Act Like You Love Me (An Accidentally in Love Novel) (Entangled: Bliss) by Cindi Madsen Page B

writerly.”
    He grinned. “You look nice, too. Very…” His eyes ran down her, burning every spot they touched. “I don’t even know the right word. And I use words all day.”
    She laughed. “Whereas the rest of us don’t?”
    He slipped his hands behind her waist, pulling her to him. She could feel the heat coming off him, and it was distracting to say the least. “Ah, back to mocking me again. You think I’m just going to let you get away with that?”
    Her heart pounded against her rib cage, and being this close was making her lightheaded in a way that made clarity seem overrated. “You walked right into it. Really, you only have yourself to blame.”
    Her phone dinged again, vibrating in her pocket. “I’m sorry, but I’ve gotta go.” She reluctantly pulled away, hating how cold she suddenly felt without her body pressed against his. And for a crazy moment, she considered asking him to come to dinner. Confessing everything and turning whatever this was between them into a real possibility.
    But then she remembered the only reason he was this interested was because she’d been pretending to be someone else whenever she was around him. And according to what he said yesterday, he wasn’t even sure he was staying here permanently. In a way, that might be good. If she crashed and burned during this dating test-run—which, let’s face it, wouldn’t be all that surprising—he’d leave again, taking her humiliation with him.
    Still, she couldn’t get over the way he was smiling at her, genuine happiness swimming in his green eyes. How his hand drifted back to her waist, as though he couldn’t help himself.
    He seems…like he might seriously be interested. In me .
    Now she was imagining things. Dreaming them up like she always did, making every gesture mean more than it did. He didn’t care about her. She was a mystery, like Paul told her to be. It was possible he was only looking for a temporary girl while he was here, and she happened to be the closest.
    “I’ll catch you later,” she said as though she didn’t care either way.
    “You have my number,” he said as she retreated. When she glanced back, he was still watching her like there wasn’t anyone else in the room.

    Mom swung open the door and threw her arms around Brynn, nearly crushing the Double Chocolate Dream Cake between them. “Goodness gracious, I thought you must’ve gotten into an accident on your way here, you took so long.”
    Ah, hugs and a guilt trip, all at the same time. That’s motherly love for you.
    Brynn patted Mom’s back. “I’m fine. And I’m sorry I’m late. Is Paul here yet?” This was a win-win question because if he was, Mom would stop focusing on how Brynn was late, and if he wasn’t, Mom would focus on how he was late.
    “Yes, he and Carly got here a couple minutes ago. Didn’t you get my text?”
    You texted me? she wanted to say with a good dose of sarcasm, but instead said, “I don’t text and drive— Wait. Who did you say Paul was with?”
    “Brynn. Hey.” Paul came into the room hand in hand with a girl. Not just any girl. The name had instinctually triggered warning bells, but seeing her in the flesh was worse. Carly Johnson had been Sawyer’s girlfriend most of senior year until she dumped him in front of everyone in one of those dramatic cafeteria room displays. Brynn remembered that moment, feeling sorry for Sawyer, but also inwardly celebrating her chance to finally lay it all on the line and ask him out.
    Carly tilted her head, two tiny creases forming between her eyebrows. “Have we met before? You look kind of familiar.” She was still beautiful, flawless tan skin, platinum blond hair, and the perfect big-boobs-to-small-waist combo. Like a Barbie on crack. It was so unfair. Couldn’t the universe restore some balance? Give her a fat ass or something? “You went to Hough High, right?”
    Yeah, get there faster. We both went there. You lived the dream version of high school, while