Page 33 of Fake it for Keeps

More than that. She looked right. Like she belonged here, on this yacht across the table from me.

The thought was dangerous. I quickly pushed it away.

After dinner, Hallie excused herself, saying she wanted to enjoy the view. I watched her walk to the railing at the bow, wrapping herself in one of the blankets. She stood there, gazing out at the darkening sea.

What was she thinking?

Was it me?

Did she really hate me?

If she were my real fiancée, I’d go to her. Wrap my arms around her from behind. Rest my chin on her head. Ask what she was thinking about.

But this was all bull shit. A contract. A performance.

So I hung back to watch her from a distance. The wind whipped her hair around her face. She pulled the blanket tighter and tilted her head back to look at the stars above. She looked small against the vastness of the ocean, and for the first time, it occurred to me that this might be overwhelming for her.

All of this. The yacht. The lifestyle. The lies.

I knew this was all new for her. Hell, she’d been a hairdresser a week ago. Now she was being paraded around as my fiancée, expected to play a role she’d never auditioned for.

Was she scared?

The question surprised me. I hadn’t really stopped to think about what Hallie might be feeling, what boxes she might need checked beyond the financial ones. I’d been so focused on my own agenda that I never considered what she might need.

What her fears might be.

What she might be risking by agreeing to this insanity.

Did she have a boyfriend? What if she had a man waiting for her? The thought made me jealous and weirdly angry.

“You should go check on her.”

Frankie’s voice made me turn. My sister stood behind me bundled in a heavy coat.

“She probably wants some time alone,” I said.

“Or she’s feeling overwhelmed and could use some support.” Frankie moved to stand beside me, following my gaze to where Hallie stood. “She’s in over her head, Colt. This whole world—your world—it’s foreign to her.”

“She signed up for it.”

“For money. Not because she actually wants to be here.”

The words stung. “What’s your point?”

“My point is that you could be a little kinder. A little more considerate of what she’s going through.” Frankie paused. “Unless you don’t care. Which would track, honestly.”

I wanted to argue. To tell her I did care, that I was being considerate, that I’d gone out of my way to make sure Hallie was comfortable.

But had I? Or was I more concerned with making sure the image was right?

“Go talk to her,” Frankie said gently. “Be the brother I know you can be. Not the asshole you show everyone else.”

She left before I could respond, heading over to where Hallie stood. I watched as Frankie approached, saw Hallie’s face light up when she noticed my sister. They started talking, soft laughter drifting back to me on the wind.

My little sister had always been a better person than me.

Dad used to say it all the time. “Frankie’s the angel, Colt. You’re the devil. But that’s okay. Every family needs balance.”