She didn't have to fake her eyes widening in shock when his hands wrapped around her throat. Or the expression of quickly muted surprise when he kissed her.
There were several problems which lined up in her mind in the speed of an instant. One, 'Grace' had established early on that she wouldn't take being hit. If Karl had followed her que, she could have dropped him and walked back inside as long as he stayed down -- but he hadn't, he had to pull a boyscout and improvise and that left her with - how would Grace respond to an ex-boyfriend first threatening her and then kissing her? Two - it was Ramerez who'd gone outside and Ramerez was a decent man for a crook, a family man - he wouldn't look kindly on any of the girls being assaulted, so that option was out. Three - she was kissing her partner.
His lips were very insistent. And while the awkwardness inherent in the cover was present, what was truly awkward was the completely unexpected flush of arousal she felt pressed against him. Had it really been so long?
But Ramerez was watching, Grace had to respond, so she melted against him, wrapped her arms around his neck and laced her fingers in his hair to abruptly pull his head back. "Call me Grace," she breathed, not moving her lips. Her voice became louder, firm, "I don't care how long it's been, Matt, don't you ever threaten me again."
She surged forward while pulling his head back down to meet his lips in a kiss that was a clash of tongue and a nip of teeth - a calculated move that was supposedly all about dominance and acting in her cover and not at all the lingering way the throbbing inside her pressed her to respond.