You’d think a best friend would have more sympathy for the absolute shit show that’s become my life, but I’m afraid I’ve been proven wrong.
“Okay, okay. Apologies for all the teasing. But look on the bright side—no more dates with your mom’s friends’ daughters!” Grayson’s laughter fades to a loud ringing as the blood drains from my face.
My mother.
My father.
My sister.
Fuck. Even my brother. They can never find out.
The man snorts when I make my stance known. “You seriously think you’re getting away with this without them ever finding out?”
“Yes?”Even I don’t sound convinced.
“Yeah, good luck with that, Nate. Your parents read every news article written about you and frame youraccomplishmentson the living room wall. You aren’t getting away with this. But for now, tell me about the fake fiancée? What’s the verdict? Is she pretty? Miraculously and exactly your type?”
“Shut up, Grayson,” I say, nowofficiallyannoyed.
The man chuckles lightly. “Looks like I got my answer.”
“Even if I were to find her attractive, the girl would never go for me—she hates me with a passion that could rival the fiery pits of hell. I’ve been raised well enough not to chase women who want nothing to do with me.”
“Sounds like an enemies-to-lovers pipeline if I’ve ever heard one!”
I groan in disbelief. “I don’t know where you get these things from.”
The man laughs a little too mysteriously for my liking, but it falls short when the insistent beeping of his pager cuts him off. “I’ll be back. Don’t think I’ve let you off the hook.” The call ends with a sharp beep before I can object.
A firm knock on my car window startles me. I flinch on instinct and turn to see the woman of the hour. With the slight press of a button, I lower the tinted glass by an inch—just enough to see her angry brown eyes glaring into mine.
Vivienne sticks her finger through the barely there crack, wiggling it around. “You know, you could roll down the window a little more. I don’t bite.”
Consider me a genie because her wish just became my command.
I press the button again, lowering the window by another inch. And I can’t help but bite back my smile as her lips press into a thin line.
“You’re not funny.”
“Weird. I’m usually told the opposite.”
She crosses her arms in front of her chest, the motion unintentionally drawing my gaze downward before it trailsover the rest of her form. Smooth skin glows under the soft city lights. Thick and long, wavy brown hair falls to her waist. The fitted red top tucked into dark blue jeans accentuates her hourglass figure.
Grayson might be right. Vivienne is gorgeous, and somehow, miraculously and exactly my type.
“Has anyone told you that you get distracted easily?”
My eyes snap back up to hers in a panic, an obvious smirk playing along her lips.Busted. Not that she has a right to call me out when I’ve caught her doing the same.
“Either way, I came here to tell you that your presence is required in the restaurant. A girl by the name ofMelanie—who claims to be your cousin—spent the past ten minutes yelling at me for being tardy. It’s only fair you meet the same fate.”
I turn in the direction of the restaurant we’d rented out for the evening to see exactly that—a furious Melanie thrashing her arms from behind the glass windows.
Eyes red. Hair wild. Biceps bulging from the workout. By the looks of it, I’m in for far worse treatment than a ten-minute scolding.
I’m proven right when Melanie smacks my armhardthe second we walk through the restaurant doors.
Vivienne chuckles at my pain while I frown. Her win and my loss don’t last long, though, when a loud clap shatters the air, startling us both.
