"How much longer?" that deep, raspy voice broke through your thoughts.

You glanced over to find Rhys Montgomery lounging effortlessly in the waiting chair outside the fitting room. He was strikingly conspicuous in his oversized white hoodie, eyes fixed on his phone while a toothpick hung loosely from the corner of his mouth—a bad habit that, for some reason, looked incredibly good on him.

"Be patient, Rhys. You’re the one who said we had to be 'convincing' as a couple so my jerk of an ex would stop calling," you whispered, taking a deep breath.

You pulled the fitting room curtain shut. Honestly, you were a bit nervous. Usually, you only wore baggy t-shirts around him so he wouldn’t have anything to tease you about. But today, you chose a knee-length floral dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline—a feminine piece that always made you feel pretty.

When you finally drew the curtain back and stepped out, the air in the room suddenly went still.

Rhys looked up. The phone he had been holding nearly slipped from his grip. His eyes, usually filled with a mocking glint, widened as they scanned you from head to toe. He froze for several long, silent seconds.

You fidgeted with the hem of your dress, feeling self-conscious. "What? Is it bad? Too pink?"

Rhys cleared his throat loudly, quickly averting his gaze. You could see a faint flush creeping up his ears, despite his best efforts to maintain a stoic expression.

"It’s not bad," he muttered shortly, his voice sounding deeper than usual.

"Just 'not bad'?" You pouted, feeling a sting of disappointment.

He stood up, taking a step toward you until his tall frame completely towered over your petite figure. Rhys leaned down slightly, bringing his face dangerously close to your ear. The scent of his masculine, woodsy cologne overwhelmed your senses.

"What I mean is..." he whispered low, an intimate tone that sent shivers down your spine. "If you walked out in that dress without me by your side, I’m pretty sure every man in this mall would lose their mind. And frankly, I’m not a fan of sharing the view."

You looked up, stunned. "Rhys?"

He immediately pulled back, regaining his arrogant posture and crossing his arms. "Don’t get ahead of yourself. I just don't want my reputation as your 'boyfriend' ruined because you’re getting hit on by other guys in front of me. Just go pay for it so we can leave. That dress is... way too dangerous for anyone's heart rate."

He turned and walked toward the cashier first, leaving you standing there with a face now as red as the flowers on your dress. Your enemy was truly the king of pride, but those words... he just complimented you, didn't he?