by Cat Johnson
Even knowing it was all an act, Alicia’s cheeks still heated.
“Thanks again. Talk to you tomorrow.” She extracted herself from her sister, and the situation, as quickly as possible.
The introvert in her had had enough. Of the party. The lie. Everything.
Especially the heightened awareness of everything that being near Brian caused. That had to be from the deception.
She’d had to really try to focus tonight, on everything. Just so they didn’t get caught, of course. It was nothing more.
It certainly wasn’t that being near Brian made her feel . . . confused, for lack of a better word.
Things certainly were confusing. Mostly thanks to him. And speaking of that . . .
“We said no kissing.” She spun to face him the moment they were both in Brian’s Jeep outside Jen and Jason’s house.
“No,” he said, slowly, condescendingly. “I believe we agreed to play it by ear. Which to me means doing whatever is necessary for a successful outcome. And argue all you want, but tonight was a success. By the time we left, your sister was completely convinced we’re a couple. And so were the guys she invited to fix you up with.”
She pressed her lips together. She couldn’t argue with him, even if his being right was annoying to no end. “Still. It seemed unnecessary.”
“Then we’ll have to agree to disagree on that.” Brian slid the key into the ignition but rather than starting the Jeep, he turned in his seat to face her. “So, now that we have your sister covered, I need you to do something for me.”
She drew her brows low, suspicious. “Do what for you?”
Was he expecting some sort of sexual quid pro quo? He came to the party as her pretend boyfriend, so now she had to put out?
The feminist in her was ready to dig in her purse for her pepper spray, even as the long neglected feminine parts of her body woke right up and welcomed the idea.
“Come to McP’s so I can show you off. Even if none of my teammates are there, they’ll still hear I was there with a date. I’ll make sure Ray passes on the information.”
“Who’s Ray?” she asked, not sure she was up for being under the scrutiny of another SEAL. If they were all like Brian, it would be too intense to be with more than one of them at a time.
“Ray’s the bartender.”
“Oh.” She thought about his request. It sounded innocent enough.
“I’m buying,” he added, dangling that tidbit to tempt her. Not that it mattered. She had her own money and couldn’t drink more than a few beers anyway before she’d had enough.
“Okay. I’ll do it.”
His eyes brightened. “Thank you.”
“No problem. I guess I do owe you for tonight.”
“For my exceptional performance?” He grinned.
“Yeah. For that.” She’d attempted sarcasm, but found herself swallowing hard as she imagined what else he might perform exceptionally.
Damn, she hoped the batteries in her bedside pals were still good. She was going to need them fully charged to knock this strange and sudden aching need out of her. After that, she’d be fine.
“Seriously though, I think tonight went well,” he said.
Brian being sincere threw her. She had to regroup and consider this new side of him.
“Your brother-in-law loves me,” he continued.
“Don’t get too excited. Jason loves everybody. Even Andrew.”
Brian clutched his hand to his chest, glancing at her before refocusing his gaze on the road as they drove toward Coronado and McP’s. “You wound me.”
She had to laugh. “Sorry, but it’s true. Jason’s kind of like a puppy that way.”
“Ouch.” He cringed, glancing in her direction.
“What? That’s not an insult. Is it?” she asked, perplexed by his reaction.
He wobbled his head back and forth. “I think it kind of is.”
“So you’d want to be compared to what? A full-grown pit bull then?” she asked.
He wrinkled his nose. “Nah. Probably more like a shepherd.”
“Ah.” She nodded. “A guard dog. That figures.”
“Or a military working dog. They’re smart, loyal, athletic.”
“Aggressive,” she added to his list of traits.
“When necessary,” he corrected.
“All right. I’ll give you that. You can be a shepherd in any scenarios in which I refer to you as a dog.”
“Thanks . . . I think.” He shot her a sideways gaze. “So, did your sister say anything about us while I was talking to Jason and you two were alone right before we left? Anything more about how perfect I am?”
She cocked up her brows. “No. You lost the illusion of perfection when she saw you trying to intimidate Andrew.”
“I did nothing of the sort.”
“Oh, come on. That was a pissing contest if ever I saw one.”
He smiled. “Seen a lot of pissing contests, have you?”
“Since I’m a patron of McP’s, and that’s where men like you hang out, yes, yes I have.”
“Men like me?”
“Sailors,” she qualified.
“Ah.” He nodded. “Jason was a sailor.”
“I’m aware.”
“And what do you have against sailors?”
“Nothing. I respect their sacrifices for our country.”
“But . . .”
“But, I don’t want to date one.” She didn’t want to date anyone at the moment, but she didn’t get into that with him. He might want to know why. And she wasn’t willing to open her soul or her past to him, or anyone.
“Ah, but you are dating a sailor,” he said.
“Fake dating,” she reminded him. “And fake dating a sailor is better than blind dating whoever Jenny comes up with.”
“I agree.” He nodded. “I thought my teammates were annoying when it came to their prying into my life, but your sister . . . you win the prize.”
She blew out a breath. “Thanks. But tonight should keep her happy and off my back for a while.”
Brian had made quite an impression. And actually, now that she thought about it, his being in the military worked perfectly. Next party, or holiday, she’d just tell Jenny he was away.
If she played her cards right, she could have her devoted and loving boyfriend absent from family events and stretch this fake relationship out for a solid year. Or more. Between missions, trainings and deployments, this fake relationship could run for years, plural.
“We’re here.” He pulled over to the curb of the bar she hadn’t noticed they’d reached as she plotted her future deception.
“Oh, good.” Her new plan deserved a beer.
“Good?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes. I’m looking forward to you buying me a Wit.”
He smiled. “If that’s all it takes to make you happy, I’ll buy you two.”
“Sounds good.” She grinned, giddy that the plan had worked.
Her sister was convinced. She was free. Valentine’s Day was over. Or at least the worst part of it—the party—was over. And there was a nice cold free beer in her future.
Perfect.
EIGHT
Brian bought Alicia three rounds of beer and was happy to do it.
Enough people he knew had seen him with her. The word would spread that he was with a woman, which was nothing new. But what would be new was when he continued to pretend to date her. It was the best way he could figure to finally ditch the reputation and, fingers crossed, the nickname that came with it.
How could they call him a heartbreaker if he had a serious long-term girlfriend? They couldn’t. And that was exactly what he wanted.
It would even be believable they were really together because the more they talked, the more relaxed she got . . . or maybe it was just the beer.
He eyed the level in her glass. “You doing okay? I don’t want to be responsible for you getting drunk.”
“I can get drunk if I want. Besides, a
fter that party, I deserve it. You’re driving. Are you okay?” She focused on his mug.
“I’m fine to drive. No worries. But I don’t want you thinking I’m plying you with beer so I can take advantage of you.”
She cocked up a brow and was silent for a moment before saying, “What if I want to take advantage of you?”
He paused mid-motion as he reached for his beer. He pulled his hand back and focused on her eyes.
Was this a joke? Was she drunk?
Or—and he was starting to hope this was the reason—was she interested in him? In them. Together. In bed.
Because if she were into this, he was too.
The big red paper hearts, looking so out of place taped to the mirror behind where Ray poured beer, caught his eye.
Valentine’s Day.
He swallowed, reminded just in time to not ignore his golden rule about women and this holiday from hell.
“Do you? Want to take advantage of me?” he asked, torn about what he wanted her answer to be.
She narrowed her eyes and stared at the bottles behind the bar, nodding slowly. Finally she shifted her focus to him and said, “Maybe.”
Her answer wasn’t cute. Or flirty. It was just a one-word, to the point response to his question.
Apparently she was torn as well. This wasn’t some cat and mouse game.
This woman, who he was realizing thought too much and too deeply about all things, was actually trying to decide if she wanted him or not.
She definitely wasn’t like the rest of the women he’d known.
It didn’t matter what she ultimately decided, because he had made the choice for both of them already.
He tossed his credit card on the bar and waved Ray over. “Can you cash me out, please?”
“Sure thing.” Ray’s lips tipped up as he shot a quick glance at Alicia. No doubt the man figured he was in a hurry to leave so he could be alone with her.
How wrong he was.
He didn’t correct the assumption. The whole point was to make his teammates believe he was in a serious relationship so they’d stop teasing him about being a heartbreaker.
“Are we leaving?” Alicia asked, watching Ray return the card and Brian sign the slip.
“Yup.”
“All right.” She tipped her head, so uncharacteristically complacent he figured she was too drunk for him to be with right now anyway.
If—when—they were together, he wanted her sober.
When would that be?
He’d have to lock her down for another fake date. He should show up with her in public a few more times to sell the whole relationship story.
And, of course, there was the fact he wanted to see her again. See her—and more.
Given the undeniable attraction sizzling between them, he wasn’t about to walk away before finishing their unfinished business together.
After adding a generous tip for Ray, he pushed the receipt and pen back across the bar and put away his card.
Turning to Alicia, he said, “You ready?”
“Ready.” She nodded hard—and nearly fell off the stool.
His reflexes kicked in. He reached out before she took a header, catching her as she tipped over.
“You all right?” he asked.
She raised her gold-flecked brown eyes to him. “Fine. Thanks. Just clumsy.”
Three beers worth of clumsy, on top of the one she’d had at her sister’s party.
Yup. The plan to drive her home and then drive away as fast as he could had been a good call on his part.
Having sex with a drunk woman on Valentine’s Day was a recipe for disaster. No doubt about it.
But next time he saw her? Next time, when she was sober, and it was no longer this damn hearts-and-flowers holiday, would be a completely different story.
He got her seated in the Jeep, and buckled in safely, and headed for her place.
She was even more chatty—and bossy—drunk than she’d been sober. She told him not only every turn to take to get back to her place, she also kindly brought to his attention every time there was a change in the speed limit. And when they were approaching a stop light, or stop sign. She even pointed out when they approached a cross walk.
He felt like he was learning to drive again with his mom in the passenger seat directing his every move. But unlike back then—when he was annoyed with his mother—now he found Alicia’s narration of the trip amusing.
Yeah, it might get old fast on a long drive, or in the long term, but for this short trip it was pretty funny.
He found himself wondering if she was like this in bed—bossy, directorial, boisterous.
Sadly, he wasn’t destined to find out tonight.
For once, he was going to be smart about things. It sucked, but it would be better for everyone.
Besides, if he didn’t sleep with her now, it would be safe to see her again.
“That’s it right up there,” she announced unnecessarily.
“Yes. Thank you. I see it.” His lips twitched again as he put on the blinker and navigated into her driveway.
He didn’t cut the engine. He had no intention of walking her to the door. Not the gentlemanly thing to do, perhaps, but better in the long run. It would be too hard to not go inside if he did.
The way her blouse was gaping just enough to draw his gaze, he knew he wouldn’t be able to handle much more temptation. If she invited him inside, gave him that siren’s glance with those heavily-lidded eyes of hers, he’d be in that house so fast . . .
Nope. Smarter to stay right where he was, literally strapped inside the Jeep. Protected from her lure, like Odysseus from the sirens.
Safely in his vehicle, in park with the engine idling, Brian took his foot off the brake and twisted in his seat to face Alicia.
“I had a good time . . . for a fake date,” he added.
She smiled. “I had a good time too. For a fake date.”
“So I was thinking if you ever needed me to stand in as your fake boyfriend again, I’d be happy to do it—if my schedule allows, of course.”
“Of course.” She nodded.
“And, if I needed you to stand in for me as my fake girlfriend—just to convince the guys—would you be willing?” Why was his heart speeding as he waited for her answer to the question?
He was asking her to be his fake girlfriend, yet his mouth had gone dry. The whole situation had a surreally real feel to it.
“Sure. I’d be happy to. I owe you for tonight. And a Lannister always pays her debts.” For some reason she’d delivered that last sentence in a bad fake English accent. She watched as he frowned and then added, “Game of Thrones?”
He shook his head. “Sorry. Never saw it.”
Her eyes widened. “Well, you need to. I mean, unless you’d rather read the books, which I highly recommend, even if you watch the series. The author is only up to book seven and hasn’t finished the series yet. but you should still read them.”
“Okay. I’ll look into it,” he agreed even though he didn’t see any of that happening.
A seven book series with more to come? Yeah, no.
With his packed schedule of trainings and missions, he usually slept on transports and in his downtime while away since they often didn’t know when the opportunity to sleep would come again. And while he was home, well, his time was usually split between McP’s and working out to stay in shape for the next mission or training.
She seemed happy with his answer anyway and said, “Good. I think you’ll enjoy it.”
All that comment did was ramp up his guilt for the white lie.
He didn’t have too long to feel bad about it as she continued, “Thank you for the ride.”
“No problem. Thanks for coming to the bar with me.”
“You’re welcome.” She hesitated before finally
unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching for the doorhandle.
“Goodnight, Brian.”
“Goodnight, Alicia.”
Then, thankfully, she got out and slammed the door behind her and he could breathe again.
He waited for her to walk up the path, unlock her front door, give him a wave, and disappear into the house.
Only then, when he was sure she was safely inside, did he drive away. Just when he really, really wanted to stay.
NINE
Alicia arrived home to find she’d missed a call, a voicemail and two texts from her sister. And one more text from Shelly.
It was only then she realized she’d completely ignored her cell the whole time she’d been with Brian.
In fact, she’d never even taken it out of her bag. That might be a first for her.
There was no doubt in Alicia’s mind which of the two she was calling back. She unlocked the phone and swiped to dial Shelly.
Her friend answered on the second ring. “Hey. How did your sister’s party go?”
“It went well,” Alicia told her as she moved to the kitchen to grab some water to quench her thirst.
“Really?” Shelly sounded shocked.
“Really.” Alicia laughed.
“How? I mean I’m glad it was good since I felt so guilty I couldn’t be there to play defense when she threw some guy at you. But still, I’m having trouble imagining Jenny not taking this opportunity to set you up.”
“Oh, she tried. But I came prepared. I brought another anti-wingman with me.”
“Who?”
“Some sailor I met at McP’s.”
“What?” Shell screeched. “You met a sailor at McP’s and brought him to Jen’s and you didn’t tell me?”
“It’s not like that. We’re not really dating. Only fake dating.”
“Fake dating? Is this some new invention of yours to keep things casual?”
“No.” Although it was a good idea. She’d have to think more about that. “We’re literally pretending to date so his friends and my sister will stay out of our personal lives.”
“Hmm. I think I saw a movie like that.”
“Not a surprise.” Alicia had felt as if she’d been starring in a romantic comedy a few times tonight.
“So are you going to see him again?” Shelly asked.
“I didn’t see him in the first place, since it was all a sham.”