Faking for Her

by Roberts, Emma

  Faking for Her

  Emma Roberts

  Contents

  Introduction

  1. Laney

  2. Cole

  3. Laney

  4. Cole

  5. Laney

  6. Cole

  7. Laney

  8. Cole

  9. Laney

  10. Cole

  11. Laney

  12. Cole

  13. Laney

  14. Cole

  15. Laney

  16. Cole

  17. Laney

  18. Cole

  19. Laney

  20. Cole

  Introduction

  I need a fiancé.

  He wants redemption.

  It's just temporary... what could go wrong?

  My pampered, spoiled little sister is getting a dream wedding and I need a date.

  One that would make things even with my family.

  Like my high school crush.

  The kind of cocky arrogant jerk that your parents love to hate.

  It’s been a while…

  And I hate the fact that I still love him.

  My family hates him now as much as they did back then.

  Fake dating him is a terrible idea, but it feels so good.

  Falling for him wasn't part of the plan.

  Nor is the life changing surprise that's about to change everything...

  1

  Laney

  “Fuck, no. I’m not doing that.” Cole glared at me like he wished I’d sink into the dirt and disappear out of his life again, like I had all those years ago. Even though his shirt was soaked through with sweat, he seemed to exude the same scent as the air around us—evergreens and earth.

  Early morning fog clung to the still surface of Lake Marie as I planted a hand on my hip and glared back at him.

  Sweat rained from his forehead—I’d interrupted his jog—as his eyes focused on something in the distance. Or maybe not even in the distance, maybe in the past.

  The boy I’d known had grown into a man.

  A man every bit as stubborn and pigheaded as the boy had been.

  But, damn, the man he’d grown into was every bit as attractive as I always thought he’d be. Tall enough that I had to tip my head back to look at him, his dark hair was cut short, his deep blue eyes—currently throwing sparks—were offset by his olive-colored skin. His looks had nothing to do with my asking him for the favor.

  “It’s not a big deal.” My heart stopped dead in my chest as his attention swung around and locked on me. I struggled to get the rest out. “I’m not asking you to marry me.”

  “No, you’re asking me to pretend to be your boyfriend. That’s low, even for you.”

  I flinched, feeling as if I’d been slapped. Swallowing back the anger by gritting my teeth, I tried to keep my tone calm. “What do you mean by that?”

  He gave a little shake of his head and cursed under his breath as he stepped past me and moved back into his jog, leaving me behind.

  Underfoot, the wooden chips of the well-maintained trail were dark from last night’s late spring rain as I wandered to a bench and sat down.

  Staring at the lake, I grumbled, “I hope you trip.”

  I didn’t really want him to trip. I just wanted him to help me and he was being a stubborn ass. And what I needed really wasn’t a big deal.

  I’d been thrown back into the past for a moment when he passed me in his truck and turned into the state of Oregon’s Umpqua Lighthouse Park. All those years ago, back in high school, he’d run around this lake every day. Part of me had been glad to know that he still did. I’d pulled into the parking lot to say hi, since I hadn’t seen him in around six years. That had been when the idea hit me like a lightning strike. By the time I’d found his truck, though, he was long gone down the hill toward the lake trail.

  Now, he was on his second loop. And sitting around wasn’t going to help me in any way.

  With a sigh, I stood and walked down the trail in the opposite direction he was running, so we’d cross paths eventually. I wasn’t going to give up that easy.

  Around me, the trees pressed in close, creating a sense of privacy. The scent of damp earth assaulted my senses, soothing the nerves he’d rocked.

  A few minutes later, Cole crested a steep hill. When his deep-set, dark blue eyes met mine, his shoulders dropped a tiny bit.

  I stiffened my spine. “I’m not going to give up.”

  He didn’t stop, so I moved into a jog to keep up with him. It was the most athletic action my yoga pants had seen since I bought them.

  “Look, I need your help.” I knew I didn’t have long before I would get winded and not be able to keep up with him. In my opinion, running wasn’t a sport, but torture. “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

  He came to an abrupt stop and I almost tripped trying to slow so quickly. Gracelessly skidding on the woodchips, I turned to him.

  “Do you even remember what happened the last time you brought me home?” His voice was more bitter than truck-stop coffee.

  I scrunched up my nose. “I was hoping you’d forgotten about that.” I squinted up at him as the sun broke through the fog and splashed onto the trail around us.

  The thin, flat line of his lips told me he hadn’t forgotten. Not only had he not forgotten, but the fresh anger in his eyes startled me.

  He took a step closer and I instinctively stepped back, my heart jackhammering my ribs—not with fear, but excitement. Yep, Cole Wilder still did funny things to my heart rate.

  When he spoke, his voice was little more than a growl, and a shiver shook me to the core. “You hoped I forgot that your dad cursed at me to get the fuck out of their house?”

  My response came out as a choked squeak.

  His eyes slashed back and forth between mine. “You thought I’d forget that your dad told me to stay away from you?”

  I wondered if a person could collapse under the weight of hatred. I swallowed. “I’m an adult now. I can do what I want.”

  He snorted. “What is so important, you think I’d forgive all of that and help you?” The silken growl of his voice made my brain set off screaming sirens.

  “My sister is getting married.” Just saying the words caused a pain in my esophagus, as if someone were wrapping their long fingers around my throat.

  His eyes narrowed dangerously. “I don’t give a fuck about your spoiled little sister.”

  That was the point. He didn’t. My perfect little sister’s voice echoed in my head, more venom in her voice than a thousand rattlers had in their bites. You have to bring a date to my wedding. She’d known full well I wasn’t seeing anyone.

  “Please?” The sting of tears in my eyes stunned me. Was I really going to cry right here, right now—in front of Cole Wilder? The guy I’d been in love with throughout high school, before I graduated and moved to the next town over?

  He cursed sharply and looked away from me. The air around me cooled as he backed off a step, staring into the lake like it held all the answers.

  The sensation of my heart breaking in my chest warned me that I apparently had more feelings for him than I’d remembered. And the fact that he clearly hated me cut me to the bone.

  “I’m not your friend, Laney. I’m not your boyfriend, and I’m definitely not the kind of scum you think I am. I don’t make it a habit to lie.” His words hurt, but not as much as the way he was looking at me. Like I was nothing more than a brown pile on his lawn left by someone who didn’t curb their pet. He lowered his voice. “Especially about something like being engaged in love.”

  Just hearing him talk about being in love made my heart stutter. I nodded. “But this is important. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

  “It’s re
ally not.” He ran a hand through his damp hair and I enjoyed the way his muscles slid effortlessly under his skin. “Just go alone, or refuse to go. Solved that for you.”

  He turned like he was going to start jogging again, but I stepped in front of him.

  “You know how spoiled she is.” I almost choked on the words and the lump they formed in my throat.

  My parents had always loved my perfect sister more than me. She was prettier, smaller, and had this way of putting people under a freaking spell. Everyone loved her. I faded into the background every time she came into a room.

  “Not my problem.”

  He took a big step forward, and I took a step back, still blocking his path—as if I could keep him here talking to me until I changed his mind.

  “It has to be you.”

  “Why?” His tone was suspicious. Then his eyes lit as it clicked, and his whole body relaxed as an angry smile tugged at the corners of his lips. His eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms. “Oh, I get it. Your parents hate me. So you’re going to get back at them by bringing me as your boyfriend.”

  Exactly.

  But it sounded so much uglier when he said it. Much worse than it had in my head.

  “Look, don’t attend the wedding. You think people won’t notice? They will.” His arms dropped to his sides. “That’ll teach them.”

  “My family would never let me get away with that. I’d have to drop off the face of the earth forever if I did that.”

  My parents weren’t the type to give up, and my sister had their total support. Short of being in a hospital bed in a coma, there was no way I could get out of going to my sister’s wedding. Taking Cole as my boyfriend had seemed like the saving grace, the Hail Mary I needed to make everything work out in my favor. But I wasn’t getting anywhere.

  I took a step closer to him, until he was so near I could feel the heat radiating off him again. He narrowed his eyes and tensed like he was ready to bolt.

  “Look, I know you’re not the asshole you’re pretending to be. Everyone had you all wrong back then, and they still do.” I’d always seen past the perpetual glare he wore to the heart of him. He was a good guy deep down, I knew that as well as I knew my own thoughts.

  “You don’t know shit about me.” His laser glare sliced through the trees surrounding the trail.

  “I know you are a nice guy, and that you used to like me.”

  He made a rude sound with his nose, and his arms crossed over his chest.

  I pushed on. “You’re still a good guy, under this facade you’re putting up.” I reached up to touch his arm, but he jerked away and took a half step back. “And I know you’re going to make the right choice and help me out here. For old time’s sake?” Maybe that last line was too much.

  Swallowing hard, hardly able to catch my breath, I peered up into his dark blue eyes. My heart galloped like a racehorse in my chest. My skin flashed hot and cold with excitement, and the heat in my cheeks contrasted with the chill in the air. Confusing signals were popping off like fireworks in my system.

  I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. His gaze lowered to my lips and I silently begged him to kiss me.

  Yep, I still had feelings for him.

  Apparently he had feelings for me too, but not the ones I’d hoped for.

  “Please?” I was begging. I’d stooped to begging. Great.

  His eyes ticked back to mine and he gave his head a little shake. “You’re really not getting it, are you?”

  My heart sank, along with my hopes, as he leaned in so his face was inches from mine. He spoke slowly, in that rich, thick tone of voice that left me weak in the knees.

  “I’m not going to pretend to be your boyfriend so you can get back at your parents for loving your sister more.”

  2

  Cole

  “I’ll follow you home if I have to.” Laney stood with both hands on the hood of my truck—which I’d backed into the parking space—her body tensed for battle.

  I didn’t doubt her for a second.

  But I couldn’t get my goddamned eyes off the sexy curve of her ass. I’d stared at it all the way up the hill when she’d raced past me to get to my truck before I did. The perfect swells of her cheeks above toned thighs had left me wanting to plant my hand between her shoulder blades, press her flat to my hood and press my cock right against that hollow between her legs. The thought had me salivating, warning me to force all thoughts of fucking her out of my head.

  I’d learned a lifetime ago that she and I would never work.

  From the reflection in the windshield, it was better that I was behind her. Because if I was behind the wheel right now, I’d be able to see down her shirt. I looked away.

  How did she manage to turn me back into that horny teenaged boy I’d been all those years ago?

  “Get away from my truck.” I walked up beside her, keeping my eyes on the empty gravel parking lot. The reason I came here was because it was usually deserted this early in the morning during the week.

  “No.” Her firm tone was all the proof I needed that she still a major pain in the ass.

  Anger jumped in a tick above my eye, and I glared at the trees around us, trying to keep my emotions in check. I’d never expected her to come waltzing back into my life, especially like this. Asking me to be her fucking fake boyfriend. What world did she think she was living in? An awful romance novel?

  I pushed the remote start button on my key fob, and her whole body jolted as the engine roared to life.

  Her wide hazel eyes met mine. But after a second, she managed to beat back the quick glimpse of fear.

  Still, satisfaction hit me like an adrenaline high as I opened the driver’s door. Her eyes were on me every inch of the way as I climbed into the seat and put both hands high on the wheel where she could see them.

  Our eyes met through the glass. She was practically vibrating with fury and fear. It was a fascinating combination. The heat of anger in her eyes was sexy as fuck.

  And I’d been right–I could see down her shirt. The perfect swells of her breasts sent heat raging through my veins, and my cock strained against my pants. At least I was wearing workout slacks that had some give.

  With deliberately slow motions, I took one hand off the wheel and pressed the button to roll down the window.

  She took in my every move, those full, kissable lips twisting into a troubled expression that had my dick twitching. How would those lips feel around the base of my cock?

  Resting my arm on the door, I casually revved the engine. Looking into pretty hazel eyes that reminded me of sunshine and honey, I planted my foot on the brake and slowly shifted into drive. Giving it a little gas with my foot still on the brake, I watched her carefully as the truck jolted before rolling forward a half inch.

  A squeal ripped out of her throat, but fire flashed in her eyes as she refused to back down. Instead, she kept her hands on my hood and glared at me, a challenge in her eyes. Brave little thing.

  Even as pride ripped through me, so did annoyance. She was being stupid and reckless. Trying to hold me hostage like this was the wrong way to try to get what she wanted. Not that I’d give in. There was no way I’d pretend to be her fake boyfriend so she could piss off her parents and sister. I wasn’t some playing chip for her to use to get even with people. I was a human fucking being, and I deserved respect.

  “Nice truck,” she said, the set of her jaw giving away her anger even as she complimented my rig.

  “Nice view.” I nodded at her cleavage.

  She quickly glanced down and let out an embarrassed gasp. With one hand, she pulled at the back of her shirt so the material rode up closer to her throat, rather than scooping low to show me her tits.

  “How dare you!” She practically hissed the words, and I only made them out by reading her lips.

  Since my goal had been to get under her skin, I’d say that was a win. Though now I missed the view.

  With exaggerated calm, I leaned out the w
indow. “I’m not going to be the bad boy you bring home to cope with your daddy issues.”

  That took all the wind out of her sails. Her shoulders inched lower and her hands slid down the hood, her damp palms on the metal making a whining sound. The look on her face, though—like she’d just realized what she was doing was wrong. Like she’d suddenly figured out she was doing her best to dehumanize me the same way she’d done all those years ago.

  When would she learn I wasn’t a pawn she could use against her parents? I’d made it clear back then, just like I’d made it clear now.

  I backed over the concrete bumper, the large tires of my truck having no trouble, like I’d known they wouldn’t. As I pulled around her, she stood in place, shoulders drooping, her eyes narrowed as she figured out that I’d only played along with that whole scene, that I could have backed my truck out at any time.

  I told myself I didn’t feel bad for her.

  Before I pulled out of the lot, I checked the rearview mirror. And frowned when she walked quickly to her little beat-up car and jumped in.

  Seconds later, she tore out after me.

  Well, fuck.

  * * *

  Her car was still behind me as I pulled my truck onto my private strip of beach. I wondered if her little car was going to get stuck, but she stopped at the edge of the pavement and parked. Throwing herself out of her car, she ran out onto the sand.

  I parked and kicked off my shoes. With a single curled finger, I removed one sock then the other, and tucked them in my shoes. A moment later, with the chilly sand under my feet, I closed my truck door to find her mere feet away from me.