“Is that what you really want, though? To be alone?” I ask softly. I feel like we’re having this life-changing moment in the middle of a Starbucks in downtown San Francisco, surrounded by strangers. It’s a total surreal moment.
“That’s what I thought.” He drops his head again, and I wish I could look into his eyes. “Then I met…you.”
Twenty-Five
Jared
I probably played my hand too quickly, but I am a desperate man. Back in the hotel restaurant, cranky from lack of sleep and dealing with a hangover, I didn’t even realize at first what I said or what I did to offend Candice so badly.
But that wasn’t even the worst of it. Candice will forgive me. She’s my sister. She always forgives me. It’s Sarah I offended the most. When she left the hotel, I panicked and chased after her, losing her once I got outside. Candice followed me, demanding I go find Sarah before I “screw up a good thing” and I quote.
Now Sarah and I are sitting at the table for two like we belong together, and damn it, I’m going to be honest with her. Real. Raw. I haven’t done this since I was with Evelyn, and that was over ten years ago.
Meaning I’m a little rusty at this confess my feelings thing
“What are you trying to say, Jared?” Her voice is soft, her blue eyes wide, her demeanor unsure. I keep her on edge, and she doesn’t like it.
She keeps me on edge too.
“I—like you.” Okay, that sounded lame. Like I’m confessing a middle school crush. “I care about you.”
“Like how?”
She’s not going to make this easy, is she? Well, I guess she shouldn’t.
“I want to be with you,” I admit, my voice low.
Sarah leans across the table, her gaze falling to my lips. “What did you say? I’m not sure if I heard you right.”
Is she playing me for a fool? It did just get busier in here. A big group of kids just came in, and they’re all so damn loud, I can hardly hear myself think.
“I said.” I clear my throat and start talking louder. “That I want to be with you, Sarah. For real.”
The moment I started making my confession, the teens quieted, shushed by the adults accompanying them, and I’m fairly certain everyone in the damn Starbucks heard me say I wanted to be with her.
Talk about putting me on the spot.
She’s smiling. Grinning, really. “You don’t have to yell at me, Jared.”
Growling, I give in to my urges and reach for her hand, lacing our fingers together. I need to cut to the chase. “Do you want to be with me?”
Her smile fades, her expression growing serious. Maybe even a little shy. “I do, but…not like this.”
“Not like what?” Fear makes my skin run cold and I grip her hand tighter, scared she might yank hers away and tell me to go fuck myself.
I’d deserve it for all I’ve put her through.
“You’re going to have to apologize to a few people before you’re off the hook with me,” she says.
I stare into her beautiful blue eyes, hoping she can see the sincerity on my face, hear it in my voice. “I’m sorry.”
“I know you are, and I believe you, but I’m the least of your troubles.” She withdraws her hand from mine and starts ticking off everyone I need to acknowledge. “You need to apologize to your sister.”
“I already did,” I start, but Sarah shakes her head, cutting me off.
“I want to witness that one.”
“Fine,” I mumble. It’s not easy for me to apologize. I don’t say sorry very often, so this is going to be a major moment for me.
“You need to apologize to your stepmom for not letting her get to know you.” She holds out another finger. “To your father, for being rude to his wife all these years.”
I grimace. I don’t want to apologize to Mitzi or to my father about Mitzi. Why should I have to?
“I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong,” Sarah says, her voice stern. Now she’s the one laying down the law. “You’ve shunned her for years, which means you’ve also shunned your father. She’s a part of his life whether you like it or not. He loves her. You need to learn how to accept her and care about her as well.”
That sounds impossible, but no way am I going to tell her that.
“And you need to apologize to your brother.”
I’m incredulous. “What did I do to Kevin?”
“Candice told me how you always avoid his calls. He’s your brother, Jared. He’s the only one you’ve got. Why would you cut off your family when they love you and want you to be a part of their lives? That’s not fair to them, or to you.” Her expression turns sad, and seeing her like this makes my chest ache. “You know what it’s like to lose someone. Why would you deprive yourself of spending time with your family, when we only have so many years on this earth? You could lose your brother tomorrow. What would you do if that happened? How would that make you feel?”
She’s right. I know she is. Everything she says makes perfect sense. But this shit is going to be hard. I’ve cut everyone off for years. I can’t just walk into that engagement party tonight with open arms, an open mind, and open heart.
“This is going to take baby steps,” I tell her, hoping like hell she’ll understand. “I’m not making excuses. I’m just trying to be real with you.”
“Thank you for being honest.” Her eyes are positively glowing. I think she likes that she’s getting a commitment out of me.
Not a commitment to her, but a commitment to myself. And my family. What she wants is totally selfless.
I can’t help but admire her.
“I won’t be able to ask for everyone’s forgiveness tonight,” I tell her. “That will be—too much for me.”
“I know. But just seeing you making an effort and trying to be nice to everyone will be so worth it. It’ll make my heart happy.” She’s smiling again, a faint curl of her lips, and I love seeing her like this.
I remember how she greeted me in the hotel restaurant earlier. That easy smile, how she wrapped her arms around my neck and waited for me to kiss her. I want that. I want that every day, if I can get it.
“I can do it.” I reach for her hand once more and give it another squeeze. “I’ll do that for you.”
“You shouldn’t do it for me, you should do it for yourself.” It’s her turn to squeeze my hand and we sit there for a few seconds, me losing myself in the depth of her eyes, until I finally shake my head.
“Can we get out of here? I’m freezing my ass off,” I admit, making her laugh.
If I had my choice, I’d do whatever it takes to make her laugh like that as much as possible.
Twenty-Six
Sarah
My brother begged for your forgiveness, right?
I smile at the text Candice just sent. Talk about restraint. What happened in the hotel restaurant was hours ago, and she’s only just now asking me about it?
Jared and I left Starbucks and went back to the suite, where he changed into warmer clothes. Then we snuck off by ourselves and had an early lunch at a cute little Italian place not too far from the hotel. The food was delicious, as was the company. We didn’t talk about family or mistakes or any of that kind of stuff. Instead, we chatted about the most trivial things you could imagine. Favorite sports team. Favorite movie. Favorite TV show. Favorite color.
You know, the stuff you talk about when you first start dating and you’re trying to get to know each other.
We kept it light and easy, and I had the best time. I think he did too. We walked around for a bit after lunch, holding hands and looking in store windows, before we finally made our way back to the hotel.
Realizing I need to answer Candice, I send her a quick text back.
He did.
Her response is immediate.
Good. I told him he had to go fix things before you left him forever. That seemed to light a fire under his butt.
I’m glad you told him that, I type. Would he have chased after me w
ithout Candice’s encouragement? I think so, but…
Then again who knows? He’s very stubborn.
Candice sends me another text.
You forgave him?
Yes. He groveled and there’s more groveling involved, but we’re good.
I smile and send my text, giddy that I can actually mean what I’m saying.
This isn’t pretend, what’s happening between Jared and me. He actually likes me. And I like him. I might be setting myself up for failure, but I really don’t think so. I think in the end, he’s going to be worth it.
So worth it.
Another text arrives from Candice.
Yay! So glad. See you at the party?
Yes Can’t wait.
“Who are you texting?”
I glance up as Jared approaches the couch where I’m sitting. I set my phone on the end table and smile up at him. “Your sister.”
He frowns. “What’s she saying?”
“That she’s glad I’m making you grovel.” I laugh at the scowl that appears on his face. It’s like he can’t help himself. Though I wouldn’t change his growly ways. I think he’s cute when he does this.
“She would like that,” he mutters.
“Don’t forget you’re apologizing to her again tonight,” I remind him.
“Oh, I won’t forget. I know you won’t let me.” He lifts his chin in my direction. “Can I sit with you?”
“Sure.”
He sits on the couch, and not on the other end either. Not in the center. No, he plants himself right next to me. So close, he’s pressed up against my side, and I’m pressed up against his. He lifts his arm, stretching it out on the couch behind my head, and I glance up at him, then drop my head, feeling shy.
Okay, this is nice. And unexpected. Though I shouldn’t be surprised, I guess. He confessed that he likes me. That he wants to be with me. That could be interpreted in a multitude of ways, but I like to think that he wants to be with me in a serious relationship. That’s how he’s acting at least. Both now and during lunch. On the walk home. In the elevator on the way up to the suite.
And while that’s what I want too, it’s still kind of weird for us to be affectionate with each other on purpose.
Like now, with him sitting so close, I could practically crawl into his lap.
I wouldn’t mind crawling into his lap. I wonder what he might do…
“The cogs are turning in your brain.” He taps his index finger gently against my temple. “What are you thinking?”
I shake my head, my cheeks growing warm. “You don’t want to know.”
“Now I definitely want to know.” His arm drops so it’s around my shoulders, his fingers stroking along my upper arm. “Tell me.”
“I was thinking about how much I want to sit your lap.”
He’s quiet for a moment before he murmurs, “What’s stopping you?”
Nothing, I think as I do as exactly what I want. I reach for him, straddling his thighs, settling my butt right on top of them as I rest my hands on his shoulders. We still have some time, but we probably should be getting ready for tonight’s engagement party. I wanted to take a shower and wash my hair, and that means I have to dry it, which is a total chore, especially with crappy hotel hair dryers.
But I don’t care about any of that right now. I want to test the chemistry Jared and I share. I know we’ve been playing as a couple for the past twenty-four hours, but I want to see what it’s like when we’re doing this for real. When there’s no one else around.
Just the two of us.
In a hotel suite.
Alone.
He’s big. Solid. I squeeze his shoulders. Run my hands down his arms, squeezing his biceps. They’re hard as rocks. “Do you work out?” I teasingly ask him.
Jared chuckles, his eyes sparkling. This is the most relaxed I think I’ve ever seen him. “Is that a pickup line you’re using on me?”
I pretend scowl at him. “It is a sincere question, Mr. Gaines. You have very firm muscles.”
His mouth kicks up on one side in the cutest smirk ever. “Back to the formalities yet again, Miss Harrison?”
I nod, unable to take my hands off his biceps. “We sure are, Mr. Gaines. As I told you before, I think you like it when we speak to each other like this.”
“You think so, hmm?”
Nodding, I lean in, positioning my mouth right at his ear as I whisper, “Truthfully? I think you get off on it. Mr. Gaines.”
He turns his head the slightest bit, our mouths level with each other. I can feel his breath feathering across my lips, and now I’m the one who’s aroused. “Miss Harrison, you really believe I get off on this type of thing?”
Oh shit. He’s making me doubt myself. “Maybe?” I ask.
With the slightest shift, his mouth is on mine. And all I can think is finally. Finally, a real kiss from the Mr. Jared Gaines. We start with one kiss. Two. Lips coming together. Pulling apart. Breaths quickening. Bodies shifting. Lips parting. More. More. Until our tongues are touching. Sliding against each other.
His arms come around and pull me in closer, until my body is flush with his. I wind my arms around his neck, my fingers sliding into his thick, soft hair, and he groans against my lips.
That agonized sound sends an electrical current racing through my veins, landing right between my thighs. I readjust my position, pressing my pelvis more firmly against his, and he growls low in his throat. His mouth becomes hungry, the kiss turns deeper, and our hands begin wandering.
Everywhere.
We kiss for minutes. Hours. I’m not sure exactly how much time passes, but when we finally come up for air, I tilt my head to the side, breathing heavily as Jared runs his lips along the length of my neck.
“You smell fucking amazing,” he whispers against my throat, just before he nips me with his teeth, making me shiver.
“So do you,” I murmur, giggling when he kisses my ear. Bites it. Nuzzles it.
“I haven’t done something like this since I don’t know when,” he confesses.
“What do you mean?”
He grabs my face with both of his hands, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Kiss a woman like this, expecting it to go nowhere else.”
“There’s nothing better than a good old-fashioned make-out session,” I tell him, turning my head so I can press a kiss to his palm.
“I agree, as long as the make-out session involves you.” He kisses me again, and I feel like I’m drowning. Drowning in his taste, his tongue, his hands, his body, his sweet, sweet words. I could lose myself with this man so easily, and knowing that he has that much power over me is quite frankly…
Terrifying.
But exhilarating, all at the same time.
After a few minutes of more kissing, and more touching—Jared is this close to approaching first base—I pull away, needing to catch my breath. Calm my racing heart. “I should probably start getting ready,” I tell him.
He brushes my hair away from my shoulder, his fingers tangling in the strands. “We don’t have to be there for hours.”
“It starts at seven?” I don’t know why I’m asking. I already know it most definitely starts at seven.
“Yeah, but we don’t have to be there on time.” He pauses. “Though I do have a thing for punctuality.”
“Right.” I lightly sock him in the shoulder. “And don’t you forget it.” Leaning over him, I tap my phone screen to see that it is currently 4:45. “It’s almost five. I need to take a shower. Wash my hair. Dry it. Straighten it. It’s a process, Jared. And I need to get on it.”
“You look beautiful just as you are right now,” he says, his voice, the glow in his eyes gentle. Sweet. Like he might be a little over the moon for me.
It’s a great feeling.
“You’re a sweet talker when you want to be. But I really need to go.” I press a kiss to his cheek and then climb off of him, noting the impressive bulge beneath the black joggers he changed into when we got back to the hotel r
oom.
Hmm. I can’t dwell on that now. We have plenty of time to explore each other later.
I’m downright giddy at the thought.
Twenty-Seven
Jared
There is nothing like a make-out session on a couch with the woman who drives you crazy with lust. Though she definitely makes me feel other things too, it was definitely all about the lust while we kissed and kissed. I wanted to take it a little further, but I didn’t want to push. Not yet.
I’ll push tonight. After we get this party over with and all the pressure of having to look like the perfect romantic couple is off of us.
Though it won’t be a difficult task for us any longer. I want us to be a romantic couple. I pretty much think we are a romantic couple.
And I’m pretty certain Sarah feels the same way.
Once she left the living room to take a shower, I went to take my own shower, where I also jerked off to the mental image of Sarah wearing the panties with the heart-shaped cutout in the butt. Sarah, smiling at me as she slowly turns around to show me her perfect ass on total display.
It doesn’t take long once I imagine her on her knees in front of me, wearing nothing but those skimpy panties. Jesus.
Last night when I jerked off before I went to sleep, I used the moment when I saw her curling her hair wearing nothing but that black bra and the matching panties. And like an idiot, I panicked. Plus, she was wielding a hot curling iron in her hand, so I knew I had to be careful.
Seeing her like that turned into perfect fantasy material for later.
This is what she drives me to do. Jerk off in a hotel when it’s just the two of us in this suite. Any other woman and I would’ve dropped all pretenses and finesse. I would’ve asked her if she wanted to fuck, I can almost guarantee she would’ve said yes, and we would’ve done exactly that.
Fake Date Page 18