I hate that about myself right now.But I’m still drunk enough to be defiant.“Fine,” I say, pulling my face free from his grip.Rick offers me a bottle of water, unprompted, and I snatch it, taking a few gulps before slamming it down on the bar, and glaring at Alexander.“Happy?”
“Ecstatic.”He doesn’t look ecstatic.Instead he looks thoughtful.“I have a solution.One that benefits both of us.”
I narrow my eyes at him, suspicion cutting through the whiskey haze.“I’m listening.”
“The way to prevent your family from gossiping about you is simple.Show up with a better boyfriend.”
I stare at him.Then I laugh because that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard all day.“Oh, sure.Let me just pluck one from the boyfriend tree.They’re in season this time of year, right?Maybe I’ll grab two, just to be safe.”
His expression doesn’t change.“When you get back to work, I’m implementing a new policy.No alcohol for you.Ever.It seems to affect your comprehension skills.”
“You don’t have to be so cryptic,” I snap, drilling my finger into his chest.The cashmere is soft under my touch, and I can feel the solid muscle beneath it.“Just tell me what you mean.”
He wraps his hand around my finger, stopping the motion, and his smile is sharp.“I’m talking about myself, Olivia.”
The bar goes quiet.Or maybe it doesn’t—maybe the carolers are still murdering “Deck the Halls,” and that kid is still shrieking about Santa—but I can’t hear any of it over the sudden rushing in my ears.
I go very, very still.
“You’re suggesting,” I say slowly, each word careful, “that we pretend to date each other.”
“Yes.”Just that.One word, delivered like he’s confirming a meeting time.
“You want to-to pretend… with me.”I need to hear him say it again because surely the alcohol is messing with my brain or my hearing.
“I’m tired of avoiding my family,” he says, his tone matter-of-fact.“They want me to settle down.If I tell them I have a girlfriend, they’ll leave me alone.You want a peaceful vacation where no one pities you or gossips about your failed relationship.This solves both problems.”
My brain is struggling to catch up.“So you’d...come with me?To my hometown?”
“Yes.”
“To Silverbell Hollow.”I repeat once again, just to be sure.
“Yes.”
“And pretend to be my boyfriend.”
“Well, yes.That is how this would work, Olivia.”
I narrow my eyes at him.“You’re going to try to make me work, aren’t you?This is some elaborate scheme to make me work during my vacation.”
“I won’t make you work.”
“You can’t make me work,” I correct, drilling my finger into his chest again.“I’m on vacation.That’s the whole point.No work.No emails.No?—”
He wraps his hand around my finger again, stopping me mid-poke, and his smile turns dangerous.“I hope you remember how you’re behaving right now when you’re sober.You seem to be forgetting who you’re talking to.”
“I’m on vacation,” I repeat, but my voice has lost some of its edge because his hand is still wrapped around mine, warm and firm.
“Do you agree to my plan?”
I turn to look at Rick, who’s been watching this entire exchange with wide eyes.“Ricky.Tell me what you think.”
Rick looks like he’d rather be anywhere else.“I don’t think I should?—”
“Tell me.”I reach over and grab Alexander’s jaw, turning his face toward Rick like I’m presenting evidence.“Look at him.What do you think?”
Alexander goes very still under my hand, his eyes narrowing slightly.
