He’s already poured too much into this ruse when I just need a social buffer for one night.
“I’m brunching with Maddie tomorrow. But if you actually want to get to know me, maybe we should talk on the phone later instead. When I’m done with work.”
He smiles and buttons his now-rumpled shirt. “Oh. I already know you, Riley.”
Rowdy leaves me speechless and bounds down the stairs before I can secure a time to get our story straight. We barely have two days.
I look at the time, and I don’t know whether I should go ahead and take that scheduled walk now or sit down in front of my canvas again.
Unfortunately, I don’t think I have enough energy left to take that walk. And neither can I sit comfortably on my stool.
I drop a bomb in the group text.
“I just had sex with Rowdy.”
And then I silence my phone and put it away, because there’s no way I’m going into detail. I only owe my friends the facts.
I grab some more water and open the blinds, which sheds a harsh midday light onto the state of my studio. Blankets and throw pillows are everywhere. My discarded leggings and underwear are rolled up into a ball in the corner of the sofa. The scent of sex still hangs in the air.
I’ve gotten no work done today, and I don’t think I’ll be able to concentrate at all for the rest of the day.
In less than 30 minutes, Rowdy has turned my life upside down.
The man is pure chaos. But if one fake date turns my life upside down, then it wasn’t very right-side up to begin with.
Chapter
Eight
Rowdy
Midnight blue is the perfect choice for my new suit.
“It matches her eyes,” I say as the seamstress pins the cuffs.
I’m standing on a carpeted platform surrounded by mirrors at the one and only upscale men’s clothing boutique in downtown Songbird Ridge.
The seamstress, Bonnie, looks up at me from where she squats near my feet, pins gripped between her teeth. “Is that your sweetheart’s favorite color?”
I look down at her and say, “It’s the color of Riley’s eyes.”
She takes one of the pins from his mouth and gapes at me. “That’s real romantic, Rowdy.”
A voice sounds behind me. “You talking about Riley Hutchinson?”
I turn my head as Bonnie clucks at me for shifting my weight around.
A few feet away, there’s Pete Hutchinson from the real estate agency.
I swallow. “Yeah, you know her?”
I’m teasing, of course, as I try to act casual. I’m usually pretty good at that, but man, it would feel pretty weird if this guy knew I’m having regular, hot monkey sex with his sister.
Well, it’s not a regular thing yet. But I’m manifesting here.
“Yeah,” he jokes back. “I know her from somewhere. I thought I heard something at the barber shop about you going to the gala with her.”
“You heard right,” I say, adding, “She is a real good girl. I’m extremely flattered that she asked.”
