“Mine is the mother of the groom. She thinks I’m a flight risk. We could help each other out.” The proposal hung between us, a current of pure possibility. “We pretend to be together, everyone leaves us alone, and we drink in peace.”
“Tempting. But are you any good at thetogetherpart?”
A slow, lazy smile spread across his face. “I’m an excellent fake boyfriend. Rave reviews.”
I laughed. “Fine. But if you ditch me, I reserve the right to set fire to your luggage.”
“Deal,” he leaned in, eyes dancing. “Good thing I travel light.”
As I sipped my beer, I took in Dean’s face up close—faint five o’clock shadow, a tiny scar above his eyebrow, a mouth that looked like it could ruin a woman with a single smirk. Tall, dark, and handsome in the flesh. He was trouble, and apparently exactly what I needed.
“So how do we play this?” I asked. “Subtle, or should I start calling you darling?”
Dean’s gaze held mine. “Let’s go big. They’ll expect subtle.”
He stood and offered his hand. I took it, my palm fitting perfectly against his as he led me through the bar, turning heads. The heat of his body radiated through his linen shirt. This was supposed to be an act, but the chemistry was disorienting and real.
At the edge of the deck, he stopped, his breath stirring the hair at my temple.
“You’re shaking,” he said quietly.
“It’s the IPA,” I lied. “Hoppy.”
He smiled, tightening his grip on my waist. “Just checking. I don’t want my girlfriend fainting on day one.”
“Brynn! There you are!” Aunt Carol marched up, towing a crestfallen Todd.
Dean straightened, murmuring, “Showtime.”
“Brynn, dear, you left so suddenly,” Aunt Carol said. “Everything all right?”
“Never better.” A surge of wicked delight ran through me. “Dean was just about to show me the pier.”
He played his part perfectly, pulling me snug against him. “We were getting some air.”
Todd’s face fell as his gaze dropped to Dean’s hand on my waist. “Oh. I didn’t realize you two were?—”
“Together? It’s pretty new,” I said, turning my face up to Dean’s, marveling at how easily the lie came.
He didn’t hesitate, cupping my cheek. “Yeah. She’s the best thing to happen to me in a long time.”
The cheesy words landed deep in my chest. I leaned into his touch, then handed Todd his business card back. “Sorry, Todd. I wasn’t sure if you were just being friendly, so I didn’t say anything.”
“Well,” Aunt Carol sniffed. “Isn’t that something. Todd, didn’t you want to check the sound system inside?”
Todd blinked. “Yeah. I’ll just, uh, be over there.”
He shuffled away, business card clutched in his hand like a tragic souvenir. After a curious look at us, Aunt Carol followed.
Dean waited until they were gone before dropping his arm. “Too much?”
“No, it was perfect,” I said, feeling dizzy. “You even convinced me.”
He ducked his head. “Sorry. I have a tendency to go overboard.”
“At least you commit,” I said, steadying myself with my cold glass. “More than I can say for most men I’ve known.”
“Don’t compliment me yet. You might be disappointed.” He leaned on the railing beside me. “Are you here just to support Holly? It can’t be just to dodge Todd.”
