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“How long would this temporary scheme last?”
“A few weeks, at least. Two or three months would probably be more effective though.”
I considered for a moment.
“My mother isn’t stupid. She’ll be able to tell it’s an act.”
“I can be convincing. I think I already proved that in the parking lot.”
I touched my flaming cheek, reliving our kiss all over again. I blew out a breath to compose myself.
“So, fake dating a biker. That’s your grand master plan?”
“Hey,” Axel replied lightly. “I don’t hear you coming up with any suggestions.”
“We could elope and have a Vegas wedding.”
He snorted. “Absolutely not. The point of this little exercise is the fact that your reputation isn’tactuallyruined. I won’t take advantage of you.”
I pulled my knees up to my chest. Part of me wanted Axel to do that. If he had sex the same way he kissed, I wouldn’t be complaining.
“You’re right,” I said. “We should keep the Vegas wedding as our backup plan.”
“Hopefully, it won’t come to that. Do we have a deal or not?”
I nodded. “Let’s give it a shot. Pick me up in an hour for breakfast. The sooner we can make this official, the better.”
Chapter Four
Axel
What was I getting myself into?
At eight o’clock on a Saturday morning, I was in The Copper Pot diner—a sleepy little hole-in-the-wall place that had the fluffiest pancakes, burnt coffee, and the fattest slices of pie available for every meal.
And I had Bethany Golde tucked into the booth beside me, smelling like honey and roses. Her white button-up sweater had slipped off one shoulder, revealing a sunshine yellow bra strap. The overwhelming urge to lean over and kiss her bare skin drove me to distraction.
Instead, I cleared my throat, hooked my pinkie finger in her sweater, and covered her up. To everyone else, we appeared to be dating, snuggled close in the booth together. I had to maintain a level of distance though. None of this was real. Despite my attraction for Beth, I couldn’t fall in love with her.
Because it wouldn’t last.
Beth hadn’t touched her breakfast yet, scrolling through her phone at the speed of light.
“Okay, so I was thinking we could take a few pictures of us as a couple and I can post them to social media. Get the ball rolling on our relationship status.”
I made a disgruntled noise and used the excuse of sipping at my coffee to buy me some time. This was part of the deal. Beth was a public figure. Her work—and her mother—put her in front of a camera 24/7.
As Beth’s hired boyfriend, it was my job to make those appearances with her. Stay by her side, proclaiming to the world that this was the man she’d chosen.
Not that Harvard graduate asshole. Not anyone else.
Beth tilted her head at my prolonged silence. A wrinkle of concern formed between her eyebrows.
“You’re really quiet. Are you already having second thoughts?”
“No, it’s just…” I trailed off and took a deep breath, letting it out. “It feels…voyeuristic.”
Beth blinked with a blank look. Of course she wouldn’t share the same sentiment. This was normal for her—announcing every move she made, navigating the world’s expectations of her on a global level.
