I think it’s overkill—Hope has done some amazing things in the short time I’ve known her—but I wasn’t about to argue with my sister’s logic. Not when this might very well be my best chance to make Hope see that we deserve a shot at making this work between us.
Whatever armor she’s got around that heart of hers, I’m determined to break through it before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve.
And this whole committee excuse is my ticket in.
“You?” Hillary asks, an expression of disbelief on her face.
“Yes,me.”
“Why didn’t you say anything on the drive from the airport?”
“You didn’t ask about me,” Hope says. On a mumble, she adds, “You were too busy talking about yourself.”
“Are you coming to the party?” I ask Hillary to cover Hope’s second comment.
“I didn’t bring anything to wear to a fancy party.” Something in her tone feels off. I don’t quite understand the girl code happening right now, but Hope seems to receive the message. At least I think that’s why she rolls her eyes where her sister can’t see.
“Really?” Hope challenges. “Three suitcases packed full of bricks, and you didn’t think to bring something for New Year’s Eve?”
“I didn’t pack a garment bag.”
“This isn’t some fancy ball. It’s a small town party to ring in the New Year.”
I can feel the tension rising and toss in an idea hoping to break it. “There’s a dress shop in town if you want something new.”
“Dresses for Days,” Hope adds. “Why don’t you go pick out something to wear while I run a couple of errands with Marshall?”
“Or I could just wait here until you get home.”
Hope’s eyes double in size, and I sense leaving Hillary behind is somehow a bad idea.
“We can drop you off at the dress shop,” I offer.
Hillary looks at Gram as though he’s a baby dragon who can’t be trusted not to breathe fire. It’s fucking hilarious because Gram’s as friendly as they come. He’s the local gym dog who happily greets anyone he deems not an asshole.
Which is why he’s sitting on top of my boot, as far away from Hillary as he can get.
“You sure it’s not too much trouble?” Hillary actually bats her eyelashes as me, as if I’d ever be interested in someone like her. She’s a far cry from her amazing, selfless sister. “I’d take Hope’s little car, but I don’t trust it to make it.”
“The dress shop is four blocks away,” Hope says flatly.
“Where does he ride?” Hillary asks, nodding at Gram. “Shotgun?”
“Nope. Shotgun is reserved for the love of my life.” I press a firm kiss to Hope’s temple. “He’ll sit in back with you.”
3
HOPE
“Why didyou not want your sister at your place by herself?” Marshall asks as he pulls into a parking spot in front ofThe Bloomin’ Rose. It’s first up on Ruby’s very long list of vendors to check in with for the upcoming party.
A party I’m having a hard time focusing on because my lips still buzz with his unexpected kiss that turned into a mini make out session on my front porch.
But it’s easier to simply answer his question than pick apart this surprise fake relationship. Maybe Ruby came up with the idea after I left the party and forgot to clue me in. Maybe Marshall misunderstood the assignment.
Whatever the reason, it’s impossible to be upset about it.
It’s not only the way my entire bodystilltingles at the memory of his very capable lips turning me into a puddle of goo. It’s the shocked, slightly horrified look on Hillary’s face that’ll make me take this lie to the grave. Never mind that my sister married some rich B-list actor whose name I can never remember. She’s always wanted my new, shiny toys for herself just because they were mine.
