Page 13 of One Weekend in Los Angeles

“She’ll be jealous to see you with me?”

“Considering it’s her wedding day, I sincerely hope not. My goal isn’t to make her jealous; it’s to quell any rumors that I’m still hung up on her. Don’t worry. We won’t spend long at the reception.”

I appreciated that his motivation was only to squash rumors and not make his ex react to him having a date.

He put all of the fixings for the sandwiches away before straightening his tie. “You ready for night one?”

Chapter Nine

ANDREA

Was I ready for tonight? Doubtful, but I was dressed up for the occasion, and there was no turning back now.

“Ready.” As far as my rock-star fantasies were concerned, holding out my hand for a fist bump was not on the list. But here I was doing it anyhow like a total idiot. Nothing said fake dating more than a lame fist bump.

He smirked after meeting my knuckles. “Let’s go to a wedding.”

I’d expected a mega star like Deacon to have a driver, so I was surprised when he led me to his garage. “You’re driving?”

“Any chance I get. Security will be staffed at the venue which means it’s just the two of us for now.”

“You need security wherever you go?”

“In major cities, yes. Back in Australia, no.”

He ran his hand over the sleek lines of his black sports car as though he’d missed it.

“She’s beautiful.” I had no idea what kind of car it was, but she came across as expensive.

“Wait until you feel her run.” He opened up the passenger side door and took my hand to assist me into the low, leather seat.

Jesus, never had I ever been turned on by the smell of a car. But between the rich leather and the faint smell of his cologne, my senses were overwhelmed. And that was before Deacon slid into the driver’s seat looking like the sexiest man alive in his well-tailored suit. The juxtaposition of his formal wear with the peek of tattoos along the sliver of skin showing at his wrists was enough to make my head spin.

He glanced over. “You okay?”

Not at all. Because in this scenario of fake dating, I’d never considered the intimacy of spending time with him.

“Yeah. Fine.” My voice didn’t sound the least bit convincing.

He reached over and took my hand. “I’d tell you not to be nervous tonight, but it doesn’t work that way, does it?”

“No, I don’t suppose it does.” How ironic that the source of my anxiety was now holding my hand in the small confines of the car. Although the thought of meeting so many strangers tonight was less than comforting, doing so would at least be a reprieve from the intensity of being alone with Deacon.

“If I forget to say it later, thank you for coming with me tonight.”

His thoughtfulness wasn’t lost on me. “If I forget to tell you, I’ve smiled more today than I have in weeks, so thank you.”

He raised my knuckles to his mouth, and I watched with wide eyes as he skimmed his lips over them. “You deserve to smile again.”

Relief-appointment—my new marinated word for both relief and disappointment. The sensation hit me when he let go of my hand in order to start the car and pull out of the garage.

As soon as we were on the road, he started the conversation again. “Ollie mentioned you have a dog?”

“I do. Her name is Callie. She’s a shepherd mix I rescued about two years ago, and she’s such a love.”

“He who shall not be named won’t fight you for her, will he?”

I appreciated the way he danced around mentioning my ex. “She’s always been my dog, and it’s my name on the adoption certificate, so my lawyer believes it’ll be fine. But who knows?” Not that I’d show my cards at this point, but I’d give up every material possession I owned in order to keep Callie. “Do you have any pets back in Australia?”