“This is never going to work,” I mutter.
“It has to,” Lucas says, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “For both our sakes.”
The worst part is, he’s right. And the fact that I can acknowledge that might be the only hope we have of surviving this charade.
That and separate bathrooms.
ten
. . .
Lucas
“So,when, exactly, were you planning to tell me you had a thing for my sister?”
Austin drops this question casually as he sets down his beer on the high-top table at Barney’s Beanery. We’re in a back corner where no one is likely to recognize either of us: him as a famous baseball star or me as the newly viral half of Hollywood’s most unexpected marriage.
“It wasn’t exactly planned,” I say, focusing intently on the menu I’ve seen a hundred times before.
“No shit.” Austin laughs, leaning back in his chair. “Vegas wedding? Surprisingly off-brand for you, Mr. Always-Has-A-Strategy.”
Unlike his sister, Austin has an easygoing nature that makes it impossible not to like him. We were good friends and teammates at USC. He was always quick with a joke in the dugout, but deadly serious on the mound. That same duality is present now as he studies me with eyes that are eerily similar to Jess’s.
“Look,” I say, setting the menu down. “It’s complicated.”
“Try me.”
I hesitate, calculating how much to reveal. Jess and I agreed to keep the truth between us, Grant, and our attorneys, but Austin is different. He’s family—her family—and if we’re going to pull this off, I need him on our side.
Still, I can’t risk putting Jess’s inheritance in jeopardy if word gets out, especially if her trust has conditions her siblings could or could not have.
“We’ve had feelings for each other for a while,” I begin, surprised at how easily the half-truth rolls off my tongue. “Been getting closer over the past few months.”
“Bullshit. She was bitching about you shutting down her questions at that Wonderland press junket three weeks ago.”
I can’t help but smile. “That’s kind of our thing. Professional antagonism, personal attraction.”
Austin looks skeptical but motions for me to continue.
“The alcohol probably accelerated the monogamy plans,” I concede, “but I’m not mad about it.”
I take a long pull of my beer. “I’ve always admired her professionally. Even when she’s making my job harder, she’s doing it because she cares about the truth.”
This, at least, is completely honest. Despite our constant professional clashing, I’ve never questioned Jess’s integrity.
“And personally?” Austin presses.
“You really want to hear this?”
“Not particularly, but as her brother, I feel obligated to assess your intentions.”
I lean forward and lower my voice, despite the privacy of our corner. “The first time I saw her in that stadiumtunnel, I was instantly attracted to her. It wasn’t just physical, though, obviously—” I catch Austin’s warning look. “Right, not going there. But she had this fire, this absolute certainty about what she was doing and why it mattered.”
“And then?”
“And then it went south fast. We both said things and had our professional pride wounded. But I couldn’t stop thinking about her for weeks afterward.” I stare into my beer, surprised by the ring of truth in what was supposed to be a cover story. “And I guess, apparently, for all this time.”
Austin studies me for a long moment. “You’re either a better actor than I gave you credit for, or there’s some truth in there.”
