Page 42 of Fake It For Him

I was having a great time with Freya—so much so that I’d basically forgotten that she wasn’t actually my potential sister-in-law. She’d made me feel so comfortable and she was so friendly and open that it was really difficult not to love her.

We’d only spent a few hours together so far, but it already felt like I’d known her for years. I was definitely venturing into dangerous territory here and I knew it. I just didn’t know how to stop myself from having so much fun with a girl who, in a different life, really could’ve become my best friend.

Like, right up there with Mikey and Kara.

After we’d finished our meals, she ordered us dessert coffees—which made me think of the way Calan had smiled that night in Edinburgh when I’d asked him for whipped cream on mine. I smiled at the memory now, and Freya leaned back, watching me with interest painted across her expression as she finally delved into the topic she’d invited me out to talk about: him.

Calan.

So far, we’d only talked about him a little bit when we’d first walked into that store, but it seemed now was the time we were really going to talk about him. And me. Him with me.

I’d known this part of the afternoon would come, but now that it had, I felt wholly unprepared to talk about it. I didn’t really know him all that well, and I was so damn afraid that Freya would see right through all the bullshit I was about to spin.

“You know,” she said when she started. “My brother can be such an abrasive ass. I don’t know how you managed to get over that wall he’s built around himself before he pushed you away, but I’m sure glad you did.”

I blinked hard. When she’d looked at me like that, with all that interest and curiosity on her face, I was expecting her to pepper me with questions, but it suddenly didn’t seem like that was the way it was going to go.

I cleared my throat. “Well, I won’t lie to you. It was a challenge, for sure. You’re right. He can be so damn abrasive that, at times, it’s like having sandpaper scratching against the sensitive skin at the backs of your knees.”

Surprised laughter tore out of her and she nodded. “I’m glad it didn’t offend you that I said that. A lot of women would’ve leapt to their man’s defense.”

Oops.

Instead of letting on that I hadn’t even thought about leaping to his defense, I shrugged. “If it’s true, it’s true, and that just so happens to be true. He’s awfully good at shutting people out and pretending not to have any real feelings.”

Fuck.

Freya’s eyes widened, but again, she nodded her agreement. “I appreciate that we can have an honest conversation about him. I mean, obviously, he’s my brother and I love him, but I’m glad that you don’t feel like you need to justify his behavior to me.”

I swallowed nervously. “Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Of course. We’re not here to beat around the bush, are we?”

Except, that’s exactly what I’m here for, but you can’t know about that. Shit.

Freya chuckled. “The last thing I want is for us to avoid the truth. Especially since we both know that behind that prickly façade is a lot more than meets the eye. Like with most people, I suppose, but Calan in particular does a really good job at hiding the fact that he actually cares about people. And about what they think.”

What they think? I snorted. “He definitely has you fooled.”

She frowned. “You must see something redeeming in him to be dating him.”

Crap. Reverse, reverse! I backtracked fast, hoping I was doing it well enough that she wouldn’t realize what I was doing. “Of course. Yes. He has plenty of redeeming qualities. It’s just that it all started with chemistry for us. I, uh, I didn’t see any of those qualities at first. I just saw a handsome, charming man with whom I really clicked.”

At least that wasn’t a lie. Edinburgh had still been the best sex of my life and that night in the guest house at the Reid Estate had been just as good. I would never be able to deny that whatever else Calan and I were, our chemistry was definitely there and it was definitely still off the charts.

“Chemistry is good.” Freya smiled. “Especially if it led you two to where you are now. I just hope that Calan is finally ready to let someone in.”

Oh, he’s not. He’s so definitely, abso-freaking-lutely not. “I think he might be. It’s still early days for us, but he’s opening up a little bit more with every day that passes.”

Strangely, that last part was true. Well, maybe not every day, since I haven’t seen him today, but when I saw him, I learned a little bit more about him every time.

Her smile turned a touch more hopeful. “I’m so glad to hear it. I was so afraid that he was going to shut people out for the rest of his life. In fact, when I first heard he was seeing someone, I didn’t really believe it. Not even when my parents told me you were there and coming to dinner, but then I met you and I saw how different he was with you than the other women he’s been with.”

“Other women?” For some silly reason, my heart clenched a bit at the thought.

Freya’s eyes suddenly flared wide open and she shook her head. “None of them were real girlfriends, of course. They were just random women I saw him with back when he was in high school and then after, in college and when I was out at his clubs. He was always so cold with them, but he’s different with you.”

“Different?” I almost snorted again. “How so?”

She cocked her head at me. “For starters, he’s obviously not cold with you and he actually brought you home to meet our parents. That was a giant leap for him.”