Fake-Dating The Single Dad (Gems 0f Love Book 3)

by Agnes Canestri

  When their eyes met, he raised his brows. “Ginny, what do you think? Isn’t it an inspiring story between your cousin and Ryan? Maybe in some cases, true love can change someone.”

  What was Nick trying to get at? Did he want to give her a mental wink for the fake relationship they’d been conducting? Was he speaking about Heather?

  Ginny plastered on a smile. “Yes, I couldn’t be happier for Bi’. But I’m surprised you perceive the magic of what happened between them. Aren’t you supposed to be the one with a diamond heart?”

  Nick’s lips twitched, and his eyes widened.

  “Diamond heart?” Ryan asked. “What’s the story behind that?”

  Giordano crawled closer to them, still carrying Jacob on his back. “It’s Nick’s main character’s nickname. Detective Riley—I love how cool he is. He takes crap from no one. No woman can harm him, because he doesn’t get involved emotionally. His heart has suffered so much that it became hard as a diamond.”

  Bianca leaned forward. “Ah, interesting.” Her eyes moved to Nick, who was still staring at Ginny, his mouth hanging loose. “Did you base your character on yourself, as Ginny implies?”

  Nick jerked back and glanced at Bianca. “What? Ah, no. I mean, yes. Maybe tidbits of him. Mhm, excuse me, could I speak to Ginny alone somewhere? Something important concerning that publishing deal we attended this morning occurred to me. I want to discuss it with her before I forget. It’s under non-disclosure, so you know, I can’t say it in front of you all.”

  Giada stood and slid her terrace door open. “Look, you can go out here. There’s a small patio on the other side of the building.”

  Nick sprang up, peering down at Ginny. “You coming?”

  Ginny’s eyes narrowed. What did he want to speak to her about that couldn’t wait? But because she didn’t want to increase the oddness of the whole situation, she straightened and followed Nick outside.

  “Where is Dad going?” Jacob asked behind them.

  Giada closed the terrace door while answering the boy. “They need to discuss your dad’s book or something. They’ll be back in a sec. Come, let’s try some of that chocolate ice cream Bianca and Ryan brought.”

  Giada’s tiny house stood on the outer ring of their town. The silence that surrounded Ginny as soon as Nick and she were on the cozy patio made her wonder why she’d ever mocked her sister for moving so close the countryside. Ginny’s mind and heart were so full of noise that the stillness of the night felt like a bandage on a throbbing wound.

  Nick was glancing up at the moon, his chin twisted toward the sky. His jaw clenched and his fists contracted.

  Was he angry with Ginny for teasing him in front of the others? Wow, he had some nerve. Ginny wasn’t the one who went around sticking her tongue down the very person they’d spent weeks to try and defeat in court.

  She stopped a few steps from him and folded her arms over her chest. He had wanted to talk to her, so he should speak. Ginny had nothing to say to him at this moment, except for words she knew she would regret later.

  Nick stayed motionless.

  Ginny stomped her foot, hoping the noise would draw his attention to her. Was this a game, or what? Didn’t he say he had something important to discuss?

  Nick slowly turned to her, an indecipherable expression in his eyes. “So, Ginny, what was that all about in there?”

  Ginny squared her back. “What was what? I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”

  Nick cocked his head to the side. “That comment about me not understanding the magic of love. Do you truly think I’m incapable of it?”

  Ginny shrugged. Why did he get so hung up on this? Why did he even care what she thought? “It was you who drilled this notion into my head. You told me countless times that you weren’t a believer in happy endings.”

  Nick pressed his lips together and nodded. “I did. That’s true. But it was before…” He inhaled and shook his head.

  Ginny’s heart dropped. Before he’d kissed Heather. What else could’ve changed?

  He wanted to speak to her because he must’ve realized that Ginny had developed feelings for him. He must’ve caught the bitter undertone in Ginny’s comment in front of the others. Now he was here to set things straight between them, to tell her that she’d been delusional.

  No, she wasn’t going to let herself be humiliated like that. It was bad enough that she’d been such a sucker at hiding her emotions. She had to get out of this with her pride intact at least, even if her heart would be in pieces.

  Ginny held up a hand. “Oh, don’t even continue. I know what you want to say.”

  Nick’s eyes widened. “You do? When did you realize it?”

  When I saw your ex snaked around you like you were a tree and she a giant anaconda.

  She bit back the words and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter when. What matters is that I don’t care.” Her voice came out louder and hoarser than she intended, but Nick’s jaw popped open nonetheless.

  Good, so she’d managed to surprise him with her composure.

  Before he could intervene, she continued. “I’m not sure what impression I might have given you in the past weeks, but everything that happened between us was part of the farce you’ve put me up to. Sure, the physical closeness might’ve carried me away here and there. Hey, I’m flesh and blood, right?” She tried to insert a little giggle, which sounded more like a hysterical bark, so she stopped.

  Her eyes fell on Nick’s face. He was gaping at her without blinking. His chin trembled slightly.

  She had to finish on a sharp line. This whole mention of getting carried away had been foolish. It raised such unsettling memories in her mind that made her all confused.

  Like Nick and her playing hide and seek with Jacob.

  Nick holding her in the ocean.

  Nick leaning in to kiss her in the plane.

  No, stop. Back to her discourse. “Anyways, I just want you to know I’m not having feelings for you if that’s what you feared.”

  Nick closed his mouth and swallowed. He took a breath, and it came out with a loud swish.

  Why wasn’t he answering? He should’ve thanked her for being so rational and showed that he believed her lies.

  He rubbed the sides of his neck with both hands, his eyes drifting to the ground. “Well, I think you kind of said it all then.” He paused and kicked a small stone. It flew across the patio and landed at Giada’s fence.

  When he lifted his gaze, his eyes were cold and sparkled in the moonlight. “I wonder if there’s any more need for our fake relationship. The court ruling seems favorable, and I think it’s even likely that Heather will withdraw her request of custody…so…”

  Ginny’s limbs locked up with tension. Ah, so he’d gotten that far with Heather. Of course she would stop with the process, if she and Nick were back together.

  Ginny clicked with her tongue. “So I guess you want me to move out as soon as possible?”

  Nick sniffed. “If that’s what you want, sure.”

  She opened her hands. “I imagine it’s the best solution for everyone involved, right? Unless you still need a nanny for Jacob, and then I could…”

  Why was she even offering this? She couldn’t stay in Nick’s house if Heather moved there. Even if not seeing the boy would make her suffer, it was always meant to be that way. She wasn’t Jacob’s mother, nor was she Nick’s real girlfriend. Her place wasn’t in his home.

  Nick shook his head. “No, you know that I started with the whole nanny thing because of the hearing. I’m perfectly capable of handling my son.” His tone was icy.

  What was his problem? Ginny was offering to disappear as quickly as possible so he could run back to his ex. Why treat Ginny like she’d done something wrong?

  It wasn’t she who was breaking up a marriage. Even if Benny hadn’t been a person Ginny had known for long, she still felt sorry for him. Nick and Heather were leaving corpses around them without realizing.

  She nodded. �
��I know you are. If you want, I could be gone by the weekend.”

  Nick pressed his lips together. “Tomorrow night would be even better.”

  What? Was he kicking her out with a day’s notice? Why on earth did he even waste time coming to Giada’s house? If he had told her what he was planning back at home, Ginny could be already packing her luggage.

  Don’t let him see that he’s ripping out your heart and stomping on it.

  She forced her lips to curl up. “No problem, I can pack quickly.”

  Nick turned away. “Good. But just in case, let’s head home so you can start with it.”

  Hah, finally a sensible phrase. Ginny couldn’t imagine going back to the others and continue a light chat, while her soul was burning from Nick’s cruel words.

  She strolled toward the terrace door. “Fine, let’s go then.”

  Chapter 24

  Nick rubbed his forehead and tried to smile at his son. It was harder than he’d thought. Telling Jacob the truth about Ginny, well part of it, was the most difficult task he had ever had to do.

  Jacob’s large eyes were filled with tears as he peeked up at him. “But it means that Ginny isn’t going to become my mom? That she’s leaving us?”

  Nick swallowed. “Yes, she has to. She agreed to help with the court’s ruling, but now that your mother has withdrawn her request for custody, there’s no further need for her to stick around.”

  Heather’s call that morning had been a pleasant surprise. He’d hoped that she might decide to take the noble road, but it still astonished him when she did. Maybe this whole process had served her a little. Perhaps she would be able to settle with Benny and try to live as an adult should.

  Jacob slammed his tiny fist against Nick’s thigh. His jab had been so feathery that Nick’s muscles didn’t even jiggle. But the fact that his son got to the point of hitting him closed up Nick’s throat. Jacob was more than sad about Ginny’s departure.

  If only he could confess to his child that his own heart was aching just the same. But he couldn’t. He had to be a strong father and keep it together.

  He brushed Jacob’s bangs to the side. “C’mon, my son, don’t be like this.”

  Jacob pouted. “You said there’s no need for Ginny to stay. But there is. I want her here. I don’t want her to go.”

  Ginny’s head popped into the room. She was dressed, and behind her, four large suitcases stood in the corridor.

  “May I come in?” she asked.

  Jacob didn’t look at her, but she walked in anyway. The skirt she was wearing undulated around her hips in soft circles.

  Nick recalled the first time they’d met. She’d had a similarly cut dress, only with polka dots. Her hair had glistened in the same way, though, and her cheeks were just as rosy. He should’ve known back then that it could only be fate’s cruel sense of humor to send such a woman into his home. Life simply wanted to show him that you should never say never.

  Ginny sat down beside Jacob, and as she did, her arm brushed against Nick’s. She recoiled immediately. “I’m so sorry.”

  For what? For teaching me that I could still love and then proving to me that I was a fool for trying?

  But he just mumbled, “No problem.”

  Ginny hooked two fingers beneath Jacob’s chin, lifting his head. “My little muffin, don’t be angry that I have to go now. I promise we’ll still see each other. Thanks to your father’s generosity, I’ll be teaching in your school.”

  Jacob’s eyes widened. “You will be in Riversmith?”

  Ginny nodded. “Yes. But I’ll work with older kids. In any case, we can still meet there sometimes.”

  Jacob frowned. “But I want you to stay here.”

  Ginny exhaled. Her face was composed, but Nick noticed a muscle twitching beneath her left eye. Was she not content that her time in his house was over and she could move into her dream job?

  No, she was probably sad for Jacob. Her feelings for his son were perhaps honest. No one could pretend such tenderness as Ginny had shown toward Jacob during these past weeks.

  The zeal with which she’d tasted his lips in the glider flashed through his mind, and he stifled a snort. Or maybe she was a pretty good actress.

  Ginny pulled Jacob into a hug. “You know, muffin, that it’s not possible. But I’m sure your dad and your mom will take good care of you.”

  Nick jerked back. Heather? Why did Ginny speak about Heather like this? He’d told her that Heather had canceled her custody request this morning, but he hadn’t implicated more regular meetings between her and Jacob.

  His son didn’t pick up on Ginny’s odd comment. “Can you at least promise that you’ll come to my Steel Jeeg birthday party in September?”

  Ginny smiled at him. “Of course, if your dad and mom want me here, I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

  Dad and Mom? Him and Heather? Why was Ginny suddenly so obsessed with his ex?

  Marcia’s voice sounded from downstairs. “Miss Ginny, your taxi is here.”

  Ginny squeezed Jacob once more, then released him. She gave a kiss on the top of his head and stood up. “I need to go. Be a good boy, Jacob. I’ll see you soon.”

  Nick sprang up. “I’ll bring your luggage down.”

  Ginny’s brows arched. “Oh, okay. Very nice of you.”

  Nick carried down her suitcases and handed them to the taxi driver. As he walked back to the hall, Ginny was hugging Marcia affectionately.

  His housekeeper had moist eyes and kept rubbing them with her hands. “Oh, meu Deus, I hoped you and Sir would try a real shot at this fake thing.” She sniffed. “It’d have been so perfect.”

  “Marcia,” Nick hissed at her, floundered in embarrassment.

  He couldn’t see Ginny’s face from where he stood, but her shoulders seemed tense.

  No! He didn’t need Ginny to know what he’d asked from Marcia before they’d gone to her sister’s place. The pity in his housekeeper’s eyes when he had told her last night that the plans were off had been like rubbing salt into a bleeding cut. But if Ginny found out what he was about to confess to her just before she’d so clearly stated that she had no feelings for him, that would be…no, no that he couldn’t stand.

  Marcia must’ve realized that she’d slipped something that she shouldn’t have because she clapped her hand over her mouth. “Look at me all blabbering, and your taxi is waiting. Off you go now, Miss Ginny. I hope I see you someday again.”

  Ginny moved back, and as she turned, Nick noticed that her cheeks were crimson.

  She peered at Nick, her mouth set into a flat line. She held out her hand. “Well, Nick, thank you for all.”

  He considered refusing her hand, knowing that touching her ever so briefly would swamp his body with an unwanted fire, but that would come across as rude.

  So he took her fingers into his palm and pressed them lightly. The violent tingles spreading across his skin made his vision blur for a second. Ginny also appeared flustered, because her mouth opened, and a soft hush of an ‘o’ left her lips.

  She pulled back her hand and turned to the door.

  After only a second, she was gone and, with her, part of Nick’s soul. The piece he would surely not be able to replace, no matter how hard he tried.

  Chapter 25

  “Where to, miss?” The taxi driver threw a glance at Ginny, turning his face only slightly to the back seat.

  Without thinking, she gave her home address. As the car rolled out of Nick’s garden, she pressed her right cheek to the cold window. Her head was throbbing with such force that she feared it would explode.

  How could a simple touch from Nick still cause such a distraction in her? And why didn’t he come out to her about Heather? She had tried to prompt him several times, but he didn’t.

  Did he think Ginny was so fragile that she couldn’t bear to hear what he’d done? No, she wasn’t. Despite the quivering in her chest, the parched throat and trembling legs, she’d managed to say her goodbyes with dignity. Sh
e could be proud of herself.

  As the taxi entered the broad avenue leading to her apartment, she tapped on her forehead. She’d forgotten about Bill, the exchange medical student to whom she’d sublet her apartment for the six months she was supposed to work for Nick.

  Where could she go now? Maybe a hotel?

  Nick had insisted on paying her three full months of salary even though she’d spent less time there. So she had enough cash. He’d also been good on his promise to call the school. While she’d packed, the head secretary of Riversmith called to offer her a position. Money wasn’t going to be a problem.

  But the idea of sitting in a hotel room alone, eating away at herself about what had and hadn’t happened would be too much to bear. At least at home, she could’ve had the comfort of her old bed. But that was at the moment being used by Bill.

  That moment of silence on Giada’s patio before Nick spoke to her came to mind, and she sighed. Perhaps the moment to fall back on the Biagi safety net had officially arrived.

  She cleared her throat. “Excuse me, Sir. There will be a change of address. I’m driving to Mullard Road 6.”

  The taxi driver shrugged. “It’s okay for me.”

  When they got to Giada’s house, the man took out Ginny’s suitcases, piling them up in a neat bundle beside each other. “Here you go. It’ll be thirty bucks.”

  Ginny handed him the money, and he hopped in his car. As he drove away, Giada appeared at her gate.

  Her eyes widened as her glance bounced between Ginny and the giant heap of bags.

  Ginny rolled her eyes. “Don’t ask. I’ll tell you everything, but first, let me carry these inside.”

  They dragged her luggage into the corridor, and when the last one was propped against the wall, Giada blinked at Ginny. “So, I reckon we’ll need some coffee.” Without waiting for an answer, she disappeared into the kitchen.

  Ginny was grateful for her sister’s down-to-earth attitude. Had it been their mother, she would’ve freaked out seeing Ginny appear with her stuff, unannounced, when she was supposed to be working for Nick. But not Giada. She’d always been the hardest to shake of them all.