He crossed his arms. Her gaze dropped to his bicep, pulling the white fabric of his dress shirt tight. She dug the muscles all right. His chest puffed out. His studliness had served him well once again. “Not seeing the upside here. What do I get out of this?”
She frowned. “It's just a few parties. You can keep seeing whoever on the side.”
He felt compelled to point out the flaws in her plan. “My friends will think I'm a big jerk for seeing someone on the side. So will yours. They're all coupled up now like it's frigging Noah's ark around here.”
She stiffened. “Okay, fine. What do you want?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. What was he doing? He didn't want anything from her. Sure, he was alone on Valentine's Day surrounded by his whipped lovesick friends, but that didn't mean… He swallowed hard. There was a quiet dignity in being alone. He'd read that somewhere.
Seriously. Women always said they had a good time with him, though he wasn't sure if that was because he paid for nice dinners or because he gave them pleasure afterward. He made a good living and had invested in his friend Jake's tech company with a huge payoff. The pleasure part was easy, just took some paying attention to what worked for each woman. It wasn't rocket science. A small voice in his head raised an ugly question—did any woman ever like him just for himself and not what he could give them?
He ground his teeth. Sure, he might look like a hulking mass of muscle, but underneath all that he had feelings, sometimes very sensitive feelings. He'd sooner parade around naked in Times Square than admit any of that shit. This much was clear—Lexi just wanted to use him. Pass.
He met her eyes. “I'm out.” He turned to go when she grabbed his arm, halting him.
“Wait!”
He turned back. “What?”
She smoothed his sleeve down where she'd grabbed him, sort of petting his arm. “I'm a corporate event planner. I could plan an event for your bar.”
Free event just for standing next to her at a party? “I'm listening.”
“How about something for St. Patrick's Day?”
He already had St. Patrick's Day locked down with a local pub crawl and live band. He kept that to himself, angling for more. He loved a good negotiation. “Eight long weeks for one event? Pass.”
Her brown eyes flashed, and he bit back a smile, enjoying himself for the first time all night. She parked a hand on her hip. “Come on! It will hardly be any work for you at all. Just stand next to me looking pretty.”
“Two events.” No one could pull off two events in such a short timeframe.
She tossed her head. “Geez, I have a real job you know.”
“Okay, fine. Good night.” He turned and headed for the door.
She kept up with him. “I was on my way out too.”
He picked up the pace to hold the door open for her. Gentleman manners had been drilled into his head by his honorary dad, Joe Campbell.
“Thanks,” she mumbled, walking out to the small foyer. She pulled her black wool coat off the rack and stuck her arm in the sleeve.
He shifted behind her and helped her put it on.
“Uh, thanks,” she said softly.
“Yup.” He snagged his own black wool coat and shrugged his shoulders into it. They matched in black coats. They were also alone in the small space, which he was doing absolutely nothing about. Fuck Valentine's Day. Fuck happy couples. He was a proud lion.
He buttoned his coat and then stiffened, pulling his phone from his pants pocket. He'd set it to vibrate. It was a text from his mom asking him to please bring the groceries tonight. It was Friday and usually he did the grocery shopping for her on Sunday. He blew out a breath, her current condition weighing heavily on his shoulders. Ever since she'd lost her job just before Christmas she hadn't left the house. Not even to go to dinner with him at their favorite diner. Agoraphobia it was called. He'd felt better when he'd discovered it had a name, which meant other people had been through similar stuff and had come out the other side. So far he hadn't had any luck getting her to talk to a professional about it.
He texted back. I'm at a Valentine's Day dance. I'll stop by with the groceries after.
Three dots blinked on the phone screen as she typed. He waited, brows furrowed with concern.
“Everything okay?” Lexi asked gently.
His head jerked up, surprised she actually sounded like she cared. He must look as worried as he felt. “My mom's not well.” He glanced down at his phone.
Mom: Thank you. I hope you meet a nice girl there. It makes me so sad to see you alone.
His mom had been on him for years to settle down. He was thirty-three, not old, and he'd already been settled down once, but lately she'd been saying she needed to know he had someone because she wouldn't always be around. She wasn't suicidal, she just felt old at fifty-one, which he didn't think was very old at all. She had plenty of good years ahead of her if only he could get her past her fear of leaving the house.
He slowly lifted his gaze to Lexi, also looking very alone. He had a crazy thought. What if he brought Lexi with him to his mom's house? He'd do anything to make his mom happy. It killed him to see her reduced to a shadow of her former self.
“Sorry to hear about your mom,” Lexi said. “What kind of illness does she have?”
His throat tightened unexpectedly at her concern. He'd been the man of the house since he was eight years old. It had always been him and his mom against the world. But he was blowing it. Her condition was getting worse, and he was worried enough that he found himself blurting the truth. “It's not a physical illness, more mental. She was laid off right before Christmas and hasn't left her house since. Almost two months.”
“My aunt had that. Agoraphobia.”
His jaw dropped. “Really? Did she get better?”
Lexi nodded. “Eventually. My mom and I spent a lot of time with her being supportive and encouraging. She worked with a psychiatrist too. She's a lot better now and goes out regularly.”
Hope speared through him. Lexi might be able to do a lot more than just brighten his mom's day posing as his girlfriend, she might be able to help her with the agoraphobia. Maybe Lexi could tell her about her aunt and how well she was doing now. Maybe his mom would finally be willing to talk to a professional.
“Lexi, I know what I want out of this.”
Her eyes widened. “Out of what?”
“Your relationship of convenience.”
“Oh. That.” She waved that away. “Never mind. I can't do two events for you, and I could tell you weren't really into the idea. It was silly.”
“No, no, no. I see its merits now. I'll show up with you at a few parties and, in return, you show up with me a few times at my mom's place.”
She stared at him. “You want me to meet your mom? We barely know each other.”
“I think your experience with your aunt could help her. And it would cheer her up if she thought I had a serious girlfriend. Just for a while. We can do your eight-week plan.” He pressed his lips tightly together. “I really hope she's doing better by then.”
Lexi remained quiet, buttoning her coat, so he barreled on.
“It's been tough dealing with it long-distance. I'm in the city; she's here in Eastman. Anyway, she needs me to do the grocery shopping. We could do a quick grocery run, drop them off, I'll introduce you as my girlfriend, and then I'll tell her we have Valentine's Day plans and need to go.”
She studied him. He waited impatiently. Now that he had a glimmer of hope he wanted to act on it right now. He knew this first visit would be too soon to mention Lexi's aunt. His mom had to be eased into it, which meant they needed to get the ball rolling now with an introduction.
“Okay,” she finally said, “but there has to be rules. Let's make it six weeks and no funny business.”
The tension drained from him, making him feel lighter and downright cheerful. He walked ahead of Lexi and held the outside door open for her. “No problem. I'm not very funny.”
&n
bsp; She brushed past him and he caught her citrusy scent. “Sex is off the table.”
He grinned and followed her out the door. “Like you're my type.”
She glared at him and he laughed, dropping a hand on her head and mussing her hair, completely screwing up her updo. He had a “little sister,” Mad, and knew just how to make her crazy. Women hated when you messed up their hair. This would be fun. A pretend girlfriend to make his mom feel better without any of the headache and work of keeping a woman happy. There was literally no downside.
He bit back a smile, watching Lexi attempt to salvage her hairstyle. “You'll be like Mad, my honorary little sister, trailing me around and looking up at me adoringly.”
She gave up on her former hairstyle and pulled the pins from her shoulder-length hair, shaking it out. It settled in place like silk. He stopped smirking.
She smiled cheekily. “You'll be my man candy.”
His voice came out husky. “Naturally.”
He walked ahead of her through the parking lot and opened the passenger-side door of his red Audi.
She got into his car and looked up at him. “You treat your little sister nice,” she teased.
He gave her a small smile. “Joe Campbell's influence. He taught me to treat women like I'd want someone to treat my little sister with care and respect.”
“Then I should thank Joe. What a guy!”
He inclined his head before shutting the door. They were using each other—nothing more, nothing less. He walked around, got in the car, and pulled out of the lot.
A relationship of convenience—his convenience—would be easy. A mutually agreeable deal that solved both of their problems. What could go wrong?
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You’ve just read book #8 in the Happy Endings Book Club series. The books in the series are Hidden Hollywood (Jake & Claire), Inviting Trouble (Parker & Mad), So Revealing (Ty & Charlotte), Formal Arrangement (Alex & Lauren), Bad Boy Done Wrong (Zach & Carrie), Mess With Me (Ethan & Ally), Resisting Fate (Ben & Missy), Chance of Romance (Logan & Sabrina), and Wicked Flirt. I hope you enjoy them all!
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Other Books by Kylie Gilmore
The Clover Park Series
The Opposite of Wild (Book 1)
Daisy Does It All (Book 2)
Bad Taste in Men (Book 3)
Kissing Santa (Book 4)
Restless Harmony (Book 5)
Not My Romeo (Book 6)
Rev Me Up (Book 7)
An Ambitious Engagement (Book 8)
Clutch Player (Book 9)
A Tempting Friendship (Book 10)
Clover Park Bride (A Clover Park Short)
The Clover Park STUDS Series
Almost in Love (Book 1)
Almost Married (Book 2)
Almost Over It (Book 3)
Almost Romance (Book 4)
Almost Hitched (Book 5)
Happy Endings Book Club Series
Hidden Hollywood (Book 1)
Inviting Trouble (Book 2)
So Revealing (Book 3)
Formal Arrangement (Book 4)
Bad Boy Done Wrong (Book 5)
Mess With Me (Book 6)
Resisting Fate (Book 7)
Chance of Romance (Book 8)
Wicked Flirt (Book 9)
All Kylie Gilmore Books
Acknowledgments
Love to you awesome reader goddesses! Thanks also to my family, Tessa, Pauline, Mimi, Kim, and Jenn for all you do. Mwah!
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks are not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Chance of Romance: © 2018 by Kylie Gilmore
Excerpt from Wicked Flirt © 2018 by Kylie Gilmore
Digital Edition 1.1
Cover design by Kim Killion
Published by: Extra Fancy Books
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the writer, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
ISBN-10: 1-942238-38-X
ISBN-13: 978-1-942238-38-6
About the Author
Kylie Gilmore is the USA Today bestselling author of the Happy Endings Book Club series, the Clover Park series, and the Clover Park STUDS series. She writes humorous romance that makes you laugh, cry, and reach for a cold glass of water.
Kylie lives in New York with her family, two cats, and a nutso dog. When she’s not writing, wrangling kids, or dutifully taking notes at writing conferences, you can find her flexing her muscles all the way to the high cabinet for her secret chocolate stash.
Click here to sign up for Kylie’s Newsletter and get a FREE book. You’ll also get new release info, exclusive excerpts, and lots of subscriber-only giveaways. For more fun stuff check out Kylie’s website http://www.kyliegilmore.com.
Kylie can be found on Twitter @KylieGilmoreToo and on Facebook.com/KylieGilmoreToo. Contact Kylie at [email protected]
Chance of Romance (Happy Endings Book Club, Book 8) Page 21