"No, silly. Then you'd end up falling for your guy friend." Luke smirked as he put a band around Nikki's knees for her to do clamshells. "If you're interested in your best friend's older brother, you need to askhimto help you make your guy friend jealous."
Nikki's face blanched. "That would mean actuallytalkingto him."
Gabe rolled his eyes as Luke gave Nikki pointers on how to talk to guys.
Thirty minutes later, he was in the process of rolling Nikki outwhen the door opened, and a man he didn't recognize walked in carrying a bouquet of red roses. He shot Luke a questioning look.
Luke paused in the process of adjusting the weight set on the wall for Paige. He looked as surprised as Gabe.
Paige gasped and hurried toward the door. "Phillip, what are you doing here?"
Phillip? Her ex?
The man with sandy-blond hair winked and grinned at Paige. "I came to take you to lunch, like I promised."
Paige took a small step back. "How did you find me?" Despite whispering, her voice carried through the room.
A quick glance around told Gabe he wasn't the only one eavesdropping. Every eye was on Paige and her ex.
"I happened to catch your mom at home, and she told me you were here." Phillip gave a smug grin.
Paige's fists balled by her sides as her shoulders bunched. "I told you I don't want to see you again. Why won't you leave me alone?"
"Because, Paige, sweetheart, we're meant to be together." He took her hand and gave her an intense look Gabe suspected he'd used on Paige—and other women—many times. "You need to give me a chance to make everything right."
Gabe's grip on the roller tightened. He must have pressed too hard, because Nikki jerked away from him. "Ow."
"Sorry." He stopped rolling.
Both of their gazes returned to the drama playing out near the door.
"No, I don't." Paige jerked her hand away. "There is no way you can make right what you've done."
"Come on, babe." Phillip pressed a hand to his chest in a pleading gesture. "I realize I came on too strong last night with the ring and all."
Ring? No wonder Paige is so desperate for a fake boyfriend.
"We can rebuild our relationship." Phillip went on. "I want to hear all about your recovery over lunch."
"I'm not interested in rebuilding a relationship with you, Phillip. Please leave me alone." Despite backing up a step, Paige's voice wasn'tas firm as a moment ago. Certainly not firm enough to convince the jerk to leave.
"You and I belong together, Paige. I'm going to make you see that." Phillip put a hand on Paige's shoulder.
Gabe dropped his roller and was halfway across the room before he realized what he was doing. He hesitated only a moment before walking up behind Paige. He had hoped to keep their fake relationship a secret, but Paige needed him to play his part.
Right here.
Right now.
"Is there a problem here?" Gabe asked with the same firm tone he'd used to forbid the discussion of his love life thirty minutes ago.
"No problem." Phillip sized him up then squared his shoulders and puffed out his chest. "I'm just here to take my girlfriend to lunch."
Phillip was a few inches taller than him, but Gabe wasn't at all intimidated.
He looked over his shoulder. "Gladys, you cougar, your lunch date is here."
Snickers from Luke, Gladys, and Nikki floated through the room.
