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This was insane.A fake fiancé? Her mother would never believe it, especially since she always knew what was going on in her life, even though she didn’t regularly update her. The woman had spies everywhere, or she was a witch. One of the two, and both options made her skin crawl with unease.
Yet, with the way Brick leaned in, his eyes intense, his hand on her cheek firm, yet tender, she almost believed he wanted it more than as a ruse. That he wanted to be her fiancé. For real.
She was not opposed to the idea at all. To be considered his, even for a moment, filled her heart with joy and such sweet anticipation she hadn’t felt in a long time.
But it was insane.
Her mother would see right through it—and she wouldn’t approve of Brick in any way.
“You’re not saying anything?”
“I don’t know what to say.” She caught movement behind Brick. Tamara, the other bartender on duty, kept looking in their direction as she helped customers at the other end. “Tamara looks like she might need you.”
Brick’s hand dropped from her cheek as he turned around to glance at her. She missed his touch, the warmth, the tenderness, the feeling that something real could exist between them.
He returned his gaze to her, yet didn’t resume holding or touching her in any manner.
“She’s good.” Then he laughed. “Forget what I said. It was a silly idea. Offer still stands if you want help paying rent. I don’t mind. That’s what friends do. Help each other from time to time.”
No, no, no. She didn’t want him to rescind his offer. As out of this world as it had been, it could work—maybe. She was an actress. Pretending she was someone she wasn’t was her forte.
But it wasn’t Brick’s. Could he pull it off?
“My mother will arrive tomorrow. She’ll be here for five days. It was a timeframe she found suitable enough to get me packed and back to Connecticut where she believes I belong.”
“You belong here.” His voice was firm and brooked no argument. His eyes glittered with an intensity that said he didn’t just mean in the city, but with…him?
“Could you…could…” She honestly wasn’t considering this, was she?
A tiny grin started to form on his lips, and she confirmed, yep, she was. Because the idea excited him.
“Could you handle acting like you’re engaged to me for five full days? My mother will not make it easy.”
“Sweetheart,” Brick said with a silky-smooth voice as he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, sending tingling shivers of bliss down her spine, “not even our friends would think it’s an act, I’ll be that convincing.”
Interesting. Because their friends knew for a fact they hadn’t even gone on one date. He was that sure of himself. So confident. She loved that confidence and wanted to bottle some of it up for herself. Because dealing with her mother was always a testament to her strength.
“I can’t believe we’re even talking about this.”
His grin inched up even farther. “It’s exciting. I haven’t done anything this fun in a long time.”
Hmm. Well, okay. Maybe he didn’t see her as more than a friend. He just found the entire thing amusing.
She licked her bottom lip, then froze at the way Brick’s eyes darted to her lips, his gaze amplifying on the tiny nervous gesture she couldn’t control when her nerves got worked up. Her tongue disappeared back into her mouth. She looked away. His gaze had been too consuming. Like he had wanted to vault across the bar and drag her to a closet and have his wicked way with her.
So, did he want more, or was this a fun game to him?
This silly, outrageous idea wouldn’t even work. Her mother would see right through it, especially after she left and they weren’t fake engaged any longer.
“What’s on your mind? Look at me.”
His words weren’t harsh and demanding, but they held a tone that said he would force her to look at him if she didn’t do it of her own volition.
She turned her gaze back to him. His eyes still glittered with something she couldn’t decipher. Attraction? Amusement? No, he wouldn’t laugh at her expense. He was a kind, nice guy who wanted to help her out. Hell, he had even offered to pay her rent. While that had been a lovely offer, it wouldn’t solve her long-term problem—having no money.
While she loved being on stage, it wasn’t a completely reliable job, nor did it bring in the big bucks. She usually had to have a secondary job—most of the time waitressing. She didn’t have one at the moment, though, because waitressing wasn’t her favorite thing to do.
“You look sad. I don’t like that look on you.”
