UNDERCOVER {Competed} 😌

chapter 15(ii)

Mercy.
Slipping  out of Joshua's bear hug,I turned and watched laura walk away,feeling both irked and amused. The worn had turned and now Joshua is the one being chased after. Not that he appeared as put off by the intended bride's attention as I had been by Jim. In fact while hr hadn't exactly preened under the model's touch,he came damn close to it.

Laura was every bit as stunning in person as she always appear in printed pages,and her scarlet halter top catsuit accentuated every curve of her pencil-thin models body. She moved with cats grace,too,which made me feel thick. Moreover, I didn't appreciate the way the woman had manhandled Joshua.

After all,Joshua had introduced me as the wife. She should have shown respect,although given Jim's lack of the same,I should have seen this coming. Was I jealous? We had a one night but did it really mean something?

"Better lock up that man of yours,before laura lassos him." A wrangler across the table said and let out a muffled laugh.

I laughed uncomfortably and was spared the necessity of responding because one of the other men spoke up,"that's tempting. Phew! She's got her eyes on him. I wish it was me."

"Yeah Joshua,laura has her eyes on u."
I imitated Laura's purr,unable to resist this chance to give Joshua some teasing.

"Cut it out Pepper!" My head swiveled in shock. I'd seen Joshua's indifference,his sarcasm,even his annoyance,but this was the first time I had seen him snap out of anger.

My smile faded. The men ceased bantering. Silence fell on the table. I lifted my eyebrows and Joshua shrugged. I decided to let go. I wasn't even sure if I'd continue acting the saintly wife after what I learnt about Joshua. And if he strayed a little about the gorgeous model,well that would make his job easier. Which was the first time it even occurred to me that he might take laura. Ignoring the pang of jealous the situation had created,I explored my moves. I could act the aggrieved wife then,providing reasons to avoid Joshua,at least in the coworkers eyes. Still I could hardly fool Joshua with an injured act.

Unless I pretended he was embarrassing me. After all,even a make-believe wife wouldn't want to be openly betrayed. A perfect solution. So why wasn't I happy?

I gazed morosely into the distance,puzzling it out,and caught a hand waving above the head of the other diners. Jim was trying to get my attention. Aware that I'd spiced him,he called out,
"Hi,honey."

I waved back unenthusiastically. It was Joshua's turn to raise an eyebrow,but that gave no excuse for what he did next. Joshua leaned toward me and captured my chin. Brushing his lips against mine,he whispered,"we've got to act like newly weds rem,Pepper. We both need this."

My world spun,slowly,deliciously, until it contained only to myself-and Joshua. I wanted to open for him,deepen the kids and let it take me where it would.

Act? This didn't feel like acting.
Yet,I realized with sickening clarity,that's exactly what it was to Joshua.

"Not out way out," I whispered back. "Yours. I can take care of myself."

"Hey lovebirds!" Joshua and I sprung apart. I turned to see Jim striding towards us,smiling and wearing an irritating air of entitlement.
"None of that around here."

Now standing before us,Jim lifted my hand and placed his lips in it,lightly caressing the diamond. He lifted his eyes towards Joshua."I lust after your wife. You're a lucky man."

Joshua clenched his teeth and flexed his fingers,fighting the urge to form them into fists,and forced a lazy smile. "Am lucky because she's my  wife or because you lust after her?"

Someone on the table grasped softly. Jim's smile disappeared.

"Both," he replied,the tone of his voice that turning hard."both."