“No,” she said. “I didn’t. But it’s okay. You can’t help who you are.”
It was said in such an accepting manner that there was no way he should take offense to what she’d said. And yet, somehow, he did. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
She’d just opened her mouth to answer, when they were suddenly overwhelmed by the scent of cheap, flowery perfume.
“Hey, Faye!”
It was only because he was watching her so closely that he noticed the way she braced herself before she turned to smile at the woman she’d waved at earlier. Jumping off her stool, Faye accidentally elbowed him in the stomach as she reached up to hug the taller woman. “Sorry,” she mumbled to him as she wrapped her arms around her friend and gave her a warm hug.
Watching her, he tried to imagine what it felt like to be wrapped up in all of that warmth and sunshine, and he was suddenly jealous.
“Margo,” Faye said over the music when they were done. “This is Adam. Adam, this is my friend, Margo.”
He shook off the unfamiliar feeling. Margo’s brown eyes shone with devilish delight as she eyed him up and down. “Nice to meet you.”
Adam nodded at her, but didn’t return her enthusiasm. “You, too.”
With the smile still on her face and without taking her eyes from him, she said to Faye, “He’s a grumbly one, isn’t he?”
Faye’s laughing blue eyes met Adam’s. “He’s not so bad.”
Margo didn’t look so sure. “I’ll take your word for it.” Abruptly, she turned her attention to Faye. “You’re still coming to the movies with us next weekend, right?”
“Oh…uh…sure,” Faye told her.
Margo’s sharp brown eyes shot back over to him. “Bring Adam.”
Immediately, he threw up his hands. “Oh, no. Sorry, I can’t.”
She cocked her head and gave him a way too innocent look. “You’re going to let your girlfriend go by herself?”
Faye stared at him with pleading blue eyes that tugged at something in his chest.
Goddamnit.
Chapter 2
Faye
Faye held her breath—which was hard for her, because this guy smelled really, really good—as the good-looking stranger she’d just dumped all of her problems on tried to think of a good excuse to back out of their brand spanking new pretend relationship before it even had a chance to start.
But to her surprise, he let out a sigh and told Margo, “Maybe I can change my plans.”
His answer was far from promising that he’d actually carry through with going, but if it would get Margo off her back, even temporarily, she’d take it.
Margo’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Good. Great!” She clasped her hands together in front of her chest. “I’m gonna go drag one of these unsuspecting guys onto the dance floor. I’ll see you both Saturday, then!” She pointed at Faye. “I’ll call you later.”
Oh, I bet you will. Faye grinned until her cheeks hurt as Margo smiled at the two of them in turn and finally left. As soon as she was gone, Faye turned her back to the crowd and picked up her beer, chugging down nearly half of it before setting it back down on the bar.
“Is your friend always so presumptuous?”
“She only did that because she doesn’t believe you and I are actually dating.”
“We’re not.”
“I know that. And you know that. But please don’t tell anyone else that. I’ll never get Jeff off my back if he finds out the truth.” She was only half joking when she said it but, honestly, maybe that wasn’t a bad idea…
“Look,” her new fake boyfriend said, and she barely held back a moan. She knew what was coming.
