Page 70 of Movers and Fakers

“You like it.”

“I like you. I tolerate your flirting,” I correct. And maybe I’m lying a little, but it’s okay, because judging by the smile on Hayes’s face, he knows.

“Say that again.”

He uses his hold on my arm to pull me close again, placing my hand on his chest over his rapidly beating heart.

“What?” I play dumb. “That I tolerate your insufferable flirting?”

“Oh, now it’s insufferable?” he teases as he wraps me up in his arms. “You didn’t seem like you were suffering a few minutes ago.”

I can’t contain the playful smile that steals across my lips.

“I didn’t say your kiss was, just your flirting.”

“My flirting is what got you to kiss me.”

I shake my head, even though deep down I know he’s a little right.

“You being a gentleman is what made me want to kiss you.”

He brushes his thumb over my bottom lip.

“Ironic, considering right now I feel like the furthest thing from a gentleman.”

My stomach pulls in and up as if someone is tugging a string within me. Honeyed heat spreads through my limbs.

“We should go,” I whisper, even though it’s the last thing I want. “I’m not getting in trouble because of you, no matter how good of a kisser you are.”

Satisfaction lights his emerald gaze.

“All I heard is Princess Aurora thinks I’m a good kisser.”

I roll my eyes and push him away from me. He allows it, stumbling back a little and laughing.

“Walk me home, Prince Charming.”

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

Chapter thirty-five

Worth Fighting For

Hayes Rosewood

The cloud of pure happiness brought on by kissing Aurora follows me as I leave her building to walk back to mine. I can’t stop smiling. The frigid night air doesn’t bother me; my body is warm just thinking about her lips on mine. It’s dark out, and there are no stars in the sky because of the city lights, but the world seems bright all the same. The campus that I’d grown bored of minutes after stepping onto is suddenly my favorite place on earth. Forget the Amalfi Coast. Until I kiss Aurora on those beaches, Atlanta takes the gold.

I spot a security cart rolling over the quad up ahead and chuckle to myself. She looked so cute, flustered and hiding in my chest. I could have stayed there with her forever.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out, hoping that there’s a text from Aurora waiting on me. The smile I thought couldn’t be removed falls from my face as I see it’s not a text. It’s a phone call. From my father. Word must have made it to them about my presence at the dance recital.

“Hey, Dad,” I greet, trying to infuse my voice with more cheer than I’m feeling at this particular moment.

“Son,” he intones. “Your mother is present as well.”

“Oh, hey, Mom. How are you?”

“I’m splendid!” she trills. “Just wonderful, especially with the news I just received.”