“The roads to my place get pretty dark,” he said softly. “I’ll drive slow.”
I wandered toward my car, parked a few spots down from his blue pickup, and tipped my head back. Tall trees lined the lot, but the sky opened above them. The sounds of frogs filled the night. “It’s always so quiet out here. So peaceful.”
“Yeah.” His voice drifted to me. “It’s beautiful.”
I didn’t dare look at him. If his gaze was on his truck, I’d feel foolish. Like this, I could pretend he meantIwas beautiful. This weekend was all about being fake.
I inhaled a deep breath. The scent of warm grain surrounded me. If I ever worked at another company, I’d miss this smell.
I got in my car and followed Tenor.
He drove by his mom’s place and turned down a road I’d never been on. Wynter had told me once that her parents had divided off portions of their land for each kid. She’d built on hers and now lived there with Myles and their daughter. Same with Tate. Summer’s land bordered the home she had with Jonah.Though Autumn didn’t plan to develop hers. She lived on her husband’s family land. Junie had a cabin somewhere close to Rhys’s place. Teller and Tenor had each built homes, but they were the last ones single.
The road took a few more meandering turns before Tenor pulled into a gravel loop. Light cut through the darkness as a garage door opened. In the swath of my headlights, all I could make out was a smaller log home with large windows. A rectangular gray shop with black trim was positioned on the other side of the loop. The view must be fabulous during the day.
I’d get to see it.
So many perks to fake dating my boss.
He pulled into one side of the big garage. Tools neatly lined the shelves and a workbench was built into one wall.
I whistled, grateful he couldn’t hear me. The garage alone was as big as the apartment I’d grown up in.
He hopped out and waved me into the spot next to him.
My stomach knotted up. When the garage door closed behind me, I inhaled a shuddering breath.
This isn’t real. I’m not his girlfriend. He’s only being nice. In fact, at the wedding we’ll be more like coworkers.
I could so easily picture this scenario in my future though. Driving home after a day at the office and having Tenor greet me.
The image vanished. My imagination couldn’t go that far out of bounds.
“Where’s your bag?” he asked.
“In the back seat.”
He retrieved my suitcase and ushered me to the door of the house.
Was this how it should be? Brock had never carried my bags. If I’d stayed at his place, he had barely looked up from hiscomputer. His work had been more important than me. I’d get a head nod and a “What’s for supper?”
“Just go on in,” Tenor said from behind me.
My heart crawled into my throat. There was no way this could get more surreal. I’d walk in and find a mess. Beer bottles and takeout containers littering the floor and piled on the counter. It didn’t matter that Bourbon Canyon didn’t have much for takeout options. And he’d have a weight bench instead of a couch and a big-screen TV. Maybe an Xbox. Or a PlayStation. Or both.
I opened the door and he flipped on the light after me.
Log walls rose to beamed ceilings. The space wasn’t large like Mae’s house, but it had just as much character. Across from the kitchen, an impressive rock mantel framed the fireplace on one side of the house. The open floor plan was broken only by a wall that must border the bedrooms and bathroom.
“Nice.” The smell of savory food wound through the air. My stomach clenched. I had forgotten to pack a meal for work. “Whatever you had for dinner smells amazing.”
“I haven’t eaten yet. I came home to throw one of Mom’s meatball dishes in the oven. It should be warm for us.”
I had thought he’d barely noticed it was my night to work. I’d thought he’d just hung around for the meeting with Brock. But Tenor had left to get dinner ready.
My throat grew thick. How low had my standards been?
Tenor was going to show me. And then he’d be gone.
