Page 17 of Fate In Fiction

I pause, briefly deciphering that she means twenty questions. I’ve spent my life reading people, and she’s quite the enigma. There are subtle quirks I’ve picked up on, but I haven’t dug too in deep to find out who she is. At her age, I wonder if she even knows.

Me:

You want to play 20 questions? I can get off work around 8pm. But… I could think of a better way to pass the evening together. 😉

I have no intention of sleeping with her. Right now, anyway. Josie has the sweetest face, and I can’t picture her throwing herself at me with need. She’s focused. Playful, but mature. Goal driven. She is exactly what I need in order to get my parents on board with my life-changing self. Therefore, I can’t fuck this up.

Josie:

you wont get funds or helicopter if we fail. leave your office in an hour and come talk to me. Ill be waiting

Josie:

Showtime for real!

Josie:

lets gooooo we have undying love to prove Bahaha

Me:

Why can’t you just send everything in one text, woman?

She doesn’t respond, and an hour later, I shut down my work and head into the lobby. She wants showtime? I can do that. Without a word, I enter the lounge, close her book, and scoop her off the chair. Her lips part with surprise as I carry her to the elevator bridal style. My gaze is kept ahead, avoiding locking eyes with any staff members or guests. Let’s let their imaginations run free.

“That was a bit unnecessary,” Josie says as the elevator doors close. Her arms remain wrapped around my neck as her soft curls waterfall over my arm.

“Your father occasionally visits this hotel and knows some staff. I want the employees to know how enamoured I am with you.” I smile down at her and avoid how cute our reflection looks in the mirrored wall.

Cute? Who am I?

“You can put me down, Emmett.” I ignore her comment, because there are security cameras with nosy staff.

“Enjoy being treated like a princess for a moment, okay?”

“Do you carry all women up to your fancy suite?” Her eyebrow lifts as her book lightly taps the back of my head.

I bite back a smirk and walk out to the very top floor. Setting her down in front of the door, I shake my head. “Now is definitely the time to hash out the wrong assumptions we may have about each other.” I open the door and follow behind her. Her gaze remains on a large wooden table in the hotel’s private library and game room.

“You know...” A giggle fills the floor as she peeks her head over her shoulder with a smirk. “The staff probably assume you have me bent over your kitchen island by now.”

“Should I?” Is she imagining it?

“Goodness, Emmett, that would ruin everything.” With a slow blink, the reality of where I brought her kicks in. “This room is cool.”

“You’re saying acting like a real couple could ruin pretending to be one?” I give her a strange look.

“Some couples wait until marriage.” Her voice is soft and innocent while she keeps her face serious, but she’s biting her cheek to stifle a smirk.

“If that’s the goal you’re trying to project to the world, you have picked the wrong guy to pull that off with.”

“That’s not the goal.” She rolls her eyes and squares her shoulders. “I’m just making you aware that I’ll be having sex with myself for the time being.” Her eyes widen as if the last part should have been a secret. It doesn’t take a second before my brain envisions her getting herself off. I make my way over to the sofa in hopes that my dick can calm the fuck down. Josie stands still, waiting for my rebuttal.

“What do you think of this place?” I man up and save her the humiliation by pretending as if I didn’t hear her. “This room goes unused most of the time, except for when some inhouse staff decide to venture up.”

“Wow, so many books.” Her eyes scan the shelves. “I bet this view is incredible during the day.” The wall of large windows is spread before us.

“It’s incredible right now.” Staring directly at her, my grin brings a blush to her cheeks. She’s adorable.