“You really think this fucker who probably hasn’t stepped foot outside of Missouri his whole life is going to figure out who I am?” I scoff. “Please. He’s not a real threat.”
“You need to be careful.” Sandro shakes his head. “Letting her stay with you is not a good idea, man. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“She’s staying with me. End of fucking discussion.”
“Her ex might be nothing, but his dad—“
“His dad personally delivered an invite to his Christmas Charity Auction to me. He’s not looking for a fight. He’s happy I invested in his town. I’ll go to the auction, meet him, break bread, and put any doubts his son might have planted to rest.”
Sandro stares at me for a few long seconds. “You know no matter what happens between you two, you can never tell her who you are, right?”
“You think I’m an idiot? Of course I’m not going to tell her anything.” I have to lie to Blake the way I have to lie to everyone.
It’s never bothered me before, but now, as I say the words, a hollow feeling settles in my chest.
CHAPTER 18
BLAKE
“Morning!” Del’s chipper voice pierces through my ear.
I groan into my phone, still half asleep. “You woke me up.”
“Girl, are you serious? It’s eleven a.m. here, which means it’s like one p.m. your time.”
What?I jerk up, my heart rate skyrocketing. “You’re kidding.” A glance at my phone screen tells me she’s not. Shit! I should have set an alarm. “Oh my God, I’ve slept through half the day. I’ve got things to do.”
“Take a deep breath. You sound like you’re having a heart attack.”
Yesterday rushes back to me. The fire. Brett coming over. Rowan’s offer—I still haven’t told Del about it.
“Give me one sec.” I lower the phone from my ear and listen for any sounds outside. It’s silent. Rowan must have left for work a long time ago.
“Okay, you still there?” I ask.
“Uh-huh. What’s going on?”
I tug the duvet closer to my chest.Rowan’sduvet. “I’m going to be staying with Rowan for a bit. In exchange, he wants me to pretend to be his girlfriend. You know, so that everyone here will stop thinking he’s a man whore.”
Del gasps. “Come again?”
“I know. It’s insane. And what’s even more insane is that as part of this deal, he’s fixing up my house. Forfree.”
Del squeals. “That is nuts. But like in the best way ever. Let that man take care of you, girl.”
I groan. “It feels so weird. I mean, he’s getting the short end of the stick here, isn’t he?”
“You’re not the short end of the stick. Clearly, he thinks whatever you’re doing for him is worth it. Now tell me more about this fake girlfriend thing. What are your responsibilities exactly?”
I gnaw on my nail. “We haven’t really discussed it in detail, but at the very least, we’ll have to be out in public together. I’ll have to pretend to be into him.”
“Can you do that?”
If she'd asked me that question two weeks ago, I’d have probably said no. But now? I don’t think I’ll have a hard time. In fact, I’m worried about how easy it might be.
Rowan isn’t nearly as shallow and flighty as I thought he’d be. He’s got a caring and generous side to him that I wasn’t expecting. And being on the receiving end of that side? It feels good.
Maybe too good.
