Christine was different in so many ways. The romance might be pretend, despite their off-the-charts chemistry, but he liked spending time with her. An evening of a vet emergency, carryout pizza and an old movie had been the most fun he’d had in ages. He could be himself with her and wanted to make her see how much she underestimated herself. Gavin hoped their friendship would continue even after he returned to Denver, although the thought of moving into the “friend zone” and never kissing her again held no appeal whatsoever.
He’d expected her to call or reach out to him to let him know she wanted to see him again. That was how things usually went with women. He couldn’t decide if Christine was playing it safe because of their arrangement or if she truly wasn’t that interested in him outside of what was expected to maintain the ruse of being in love.
“Have you two thought any more about wedding plans now that you’re in Austin?” Schuyler asked.
Gavin shrugged. “We’re both busy.”
“That’s silly,” she insisted. “Let me help.”
“Schuyler could take care of everything,” Everett added, none too helpfully in Gavin’s opinion.
“Don’t the two of you have enough of your own marital bliss to keep you occupied? How come everyone has so much time to worry about my love life?”
“We don’t want you to mess it up,” Schuyler said gently. “No one likes seeing you lonely.”
Gavin felt the simple pronouncement like a sharp right to the jaw. “I’m not lonely. I have plenty of friends.”
She shook her head then sipped at her water. “You have buddies to hang with and work colleagues. It’s not the same.”
Gavin darted a pleading glance at Everett. “Can you throw me a line here?”
“You have seemed at loose ends,” Everett answered.
“Loose ends? How can you say that? I’m about to make partner.”
Everett shrugged. “Having a good job isn’t the same thing as having a good life.”
“Coming from the man who was solely dedicated to his job until recently.”
“Lila changed everything.”
The waitress brought their food—a club sandwich for Schuyler and himself and a burger for Everett. As she placed the food in front of them, Gavin felt his frustration mount. This fake engagement with Christine was supposed to alleviate the pressure from his parents and siblings, not add to it. What would it take for them to get out of his business?
“I think it’s great that the two of you are so happy,” he said, forcing his tone to remain neutral. “Christine and I will start wedding plans when we’re ready, but you have to trust that I can manage my own life. I’m not a kid who’s going to make a stupid decision.”
“Fair enough,” Everett conceded, then took a big bite of his burger.
Schuyler looked less convinced. Despite the fact that she was one of the middle Fortunado siblings, she’d always been a caregiver for her brothers and sisters. Their mom found it amusing to watch Schuyler fuss like a mother hen, and Gavin knew she did it because she cared so much.
“You said you wanted to talk about the reunion,” he told her.
She pointed a fry in his direction. “I’m going to let you change the subject because I love you. But know that we’re all sticking our noses where they probably don’t belong for the same reason. If you ever want to actually talk about your relationship with more than one-syllable answers to my questions, I’m here for you.”
Gavin blew out a breath. Irritating as they could be, he loved his sisters and brothers with his whole heart. “I’ll remember that. Thank you.”
She smiled then popped the fry into her mouth. After she’d swallowed, she pulled out a pen and a small notebook from her purse. “I’ve confirmed with Nolan that his brothers and sisters will be there. They’re flying in just for the party, so it will be a quick trip.”
She flipped open the notebook. “The Paseo Fortunes aren’t going to be able to make it because Grayson has some kind of rodeo award ceremony they’re attending in Dallas. Nate promised they’d find another time to come to Austin to meet everyone.”
“Lila heard that Gerald and the triplets’ mom have rekindled their romance now that he’s separated from Charlotte,” Everett said between bites. “Obviously, it’s a pretty big deal since Gerald and Charlotte were married for so many years. She can’t be happy about losing him to his first love.”
“Especially when she went to such great lengths to keep him from knowing about the triplets.”
Gavin shook his head. When Schuyler first realized their connection to the famous Fortune clan, she’d traveled to the tiny town of Paseo, Texas, to talk to Nathan Fortune. Nate, along with his brothers Grayson and Jayden, were three of the illegitimate children of Gerald Fortune, who’d had a brief affair with their mother, Deborah, back when he’d been Jerome Fortune.
It was crazy to think that Jerome Fortune had been desperate enough to fake his own death and reemerge as Gerald Robinson as a way to escape his domineering father, Julius. And just as shocking to discover that their dad, Kenneth, was one of Julius’s illegitimate sons, making them all Fortunes.
“Could you imagine Mom and Dad getting divorced at this point?” he asked his siblings, confident in his parents’ love for each other.
“No,” Schuyler answered immediately. “But I also couldn’t imagine Mom trying to keep Dad from knowing he had three sons out in the world.”
“Not just three sons,” Gavin corrected. “Aren’t there a bunch more illegitimate Fortune children out there?”
Everett nodded. “As far as the family knows, they’ve all been uncovered at this point. Apparently, Charlotte kept a secret dossier on each of them without Gerald’s knowledge.”
“It sounds like Gerald and Charlotte’s marriage wasn’t exactly perfect,” Gavin said.
“Not at all,” Schuyler agreed. “It still amazes me how open most of his legitimate kids have been about getting to know these half siblings. It’s part of why I have such high hopes for the reunion. I really want all of us to feel like a family.”
“Why is it important to you?” Gavin asked.
Schuyler was quiet for a moment before answering, “When I decided to infiltrate the Mendozas to get the goods on the Fortunes, I expected to be disappointed. Not only did I meet Carlo and fall in love, I also learned that the Fortune family is filled with a lot of decent people trying to make the best of difficult situations. I can’t help but think that we have more in common with them than we might realize. Strength in numbers and all that.”
Everett frowned. “As usual, it sounds like you’ve got everything figured out. Why do you need our help?”
“I’d like you to reach out to Gerald’s sons. I know Ben and Keaton are willing to meet and I’m sure I can convince the sisters to attend, but I have a feeling the other brothers will respond better to a little ‘mano a mano’ talk.”
“Don’t you think Gerald’s kids have enough to deal with right now?” Gavin took a long drink of iced tea. “First, all the illegitimate siblings showing up and then their parents separating? It’s a lot to handle.”
“But this is something positive,” Schuyler insisted. “We’re not a threat to them and neither are the New Orleans Fortunes. But we agree the Robinson siblings have handled all of the changes in their lives exceptionally well. I’m hoping they can help the rest of us.”
“I’m willing to call Wes,” Everett offered, mentioning Ben’s twin.
Schuyler beamed at their eldest brother then turned her laser-focused gaze to Gavin. “What about you?”
“Big family parties make me itchy,” he said, pretending to scratch at his arms and earning a fry in the face from his sister. “I’m more a lone-wolf type.”
Everett let out a bark of laughter. “Not exactly spoken like a man who’s ready for a trip down the aisle.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Gavin amended, realizing he needed to watch what he said if he was going to make this fake engagement believable.
Schuyler seemed to take his comment in stride. “You can’t spout that lone-wolf nonsense now that you’re engaged to Christine. She’s...” A wide smile split her lips as she glanced toward the door. “Speaking of your better half...” she said, wagging her brows at Gavin.
He turned to see Christine placing an umbrella in the stand next to the diner’s entrance. She was with a woman he’d seen the other day at the agency office and the man who’d been hitting on her at Maddie’s wedding.
His gaze narrowed as the guy leaned in to speak into Christine’s ear. She laughed softly but shifted away, placing the other woman between her and her would-be suitor. Had the guy not heard she was dating Gavin? Was it possible he just didn’t care?
As if sensing the weight of Gavin’s gaze, Christine glanced toward him. His heart stuttered when she smiled as if the surprise of seeing him made her happy. Then her gaze flicked to Everett and Schuyler and he saw her draw in a sharp breath. She was nervous. He didn’t want anything about their arrangement to make her nervous. She knew how much everyone in his family liked her. Although maybe that was part of it. She was afraid of what would happen when their time together ended.
He rose from the table at the same time she excused herself from her coworkers. The man—Bobby, if Gavin remembered correctly—gave Gavin a slow once-over then followed the other woman toward a table.
Christine walked toward Gavin and there was nothing fake or forced about taking her hand and brushing a lingering kiss across her mouth.
“Hi,” he whispered against her lips.
“Hi,” she breathed.
“Hey, Christine,” Schuyler called from behind him. “Great to see you.”
Gavin kept Christine’s hand in his as he shifted so that she could speak to his sister and brother. It wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to pull her out of the restaurant and find a quiet place to reconnect with her, and if he was being totally honest, to kiss her senseless.
“Hey, Schuyler.” Christine smiled. “Hi, Everett.”
“How’s the old man doing at the new office?” Everett asked with a wink. “Is he driving everyone crazy with his type-A personality?”
Gavin felt Christine stiffen next to him even though her smile remained fixed in place. “He’s great, as usual.”
Schuyler rolled her eyes. “Everyone probably feels like they’re getting a break with him compared to Maddie and Zach. Those two are intense when it comes to real estate.”
“We miss them, too,” Christine said.
“Chris, we’re ready to order. You coming over?”
Gavin felt his eyes narrow as Bobby called to Christine. “Who calls you Chris?” he muttered with a frown.
“Only my family and Bobby,” she said. “I don’t like the nickname.”
“I don’t like that guy,” he said, dropping a quick kiss on the top of her head. “You can sit with us if you want.”
“We’re talking about the reunion I’m planning,” Schuyler told her. “I’m so excited you’ll be there, too. You’re already like one of the family.”
“Oh...uh...thanks.” A blush rose to Christine’s cheeks.
“Where’s your ring?” Schuyler’s gaze had zeroed in on Christine’s left hand. “I thought you’d be wearing it now that everyone knows about the two of you.”
Gavin’s stomach pitched. He hadn’t thought about—
“It’s at the jeweler being sized,” Christine answered, squeezing his hand.
Schuyler nodded. “I can’t wait to see it.”
“It’s beautiful,” Christine said with a smile only he seemed to realize was fake. “I should go. Great to see you all.”
Reluctantly, he let go of her hand. “I’ll call you later?”
“Sure.”
He leaned in to whisper in her ear, “And you’ll answer?”
She nodded. “Of course.”
“Great. I’m planning something for Sunday, so I hope you’re free.”
Her face went suddenly pale. “Sure. I guess.”
Okay, that wasn’t the response he’d expected, but he didn’t want to push her for an explanation in front of his siblings.
He kissed her again, somewhat placated when she sighed and relaxed into him. That was more like it.
“Chris, come on.”
“Can I punch that guy?” he asked in a tone low enough only she could hear.
“I don’t think your dad would approve,” she told him with a teasing smile before walking away.
“You’ve got it bad,” Everett said when he sat down again.
“I’m ready for the wedding bells,” Schuyler added in a singsong voice, then hummed a few bars of “Chapel of Love.”
“You know Valene’s still single?” Gavin grabbed a fry from Schuyler’s plate. “And Connor. I’m off the market so why don’t you focus on one of them for a while?”
Everett chuckled. “You’re such an easy target.”
“Plus, you’re only in Texas for a few weeks.” Schuyler grinned at him. “Now that she’s said yes, we’ve got to make sure you don’t mess things up.”
“I’m not going to mess up,” Gavin said, pulling out his wallet when the waitress returned with the check. “Anything more we need to know about your reunion? I’ve got to get back to the office for a meeting.”
As Schuyler went over details for the event, Gavin glanced behind him to the table where Christine sat with her coworkers. His gut clenched when she smiled at something the woman said. He didn’t want to mess things up with her, but already their arrangement was more complicated than he’d ever imagined.
Mostly because of his feelings for her. She’d done him a favor as a friend by distracting Schuyler at the wedding and then agreeing to pose as his fiancée for his time in Austin.
It wasn’t supposed to be more than that. He’d dated plenty of women and managed to keep his heart out of the mix with all of them. Why was Christine different?
She’d told him that she wasn’t his type, and on the surface that might be true. But the connection he felt to her was undeniable. This crazy need to be near her made him both excited and anxious. He’d been joking when he made the crack about being a lone wolf, but it wasn’t too far from the truth.
With her sweet smile and gentle spirit, it somehow felt like Christine was changing everything.
Chapter Nine
Either Gavin Fortunado had missed his calling as an actor or he was actually interested in her. Christine touched her fingertips to her lips when she was back in her office after lunch, imagining she could still feel the warmth of his mouth on hers.
Although she’d been a bundle of nerves running into him at the diner with Schuyler and Everett, he’d seemed relaxed and happy to see her. The way he’d taken her hand and then kissed her had made her feel like she was really his fiancée. But the rush of excitement brought on by that thought was followed almost immediately by a clenching in her heart.
If she let herself believe that, it could only end in heartache. When this started, she’d expected to put on a show when they were around his family. She would never have guessed she’d be going on actual dates with Gavin. And while she knew she should keep her walls up because of the risk to her heart, there was no way to deny how much she wanted to be with him.
She pulled her phone from her purse and dialed the familiar number.
“Christine?” Her mother picked up on the first ring. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Mom.” Christine swallowed against the tension that accompanied every conversation with her mother. “I’m calling to say hi and see how you’re doing.”
“It’s the middle of the day,” Stephanie Briscoe pointed out as if she might not realize it. �
�Did you get fired?”
“No,” Christine answered through clenched teeth.
“You said you were running the real estate agency those Fortunados own in Austin.”
“I still am. It was a promotion.”
“It sounds like a lot of work,” her mother said drily. “I wasn’t sure you’d be able to handle it.”
“Mom.” Christine sighed. How many times did she have to have some version of the “you can’t handle your own life” conversation with her mother? “I’ve been working for Kenneth for ten years. I’m good at my job. They trust me. They rely on me.”
“I worry,” her mother whispered, indignation lacing her tone. “I’m your mother. That’s my job.”
“Okay,” Christine agreed although her mother’s concern had always felt more like judgment. “But I’m doing fine.” She didn’t mention the recent fall-off in business since the beginning of the year. In a meeting with Kenneth yesterday, they’d chalked it up to a normal post-holiday lull, but he hadn’t seemed convinced and neither was she. Things had gotten off to a great start when Maddie and Zach had first taken over. She hated the fact that they’d be returning to trouble, even though it had nothing to do with Christine’s role at the agency.
She wished she could mention the issues to her mother. It would be nice to have the kind of relationship where she went to her mom—or her dad, for that matter—for support and advice. But that wasn’t the way of things and she didn’t expect their family dynamic to change anytime soon.
“I’m glad,” her mother answered. “I just want you to be okay.”
“I know, Mom.” She didn’t bother to mention that it was the other Briscoe daughter who needed her mother’s concern. Her sister, Aimee, had recently been fired from her job, and while she’d quickly been picked up by another salon, her spotty employment record was becoming a problem.
Christine had successfully graduated college and had a career she loved, but Aimee had floundered since high school, despite being a talented hairstylist. Their parents couldn’t admit that the favorite daughter was the failure of the family, and Christine, whom no one had ever expected to amount to much, was thriving. She certainly wasn’t going to point it out.
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