"Paige, wait." He got to his feet and caught her hand. "I know it's going to take time to earn back your trust, but I plan to convince you that you're the only woman for me."
"Even if we both live to be a hundred, you'll never be able to earn my trust again." Paige jerked her hand from his and made her way to the door, eager to get away from him.
"I'm not giving up on us." He stepped between her and the door, his face and posture full of confidence. "I took the weekend off, and I rented a motel room here in town. Let me take you to lunch tomorrow. I'll prove I can be faithful to you."
Like you did to Avery? Only to dump her after she lost the baby.
Paige shuddered. The last thing she wanted was Phillip constantly hanging around, trying to wear her down. If he kept showing up, she'd have to tell her parents the truth about why she broke up with him. She'd have to admit she'd been theother woman.
She spun around, nearly losing her balance. "It doesn't matter whether you can be faithful or not, because I'm seeing someone else."
It was a big fat lie, but she had to sell it.
Gabe's laughing brown eyes with long, thick lashes filled her mind. Technically, shewasseeing another man. Three times a week as a matter of fact. For hours each day. He got up close and personal with her when he stretched and rolled out her tight muscles. No one would ever confuse PT with dating, but it was really just semantics.
"He's everything you're not. He's kind, compassionate, andhonest."
Except with his mom.
That was a huge red flag, but maybe if she knew his mom, she’d understand why he felt the need to lie to her.
Squaring her shoulders, she went on. "He would never cheat on a woman."
Phillip's confident expression faltered. "I don't believe you. You're just saying that because I hurt you. But I'm ready to make amends for all of my indiscretions."
"I don't want you tomake amends. I want you to leave me alone." She shouldered past him and opened the door.
"I meant it when I said I'm not giving up on us, Paige."
She closed the door on him and pressed her back against it. Phillip was persistent. She’d learned that last year when he kept flirting with her at the gym. And even after she'd learned he was engaged to Avery, he still hadn't wanted to end things with Paige.
The thought of having to fend him off for the whole weekend made her stomach roll. She'd cared deeply for him. More than she had any other man. But he’d hurt her terribly. No way would she give him the chance to do it again.
She had to convince Phillip she was not available. Physically or emotionally. Would Gabe help her?
A fake relationship was safer than a real one, because if Gabe needed a fake girlfriend, it meant he didn't have another woman on the side.
He wouldn't cheat on her.
Relief flooded over Paige,making her feel almost light-headed when she walked into an empty PT office Friday morning. Gabe, the only one in the room, sat at his small desk making notes on his computer. She glanced around a second time to make sure they were alone.
The door to the closet where the laundry facilities were stood open. She caught a glimpse of Luke's shoulder as he folded a towel.
Maybe I should wait.
Recalling Phillip’s vow to not give up, she decided it was now or never. She hurried over to Gabe.
"Good morn?—"
"I'll do it." She spat out the words before she lost her nerve.
He looked up in surprise. "Do what?"
"I'll be your girlfriend." She tried to whisper but the urgency in her voice made it sound like a growl.
"What?" He sprang to his feet, making her to fall back a step.
"I said I'll pretend to be your girlfriend." She kept her voice low and forced herself to speak slowly. Which wasn't easy, because her heart raced a hundred miles an hour, despite feeling like it had the tightest of the resistance bands wrapped around it.
