My Fake Fiancé (5 page)

That brought me back down to earth. “So, what
did you tell your mom about me?”

“That you were beautiful, and funny, and
smart.”

Yes, yes, go on
….

“Oh, and you’re an art teacher.”

My heart slipped a little. Was he too
embarrassed to be fake-engaged to a receptionist? “First a
sculptor, now this.”

“I guess I like the creative types.”

Which was bad news, seeing as how I’d never
even used a glue gun. I didn’t even hang up cardboard bunnies at
the office for Easter, or anything cute like fun receptionists do.
“Wait. I don’t have to fake an accent, do I?”

He laughed. “No. You just have to be crazy in
love with me, and ready to take good care of me the rest of my life
since my mom probably won’t be around much longer to fuss over
me.”

“I can handle that.” I tried not to let him
know how choked up I was. I didn’t have a mom to do that for me
either.

“Let’s go out and celebrate.”

And that’s how we ended up dancing and
drinking, and finally tumbling back to his place where Justin
proved to be even more amazing than I could’ve ever imagined.

***

I woke up with my arms wrapped around warm,
soft curves and realized I hadn’t dreamt that I’d spent the night
with Sam. She was in my bed and her sleepy smile had me ready for
another round. Then I remembered I hadn’t put that grin there; a
successful Australian businessman had. I resisted the urge to brush
a silky blond curl off her cheek. I rolled over and sighed. I
couldn’t fall for this girl; I was nothing like her dream guy. I
was a guy who wanted to buy a food truck. The guy obligated to take
care of his mother. Nothing sexy about that.

Her lashes fluttered as she woke. She seemed
confused as her eyes scanned the room and then widened when she
looked over at me. “We’re going all the way with this ruse, aren’t
we?”

“Guess we can consider it method acting.” I
was happy at least that she didn’t run screaming out of bed.

She just smiled. “I don’t think you were
acting last night.” She raised an eyebrow. “I know I wasn’t
faking.”

I pulled her to me and planted another kiss
on her lips. “I really appreciate you agreeing to let my mom think
we’re together. And just a reminder—we’re supposed to stop over
there today. And pretend we’re engaged. And in love.”

She gave me the cutest grin. “Maybe I could
just be so smitten I hardly say anything at all?”

“You’ll be fine.”

She smoothed her hands over the sheets.
“These are nice.”

“Eight-hundred thread count. I like to be
comfortable when I sleep. It’s the little things, you know?”

I swear she growled before pulling me back
down on top of her for another round.

***

My mother was crying. Sam patted her back,
and to her credit, didn’t try to withdraw from the hug. Mom finally
stepped back and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m just so happy to
meet you. You two make such a lovely couple. Have you thought about
a date yet?”

Sam looked a bit pale. “Oh, no. It’s just all
so new. It’s hard to believe it’s really going to ever happen.” She
cleared her throat.

I draped my arm around Sam. “It’s going to be
something small.”

Mom wrung her hands. “I wish I had more money
to contribute. But I’m sure we can come up with something
nice.”

Sam’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, don’t worry about
that. My mother saved quite a bit of money to pay for my
wedding.”

Mom clapped her hands together. “How
wonderful. I’d love to meet her.”

Sam looked at the floor. “She died four years
ago.”

The only sound in the room was the clock
ticking. Mom reached out and touched Sam’s arm. “I’m sorry, dear. I
don’t know if Justin told you about my cancer scare. I’m so lucky
to be here to see the two of you get married. I’m sure your mother
will be watching from above.”

Sam sniffed and nodded. The mood was getting
way too intense for a fake engagement celebration.

“My son is a wonderful man. I know he’ll be a
fantastic husband, and that catering idea of his is just bound to
take off.” Her face looked younger and hopeful.

“Yes, we were checking out some of the food
trucks at the Apple Blossom festival yesterday. I love his idea.
He’s very clever. Have you thought of a name, Justin?”

“Nothing that’s really struck me yet.”

“You’ll figure something out. Together.” Mom
wiped away another tear. Man, she was going to take the breakup
hard. “I just hope I get to see it before…” She didn’t say it, but
we both knew what she meant.

I kissed her. “You’ll see it, Mom. I promise.
We gotta go. We’ll be back next week for your birthday.”

Mom kneaded her hands. “Samantha, would it be
okay if I came along when you look for dresses?”

She sucked in a breath. “Gosh, I hadn’t even
thought about the dress yet. But sure, yes. I’ll let you know when
I’m going.”

***

Justin’s mother wanted to go dress shopping.
For a wedding that wasn’t going to happen. I was quiet on the ride
home. “Justin, this is harder than I thought. Your mom’s going to
be really upset when we break up.”

His fingers tensed on the steering wheel. “I
know. She was really likes you.”

“How long are we going to do this before you
tell her we broke up?”

He rubbed the back of his head. “I’m not
sure. I’ll have to tell her you dumped me. She’ll never forgive me
if I break up with you.”

How had I gotten into this mess? Then I
remembered the wedding. “I have to thank you again for last
night.”

He cleared his throat. “I enjoyed it too. All
four times. And this morning.”

I nearly choked. “I meant the wedding. Carrie
was definitely impressed. I just hope she doesn’t call about a
sculpture.”

“Oh, right. Yes of course. Well, she had good
reason to be jealous. You looked beautiful. Her husband was
checking you out. I don’t predict a long marriage.” He pulled into
my parking lot and looked at me.

How this man was still single, I had no idea.
With just that look I was reliving our night together. Was it wrong
to want more from him than a pretend relationship? I was only a
receptionist—and not even a good one. I had no ambitions. And I
couldn’t cook. Some weekends, I didn’t even change out of my
pajamas and I wasn’t a reliable flosser. The dental hygienist sighs
throughout my entire cleaning. I was not the type who’d be able to
take care of him like his mother hoped. I wasn’t the kind of girl
he wanted at all. But he was sitting there with his dreamy eyes,
and his delectable mouth—and we ended up in my bed. He was a bit
too preoccupied to notice I had equally nice sheets as he
owned.

***

Work dragged on Monday; I even let a few
calls just ring until the callers just gave up. Justin made me feel
alive. My job made me feel like I was dying. My life was stuck in
so many ways. I made plans to meet Micki out for dinner after work
so at least I had something yummy to look forward to. And I needed
to talk about these crazy feelings I was having for a guy I knew
was just pretending to like me.

“Guess things went alright at the wedding,”
Micki said as she slid into her chair at the restaurant. “Seeing as
how you didn’t come home for twenty-four hours. I was just about to
choose a picture for your missing person flyer.”

I planted my chin in my hand and sighed. I
didn’t even care about Carrie any more. “He’s wonderful. Do you
believe in love at first sight?”

She grunted. “I don’t even believe in love,
period. You’re asking the wrong girl. My parents are divorced. All
three of my sisters are divorced. I tried to break the trend by
doing the serial monogamy thing without the pressure of a wedding,
but Jared still cheated on me.” She rolled her eyes. “Ridiculous
beach romance. He was a beach bum, all right.”

That was the reason she moved back to
Springfield—to get away from him. I reached across the table and
patted her hand.

“I only called my blog ‘The Bridesmaid Blues’
so people feel sorry for me and keep reading, hoping I’ll find true
love. I have no intention of ever getting married. I’m just going
to hook up and have fun. So don’t ask me about true love. Sorry,
kid.”

I sighed. “I just really feel something for
him, Micki.”

She took a long sip of her appletini. “He
must be a really good actor. Remember, he’s not really an
Australian businessman.”

I sighed. “He’s better than that. He loves
his mother so much that we’re pretending to be engaged a while
longer for her sake. And he’s got this great idea for a mobile
catering company using a food truck for unique wedding venues. Once
he gets enough money.”

That caught her attention. “That’s an
interesting idea. I’ve been thinking it would be a great business
venture to work as a matchmaker for engaged couples. You know, set
them up with another couple getting married on the same day to
share flowers, decorations and all that. Setting up the same menu
with a mobile caterer would cut costs too. My blog is really taking
off, but I wish I had money to invest in his idea.”

I sat up straight. I did have money I could
invest. “You really think it’s a good idea?”

She nodded. “People are always looking for
ways to make their special day unique—and affordable.”

I could barely concentrate on dinner. I had
to talk to Justin.

I went to his apartment without calling. When
he opened the door, his smile let me know my unexpected visit was
welcome. “What’re you doing here?”

I took a deep breath. “I have a great idea.
Can I come in?”

He led me to his couch and grabbed us each a
beer from the fridge. “What’s up? Are we going to crash Carrie’s
honeymoon?”

I laughed. “That’d be fun. She’s in Fiji.
That’s not it, though. I’m interested in making an investment.”

He looked confused.

“I want to use the money set aside for a
wedding to invest in your mobile catering business.”

He just looked at me.

“I thought you’d be excited.”

“I’m more shocked than excited. But why?”

I popped up from the couch and started pacing
the room. “I was talking to my roommate about it—she’s kind of a
wedding expert—and she thought it was a fabulous idea. And I
realized I might never get married the way things are going for me.
Why not do something with the money instead, and worry about
funding a wedding—if and when the time comes. I hate my job. Maybe
I could be a partner some day. A business partner,” I clarified. “I
could work events with you.”

He just blinked at me. “You’re sure about
this? Because I’ve got the truck all picked out. I’m ready to move
on this.”

“Yes. We should get some formal paperwork
drawn up, but let’s do it.”

He set down his beer, stood up, and pulled me
into his arms. “Sam, no one’s ever done anything like this for me.”
His voice was thick.

I pulled back so I could look at him. “I
believe in you.”

“Thanks. And this is going to make my mother
so happy.” He frowned. “How am I going to break up with you
now?”

I felt a stab to my gut. “We don’t have to
worry about that just yet.”

He sucked in a breath and nodded. “Let me
call my lawyer and get the ball rolling.”

And then we ended up in bed again. He might
have been my fake fiancé, but everything in the bedroom sure seemed
real.

***

I had a bad feeling I was going to get burned
when this whole thing with Sam ended. I wasn’t what she wanted, and
she’d realize it soon enough. But for now, our supposed engagement
and the business deal were keeping my mother happy.

Mom had cried when I told her Sam and I were
opening the catering business together. And she was thrilled to
spend her time leafing through bridal magazines hoping to come up
with suggestions and play a part in the whole thing. When she asked
me to stop by on my day off, I figured she was going to bombard me
with information on reception sites or wedding cakes. But when she
opened the door, the life was gone from her eyes. “What’s
wrong?”

Her lips quivered as she led me inside, and
she folded her hands on her lap when she sat down on the couch. She
let out a long sigh. “The cancer’s back.”

Bile slicked my throat. “So we do chemo
again. You can beat this.”

Her shoulders slumped. “The doctors give me a
fifty-fifty chance. I’m afraid I won’t be much help with the
wedding.”

“We’ll push it back. We need to concentrate
on you.”

She gripped my arm. “No. All these wonderful
things happening to you? It’s the only thing keeping me going. I
need that wedding, Justin.”

It felt like a punch to the gut. It was like
I was twelve again and Rob Myers had landed a blow square to my
stomach because we lost the football championship. “We would have
won if your stupid father hadn’t screwed Mark’s mother and gotten
kicked off as coach.” Then he’d hit me again while everyone
watched, and I hadn’t even fought back, because it was true. Dad
did screw up everything. Dad did ruin our season and our family. I
couldn’t argue that; I had to take Rob’s beating. But now it was me
who’d done the same thing. Mom was pinning all her hopes on a big
wedding and it was all my fault. This felt worse than any pummeling
Rob could have given me.

I choked back a sob. “I’ve got to talk to
Sam.”

***

We had to find a way out of this. My mother
expected a wedding, and I wasn’t going to be able to deliver. I
asked Sam to meet me at the bar after a wedding I was working
Saturday night. I was afraid if I invited her to my place, we’d
sleep together again instead of disentangling ourselves from this
mess. It’d been a month since we started this whole fake engagement
and we were still playing the part—in public and in private.
Clearing off the last table in the ballroom, I shook my head,
disgusted that I’d let this spiral out of control.