Page 39 of The Annoyingly Attractive Neighbor

Claire nodded, satisfied. That should have made the whole thing feel safer. Somehow, it didn’t.

CHAPTER 12

The Gala

Claire was not nervous for tonight. At least that was what she kept telling herself. She had no reason to be nervous. She knew that. But still she was nervous.

“It’s just one night, I can do this,” she coached herself as she was curling her hair.

Three hours later, she was ready. It only took several dress changes, a meltdown over finding the right shoes and jewelry, and redoing her makeup five times. By some miracle, she actually had a perfect purse.

She didn’t understand why she cared. It wasn’t like it was real.

At least that’s what she kept reminding herself.

She changed her earrings for the third time, then immediately put the first pair back on.

It was a work event. She was choosing jewelry for a work event.

It had absolutely nothing to do with the man across the hall who would be arriving in five minutes.

Obviously.

It was 6:15, and they had to leave at 6:20. She took a deep breath, looking at herself in the mirror. Again. She smoothed her dress and fixed her lipstick.

She had settled on a floor-length red satin gown. The bodice had delicate spaghetti straps and a draped cowl neckline. It had an elegant, understated feel. The fitted waist flowed into a full A-line skirt with a thigh-high slit.

She paired it with delicate gold jewelry, a simple pendant necklace, small earrings, and nude, strappy heels. She styled her hair with loose curls and did a glowy makeup look with rosy cheeks and a nude-pink lip.

Knock, knock.

She answered the door. Noah was standing there, looking entirely too attractive to be legal.

His dark hair was styled messily, but in a perfect, effortless way. He wore a black suit that looked like it was worth more than her entire apartment. His blue eyes sparkled.

He looked at her, really looked at her, and he stopped dead in his tracks. “Wow,” he said, then stopped.

He stared at her for half a second too long before finding his words again.

Noah always had a comeback. Always. But for one suspended second, he only stared.

“Claire,” he breathed. “You look amazing. Like seriously. We’re going to have a problem.”

“What?” She looked down at herself, immediately feeling self-conscious.

“You look entirely too good. This fake dating might be my best idea yet.” He grinned mischievously. “Shoot, I’m going to have the best-looking woman there by my side. I’m a lucky man.”

“Noah!” She raised a hand to swat him.

“I’m kidding.” He raised his hands in mock-surrender. “No breaking the rules here.”

“You do too,” she said under her breath. Or so she thought. He heard.

“Did you just compliment me?”

“In your dreams.”

He smiled at her. “Come on.”