Page 41 of His Fake Fiancé

KC laughed. “Believe me, I came close to sticking my fingers in my ears and singing nursery rhymes at the top of my lungs.”

Claire laughed, because she could totally picture KC doing that.

“Anyway,” KC said. “How long until you’re ready, because I need a drink.”

Claire glanced down at herself. She was wearing a pair of ratty jeans and an old long-sleeved t-shirt. Definitely not going out attire. “I’ll have to stop at home and get changed first.” She slapped her hand over her mouth as soon as the words tumbled out. Maybe she had the luck of the Irish McKinney blood running through her veins today and KC didn’t actually hear her.

The stunned silence told her she was deluding herself. “Umm, aren’t you already at home? You are at the ranch, right?”

Why, oh why, did she have such a big, stupid mouth? And since when did she consider the Callahan guest house home? She and Jake had only been playing house for a little while, and, as she needed to keep reminding herself, it was only pretend. Make out sessions on the couch, notwithstanding.

“Claire?”

Shit. “Umm, yeah.”

“Yeah, what?”

“Yeah, I’m at the ranch.” Her palms had gotten so sweaty, she was afraid the phone was going to slip out of her hand. She wiped her free on her jeans and then switched the phone to the other side so she could do the same to the other hand.

“Why are you being so weird?”

“I’m not being weird.” Yeah, the way too high pitch of her voice was really helping sell the point now, wasn’t it?

“You are,” KC said, and then blew out a breath. “Do you not want me to come over or something?”

The hurt in KC’s voice poked her like a sharp stick in the side. “No, no, of course I want you to come. I miss you. It’s just… well, I have something to tell you.”

“Okay. What is it?”

Claire took a deep breath. Rip the band-aid off quick had somehow become her personal mantra. “I’m not living at the ranch anymore.”

“Oooh, exciting. Good for you.” Delight coated Kase’s words. “Did you get a place in town? Are you making me drive out to the boonies for nothing?” KC and her dad were not the ranching type and had always lived in the city. Her dad was a loans officer at one of the banks.

“No,” she said, letting the word drag out for as long as possible. Just say it. Get it over with and let whatever happens, happen. “I’m living in the Callahan guest house… with Jake.”

“What?” It was more a screech than anything, and Claire winced again, pulling the phone away from her now damaged ear.

Claire waited for KC to say something—because there was no doubt her best friend had plenty to say on the subject—but there was nothing but a bit of rustling. “Kace?”

“You do know you almost made me drive my dad’s SUV into the ditch, right?”

Panic welled up inside her. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I’ve pulled over onto the shoulder.” There was another beat of silence. “Now, can you please repeat that, because I couldn’t possibly have heard what I think I heard.” KC had obviously taken the phone off of hands free and was holding it up to her face, because each word was crisp and enunciated.

“I know you heard me.”

It wasn’t like KC hated Jake or anything. He just wasn’t really her favorite person, which had more to do with Claire than it actually had to do with him. KC knew how Claire felt about Jake, and was appalled he’d never actually opened his eyes to see what a prize he had right in front of him. The whole thing was super complicated.

KC sighed, one of the dramatic kinds in which she excelled, and Claire could almost see her in the car with her head back and her eyes closed. Possibly with the back of her hand resting on her forehead. Very over the top, much like KC herself. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“I promise, I’ll fill you in when you get here. Or over a shit ton of margaritas.” Because, now that she thought about it, having a drink—or ten—sounded like an excellent idea right about now. “Why don’t you meet me at the Callahan’s place. I’ll stop in, get changed, and then we can go and catch up.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing. See you soon.” The sound of the car pulling back onto the road came through the phone.

You and me both, Kace. You and me both.

“Can’t wait,” she said and then disconnected the call. A kernel of something uncomfortable unfurled in her belly, the PB and J Linc had brought her for lunch sitting like it had been laced with lead. She rubbed her stomach, hoping to soothe it. It didn’t much help.