My words are cut short. Jim makes an unexpected move and jumps up, throwing his body over mine. I fall back, my head hitting the plush pillow, eyes wide as he leans over me, his lips merely a hairsbreadth from my own. “Go with it, ’kay?”
Before I can reply, his lips fuse against mine. Shock, confusion, excitement—all shoot through me at once. His lips are warm and perfect against mine. My body temperature shoots up, and a few short seconds is all it takes for me to sink farther into the mattress. Two quick knocks sound on the door, and Katie pops her head in with an invitation.
“Well, well…at it again, are we?” My eyes enlarge as I stare in shock up at Jim. He eases up, pulling away just a smidge, allowing our eyes to connect.
“Can’t get enough of her.” He winks at me, and for a split second, I lose myself in his words. Fake, but I let them soak in as if they’re real. He smiles down at me as if I am real—we are real—and this, us molded together, warm with that energetic buzz, is something we’ve been feeling for a lifetime.
“Well, calm it down. We need Casey to be able to walk today. Mick said it’s a long walk to the waterfall shoot. Also, breakfast’s ready, so you might wanna get up.”
Just as fast as the moment bulldozes through us, it’s swept away. Jim bends down, brushes his lips against mine, then climbs off me. Katie coughs, hiding her moan, as she gets an eyeful of Jim in all his shirtless glory. I side-eye my friend, because she shouldn’t be ogling my fake boyfriend, then admire the goods myself. He must be one of the top-rated gigolos in the state, because he sure is lovely.
“Got it. I gotta use the bathroom, then I’ll meet you all downstairs, cool, babe?” He blows me a kiss, and like a love-sick teenager, my lips part in anticipation for that air kiss to float and smack me on my eagerly willing lips. God, what is wrong with me! I’m still staring at him. Those eyes. That sexy hair. Muscles and muscles and—
“Earth to Case?”
“I do.”
“Huh?” both he and Katie say at once. Crap-sicle. What did they ask me? Rewind, brain…ah! Bathroom, breakfast—got it. “Yep, got it. Meet you downstairs.” He smiles at me in a way that melts my insides. Like the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, the gooeyness of the deliciousness just melting out of the two toasted slices of bread—am I comparing the way my insides feel to food? Sigh. What I wouldn’t give for that smile to be real. He walks past Katie, who doesn’t even attempt to hide the fact that she’s staring at his butt. I nod, agreeing it is a nice piece of meat. Rare, plump to the touch— “Okay! You can stop staring now,” I grumble, strangely jealous. I need to get some or eat. Both seem just as important right now.
“It’s impossible. So, not sorry. Speaking of not sorry, how are you doing this morning? Heard lots of banging going on. You gonna be able to walk after all that action? I saw him in his wet bathing suit. He’s a lady bruiser.”
“Lady bruiser?”
“Yeah, ya know—monster down there. Large and in charge. Beat up that—”
“Jesus!” I toss the last remaining pillow on the bed at her. “I got it. And no, I’m fine. I’ll be able to walk just fine.” Since I didn’t have any sex whatsoever and have no idea if he really is a lady bruiser, though there’s no mistaking he has a full house down there. My cheeks flush, giving Katie the wrong idea.
“Oh god, you lovesick horn-ball. You can fill me in on all the details later. But for real. Get your ass up. Mick’s on the prowl making sure he’s not late for hair and makeup.”
I nod, and she shuts the door, leaving me with my thoughts of big bruisers and the fake butterflies still swirling in my belly. I throw myself back into the mattress and press the comforter to my face to muffle a loud groan. What have I gotten myself into? Just like everything else in my life, I didn’t think past the first layer of the issue. I show up with a fake boyfriend, but what about the rest? I didn’t think that maybe, just maybe, he would turn out to be an okay guy. Attractive, kind, goofy, cuddly—shoot, the list goes on and on!
Then, there are the lies. I didn’t think how much this would affect my friends if they found out. How do I send Jim on his way in two days and tell everyone we broke it off? He wasn’t the one, and don’t ever attempt to contact him? My own mood plummets thinking about him being in the wind, and I’ve only spent around twenty-four hours with him.
More groaning.
Suck it up, Casey. You made this bed, now you lay in it.
Which I also can’t do because Poppy yells my name from downstairs.
“Coming!” I huff and throw my legs over, but not before getting my foot caught in the sheet and tripping off the bed.
Jim/Bob
After a cold shower and thoughts of my grandmother naked, I head downstairs to find the crew sipping on coffee and eating breakfast.
“Hey, there he is!” Jason comes up and smacks me on the back. I play it cool and only puff out my chest slightly. I’m really liking these guys. Bromances are a real thing. My eyes find Casey, who’s shoving a danish in her mouth. Crumbs fall down her chin onto her cute little bathing suit cover-up thingy. She’s opted out of her hot pink lollipop bikini for red and white kissy lips. My mind goes to that naughty place, and I picture my lips being where all those patterns are. Shit. I force my mind back to my grandmother.
“You hungry, bro?”
“Very.” I lick my lips at how perky her breasts look in that top. The way they bounce as she laughs at something June says.
“Yeah, I was meaning like a fucking donut or something.” Jason laughs, smacking me again on the back. “Man, you’ve got it bad, don’t you?”
I pull myself out of my daze, not realizing I just blamed my hunger on my girl. Fake girl. She is not mine. This is a paid relationship. As in not real with money involved. My shoulders slump slightly, and I nod to Jason. “Yeah, I’m thinking about keepin’ her,” I joke, knowing that’s a lie. Come Monday, I’ll be back to the norm: running the bar, playing in the band, and wondering where exactly it is I should be in my life.
Jerry walks by and hands me a donut, and I shove it in my mouth to keep myself from repeating my thoughts out loud. I continue to stare at Casey, dying to know what’s going through her head. Parts of last night replay in my head. The comment June made about Casey’s dad, for one, eats at my curiosity. It also brings up the hate I have for my own father. How money only ruins lives. I could have had it all, but I walked away from it. At thirty-two, I may be living on nickels and dimes, but I’m not under the claws of my asshole father.
I wonder if she dealt with the same shit.
Did she have a son of a bitch of a father like mine, who tried to control me with his power and wealth? Ruin our family because he was selfish and went outside his marriage for pleasure, killing my mother in the process? It’s been years since I’ve spoken to him, but the mere mention gets my blood boiling. Not once has he attempted to reach out. Show a sliver of interest in my life. A life he frowned upon. But I’d live a poor man’s life any day over being his puppet. He may not have control over my choices anymore, but one thing he, to this day, still holds power over is the way I deal with life. Just like him, I keep people at a distance. Trust is non-existent. I learned from a young age those who could be trusted were near and far. My father lied to me my entire life. He lied to my mother, and even after her death, that trust was tainted. But in the end, it made me who I am.
It was during the last year of high school, out of the blue one day, I picked up a guitar and realized I had a calling. I started to play, sing, write music. Not too long after, I joined a band. It didn’t pay the bills, but it soothed the loudness in my head—the anger I refused to let go of whenever my mind went to that dark place. Instead of the ritzy jobs my father tried to place me in, I picked up bartending jobs where I played.
Being propositioned by chicks came along with being in a band. I had my fair share of un-memorable one-night stands, but I was over it. It had been over a year since I took a girl home and gave in to meaningless sex. I just wasn’t
into it anymore.
I had been online trying to search for any entertainment gigs I could find when I ran across Casey’s ad. I first scrolled through it and laughed. The things people will pay for. The things people will do to get paid. I shook my head and continued, hitting up some dude who was willing to pay a solid three grand for a band to play at his kid’s graduation party. But then the ad was updated. I got notified since I’d clicked on it previously and saw the price increase. My eyes practically fell out of my sockets at the hike. I re-read the details, and thought how terrible could it be? I responded and that was that.
Had I been worried I’d be walking into a shitshow? Fuck yeah. The internet is a scary place. Half the crap is false, and nobody is who they say they are. Did I think I was walking into my own death? Yep. This could have been some creep wanting to saw me into pieces or steal my organs.
Did I expect to find a hot little brunette with an attitude and spark that almost blinded me? Fuck no. I’d be lying if I said I was disappointed. Far from it. On the outside, she was everything I pictured in someone I wanted as my girl. But then, she spoke and yelled and hit, and for a moment, I was second guessing my choice. She was hot, but it didn’t mean she still wasn’t a serial killer. The thought sat heavy on my mind on the way up to the lake. But the sweet scent of her hair as she slept on my shoulder kept the weird thoughts at bay. I told myself I could make it through the weekend, take my money, and use it to get some new equipment for the band, new stools for the bar, and it would be worth it. But now, peering around the room, I can’t imagine them not being my friends after this is over.
Casey must feel my eyes on her because she looks my way, wiping raspberry jelly off her lips.
“All right, everyone. It’s time,” Mick starts, addressing the room. “I know you’re all excited. Watching a shoot can be a very intense experience.”
Jason bursts out laughing, and Jerry throws a donut hole at Mick’s head.
“Hey! I just blew out my hair!” He swats away the powdered sugar on his forehead. “Let’s all get on the boat and head over. I want you all to know you’ll be treated like VIPs there. I’ve already told my team who you are.”
Poppy shakes her head and reaches for her beach bag. Everyone else starts gathering their things. I wait to see what Casey will do. That’s when she slides off the stool and begins to limp toward me.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” I laugh. Gotta give my girl credit. Faking a limp due to her soreness from the big guy. My chest fully expands with pride, and I smile wide as she makes her way to me. I pull her into my arms. “I’m flattered and all, but don’t you think the limp’s a bit much?” I snuggle her into my chest and kiss the top of her head.
“Flattering, I’m not,” she grumbles. “My foot got caught on the sheet and I tripped out of bed. I think I pulled my groin.” I start to laugh, and she slaps me in the chest. “It’s not funny! It hurts like hell.”
I look down at her sad little pouty face. Damn, she’s cute when she’s whiny. “Oh yeah?” I say, swiping a piece of hair off her cheek.
“Yeah.”
She whimpers when I bring my hand to her thigh. “Relax. Let me massage it out.” She starts to protest, but the second my fingers dig into her sore spot, she moans and leans into me.
“Oh yeah. Feels good.”
Probably not as good as it feels to have my hand on her warm, smooth skin. “How’s that?” I ask, keeping my dirty thoughts at bay. For once, my monster downstairs isn’t trying to poke at her and I’m genuinely concerned with helping her out.
“So much better. Thank you.” She pulls away from me, and I release my grip on her. “How’d you know how to do that?”
“I’m on my feet a lot. My muscles tend to cramp up sometimes. Plus, dehydration is a sign of muscle cramping. A good bartender taught me that once.”
“Oh.” There’s a small pause before she asks, “And what do you do that you’re on your feet all day?”
I guess this is where I tell her my truth, which is nowhere near a rich investor with rich tastes and even richer aspirations. I don’t get why I care so much what she thinks of me. It’s not as if this will go past our weekend agreement. Then again, the thought of us getting together after all this for a drink sometime sounds kind of nice. We only live a quick twenty-minute bus ride away from each other. It wouldn’t be hard to see each other more than once or twice.
“You gonna hold out on me, or am I right and you’re some kind of gigolo?”
Wait—what? “Gigolo? Uh…no. Actually, I’m—”
“You two coming?” Katie’s voice interrupts my response. “Everyone’s already in the boat, and Jerry’s taking bets on if you two are going for round two on destroying that headboard, which Mick made sure to point out is some sort of antique the owners were gifted by the Kardashians or some shit. ”
Casey’s mouth drops, while I laugh. “As in the Kardashians?” she squeals.
“Yep. That was my reaction. He also said to tell you if you break it, you buy it.”
“Uh…what? I don’t have the money to pay for that. What is it, like, a billion dollars?” Stress floods her features, and I take hold of her hand to ease her worry. She passed out way before any damage was done.
“Whatever you say. But hey, love is priceless, right?” Katie chuckles and backtracks down the hill.
“Tell them we are not destroying that headboard!” Casey yells to her back.
Katie doesn’t bother turning, just lifts her hand to wave. “Will do. Considering my bet was you two in the shower again. You two make some strange ass noises by the way.”
She opens her mouth to deny, but I pull her into my chest and press my fingers to her lips. “We’ll be right there,” I yell as she slaps my hand away and whips around, now sporting her angry face.
“What the heck? Now they’re gonna think I’m some sort of perv! And why the hell are you smiling?”
“For one, those strange noises were you trying to rap to Eminem while yacking. So, unless you’d rather them know that over thinking we’re in love and can’t keep our hands off each other—even if we enjoy making strange noises—then I suggest letting it go.”
She stands there in silence, her eyes doing all the talking. She’s pondering her choices, her brows creased. She might also be remembering hanging onto me naked in the shower while putting her fake microphone in my face to back up her lyrics while she puked.
“Ughhh… Whatever. Let’s just go.” She snatches her beach bag off the ground and storms out of the house while I follow close behind, humming “The Real Slim Shady.”
The sun is like a ball of fire, sizzling my skin, even with the breeze as we sail across the lake to Mick’s photoshoot location. Everyone is snuggled up with their significant others. Even Casey is on my lap. My fingers find her sore spot, and my thumb brushes along her inner thigh. I lean forward, taking in the fruity scent of her suntan lotion, and ask, “How’s the groin?”
“It’s better. Thanks,” she replies, pushing up her sunglasses.
I nod and lay back against the chair.
Another question strikes me, and I lean forward again.
“Why’d you think I was a gigolo?”
Her body stiffens. “I…uh, I thought—”
“We’re here!” Mick shouts. Everyone’s eyes focus on a small landing with a trail that leads up a hill. People with cameras and lighting equipment are everywhere. Forgotten is my curiosity of why my girl thought I was a male prostitute. In its place, the excitement and curiosity for what the hell we’re about to walk in to.
Mick docks the boat, and we all jump out. Assistants grab our things and help us up the long path. Mick starts barking orders, and everyone follows his lead as if he’s God. I’m in complete amazement watching a flock of hair and makeup people chase after him as he makes his way to a chair with his name across the back. When he sits, he’s attacked at all angles with brushes to his hair and face, someone plucking his eyebrows—
; “Jesus, he’s like—”
“Ridiculous?” Poppy comes up next to me.
I turn to her and nod. “Yes. I mean no! He’s…amazing.” I’m serious, if nothing comes of Casey and I, I may try to pursue him.
“I get what you mean. I was like you in the beginning, but I’m used to it now. They call him the Fabio of his time. Romance industry eats him up.” I turn back and watch a woman blow a single strand of his hair in place.
“Excuse me, Poppy, we’re ready. If we can have your group follow me to the waterfall…”
Poppy nods and waves for us all to follow. I give one last glance at Mick, who’s having his pecs massaged with oil. Dammit, he’s my new idol. I jog to catch up to Casey. When we make it to the waterfall, Casey starts to stall.
“Wait, we’re supposed to climb in the water with him?”
I shrug. “Guess so.” I grab her hand to climb down. We need to make sure to get a good spot.
“Yeah. I’m not so sure about this.”
I turn back. “Why not? It’s fine. Come on.” I’m starting to get impatient. Camera crews are taking up the good spots.
“It doesn’t really look safe…”
“Babe, it’s fine. Trust me.” I try to tug her this time, because now we’re going to be forced into the second row. Katie and Jerry pass us and get in the water no problem, while Jason gets smart and carries June. “Here. I’ll carry you down.” She continues to hesitate, but I finally get the okay and lift her in my arms, steadying myself as I make my way into the water. Right then, Mick appears. He has a whole crew behind him, holding a towel, umbrella, and spritzer.
My hero.
“You realize it’s creepy the way you look at him, right?”
I snap out of my haze. “Huh?”
Her arms wrap around my neck as I coddle her, possibly squeezing her butt a little tighter than necessary in case I accidently slip. “What’s it with Mick? You keep giving him the googly eyes.”
I catch sight of Mick. He’s swinging his hair around as flashing lights bounce off his oily chest and the rock wall of the waterfall. “Do I have to really explain?” I laugh and shake it off. “I’m kidding. I think you have some great friends. I’m just in awe, I guess. You’re lucky.”
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