For some silly reason, my heart fluttered.
Harold never opened a door for me. Not once. Not even ironically. I used to joke he was allergic to chivalry. But this? This was sweet.
“What a gentleman.” I stepped out and took his hand. My skin tingled where our hands met as I held his gaze.
He winked. “For you, I try,” he said, winking. He had no business looking that good in a flannel and jeans.
He pulled me in like it wasn’t up for debate, his arm sliding around my waist. It was confident and easy, as if this was just something he got to do now. His fingers found the small of my back and traced lazy circles—subtle, comforting. Wildly distracting.
We walked towards the ranch house side by side. A chill ran down my spine, and I was unsure if it was the sharp December air or if it was him.
We stepped inside, and it was like being wrapped in a scrapbook of memories. Wood-paneled walls were covered in framed photos: Sawyer as a little boy in a football uniform, another of him with a missing tooth holding a puppy, and one where he stood with his siblings, all wearing matching Christmas pajamas.
Suddenly, all conversations stopped. Every head turned.
It was as if someone had hit pause on a family sitcom. Sawyer didn’t miss a beat. He just smiled, as if he walked into rooms full of judgment every day and enjoyed it.
Gracie, the little girl I’d met at the concert, made a beeline for us. “Uncle Sawyer! You’re dating Ellie Miles?”
Her dad, Dorian, stood on the other side of the room, on crutches, and I pushed down the anxiety that longed to bubble up. I knew exactly how he had been injured back in San Francisco.
Sawyer peered down at her, then up at me. “Surprise!”
“Are you kidding me?” a woman I vaguely recognized blurted.
Sawyer shrugged, all innocent charm. “What can I say? Go big or go home.”
A man I didn’t recognize stepped forward. He wasn’t as tall as Sawyer, and his long, brown hair was pulled into a loose bun. “I think you did both, buddy.”
And just like that, we were in it. No going back. Just me, a fake boyfriend, a house full of his family.
I pasted on a smile like I’d done a thousand times before.
But this time, it wasn’t for the cameras.
TEN
Sawyer
Ellie settledin as if she’d always belonged here—even though she was a damn celebrity half the people in this house worshipped, me included.
My sister Dotty tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder and laughed with Ellie on the couch. Across the room, my older brother Colt stood a few feet back, eyes fixed on the redhead he brought tonight and her son, like the rest of the world had disappeared. I sure as hell was glad I wasn’t the only brother who’d brought a surprise.
I turned, cocking my head in silent question toward Colt.Let’s talk.He narrowed his eyes at me like I was already pissing him off.
“Hey, you okay here for a second?” I asked Ellie.
She glanced from Lilah to me then smiled. “Yeah, I’m good. Go.”
I motioned for him to follow. He groaned like it physically hurt him to do so, but he headed for the back hallway of the ranch house anyway.
“What do you want?” he grumbled as soon as we were out of earshot.
“I mean…I’d like to know what’s going on between you and the pretty little redhead over there, but I’ve got a feeling you’re not gonna tell me.”
“Don’t call her that,” he snapped.
“Well, that answers my question.”
