“Huh?” Her wide eyes and raised brows attempt to draw a laugh from me. She’s sort of adorable when she’s taken with surprise.
“I have a meeting coming up in a few days with some investors, and I know they’ll be bringing their wives along to the dinner. I thought it’d be nice to bring along mygirlfriendto show them I can commit.”
“But I’m not your girlfriend.” She blinks a few times as if clearing away a daze. “And you can’t commit for whatever reason you choose not to disclose to me.”
“Duh. But you could continue to be myfakegirlfriend. We could even set ground rules if you want since ‘what happens inDasher Valley stays in Dasher Valley’ isn’t applicable to the foreseeable future.”
“But why wouldn’t we terminate it again after the meeting?” She tilts her head and brings a pen she’d picked up at some point to her lips and bites on it.
“The fourth of July will be coming up two days after that. Dasher Valley puts on a huge community event, and my family would like me to bring you back for it. My sister’s birthday is in August. Then there’s my birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Your sister’s wedding and coronation. I want a date for my side of events. Don’t you want a date for yours?”
She stares at me, pen between her teeth, as if I’m speaking a foreign language.
Finally, she removes the pen and speaks with caution in her voice. “You don’t think I could find a real date to those events? And couldn’t you…?”
“Of course we could. But I think we both had a lot of fun back in Dasher Valley, and to be honest, I don’t want to settle down with anyone right now. You’d be a safe option for me.”
“But then you’re preventing me from finding a man who is ready to settle down. Isn’t that a little selfish of you to ask?” She crosses her arms.
Oof.She’s right. The thought never entered my mind as I was too consumed with thoughts of kissing her more. I relax my hands at my side and stand up straight. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that.”
“All is forgiven,” she says. Then, she stands and faces me. “Fine. I’ll do it. But only because I’ve had second thoughts about life after I almost drowned. And I owe you big time for saving me.”
“Lucy,” I groan and pinch the bridge of my nose as I close my eyes to collect myself. “I’ve told you time and time again that you do not owe me for pulling you out of that pool. You’ve brought me coffees, have organized my office, and continue to ask what else you can do to make up for it. Your life has no value attached to it. It’s precious and invaluable. While I appreciate the things you’ve done, it isn’t and never has been necessary.”
“But still,” she says in a lowered voice. We meet each other’s eyes. Words go unspoken as I search hazel-green irises that are sparkling as if they’re on the verge of releasing tears. She looks at me as if I’m her hero, and though, I guess, technically I am, the thought of her viewing me as such disturbs me.
Not because I don’t want to be a hero to her but because I am certainly not a man worthy of a title like that.
I even dragged her out of church because I was uncomfortable with the sermon. That’s not manly hero status. Granted, she looked as perturbed as I felt, but still. Who was I to take her away? God might not love me, but surely He loves Lucy.
“What will we do here at work? Are we faking it for everyone? If we start going out as a couple to town events and dinners and such, you know word will get around.”
Something else I didn’t think about, but to be honest, it’s the least of my concerns. Everyone here seems to be cool with my interest in her. I like the idea. More public time equals more kissing andtouching time.And I love the way she feels beneath my fingertips…“We will play pretend here, too.”
“Aren’t we a real couple at that point? The only time we won’t be faking it is when we are off on our own.”
I shrug and smirk. “More time to flirt with you openly.”
“Incorrigible,” Lucy huffs and shakes her head. But as she turns away, I see a smile spread across her freckled face.
“That was easier than I expected it to be,” I mention. Though I can’t seem to shake Lucy’s hold on me right now, I know I will eventually. Playing pretend, keeping everything titled fake, will make it easier for the both of us to part ways when that wall demanding I let her go hits me. “I do enjoy spending time with you, Lucy. We can be friends. Good friends.”
“With benefits?” she adds, arching an eyebrow.
I shrug. “I’ll let you set the rules. Fair?”
She keeps her attention on her computer but tugs at the high-neck portion of her sleeveless lavender shirt. “But I’m a Christian, Stone. And so are you, right? Isn’t friends-with-benefits kind of against the rules?”
Her point is valid, and it stirs penitence in my soul. But not enough to backtrack. “Like I said, we can set rules, though you know I despise rules.”
“You live to break them,” she mutters. Then louder, she adds, “Like I said, I’ve reevaluated things. Maybe I don’t want to settle down right now, either. And I enjoy spending time with you, too.”
“You? The romance author who writes happily-ever-afters time and time again? You don’t want to settle down?”
“Mr. Harper, have you read my books?”
Her voice isn’t shocked or embarrassed. She’s intrigued.
