Page 32 of Let’s Be Real

I glanced behind me at the ropes instructor watching us with an amused grin. “Isn’t that right, Kyle?”

Kyle chuckled, looping a rope around his arm. “I’d have to check the records, but that sounds about right.”

I whirled back to Nate. “See?”

His hands gripped my waist, his face only inches from mine. It was becoming clear I kept putting us in this sort of position, but Nate didn’t seem to mind.

The smirk he let loose was unlike any expression I’d ever seen him make. Dear god, was it even more attractive than his competency—and that was wildly attractive.

“If I’d known I was competing for the record, I would have tried harder.”

“Don’t get cocky now,” I admonished, not meaning it. I liked this side of Nate.

“Not cocky at all.” His grip tightened on my hips, like he wasn’t in a hurry to let me go either. “If I commit to something, I like to be the best at it.”

“Kyle said you’re the best he’s ever seen.” I waggled my eyebrows. “Better than him.”

Kyle choked a laugh but didn’t argue. I guessed that was what he got paid the big bucks for.

“Okay.” Nate squeezed my waist once more before letting his hands fall. “Now that we’ve established how talented I am, what shall we do next?”

I forced my arms to slip off his shoulders and gave his chest a pat. “I was eyeing the zip line…”

He took my hand in his. “Then let’s get you on the zip line, Sammie.”

Nate and I had the time of our lives on the mountain. So good, I’d nearly forgotten why we were here. Then searching for our seats at the rehearsal dinner brought me back to reality.

“You’re kidding me,” Nate muttered, his hand clamped firmly around mine. He’d been holding my hand all day, only letting go when necessary. The man was brilliant at this fake boyfriend thing. Looking in from the outside, I would have believed it.

“It’s fine,” I said, feeling anything but.

“It isn’t.”

At least I had Nate on my side. Not that it made things better. I wasn’t sure whether my mother or Kelly had made the seating arrangements, but Nate and I had been placed at a table closest to the door—farthest from the rest of the family.

Another pinprick on top of the hundreds of thousands.

“We don’t have to stay.”

“I think we do.” There were already a few eyes on us. If we turned around and left, it would be worse. “It’s Kelly and Josh’s weekend. I’m not going to make it about me.”

“Do you ever?”

As disgruntled as he sounded, he pulled my chair out for me like the gentleman he was and helped me push it in. I smiled politely at the older woman beside me as Nate took his seat.

“I’m Clarice,” she said. “Coworker of Josh’s.”

Smiling, I shook her hand. “Samantha. I’m”—I carefully measured my words—“on Kelly’s side. This is my boyfriend, Nate.”

Clarice had steely gray hair and a sharp eye. Turned out she was Josh’s boss and a killer investment banker. I got the feeling she didn’t like Josh all that much, but she loved to party and couldn’t pass up a free drink.

She laid her hand on mine between courses. “Tell me how the two of you met.”

I twisted in my seat to chat with her, leaning back against Nate’s shoulder, bringing him into the conversation.

“I’ve known him forever. His brother is my best friend from childhood.”

Clarice raised an eyebrow. “Guy best friend, huh?”