“Okay, that seems easy enough.”
“For you maybe.” I scoffed. “I haven’t brought a date in four years. And according to my brother, I should be over it and moved on by now.”
“Over what?”
“Catching my girlfriend cheating on me the day I was going to propose to her.” The words spilled from my mouth on their own accord and against my wishes. It was unlike me to open up to anyone.
Her eyes went wide. “That is awful. And that’s why you don’t like the holidays?”
“It was the day after Thanksgiving.”
“Ouch.” She winced as if she could imagine the pain I felt.
“Yeah, ouch.” I finished off my beer and went to get another. “The past few years my family has shown me grace, but that’s over. I have obligations. They want me settled down and starting a family.”
“Surely, they aren’t forcing you. You’re a grown man. You decide what you want.”
“My father controls us kids. Again, you wouldn’t understand. Would you like a beer?” I reached for two bottles.
“No, I really need to go. Celine is waiting for me.” She nodded at the front door.
“Right.” I took out one bottle and twisted the cap off. “I have your tip.” I went to my coat to retrieve it.
“Can your father really control you? What are you, thirty years old?”
“Thirty-three.” I took out a white envelope, stalked toward Cyndee and gave it to her. “My single brothers and I are supposed to produce male heirs.”
“Dang, this sounds like a Mafia movie.The Godfathercomes to mind.” She didn’t peek into the envelope. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you. You and your sister have been great.” I tried to smile, but it just wasn’t in me to do so. “You’re not far off with the Mafia. If I don’t find someone on my own, my parents will arrange a match.”
“Seriously? That’s scary. I didn’t think arranged marriages were thing anymore.”
“They are alive and well in my world. My older brother Remo’s marriage was arranged by our parents and he’s miserable.”
“Maybe you can buy yourself some time.”
I hiked a curious brow. “How?”
“Oh, gosh. I don’t know.” She tapped her finger on her plump lips, drawing my attention to her mouth. “Do you have a female friend who could attend the events with you? Or maybe a friend’s sister?”
“Nope, I don’t have either. Any woman in my world would have expectations, like marriage.”
“What about hiring someone to pretend to be your girlfriend. I’ve read romance books about it.”
“Interesting. Tell me more.” A fake girlfriend might work, but who could I get to play the part?
“It’s been a while since I’ve read a story with a fake girlfriend trope, but from what I can remember, it’s quite simple. You both just pretend to be into each other to fool the people around you.”
“That’s it?” It certainly sounded simple, but could it really work?
She smiled brightly. “That’s it. But there’s one caveat you should know about.”
“And what’s that?” I knew there had to be a downside.
“The fake couple always falls for each other for real. They get a happily ever after that neither of them were wanting.” Her warm, golden eyes sparkled, and her cheeks turned pink. “So maybe you should just go stag.”
“I am definitely not looking for a happily ever after.” I snorted and took a swig of my beer. “Of course, the woman would love it.”
