The Sidewalk Incident

10. The Touch Base Incident

"Ok, LJ is on the way up. We're doing the first of our touch base meetings."

Week one of Fake Dating James Li has been pretty bearable. Apart from the upgrade from Public Transport to being chauffeured in an air conditioned, leather seated sports car, there hasn't been any major disruptions to my life and we go on about our daily tasks as per usual.

News about our lunch date at the cafe nearby the hospital did get around thanks to the hospital's version of Gossip Girl, and by the next day, the rumours of us dating began circulating.

James and I are in the middle of a strat session for a patient who needs a lung transplant due to an equally failing heart and, because I'm completely stumped, I have the worst brain wave.

"I'm impressed. You've never done those before." James comments on my meeting with LJ.

"I learn from the best," I wink at James. "So LJ has the biggest mouth amongst all my residents. I think if we make it look like he's walked in on something, he's bound to tell someone."

"Are you sure he won't be too scared to tell on us... on you?"

"His need to be the center of attention outweighs his desire to be a goody-two-shoes. He's a rule breaker."

"Alright." James shrugs and stands up from the occasional chair in my office and walks around my desk with the same urgency he had the night of the Sidewalk Incident. He towers next to me as I sit in my chair, but tilts my head up towards him as he leans down and cups my face.

My brain short circuits as I pucker up my lips, and right in the knick of time, I pull away.

"What are you doing?"

"You said he's on the way up." James counters, with confusion, eyes somewhat locked on my lips.

"We have to make it look like he's walked in on something. Not actually walking in on something, Numb Nuts." I ignore the slight warmth to my cheeks as I argue. "Just ruffle your hair, loosen your tie and stand unusually close to me."

James huffs his frustration, but does as he's told. And I'm instantly angered that he once again thinks his way of doing things is better than mine.

"What?" I glower up at him as he leans against my desk.

"Just seems staged and stiff, that's all." He shrugs, indeed stiffening up and not really looking at me.

"Fine, what else do you propose we do? I'm not kissing you again... we agreed to PDA if and when necessary, and since there's no one actually around, it's definitely not a public—"

I'm shut up by James lifting me effortlessly out of my chair, turning my body as though it's a rag doll and planting my bottom onto the desk.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

James leans into me as he runs his hands through my hair, making the small hairs on my neck prickle. I feel his warm breath against my ear and the brush of his stubble against my cheek forcing me to take an unnecessary hike of breath in.

"Making it believable, Charlotte." He says lowly, almost growling.

I grip onto his bicep for some form of anchoring, while he wraps his hand firmly around my waist, and I hate myself for it, but my foot glides up the back of his leg, wrapping around and guiding him closer to me.

I hear James let out a satisfactory smirk, knowing that this does, indeed, look (and feel) less staged.

His cheek brushes against mine as our gazes lock on the others, noses touching, and I can see the fiery hue to his eyes which have become somewhat familiar at this proximity. My own eyes narrow suspiciously at their companions' dilation. James cups my face again and his thumb brushes my bottom lip, roughly, almost desperately.