Her Guy Next Door Fake Fiancé

by Rachelle J. Christensen

  She wasn’t thinking, because she’d never imagined that she could fall for Jaime—or that she’d have a chance with someone like him. They had a great connection that couldn’t be faked. The only problem was that the pretending could get in the way of their opportunity to see if they really liked each other. Calm down, Liza. Florida was a long way from New York, and she’d take off the beautiful engagement ring long before they reached Echo Ridge.

  Liza reviewed all of the logic behind her decisions, but she couldn’t control everything. If something were to go wrong with their fake engagement and word got out, she’d die of embarrassment. To be the girl who got dumped twice. That wasn’t a reputation she could write herself out of.

  12

  Friday morning, Liza received a text from her boss at seven o’clock.

  Rick: Mark says he can’t reach you. Wanted to make sure you’re still planning on your meeting with him at 11 today?

  She growled and punched in a reply: Yep, I’ll be there. I have the schedule.

  Rick responded with a thumbs-up. Liza briefly thought about sending him a different finger emoji, but she put her phone away instead. She needed this job, and she still wanted to apply for the promotion. A lot was riding on her performance at this conference.

  Liza applied her makeup and pulled on dress pants and a dark pink blouse. She curled her hair and pinned it up on one side. The light brown curls looked good against the pink. She wanted to look beautiful and businesslike. Jaime would tell her if she’d hit the mark.

  She knocked on the adjoining door and waited with a bright smile on her face. When Jaime opened the door, she lifted one arm. “What do you think?”

  “You’re going to kill it today,” Jaime said.

  “It or him?” Liza asked innocently.

  That garnered a deep chuckle and the appearance of Jaime’s dimple. “What about me?” he asked, motioning at his shirt. It was dark blue with light blue dots on the perfectly pressed material. Her eye was drawn to the collar and cuffs, which were lined with a contrasting light blue fabric. He wore black dress slacks and polished black dress shoes that Liza guessed were Allen Edmonds.

  “You look great. Very professional and handsome.”

  Jaime stepped into her room. “Thank you, but if I’m standing next to you, no one will know I’m there. You’re gorgeous, Liza.”

  Liza felt heat flood her cheeks. “Thank you.”

  “You ready to do this?”

  “Yes. Let’s grab breakfast, avoid Mark, and woo some new clients.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Jaime replied. His phone started buzzing, and he pulled it from his pocket. Glancing at the screen, he said, “I’m going to step in my room and take this. I’ll be quick.” He shut the door behind him as he said hello in a friendly voice.

  Liza’s smile faded, and she was reminded again just how little she knew about Jaime. What if he had a girlfriend? He’d never mentioned dating anyone, but Liza hadn’t specifically asked either. Fake engagements were a lot of trouble, but so were real ones—at least in her case. Liza shrugged and packed her shoulder bag, double-checking that she had enough business cards and flyers for all of her potential contacts.

  Jaime was only gone ten minutes, and when he returned, they went down to breakfast. He didn’t mention his call, but Liza could tell that something was on his mind. He drowned his waffles in butter pecan syrup.

  “So, I’m guessing you take sugar in your coffee?”

  Jaime chuckled. “Correct.” He speared a bite of waffle with syrup dripping in a steady stream and shoved it in his mouth. “Mmm.”

  Liza took a bite of her ham-and-cheese omelet and tilted her head. “Mmm. Mmm.”

  “What? You think your breakfast is better than mine?” Jaime said before taking another bite of soggy waffles.

  “Slightly less prediabetic, but it looks like you’re enjoying that, so I won’t judge.”

  “Ha, you were judging me before I even took a bite.” He swirled another bite in his pond of syrup and waggled his eyebrows. “But I understand. You’re not used to living on the edge.”

  Liza tilted her head. “On the edge of what?”

  “Life.” Jaime popped in another bite. “Today I want you to try to relax and find enjoyment despite the conference. And tonight, let’s do something fun.”

  “Like what? I’m supposed to be working until six o’clock.” Liza held out a foot clad in beautiful dark pink heels with gold accents. “Do you really think I’ll be able to walk by then?”

  “You have other shoes, and I know they aren’t snow boots, so we’re leaving this place at six. You’d better start thinking.”

  “Where’s this bossy side coming from?” Liza cut another piece of omelet and struggled to keep a straight face.

  Jaime’s eyes were sparkling as he answered. “I’m your fiancé. I’m allowed to boss you around if it means you get to enjoy being in Florida.”

  “Okay, then, I’m up for the challenge.”

  “That’s good. I promise your feet will be glad.”

  Liza’s middle tingled with fireflies not drenched in butter pecan syrup. She enjoyed bantering with Jaime—or flirting, if she was being daring. But she couldn’t lose her head. Jaime was just playing his part. She needed to play hers. “So, just to review. We’ll try to keep each other in sight, and if I need your help, I’ll blow you a kiss.”

  “I like it. And if I need your help, I’ll just find you and kiss you.”

  Liza laughed and ducked her head so Jaime wouldn’t see the blush creeping across her cheeks. “All right. I’m going to go start making the rounds, and I’ll see you about ten thirty so we can prep for the appointment with Mark.”

  “You got it. You’re going to do great, Liza.” Jaime stood and brushed off his pants. “Hey, I’m so glad you had this idea, because it got me to come to the conference. This is just what I needed to get some new blood flowing in my business and move to the next level.”

  Liza stood and put her hand on his arm. “Thank you.” They walked toward the conference center together, and Liza steeled herself for the inevitable meeting with Mark. She only hoped that he wouldn’t run into her before their appointment that day.

  13

  Jaime was a hot mess, and it had nothing to do with the weather in Orlando. Sure, the balmy eighty degrees warmed his skin and made him long for Costa Rica, but only if he could take Liza with him. And therein lay his problem. He was deceiving Liza every day—not lying to her face, but omitting the truth, because she still didn’t know that he had a son. Jaime loved Alex and he’d do anything for his kid, which was why he’d kept him a secret from everyone in Echo Ridge. Part of it stemmed from his own shame. Jaime wished he could go back and undo the damage that Kori had inflicted on their son, but he couldn’t. However, he could prevent future damage to his son by protecting him. If that meant keeping him a secret, Jaime was willing to do that. It still didn’t feel right to deceive Liza, but he was afraid of what Liza would think. Especially after her comments on teenagers at Jack’s Pizza. And especially because now she would think he’d agreed to be her fake fiancé for his own benefit.

  Earlier, he’d taken a call from his friend Jared, and it seemed like great news on the surface. Jared was an attorney and had reviewed Jaime’s case for gaining more custody of Alex. He told Jaime that if he was in a stable relationship it would help. “Don’t go out and get engaged, but just think about the future. The judge won’t want to take Alex from his mother to go live with a bachelor.”

  The words kept repeating in Jaime’s mind. Don’t go out and get engaged. What would Jared think if he knew what Jaime was doing right now? For a moment, Jaime had considered telling Jared he was dating someone, but he didn’t. The fake engagement was to protect Liza and help her keep her job.

  But was it really so bad if he benefited too? Even as he asked himself the question, the answer slapped him in the face. He needed to be honest with Liza, but he didn’t know how and his own insecurities made
it that much more difficult. What would she do when she found out that he had a son who hated him? Jaime rationalized that it was okay to wait because she had so much going on dealing with Mark and her boss. That Rick dude definitely deserved his nickname; Jaime had heard Liza muttering it under her breath when Rick had texted her more details about the meeting with Mark as they’d walked into the convention center.

  There were easily two hundred booths in the giant room, and nearly every single company could be a potential client. He’d meant it when he’d thanked Liza. Her scheme might have been a little crazy, but he was determined to grow his business while he protected her.

  Jaime had scouted out the locations of prime targets for his business. He was also confident of where Mark’s booth was situated in the huge room. As Liza turned left to meet one of the companies on her list, Jaime made a beeline for Mark’s booth. His steps slowed as he approached, and he scanned for Mark. He swallowed when he saw Mark bent over a stack of papers. Mark’s light brown hair was perfectly styled with honey-blond highlights that made Jaime cringe; any guy who spent more time and money on his hair than his female counterpart was suspect. His minimalist mustache didn’t help either.

  Jaime waited until Mark looked up, almost as if he sensed Jaime staring at him. Jaime strode right toward Mark’s booth and made eye contact with the slimy creep who had caused Liza so much grief. When their eyes met, Jaime narrowed his and lifted his chin a fraction of an inch. With his head held high and posture erect, he passed by Mark’s booth. He counted five steps, turned slightly, and looked at Mark again. Mark’s eyes widened as if he was surprised to be caught staring at Jaime. Jaime nodded once and turned on his heel, continuing past the booths in that area.

  There, the threat had been delivered. Mark knew Jaime was here, and unless he was a complete idiot, he knew that if he messed with Liza, he’d have Jaime to deal with.

  It only took a minute for Jaime to locate Liza in her bright pink blouse, talking to another businesswoman at a graphic design company. He smiled as he walked past, and when Liza smiled back, his heart thumped hard in his chest. In that moment, he realized he wanted Liza to be happy and he’d do anything to protect her. If it meant smashing in Mark’s face in the public arena, so be it. The only problem was, how could he be sure of Liza’s feelings for him? They were friends and they were acting like a couple in public, but what would happen when they were on the plane ride home?

  14

  At ten thirty, Liza slipped into the ladies’ restroom and re-applied her lipstick. She took three deep breaths and looked at herself in the mirror. You can do this, she thought. With a smile, she exited the restroom and saw Jaime leaning against the wall.

  He pushed off and walked toward her. “Hey, beautiful. You ready?”

  A thousand butterflies took flight in Liza’s stomach. Jaime was irresistible, the way he filled out a dress shirt and those dress pants. But it wasn’t just his clothes. His presence was calming yet invigorating, and Liza found herself craving his touch. “I’m almost ready. We have a few minutes, and I want to introduce you to a guy named Parker. I think he is a star candidate for your company.”

  “You’re amazing.”

  “Why?”

  Jaime put his hand on the small of her back and gently pulled her closer. “Because you’re working a job, keeping a radar out for your crazy ex, and you still have the mental capacity to find leads for my business.”

  Liza smiled. She put her hand on Jaime’s arm and squeezed. The silky smooth material of his dress shirt allowed her to feel his toned bicep. “Well, don’t thank me yet. Let’s go talk to this guy.”

  Jaime leaned in and brushed a kiss across her cheek. “I’m thanking you now.”

  Liza turned and they walked back into the conference area. It was then that she saw Mark heading their direction. Jaime deftly steered them away from him, and Liza took up the lead to direct him to Parker’s booth. After the introductions, Liza had a moment to consider whether Jaime had kissed her cheek because he had seen Mark approaching or because he really wanted to. Maybe Jaime was wondering the same thing about her being on the receiving end of his kiss.

  Focus, Liza. It wouldn’t do her any good to be distracted when they went to the meeting with Mark. Ten minutes later, Jaime had information and an appointment with Parker. They walked toward Mark’s booth, and Liza linked arms with Jaime.

  “I owe you, Liza. That was an excellent lead. I can’t wait to get started.” He took her hand and interlaced his fingers with hers.

  “And that’s only one lead. Just think how many you’ll have by tomorrow at day’s end.”

  “With you on my side, I’ll be golden.” He squeezed her hand, and Liza felt the butterflies take flight again. Jaime stopped her about ten paces before Mark’s booth. “I’m going to kiss you because he’s watching.”

  “Okay.” Liza didn’t have time to say anything else or prepare herself, because Jaime’s lips were covering hers. Even though the kiss only lasted about five seconds, the warmth of his lips lingered after they parted. Forget the butterflies. She had hummingbirds bumping up against her rib cage, fireworks shooting from her heart, and lips that wanted to be kissed again. Jaime took her hand again, and they walked toward Mark’s booth and sat down in the chairs. Liza imagined what it would be like to be kissed by Jaime every day.

  “I’ll be right with you,” Mark said as he hovered over his computer, trying to appear as if he hadn’t been gawking at them.

  Jaime looked at Liza and she could see the question in his eyes. Almost as if he was asking her if she was all right. She put her right hand up to her lips and blew him a soft kiss. Jaime grinned and chuckled, tightening his grip on her fingers.

  Mark sat down at the table in front of them and placed his hands beside a stack of papers. “I’m so glad you could make time in your schedule for me Liza. I feel privileged to be talking to one of the up-and-coming editors at Stellar Ads. Looks like all that time you spent writing is paying off with Rick.”

  Liza didn’t allow herself to be baited by his bland praise. Mark knew about her dreams of becoming a writer, and he’d made a lot of disparaging comments to her while they were engaged. She pretended that he was just another agent who wasn’t right for her work. She wouldn’t let his rejection sting.

  “What projects would you like to discuss?” Liza asked. She dipped into her shoulder bag and pulled out a piece of paper, which she handed over to Mark. “Here you’ll see a listing of some of our most popular services. We’d be happy to create a tailored package for you.”

  “Would that involve one-on-one consultation?” Mark asked in a sultry voice.

  Jaime leaned forward. “Yeah, I hear Rick does a lot of consultations. Liza can get you set up with him.”

  Mark flinched, but he wasn’t swayed. “Liza, dear, Rick indicated that you’d be willing to work with me on this big project. I don’t want to sign off to somebody that’s too busy to give it the attention it needs.”

  Liza choked back on her horror as she realized that Mark was willing to create an advertising project for the sole purpose of torturing her. Rick would force her to work with him, because for all intents and purposes, Mark’s requests would seem legitimate. She felt Jaime’s hand on her leg, pressing gently. She remembered what he had said about Kori. Mark only had power over her if she gave it to him.

  Liza took a breath and looked directly at Mark’s beady little eyes. “I’d be happy to help you. However, I don’t do one-on-one consultation. Rick does, but he generally charges double the fee of our package prices.” Liza tapped the paper so Mark could note the price.

  His eyebrows rose slightly. He straightened and pointed at her hand. “You have a beautiful engagement ring. I can see that your fiancé has good taste.” Mark looked at Liza’s ring finger and then flipped his gaze toward hers.

  “Thank you,” she said with as much venom in the phrase as she could allow.

  “So when’s the wedding?” Mark leaned forward. “You
know I love weddings. I hope you’ll send me an invitation.”

  It was all Liza could do not to gag, but she forced herself to look in his eyes. “This is a business meeting, Mark. If you don’t have any further questions, I will wait for you to contact Rick. I hope you enjoy the conference, and if you can’t find any new clients on your own, I’m sure that you could meet someone to steal them from.”

  Liza pushed back her chair and stood up, spinning easily on her three-inch heels.

  “I’m not finished with this meeting. I still have other considerations I’d like to discuss.” Mark stood as well, splaying his hands on the table and leaning forward.

  Jaime stood and put his hand on Liza’s back. “Liza’s answered all the questions you need, and luckily for you, she’s very thorough in her prep work. The paper she gave you outlines all the details you’ll need. Good luck.”

  Mark was still sputtering as they walked away.

  Liza’s head ached, and she had an uneasy feeling settling on her shoulder blades. “He’s probably going to call my boss and complain.”

  Jaime frowned. “If your boss can’t see what Mark’s trying to do, then he’s an idiot.”

  “Obviously he can’t see it, because he forced me to meet with Mark in the first place,” Liza replied. “Where are we going?”

  “Back to the hotel for a few minutes. I need a breather, and I bet you do too.”

  Liza thought about protesting. There were still so many people she was supposed to talk to, but Jaime was right. She needed to clear out Mark’s bad vibes and reset her system in order to continue for the rest of the day. “I have a headache coming on.”

  “I’m sorry. But I know just the thing to fix that.” When they reached the hotel lobby, Jaime nudged her into the little food mart. He grabbed a package of chocolate-covered raisins and a bottle of Diet Coke. “I’ll grab some ice, and that headache will be history.”