The Ex Files (Ocean View, #1)

by Morgan Elizabeth

“How does what work?” He’s smiling at me like he knows what I’m asking but wants me to say it out loud. He seems to do this a lot, push my boundaries and make me open up. “This… third date thing.” “We’re dating.” “What does that mean?” He stares at me, part confused, part delighted by the conversation. “You don’t know what dating means? Aren’t you a matchmaker?” I roll my eyes in response. “I know what dating is, but this is… unconventional. We’re temporary. Just until the wedding.” “You can think that.” I ignore him. “So, for the next two weeks, how does this work? Am I a booty call? Do we like… do things?” My fingers tear at the napkin as I ask, trying to avoid his eyes. Why am I so embarrassed by this? He’s right—I set people up for a living. This should be easy for me. But it’s not. Nothing with this man goes as I expect it to go. Everything about him is confusing to me. A finger goes under my chin, and when my eyes meet his, there’s frustration, anger in them. “You are not a booty call.” “So we’re not… going to… do this…” — my hands flit between us — “again?” Why am I disappointed I’m not sleeping with a match again? But he smiles, the full ‘Cassie’s being goofy’ smile with the dimple before his thumb moves to brush the corner of my mouth. “Oh, we’re most definitely doing that again.” “So I’m a booty call.” “You call yourself that again, I’m gonna get pissed. You’re not a booty call. This is you giving me a shot.” “Luke…” “Call it what you want. But for two weeks, you...