I can’t help it, I grin. A slow, predatory smile that says precisely what I’m thinking.
Yeah, asshole. Look what you let go.
“Is that Derek?” I murmur against Marley’s ear, already knowing the answer.
She tenses against me. “Unfortunately.”
“He looks like a sniveling little weasel.”
A laugh bubbles out of her, surprised and genuine, and the tension melts from her shoulders. “That’sexactlywhat he is.”
Derek’s girlfriend, I refuse to learn her name, tugs at his arm, asking him something, but he’s not listening. He’s too busy staring at Marley with a mixture of shock and possessive fury that makes me want to break his goddamn nose.
“Marley!” A woman in a sparkly cocktail dress materializes beside us, pulling Marley into an enthusiastic hug. “Oh my God, you look incredible. And who is this exquisite man?”
“This is my boyfriend, Damon,” Marley says smoothly, and hearing her call me that, even as part of our arrangement, sends satisfaction coursing through me. “Damon, this is Jennifer from accounting.”
I shake Jennifer’s hand carefully, always conscious of my size and strength around civilians. “Nice to meet you.”
“Boyfriend?” Jennifer’s eyes are practically glowing. “Since when? How did you two meet?”
Here we go.
Time to sell the story we’ve practiced.
I pull Marley closer, my arm wrapped around her waist, and let genuine affection color my voice. “We met a few weeks ago. I was her Uber driver, actually. She got in my car looking like she’d had the worst day of her life, and…” I look down at Marley, and I don’t have to fake the softness in my expression.“Something just clicked. We started talking, and I couldn’t get her out of my head.”
“That’s so romantic!” Jennifer sighs. “And you’re in transportation?”
“Among other things,” I deflect smoothly. “I invest in various businesses. Keeps me busy.”
Close enough to the truth not to be a complete lie.
More coworkers swarm us, drawn by curiosity and the spectacle of Marley Wren, quiet, quirky Marley who always dresses in vintage band tees and keeps to herself, looking like she has stepped off a runway with a man who could grace the cover ofGQ Magazine.
I field every question with practiced ease, weaving truth and fiction into a story that sounds authentic because most of it is. Yes, we’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks. Yes, I think she’s incredible. Yes, I’mveryserious about her.
That last one isn’t part of the act.
Through it all, I keep Marley close. My hand on her lower back, guiding her through the crowd. My fingers brushing along her arm. Leaning down to whisper in her ear, making her laugh. Playing the role of the attentive, devoted boyfriend because that’sexactlywhat I want to be.
And Derek watches every second of it, seething from across the room.
His girlfriend has given up trying to gain his attention. She’s pouting, aware that he’s distracted but not understanding why. She doesn’t realize she’s a stand-in. A warm body to fill the space Marley left.
Good.
Let him regret it.
Let him seeexactlywhat he threw away.
“You’re really good at this,” Marley whispers when we finally have a moment alone.
“At what?”
“The boyfriend thing.” Her smile is soft, almost wistful. “You make it seem so real.”
My hand finds her waist again, pulling her close enough that her curves press against me. “That’s because it is real, Small Town. Every word I’ve said tonight is true.”
