by Laura Pavlov
“Does Ford know you’re here?”
“No. But I’m going to go upstairs and surprise him. Laney and Harrison picked me up. Har had a meeting with Ford, and Laney came to check on me.”
“Where is she?”
“In back in the freezer taking inventory for me,” she said, moving around the counter and dropping to sit in a chair.
“Laney Mae,” I shouted before taking a bite of the world’s best red velvet cupcake.
“What’s up, Jack-ass?”
“Not much. Just dropped in for a sugar boost and a cup of coffee. Where’s Kourtney?” Kourtney was working full-time to cover for Harley while she was out on maternity leave and she’d been promoted to manager per my brother’s urging.
“I’m in back making a few batches of butter cookies,” Kourtney said from the back room.
Laney Mae handed me a coffee and we both pulled up a chair to sit with Harley before I had to head upstairs.
“You do realize Kourtney’s my first employee that you haven’t hooked up with, which is why she hasn’t had a meltdown and quit yet.”
“Give her time.” I laughed before holding my hands in the air. “I’m kidding. I’m in a relationship, remember?”
Someone cleared their throat from behind me, and I turned to see Monroe moving past me and walking toward the counter. Her shoulders were stiff, and she barely gave me a side glance. Had she overheard our conversation? She was pissed because I used to hit on girls before I started fake dating her. Are you kidding me?
“Hey Monroe, good to see you.” Harley pushed to her feet and hugged her. “You look gorgeous today.”
She did. She always did. She wore dark jeans, a pink blouse, and sky-high heels. Her hair was in some sort of twist, and she looked fucking beautiful.
Laney Mae moved around the counter and grabbed a muffin and a coffee for Monroe before hugging her goodbye as well.
“Do you want to join us?” I asked, pulling up another chair.
She scowled at me. “I know you like to hang out and hit on all of the employees here, but the rest of us have actual work to do.” She turned to my sisters-in-law with her friendly smile. “Have a great day. Thanks for breakfast.”
She glared at me one more time before leaving the bakery.
Jesus. I couldn’t win with this girl.
“I have to say, I’m on the fence with this whole fake relationship,” Harley said with a laugh, dropping back down to sit beside me.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know how fake it is, honestly. Maybe it’s my hormones, but there is some serious sexual tension between you two.” Harley raised a brow at me before rubbing her oversized belly.
I rolled my eyes. “Did you just witness the same thing I did? The girl hates me ninety percent of the time.”
“Um, that was not hate. That was pure jealousy. I think she heard Harley talking about you dating her staff. Fake girlfriends don’t care if their fake boyfriend is hitting on other women. Trust me, Jack-ass, there’s something there and I’m totally down with it. I like her for you. She holds her own and doesn’t have patience for your shit,” Laney Mae said, groaning as she took a bite of the brownie she’d chosen from the display case.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re insane. We have the fundraiser for Simon Reynolds tonight, so she’ll need to put on a smile and act like we’re together.”
“I’m with Laney on this one. There’s something there,” Harley said, reaching for her water.
“You’re both crazy. But I still love you.” I pushed to my feet.
“So, you have no feelings for her. None at all?” Harley pressed.
“Sure, I like her. She’s Buck’s little sister.”
“That’s not what I asked. Do you like her, or do you like her?”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course, I like her. What’s not to like? She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s gorgeous.”
“I knew it.” Laney Mae fist-pumped the sky.
“Knew what? She’s a friend. Nothing could ever come of it.”
“Because she’s Buck’s sister?” Harley asked.
“That among other things.”
“So, what if she wasn’t Buck’s sister? Would you ask her out?” Laney Mae pressed.
I thought about it. And the answer was easy. “Yeah. I would.”
Harley clapped her hands together. “Like you’d want to date her?”
“I am dating her.”
“You’re fake dating her,” Laney said. “And you like it, don’t you?”
I chuckled. “It’s fine. It can’t go anywhere, and she hates me, trust me.”
“She definitely does not hate you,” Laney Mae said.
“How do you know?”
“I just know. I see the way you look at one another. The playful banter. The jealous outbursts. It’s impossible to miss.”
“I’m leaving. This is ridiculous. You’re trying to prove that I like my fake girlfriend who I could never date, so the conversation is pretty pointless.”
“Jack,” Harley called out.
“Yeah?”
“I think Buck would understand, you know, if you ever wanted to date her for real.” Harley pushed to her feet and braced her hands on her lower back.
“You couldn’t be more wrong. Would you want your little sister to date me?”
“I don’t have a sister,” Harley said.
“Neither do I. But if I did… you’d be my pick for her to date, Jack-ass. If you were into her, that is.” Laney Mae winked before tossing her napkin in the garbage.
“I’m out, girls. See you later.”
“Love you,” they both called out and I laughed as I made my way to the elevators.
I thought about our conversation. Did I like Monroe? Sure. I liked her. More than just as my fake girlfriend. I liked being around her. Hell, I didn’t even mind going without sex, because she preoccupied my thoughts.
Would Buck ever be okay with me taking her out for real?
Hell no.
I knew the answer before I even had to think about it.
Not to mention, she dated boring herbs. She was annoyed with me more than she wasn’t. It would never work.
Didn’t stop me from wondering what she’d wear tonight.
Nor from getting excited that I’d be alone with her in a few hours.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Monroe Buckley was gorgeous on a normal day, but tonight… tonight she was breathtaking. She wore a black spaghetti strap satin gown that clung to her body, with a low plunging front. Her perfect tits hid behind the thin silk, and I couldn’t stop staring at them. At her. At all of her. The dress hugged her feminine curves in all the right places, and my dick was on high alert. Eager and observant and needy as fuck.
But she was off-limits.
Try telling him that.
Our fingers intertwined between us as I led her through the crowd. Several heads turned to stare as we walked through the packed party. Our photos had been splashed all over social media as this was the first time I was seen out consistently with the same woman. I didn’t mind it at all. Her floor-length gown blended with the other dresses in the room, but Monroe stood out. Just like she always did. Her hair was pulled back in a low twist at the nape of her neck, and I’d been lost in the smell of lavender and honey on the drive over.
“There he is,” she whisper-shouted before tugging on my hand to make sure I heard her.
I beelined for Simon, and he looked up to see me coming and turned his attention my way.
“Jack Montgomery, so nice to see you. I have a few calls in to your brother, but he can’t seem to find time for me. I want to make sure I have the support of Montgomery Media behind me moving forward with the election. How about we grab lunch this week?” He reeked of bourbon. Surprising, seeing a
s this was an event for his campaign. He was obviously feeling the heat right now, and not handling it well. At least that was my observation as he appeared more frazzled than usual.
“Call the office and we’ll get you on the schedule. This is my girlfriend, Monroe Buckley.”
She extended her hand, but she didn’t smile. “Hello, Senator Reynolds. I believe we’ve met before when I was interning at CBS.”
“No, I don’t believe I’d ever forget meeting such a beautiful lady. Your relationship is making quite the splash on social media. You must be some woman,” Simon said, licking his lips, and his gaze ran the length of Monroe’s body, zeroing in on her chest. My free hand fisted and I squeezed her hand in mine with the other. Before I could stop myself, my hand slid down her body and wrapped around her hip caressing it as I pulled her closer. Tucking her beside me.
Mine.
“Get your fucking eyes off of her tits before I lose my shit,” I said, surprising all three of us by the anger in my voice.
“Montgomery,” she whisper-hissed, her gaze searching mine.
But Simon didn’t miss a beat as his head fell back in laughter. “You always were the fun Montgomery brother. You’re actually my favorite. Your brothers are a bit uptight for me. And you know me well, don’t you, son? If she doesn’t want me looking at her perfect tits, she shouldn’t wear a dress like that.”
“Ah, I see. You think she’s asking for you to take her in like she’s your next meal, you sick fuck. That shit might work with everyone else, but she’s off-limits, do you hear me?” The man was old enough to be Monroe’s father, yet he was taking her in like he was ready to devour her. But this wasn’t some dark sex club, and she wasn’t available. My blood boiled and rage coursed my veins with fury.
“Loud and clear. You’ve got a live one here, young lady. You best rein him in. And now you’ve got my number when you get sick of him,” Simon said, handing her a card, leaning close to Monroe and keeping a fake-ass smile plastered to his face.
“If we weren’t in public, I’d knock you the fuck out,” I hissed, looking around to make sure no one was listening.
“And if we weren’t in public, I’d have your girl in the bathroom where I’d be banging her brains out.”
That was it. I swung before I could stop myself. Simon flew backward with disbelief and Monroe gasped. This was about Monroe’s honor—hell, women everywhere shouldn’t have to put up with this womanizing bullshit.
He crashed into a group of men, who helped to stop him from hitting the ground. He burst out in laughter and waved his hands in the air as he wiped the blood from his lip. “It’s all in good fun. I’m fine.”
Monroe tore his card into tiny pieces and tossed them in the air. “If we weren’t in public, I’d be backing up my boyfriend while he knocked your ass out, you asshole.”
“Damn straight, Blue Jay.”
I took her hand and led her out of the stuffy, haughty joint, and made our way out to where Big Tony stood outside the car.
“Short night, boss?”
Monroe and I hadn’t said a word yet. “Something like that, Big T.”
We slipped into the car and Monroe burst out in laughter. “Well, that was a bust.”
“He’s a fucking piece of shit.”
“He’s not going to make it as the front-runner come election day. He’s coming apart at the seams already,” she said.
“You’re right about that. I don’t even know what the hell just happened. The way he looked at you. Jesus. The man has no shame. He sure as shit didn’t hide the fact that he wanted you. And his wife and kids were in the room. What the fuck is wrong with him?”
She shrugged. “Thanks for defending me. My boobs have never garnered so much attention. Thirsty Thelma would be so proud.”
She laughed.
I didn’t.
“He shouldn’t have spoken to you that way. Hell, he shouldn’t have looked at you like that. I’ll fucking knock him out next time I see him, and he won’t get up so easily.”
“You’re an awfully good fake boyfriend, Jack Montgomery.”
“You’re not so bad yourself, Little Bird.”
My phone buzzed, and I knew who it was before I looked at it.
“Ford,” I said, leaning back in my seat as Monroe instructed Big Tony to take us to In-N-Out burger for some food.
Damn, this girl was perfect.
“Did you seriously just punch out a presidential candidate?” Ford asked. My brother had eyes and ears all over the place. I guess it came with owning a media company. He had a pulse on the entire city at all times and he rarely missed a beat.
“Simon Reynolds is an asshole. You should have heard the shit that came out of his mouth,” I said.
“I forgot to give you a heads-up. I was asked this afternoon if we were going to support him as the presidential candidate—I told them he wasn’t someone I could give my support to, nor did I believe my brothers could. Word must have traveled fast. What did he say?”
“He talked about Blue Jay’s tits and how he’d like to bang her in the bathroom.”
Monroe covered her ears and shook her head. “Not anything I ever want to think about.”
“That piece of shit. At a fucking campaign party with his wife and kids there? What the fuck is wrong with this guy?”
“You name it. He’s a twisted fuck. I think it’s safe to say that everyone now knows that the Montgomery family will not be supporting Simon Reynolds come election day, not that I think he’s going to even make it that far.” The guy was a loose cannon. He was going to blow himself up long before votes were cast.
“Sorry for putting you in that situation. Is Monroe all right?”
“Yeah, she’s not too fazed by it.”
“Okay. Send her my apologies and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“In-N-Out for a vegetarian?” I asked once I ended the call.
“I get the burger without meat. It’s like a grilled cheese. And they have the best fries.”
I laughed. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Relax, Montgomery. This is not the first slimebag I’ve dealt with. I’m fine.”
I filled her in on what Ford said, and we sat in the back of the car eating burgers and grilled cheese and reminiscing about the night. Big Tony’s order was double both of ours, but he was part of the family and I enjoyed his company.
Fake or real, being with Monroe was the best relationship I’d ever had.
And I wasn’t in any hurry for it to end.
Chapter Twelve
Monroe
The press had a field day with photos from the campaign party for Simon Reynolds. Fortunately, Jack’s interaction with him barely made the evening’s highlights. Simon’s wife was caught in the pool house with her trainer, and the pictures did not leave much to the imagination. His son had been arrested for a DUI only a block away from their home during the party, and Simon was caught with his pants down in the kitchen pantry with his daughter’s best friend.
If you looked up shitshow in the dictionary, I was fairly certain you’d see a photo of the Reynolds family the night of the campaign party.
My phone buzzed on my desk and I picked it up.
“Get your ass down to the conference room, Blue Jay,” my fake boyfriend said, and my heart rate picked up at the sound of his voice.
“There must be a more polite way to ask me.”
“Reynolds is about to make an on-air statement. So, like I said, get your ass over here,” he said before ending the call.
So bossy.
I jumped to my feet and ran down the hall. Ford and Jack both stood in the back of the room staring at the TV, and Dan Arbor followed me in.
“I’m guessing he’s going to try to do some damage control from the disastrous weekend, but I don’t see how he can fix it at this poin
t.” Dan moved to stand beside Jack.
“I think he’s way past damage control,” Ford said.
“Come here, Blue Jay.” Jack stepped back so I could slide in beside him. Ford turned to study us, and I stiffened beneath his watchful gaze. We were supposed to be dating, but Jack wanting me beside him had very little to do with that, and I think Ford knew it. We’d grown close. We were friends. He wasn’t as annoying as I’d once thought. And the way he’d stood up for me at Simon Reynolds’ home had not gone unnoticed. There were very few people that I let into my circle, but Jack Montgomery had made his way in.
We all turned our attention back to the television, as Simon Reynolds took to the podium. He wore a sharp navy suit and looked the part of the perfect future leader. But we all knew differently now. He definitely had makeup covering his altercation with Jack, but I noted the slight bruising around his lip.
“I’d like to apologize to the people of San Francisco, and to my supporters. My actions were apprehensible, and something that I plan to work on in the future. At this time, I would like to take my name out of the running for the office of president in the next election. My family and I ask that you respect our privacy at this difficult time as we focus on rebuilding the strong family unit that we once were, and hope to be again. Thank you.”
At least I wouldn’t have to make any more visits to The Dark Temptress, as this story had come to an abrupt end. I didn’t get an article out of it, but I wasn’t going to give up that easily. There were always more stories, and the next one would not be far off.
“That might be the fastest fall from grace yet,” Dan said with a chuckle.
“Nah. He’s been on a slippery slope for a long time. It all just caught up with him.” Ford looked down at his phone when it buzzed. His face visibly paled. “I have to go. Harley’s on her way to the hospital. Her water broke.”
Harley was scheduled for a C-section tomorrow, so her timing was spot on. I clasped my hands together and smiled. I was happy for them. And the poor girl was ready to burst, so I knew she was ready.