluttering for you two. You’re both invested in each other.”
TJ sinks back in the leather seat. “And, ladies and gentlemen, that is what we call stakes and the pressure of a ticking clock,” he says, then grabs his phone and taps something into it.
Bet he’s taking a note on how one of his heroes shouldn’t kiss.
Bet he’s writing about how much his hero is over his ex.
“Now, do your homework so you don’t look like a couple of guys who are fake dating, because that will be a far, far worse story for the bloggers to get a hold of. That’s the kind of story that might make CTM drop you. You feel me?” Slade asks, but he doesn’t wait for our answer as he raps on the partition telling the driver he needs to go.
The car pulls over, and when Slade leaves with a blown kiss, it’s just TJ and me again. I steal a glance at my former roommate, who looks unfairly better than he did when he left me.
But also a little sadder.
Like me.
As the car pulls away from the curb, heading down Fifth Avenue, I defend my lips. My pride too. “That kiss was natural.”
“You heard Slade,” TJ says, too nonchalant for my taste. “You were overselling it. Maybe it would help if you thought of someone else. Just an idea.”
I want to tear my hair out. Doesn’t he get it? There’s no one else. “Like you were?”
“And why would it matter to you if I was?”
Because I want the truth from you. But hell if I’ll admit that. Instead, I call him on the lie as I lock eyes with my one-time lover. “You weren’t thinking of someone else. I hear the way your breath catches when I’m near you.”
“Is that so?” TJ tries to stay cool, but his voice hitches as I stare at his lips.
I push on, leaning closer, issuing an accusation. “Whenever I get near you, you shudder.”
“And what about you? What do you do?” TJ sounds as frustrated as I am. But also, as aroused.
“I do the fucking same, because I want to kiss you.” Holy hell, that was like ripping off a layer of my soul.
His brown eyes glimmer with outrageous hope, but then they darken like he’s shutting down that possibility. “Well, you didn’t show it.”
“Then I will now,” I say, my skin sizzling with lust. The temperature in the back seat is scorching.
“How?”
I bite the corner of my lips, knowing this drives him wild with desire.
TJ fights like hell to be stoic. But he hardly lasts. He lunges at me. Grabbing my face, he whispers against my lips, “Prove it, Jude Fox.”
“Gladly.” I crush my lips to his.
Oh, yes.
I kiss TJ the way I wanted to last night. With all the passion I’ve ever felt for him. With all the anger that courses through me now. With all the regret, the hurt, and the mistakes I’ve made.
I give it all to his mouth as I kiss him furiously. Our tongues tangle as we battle for dominance. He consumes my lips, and I devour his right back.