His Pretend Girl Read Free Page A

Zealand though, the dress code was relaxed, and I spotted everything from glamorous eveningwear through to jeans and T-shirts. Most had chosen semi-formal though. Ben and I wouldn’t stick out like a pair of sore thumbs. We stood in the doorway of the room, and waited to be checked off the guest list. My gaze was drawn to the crowd milling around inside. Was Matthew here yet? I smoothed damp palms over my skirt, and then panicked about staining it. Not that anybody would notice. Despite the brightness of the summer evening, the blinds had been drawn, and the room basked in a soft, diffused light. Flattering .
    “Ready?” Ben smiled when I turned to him “We can sit anywhere.” He held out his hand, but I stood frozen. Now I was here, I felt sick. I normally avoided big, noisy parties like this. Why had I come? Oh, yeah. Because I wanted to impress Matthew, and I wasn’t going to do that if I continued to lurk at the doorway. I shoved down my fear, clamped a temporary lock on my social ineptitude, and with a grateful smile, slipped my hand into Ben’s. His palm was warm, smooth and dry. He laced our fingers together and gave me a quick squeeze.
    I nodded. I could do this . “Let’s go.” The words came out in a strangled voice, and Ben flashed me a smile. Heel, toe, heel, toe. I repeated the mantra in my head, and managed to walk beside him without tripping over my own feet.
    A sultry jazz singer warbled softly from the stage, and wait staff flowed around the room, carrying trays stacked with canapés. In one corner, a magnificent Christmas tree reached the high ceiling, glass baubles reflecting a copious string of flashing lights. My beautiful shoes pinched already, but that was just because they were new. All the same, I didn’t want to walk too far, and I happily sank into the first seat Ben found. It was an ideal position. From here, I had an excellent view of the entrance; I could see everyone who came and left.
    Ben leaned over me, his mouth close to my ear. “What would you like?”
    I’d like the evening to be over. I sought my voice. “A glass of sauvignon, please.” He disappeared into the crowd, and I tried to relax. To not look as though I was about to bolt. Even if Matthew turned up, would it be worth the social agony of coming to something like this? I opened my tiny little bag and pretended to look for something. It held my phone, key card, tissues, lipstick, and a condom—necessary in this part of the world, where sterilization hadn’t been mandated. There was no room for anything else, but I managed to spin out the activity until Ben returned with our drinks.
    I peeked up at him with a smile of pure gratitude, and was rewarded with a beaming grin in return. He was quite handsome, really. Tall, and lean from all the running I knew he did. I’d never actually noticed before, and I wondered again whom he’d been planning to bring to this party.
    Already, the room was filling up, and the noise level rising. I ran my finger around the side of the chilled glass and collected a bead of moisture. I didn’t need my pashmina; it was plenty hot in here. Some people joined our table and chatted with Ben, but I didn’t know them, so I sipped my drink and looked attentive, while in reality I watched the doorway and the constant stream of people.
    A touch on my hand jogged my attention, and I looked up to see Ben.
    “Let’s dance,” he said.
    I hesitated, and he waited, his gaze warm. I’d promised three dances. They’d be easier now, before my feet really started to hurt.
    Ben led me onto the dance floor, his hand wrapped around mine, and I discovered the music had changed from easy jazz to popular disco without my noticing. My sole attention had been on the door. He guided me to an empty space on the crowded floor, and we moved together to a song I recognized. Ben turned out to be a good dancer, smooth and not flashy, and I gradually relaxed. I shuffled along with him, and before I knew it, we’d