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"Acting skills?"

"Pretending, Jocelyn" He took another step forward, his eyes narroith intent "I’ve never been very good at it"

Ohin his office in crappy jeans with crappy hair and he was going to kiss s and Ms Morrison are here to see you," Morag’s voice echoed into the office froe mix of relief and disappoint towards the door "I’ll let you get on"

"Jocelyn"

I twisted around,anywhere but into his "Yeah?"

"The picnic? Will you be there?"

The blood was still whooshing in ht with anticipation for his kiss, but I shoved that all aside, re who he was and how aze "As your little sister’s roommate, yeah, I’ll be there"

"Not as my friend?" he teased

"We’re not friends, Braden" I pulled his office door open

"No We’re not"

I didn’t have to turn around to see his expression I felt it in his words Hurrying down the hall, I barelyinto the elevator that would take me away from him What had happened? Where had the platonic, ‘friendly’ Braden gone, and as ‘Cab Braden’ back? I thought I wasn’t his type? I thought I was safe

No We’re not Those words echoed inand into the fresh air It wasn’t the words It was the tone they’d been wrapped up in And those words had been wrapped up in a whole lot of sexual intent

Fuck

~10~

I didn’t go to Braden’s picnic

Well, I did, but I didn’t

Flabbergasted by his transformation back into shmexy ‘Cab Braden’ who couldn’t take his eyes off of me, I didn’t knohat to make of it in all my confusion And yes, in all my scaredy-pantishness! So I took the coward’s way out and roped Rhian into helpingto her about why–out of the situation without et out of the situation…

Saturday rolled by and it was a surprisingly hot day, and The Meadows – a large park on the other side of the city by the university – was croith sunbathers and people playing sports Braden had rab a spot in the shade Adam, Jenny, Ed and Braden were already there as Ellie and I approached, the sounds of laughter, kids shouting, and dogs barking creating a happy soundtrack to the scene It was a perfect day, and the atmosphere in The Meadoas electric with contentedness For a azed down at the two haht They were so elaborate I wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d stolen them out of a Fortnum & Mason’s display "You call this a picnic?"

Braden had stood up e approached, hugging Ellie into his side and gesturing proudly to the ha on a beautiful chenille blanket Now he looked confused "Yes" he frowned at rass"

The corner of his lip curled up in wry amusement "I had the staff at the restaurant ain? The five star one?"

"I think she’s rinned at hiruntleled and flopped down beside Adam rapped an arm around her shoulder and squeezed her into his side "Nice to see you, Els"

"Yeah, you too" She s me to raise an eyebrow What was up with that?

"Well?"

I looked up at Braden to find hi a hand out to me, unmasked heat in his eyes

And Rhian saved etic face as I pulled it out of my pocket "Rhian, hey" I turned and took a few steps away, not chancing that they ht hear her on the other end of the line

"I have an eency," she replied in a " I played along, sounding all"Are you okay?"

"Bloody hell, Joss, I thought you could lie?" Rhian gru like an alien who’s heard of the hu concerned’ but doesn’t kno to execute it"

I grither "Sure, I can talk Just a sec" I took ato exude ‘hu I had a feeling I was scowling uys, but I have to take a rain check"

Ellie sat up, worried "Is everything okay? Do you need me to come?"

"No, I’m okay Rhian just really needs solance at Braden and found he wasn’t just watchingme Suspiciously My eyes dropped quickly "See you later" I walked away to their calls of goodbye and stuck the phone back up to rouched at Rhian

"Anyone who knows you, knows that’s not how you sound when you’re concerned"