James’ eyes darkened with anger and Ellie immediately regretted opening her mouth. When would she learn not to speak everything she thought?
“I think it’s none of your business what I do with my life.” His voice was cold and his smile disappeared into a hard, thin line.
She nodded vigorously. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I have a big mouth. Go on.”
James exhaled through his nose and pursed his lips, studying her for a few of the longest seconds of Ellie’s life before he continued. “I’d like to…hire you. To pretend to be my girlfriend for a couple months until my family calms down. I wouldn't necessarily pay you, but I’d pay for all of our dates. Clothes if you need them. We’d have to kiss and hold hands in public, but nothing more physical than that. Of course, you’d have to be my date for my brother’s wedding. And all the festivities surrounding the wedding.”
Ellie stared, mouth open and speechless, until he became uncomfortable enough to take a step back and straighten his posture.
“You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend?” she hissed at last. “Let me tell you something, friend. I’m worth way more than a pretend relationship. Way more.”
Surprise lifted James’ eyebrows. “I didn’t say anything about your worth. Just thought I had an offer that was mutually beneficial.”
“Mutually beneficial, huh? As in you get to lie to your family and I get, what? The pleasure of being seen with you? No, thank you.”
James dug in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Plunked down too much money for the coffee, turned on his heel without another word, and stalked out. Ellie swallowed hard, put both hands on the counter, and shook her head as her breath ripped through her lungs.
Had that really happened?
Did James Moore ask her to pretend date him…and she told him no?
“What the hell was that about?” Tessa asked as she practically sprinted from her place near the window.
“He wanted me to pretend to be his girlfriend.”
Tessa blinked. “What?”
“Yeah, you know. Go out with him. Hold his hand in public. Go to his brother’s wedding. Basically date him without dating him.”
“What? Why? That doesn’t make any sense.” Tessa looked just as confused as the situation warranted. What kind of guy asked a mere acquaintance to do something like that?
“I guess his family is really worried about him after the breakup.”
Tess nodded, acknowledging the revelation with a genuine lack of surprise. “I hear he’s been drinking a lot. And hanging out with some guys that are into amateur MMA. Like Fight Club or something.” She chewed on her thumbnail. “What did you say? You told him you'd do it, didn't you?”
“I told him to get bent.” Ellie laughed, still surprised by her own response.
“You did what?” Tessa’s eyes went wide. “But he’s your dream guy!”
“Yeah. But come on. When you think dream guy, is that the way you imagine it? A fake relationship that only exists when you’re in front of people?” Ellie thought about James’ lips, his hands on her chest, his hard body pressed against hers as she stretched out on top of him in his bed. That’s what she wanted. Lots more of that.
“I’m worth more than faking it,” she whispered, eyes locked on her fidgeting hands.
Tessa reached over the counter and twined her fingers with Ellie’s. “Hell yes you are. You're worth the real deal. And you’re gonna find a guy who falls head-over-heels in love with you while you fall head-over-heels in love with him and it’s going to be magical.”
Ellie shrugged. “Maybe.”
She wasn't so sure she believed in the whole head-over-heels, magical love thing. Relationships were complicated and messy, and only slightly better than being lonely.
The front door swung open and for a split-second Ellie hoped it was James. She couldn’t tell if she was excited or disappointed to discover it wasn’t him, but Mrs. Cernshaw in search of her daily scone.
“Hey,” Tessa said after a few more people came through the door. “Looks like you’re going to get busy here. I’m gonna scram. Meet me at Hurricane’s for margaritas tonight?”
Ellie looked dubious and started to protest. She’d been staying out too late a lot lately and was falling behind on sleep.
“I’m taking your option away.” Tessa made her favorite bossy face. “If you don’t meet me for margaritas tonight, then I rescind your best friend status.”
“You can’t do that.”
“You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do.”
The doors opened and closed again, and a line started to form behind Tessa. “Fine.” Ellie smiled and flared her hands. “I’ll meet you tonight.”
“Awesome! Seven o’clock on the nose. I’ll start docking friend points for every minute you’re late.”
Chapter Seven
James
James had planned to spend his evening with Ellie, enjoying a few drinks while they discussed the best ways to make their ‘relationship’ appear believable. The absolute last thing he anticipated was offending her with the offer and spending the night at Hurricane’s alone.
He picked up his drink—whiskey, neat—and swirled the liquid in the glass before bringing it to his lips. Oliver and Ethan were at The Pit watching a fight, mentally preparing for Ethan’s first match that weekend. Seeing as James intended to make his debut in the ring soon, he should have been there with them. He’d passed on the invite, deciding to ask Ellie to be his fake girlfriend instead.
What the actual fuck?
Why did she get so bent out of shape about the whole thing?
What was so bad about spending time with him? Free drinks? Dinners? Occasional dancing? Never, not once in his life, had someone passed on the opportunity to take advantage of the perks that came with being his friend.
What was so offensive about pretending to be in love? From where he stood, it wasn’t like she had anything better to do. Wasn’t she alone the night she drove him home from the bar? She had to be. There was no way James could imagine her ditching a date to
