“Right,” I nod, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, “let me get this straight. You think parading me around like your redemption arc will somehow erase the fact that you blew up someone’s marriage and make your dad magically believe in you again?”
Knox’s lips shift into a slightly less pronounced curve, but otherwise, he doesn’t flinch. “That about sums it up.”
I let out a pronounced scoff. “That is the dumbest plan I’ve ever heard.”
“Maybe,” he says, his mouth twitching, “but I think it will work with your help.”
“Why me?” I ask. “There are plenty of girls in this town more than willing to be your real girlfriend.”
This time, Knox is the one letting out a bitter laugh. “I’m not looking for a girlfriend, Bambi. Make no mistake—I can convince any girl in this town to play the part, but I’m looking for someone that won’t fall in love with me.”
I grimace, feeling my eyes roll back into my head so far that I’m worried they’ll get stuck like that. “It’s safe to say you can add humble to your resume.”
Knox doesn’t bother hiding his amusement or the cocky smile that pulls at his mouth. “But it’s not just that. You’re theonly one who can make this believable. You’re new enough to town that no one will second-guess how quickly we got together. We can play it off as old friends who reconnected online and have been doing a long-distance thing until you moved back to town. Plus, you’re smarter and hotter than the girls I usually go for, so that’s only bound to land me brownie points.”
I level him with a flat stare, not fazed by his attempt at flattery. “I’m so glad you thought this through.”
“Oh, I did,” he says with a wink, completely ignoring the sarcasm dripping from my voice.
“You’re unbelievable. There’s no way this will work.”
Knox groans and steps closer, suffocating me with his stupid man scent that sends my hormones into meltdown mode. I quickly step away, my back hitting against the hard corner of the counter. He stares at the space where my body collided with the rough object, but only acknowledges the movement with a predictable smirk.
“I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t desperate. And I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t think you could pull it off.”
His voice softens on the last line, and I hate the way it makes me squirm even just a little. His cocky demeanor feels safe, whereas this quieter, more vulnerable version of him makes me feel guilty for the endless insults always sitting on the edge of my tongue.
I panic and decide putting a few feet of solid desk between us is the best idea I’ve had all day. Once I’m securely guarded behind my physical and mental barrier, I answer him.
“Say I agree,” I begin, locking eyes with him, “and I’m not saying that I am. What’s in it for me?”
“I’m so happy you finally asked that question.” He grins with a newly recharged wave of pep in his step. “I will fix your truck for free. Labor and parts. Completely on me.”
My eyes widen and my jaw slacks. I’m not sure what Iwas expecting, but it wasn’t something this hard to say no to. Suddenly, all of my bargaining chips fade from existence, and instead of how to lose a man in ten days, I’m saddled with how to not kill a man in ten days. In mere seconds, my summer has gone from ignoring my worst nightmare to dating it.
“Alright over there, Bambi? Cat got your tongue?”
“I—umm. I’m fine. I—” I’m speechless. Struggling within myself to turn down such a good offer. “How long would we need to keep up this charade?”
“Probably until the end of summer. But depending on how good of an actor you are, maybe sooner.”
I shoot icy daggers at Knox, only giving his devious grin more fuel. “If you’re so desperate, then maybe you should stop acting like an asshole and take this seriously.”
“Well, that’s no fun,” he answers, making a show of the mediocre frown slipping from his face. “Let’s just say it won’t last longer than August.”
“And then we fake our breakup?”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead yet,” Knox says, holding his chin in thought, “but yeah, I guess we will have to.”
A pros-and-cons list pops up in my head, and it’s alarmingly lopsided. I press my fingers to my temples and let out a soft groan. “This is a horrible idea.”
“You’re going to start hurting my feelings if you keep calling my ideas horrible, Bambi,” Knox says mockingly. He looks too pleased with himself, like he’s already decided I’m going to say yes. Which only makes me want to say no.
I drop my hands and stare at him. It is impossible to think with him inside my space. When someone breaks your heart, you’re supposed to create new experiences at the landmarks of your love so you can heal. This man is shitting on that entire idea. The memories in this antique shop will forever be tainted by a six-foot-something ape that doesn’t understand the meaning ofstay away from me.
“I need time to think,” I blurt out.
Knox’s shoulders slouch forward, and a sense of accomplishment warms inside me. “That’s not a no,” he says, raising his head in victory.
