“Is Prince Fortunado going to teach you?” Aimee asked, her tone at once bitter and teasing.
“Maybe.” Christine bit down on her lip. On second thought, Gavin probably wouldn’t be around to see her water-ski, if she even managed it. Aimee didn’t need to know that. She placed a plate at the head of the table and glanced up to meet her sister’s gaze. “Or you could help me. I remember how great you were when we’d go out to Aunt Celia’s place in the summer.”
“That’s a lovely idea,” their mother said, clapping her hands together. “I’d love to see you girls doing something together.”
Aimee looked torn between shooting down Christine and placating their mother. “If I have time,” she agreed eventually. “We’ll see.”
Christine smiled even as her stomach pinched. She wished she understood where the animosity between the two of them had originated. Their parents loved them both, although Dave Briscoe had made it clear that he wished he’d had a son. Aimee had done her best to fill that void by being a rough-and-tumble tomboy growing up, interested in sports and cars and whatever else she thought would bring her closer to their father.
Christine had been the odd one out, so Aimee’s constant resentment didn’t make sense, but it had persisted just the same.
Maybe it was silly that she still wanted a relationship with her sister, but she couldn’t help it.
“It’s obvious Gavin really likes you,” Stephanie said, ignoring her younger daughter. “I like seeing you this happy.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Aimee grumbled a bit more but they managed to get dinner on the table without an outright argument. Christine’s father was more animated than she’d seen him in years during the meal. It was clear he liked Gavin, and Christine felt the all-too-familiar guilt that she was exposing her family to their fake relationship. Obviously, her parents would be sorely disappointed when she and Gavin parted ways. But she consoled herself with the knowledge that at least now they saw her as more than just their boring, awkward daughter.
Thanks to Gavin, she felt like so much more.
She made an excuse about needing to prepare for a Monday meeting, and they said their goodbyes soon after dinner. The sun had fully set while they were at her parents’ and she was grateful for the cover of darkness so she had a bit of time to regain control of her emotions.
The ride back to her house was quiet, and she wasn’t sure what to make of Gavin’s silence. Her family and her role in it were the polar opposite of the tight-knit Fortunado clan. Even discovering the connection to the famous Fortunes had only seemed to bring them closer. She couldn’t imagine anything that would truly bridge the distance in her family.
When he pulled up in front of her condo, she pasted on a smile and turned to say good-night, only to have him lean across the front seat and fuse his mouth to hers.
Her breath caught in her lungs, and she immediately relaxed into the kiss even though the intensity of it shocked her.
“That was fun,” he whispered against her lips.
She pulled back with a soft laugh. “You must be talking about the kiss because dinner with my family was about as much fun as a root canal.”
“They don’t give you enough credit,” he said, his tone serious.
She shrugged. “It’s hard to break old patterns. You wouldn’t understand because your family is perfect.”
“Hardly,” he answered with a snort. “I don’t think any family is perfect.”
They both looked out the front window as headlights turned down the street, illuminating the front of the Audi. “I need to take Princess Di for a walk,” she said, her heart suddenly beginning to pound in her chest. “Any chance you want to join me?” It was such a simple question, yet it felt funny requesting something from Gavin. He had initiated most of the time they’d spent together, and it felt strange to be so nervous—like somehow she was imposing on his evening.
He flashed a small, almost grateful smile. “I’d love to.”
They walked to her condo hand in hand, and she unlocked the door, immediately greeted by the dog. While Gavin got busy loving up Diana, Christine pulled on a heavier jacket and took the dog’s leash from its hook in the laundry room. She grabbed a flashlight, as well, and they headed out to the street.
“My family sometimes feels larger than life,” Gavin said as they walked, Princess Di happily sniffing the edge of the sidewalk as she trotted along. “We all have big personalities.”
“It’s one of the things I liked best when I first started with Fortunado Real Estate,” Christine admitted. “Your dad is great and it was fun when any of the kids or your mom stopped by the office.”
“Yeah. We’re a ton of fun.” Gavin scrubbed a hand across his jaw, the scratchy sound reverberating in the quiet of the evening and doing funny things to Christine’s insides. “But growing up it was hard to get noticed—there were so many of us doing different activities. Honestly, my mom is a saint for handling all of it. But that’s part of how I became an adrenaline junkie. All of my antics were a way to get attention.”
“Really?” Christine was shocked by the admission. “The adventurous side of you seems so natural.”
He shrugged. “I guess it is by this point, but sometimes it feels like a compulsion rather than something I do because I love it. Don’t get me wrong, I like to have fun, but I wonder if there’s more to me than working and taking off on the weekend for more thrill-seeking.”
“I think there is,” she said softly.
“I don’t even own a houseplant,” he told her out of nowhere.
She frowned. “Um...okay.”
“I know that sounds random.” He shook his head. “But I’m not exactly known for my skills at adulting. I have a great job, but even at the firm I’m the guy who woos the prospective clients. I move too fast to be able to stay with one for the long haul, so much that it’s a shock I’m in Austin for so long. I admire your dedication and how steady you are.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“And your sweetness and loyalty,” he continued. As the dog blissfully investigated a nearby shrub, Gavin turned and cupped her cheeks between his palms. “Your family doesn’t have any idea how lucky they are to have you.”
She swallowed the emotion that threatened to clog her throat. She wanted to believe that. It didn’t matter that she was a grown woman and had made a wonderful life for herself. The fact that she’d never fit in with her parents and sister was like an itch that she couldn’t seem to scratch, always distracting her from allowing herself to be truly happy.
“I’m lucky to have you,” he continued, and her heart soared. “Even if it’s only for a few weeks, I’m grateful for our time together.”
Right. Like a balloon that had been stuck with a pin, her happiness deflated, thanks to the reminder that their arrangement was temporary. Gavin might enjoy being with her, but he wasn’t looking to make this into something real. He had no problem remembering the parameters of their relationship. Why did she?
“We should head back,” she said, pulling away and tugging on Di’s leash. “I actually do have a meeting first thing tomorrow with Maddie and Zach.”
He frowned but dropped his hands. The cool night air swirled around her, making her body miss the warmth of his touch.
She purposely kept a greater distance between them as they returned to her condo. What was the point of letting him close when he was just going to walk away? She might not be the most confident woman in the world, but she had enough self-respect to not allow herself to turn into a blathering idiot begging him to want more. At least not to his face.
“Can I see you this week?” he asked, placing a hand on her back as she unlocked her door.
Whenever you want, her heart shouted. It felt like her emotions were rattling her insides like bars on a prison window. What would happen if she threw her self-resp
ect to the wind and invited him in? Would he take her up on the invitation?
Instead, she smiled and shook her head. Physical distance was the only way she could think of to keep her feelings for him from spiraling out of control. “It’s going to be crazy around the agency with your sister and Zach returning. I think it would be better if we waited until the reunion next weekend.”
“Oh.” Gavin’s thick brows drew together over his gorgeous green eyes. “Is everything okay?”
I’m falling for you, she wanted to tell him. I don’t know how to stop it or protect my heart.
But she did know and, unfortunately, it involved keeping her distance unless they had to be together for the ruse. She hated pushing him away, but what choice did she have?
“Everything’s fine, but I’m busy and I’m sure you are, too. I mean, the sooner you close the new client, the sooner you’ll be able to head home. Right?”
“I guess,” he said slowly. “I’m in no hurry.”
“Me neither,” she admitted before she could stop herself. Princess Di gave a soft whine, ready to be in bed for the night. “Let’s talk in a few days,” she told Gavin with fake cheer. “Thanks again for the adventure, and for joining my family for Sunday dinner—an adventure unto itself.”
He stepped back, studying her face as if trying to figure out why she was acting so remote. She couldn’t explain it to him, couldn’t bear for him to deny that he would hurt her.
Already her heart ached more than she could have imagined.
“Good night,” she said and slipped into her quiet house.
Chapter Eleven
Gavin tugged on the collar of his crisp white shirt as he approached Christine’s front door Saturday night. He hadn’t been this nervous about a date since...well, he’d never been this nervous.
Other than a couple of awkward phone conversations and a few random texts, he hadn’t spoken to her since the previous Sunday evening. He wasn’t sure what went wrong. They’d had a perfect day, even if the visit to her parents’ had been a tad uncomfortable.
Actually, the new understanding of the role Christine played in her family made him furious. Beyond her dedication to his father and the family business, Christine was an amazing person in her own right. Maybe he hadn’t noticed her understated beauty and charm at first—or in the ten years he’d known her. But now that he’d spent time with her he couldn’t envision his life without her sweetness and light in it.
Except that was exactly what was going to happen at the end of the month. He’d mentioned the predetermined finish to their arrangement, hoping to coax some sort of reaction from her, but she hadn’t batted an eye. Not that he blamed her. He’d all but told her he was a bad bet for a relationship. Why wouldn’t he expect her to take him at his word?
In fact, her mood seemed to change after he revealed his feelings about his own childhood, the ones that left him riddled with guilt for being an ungrateful schmuck. His family was fantastic and what did it matter if he had to work to be noticed in the midst of so much love? But he’d gotten so used to pushing himself for the rush of adrenaline that he didn’t know any other way to live.
Yet with Christine it was easy to slow down and enjoy the moment, whether walking her dog or watching her conquer her fears. She made everything a little brighter, helped him breathe easier than he could ever remember.
He’d gotten himself onto a crazy treadmill of working hard and playing hard, a cliché overachiever in every area except the one that counted the most—his personal life. He’d always doubted he had the capacity for the kind of love his parents had, the kind Everett, Schuyler and Maddie had found. As crazy as it was and despite the unexpected way their connection had come about, he saw that potential with Christine. And now he doubted she’d give him a chance to prove it.
He knocked, smiling as Princess Di gave a loud woof on the other side of the door.
“I’m ready,” Christine said as she opened it.
Gavin started to smile then felt his jaw go slack.
“Wow,” he murmured as he took her in.
“Is this dress okay?” She smoothed a hand over the front of the soft fabric. The dress was black and strapless with a thin sash around the waist and fell to just above her knees. She’d paired it with a delicate gold necklace, dangling earrings and a pair of the sexiest heels he’d ever seen. This was a Christine he hadn’t seen before. Her hair was swept to one side and fell in soft waves over her bare shoulder. His fingers itched to touch it, to touch her. He wanted to pull her close and hold on all night. “Schuyler said cocktail attire, but I don’t want to seem overdressed.”
“You’re perfect.” He shook his head, his brain jumbled as if he were the ball in an arcade pinball machine. “So damn beautiful.”
She laughed and a blush stained her cheeks. He’d missed seeing that rosy glow. He’d missed her so much it made him feel like a fool. It had been six days. Barely any time at all and yet...
He leaned closer, breathing in the delicate scent of her.
“What are you doing?” she asked with a laugh, taking a step back into her condo.
“Making sure you hadn’t changed shampoos since I saw you last.”
“You’re crazy,” she told him.
“For you,” he confirmed.
Di nudged Christine’s legs, trying to reach Gavin. “Hey, girl,” he said, bending to scratch behind the dog’s furry ears. “I missed you, too.”
“Gavin.” Christine’s tone was serious. He frowned as he straightened, wondering what he’d done wrong now.
“Yes?”
“You look nice, too,” she said, almost shyly.
He swayed closer, ready to meld his mouth to hers, but she turned away, grabbing her purse from the entry table. “We don’t want to be late. Schuyler wants the family there before the New Orleans Fortunes are scheduled to arrive at four.”
“There’s plenty of Fortunados to handle the welcome.” He moved closer, crowding her a little. Her breath hitched and it gave him so much satisfaction to know she wasn’t as unaffected by him as she acted.
“It’s important,” she insisted.
He sighed. “You’re right, of course.”
“Of course.”
“First, I have something for you.” He pulled a small velvet pouch from the inside pocket of his suit jacket.
Her mouth formed a small O as she watched him take a six-prong diamond solitaire engagement ring from the pouch. “I think you need to be wearing a ring when we get to the reunion.”
“Yes,” she breathed then pressed two fingers to her lips. “I mean, you’re right. You didn’t actually ask me anything.” She stared at the ring. “But, yes, just the same.”
It made him ridiculously happy to hear her say yes. He slipped the ring onto her finger. “It’s on loan from one of the firm’s clients who owns a chain of jewelry stores throughout Texas.”
“A loan,” she whispered, seemingly unable to pull her gaze from the sparkling diamond. “You have some darn good connections.”
“Thank you again for doing this, Christine.”
“Of course.” Her gaze lifted to his as she closed her left hand into a tight fist. “We should really get going.”
He stepped back so she had room to close the door and resisted the urge to take her hand as they walked toward the Audi. Clearly, he’d spooked her last week with something he’d said or done. Now he’d given her an engagement ring. Not exactly taking things slow, even when it was all pretend. He appreciated that she was still willing to uphold their arrangement, but he worried that one wrong move on his part would send her running.
Which was the last thing he wanted.
He opened the passenger-side door then walked around the front of the Audi, wishing he’d thought to bring her flowers or something—anything—that would have given him an excuse to linger at her pl
ace and have her all to himself.
The drive to the winery was only thirty minutes from Christine’s place, and she spent most of it asking him about his week.
His shoulders relaxed as he shared progress on negotiating the merger of one of his firm’s larger manufacturing clients with another company. He’d been focusing on cultivating the client relationship and on making sure they were abiding by all the local, state and federal laws that governed the industry. In turn, he asked her for her take on the continuing saga of Fortunado Real Estate’s Austin branch. He’d talked to Maddie after she’d been back a few days, and his sister had seemed both frustrated and confused by the falloff in business.
Christine didn’t have any more answers than his sister had but was clearly just as upset by the issues.
They arrived at the Mendoza Winery, situated in the picturesque landscape of the Texas hill country, and Gavin took Christine’s hand as they approached the entrance.
“It’s Schuyler’s big show,” she whispered, and her words made him stop in his tracks. “What’s wrong?” she asked as she turned to face him.
“I’m glad you’re here with me tonight.” He reached out and trailed a fingertip along her jaw. “Not because of our arrangement. It’s more than that. You make me happy, Christine.”
She hitched in a breath, and he could almost see the struggle as she tried to remain distant. He inwardly cheered when she went up on tiptoe to give him a quick kiss. “You make me happy, too,” she said with an almost reluctant smile.
At this point he’d take reluctant. He’d take anything she was willing to give.
He glanced up as Schuyler called his name.
“Here we go,” he whispered, and they continued toward the rustic yet modern lodge surrounded by acres of weathered grapevines. He hadn’t been there since Schuyler’s wedding and, once again, appreciated the beauty of what the Mendoza family had created.
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