Page 20 of Let’s Be Real

If I were choosing a fake boyfriend by looks alone, Nate would have been the top of the pack. He was an inch or two taller than me, and I got the sense he wouldn’t mind me wearing heels, even if it put me slightly above him.

His hands were nice. Long, elegant fingers, thick veins running over the tops. Even his forearms were attractive.

“You’re looking at me,” he remarked.

“I was thinking what a handsome fake boyfriend you’ll make.”

That got me another sliding glance, then a slow grin that made my stomach somersault. Nate wasn’t a big smiler, but when he let one loose, it was always a doozy.

“Is that all I am to you? A pretty face?” he chided.

“You also have really nice forearms.”

His laugh was light and free, and he tipped his head back so all of it could escape.

“Well…all right. Glad to know I have the specifications that qualify me for the job.”

I touched his arm again, taking note of the sinews beneath my palm.

“Thank you, Nate. I mean it.”

His smile was still in place as he turned to look at me for a fleeting moment. “As long as you make me nachos when we get back, we’ll be even.”

“You have a deal.”

This plan was already a disaster, and we were only at check-in.

Months ago, I’d booked a romantic suite with mountain views with Will in mind. When that fell apart and Nate had agreed to come, I’d called and switched to a basic room with two queen beds.

The hotel had no record of that.

I stared at the man on the other side of the counter, clack, clack, clacking on his keyboard while shaking his head grimly. Normally, I wasn’t the type to make a scene—especially not with service workers. I knew this wasn’t his fault, and he was trying to fix it, but I couldn’t help the rising mortification igniting in my chest. I had to dig my fingers into the counter to stop the frustrated yelp from escaping.

The thing was, Nate was standing ten feet away with my father. The moment we’d arrived, he’d swooped upon us like he’d been hovering in the lobby for this purpose.

Maybe he had been. I could imagine my mother assigning him the job of intercepting guests as they arrived.

I hadn’t known they were staying in the hotel too. How could I have guessed they would have given my sister and Josh the house for the weekend?

Nate seemed just fine having a polite conversation with my father about investments, but I wasn’t fine. I was freaking out and desperately trying to keep it under wraps.

Carlos, the receptionist, stopped clacking. “I’m sorry, Ms. Blackwell. There’s really nothing else available. I checked and double-checked.”

I shook my head. “I suppose we’ll simply have to manage. Thank you for going the extra mile.”

That earned me a smile. “Of course.” Then he started clacking again. “To make up for the inconvenience, we’re going to comp two activity packages for you and your friend. The details will be emailed to you within the hour.”

My ears were ringing. I barely heard a word he was saying, and they certainly didn’t register. I wouldn’t have blamed Nate if he wanted to turn around and drive back to Denver. He hadn’t signed up to share a bed with me. And it wasn’t like I was easy to sleep with. I threw my arms and legs around with reckless abandon, and I was known to go koala in the middle of the night. There was no chance I wouldn’t wake up wrapped around him, my pride smashed to smithereens.

I’d just have to sleep on the ground. That was all there was to it.

Key cards in hand, I went over to Nate and my dad. My dad continued speaking as if I hadn’t just joined, while Nate placed his hand on the small of my back, drawing me into their circle.

When my dad paused, Nate turned to me. “Everything okay with the room?”

“Yes.” I pressed my lips together in a tight line. “There was some confusion, but we worked it out.”

My dad acknowledged my presence for the first time, shaking his finger at me. “Now that you say that, I recall your mother telling me there was a mix-up with your room and you got switched to a double. Luckily, she’d been able to change it back to a deluxe king. Remember to thank her when you see her.”