“Long enough for me to bring you as a date to my brother’s wedding.”
“And when is that?”
“December second.”
That shocked Ellie. “Wow. They’re really moving fast.”
Disdain twisted James’ lips. “They’re so sure they’ve found true love.”
“And you don’t think they have?”
He snorted and stared into his empty glass. “Love is a lie.”
“Okay, then. We’ll just put bitter in the con column.” When James looked up, Ellie instantly regretted her joke. She saw his soul behind his eyes, and it twisted with pain. “See,” she said, and flared her hands. “There goes my mouth, getting me into trouble.”
James gave her a weak smile then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Like I said. I like it. There aren’t many people in my life who call it like they see it.”
“That’s one thing I can promise. I’ll always be honest with you, most of the time before I’ve even finished deciding if that’s the right way to go about it.”
James put his empty glass to his lips and tilted his head back, waited for one more drop to roll into his mouth before he set the glass down and slid it away. “I take it we have a deal?”
“For better or for worse, we have a deal. I will pretend to date you and fall in love with you until after Ian’s wedding, at which time we can stage a breakup of your choice.”
Tessa pulled her chair back and Ellie jumped as the legs scraped against the wood floors. “You’re doing it?” Tess looked from Ellie to James, a broad grin making her face beautiful.
“Looks like it. And you are henceforth sworn to secrecy.”
Tess gave a quick thumbs up then looked embarrassed and dropped her hands to her lap. “Cross my heart and hope to die,” she said, looking appalled as she said it. “Or something like that.”
James stood and staggered when his chair didn’t slide back as easily as he thought it would. “Whoa,” he murmured and clutched at the table. His gaze swam for a second and Ellie was afraid he was about to eat it right there in front of everyone.
“How many drinks did you have tonight?” she asked.
“Enough.” James straightened and took a deep breath. “I’m good. It just hits extra hard after you’ve been sitting a while, you know?”
“I do know.” Ellie stood. “But I also know that if you can’t stand without wobbling, you’re too drunk to drive. I’ll take you home again.” She glanced down to see Tessa looking confused.
“Again?” Tessa mouthed.
Ellie shook her head. “Tell you later,” she mouthed back. “You good to get yourself home?” she asked out loud.
“You know it.” Tessa smiled and slid her half full glass out of reach. “You?”
“Yep. One and a half margaritas can’t get me down.”
She led James out of the bar, glad he didn’t put up a big, macho fight about letting her drive him home. The ride to his house was quiet, the flirty, talkative James from the bar stolen by whatever thoughts trudged through his mind. Ellie tried not to think about the last time she’d driven him home. The way his lips had claimed hers. The way his hands had traced her body, leaving burning trails of contact in their wake.
When she pulled into his driveway, he undid his seatbelt and climbed out of the car without a problem, but just in case, she followed him up the front steps to the door. He didn’t even fumble with his keys. Not even a little bit. Just pulled them out of his pocket and slipped them into the lock.
“Ellie?” he asked as he turned the knob, pausing with the door only slightly open.
“Yeah, James?” Her heart did its best impersonation of him wobbling to his feet and she pressed her hands into her thighs.
“Will you come in?” His eyes searched hers and that burnt part of his soul was back. “Please.”
It wasn’t a question.
It was a statement of need.
She only hesitated for a moment. How could she turn him down when he looked like that? How could she walk away when it was so clear he needed her to stay?
“Sure.” She shrugged and he took her hand, pulled her inside the still dirty house, and led her upstairs to his bedroom. Confusion and excitement tapped out a thunderous duet in her head.
What the hell was happening? What was she doing? She couldn’t sleep with him. Shouldn’t sleep with him. That would make the whole pretend relationship thing extra messy.
Halfway up the stairs, she pulled her hand out of his. “James…” He paused but didn’t turn around. “I can’t…”
He turned his head over his shoulder so she could see his profile. “We don’t have to do anything. I just…I don’t want to be alone. Please, Ellie. Just stay.”
She didn’t respond and he didn’t wait. He took her hand and continued up the stairs. James kicked off his shoes and threw back the covers before he curled up in a ball on the bed. Ellie stared at him for a few seconds, lost, confused, half-certain she should turn around before she kicked off her own shoes and climbed into bed with him. Against her better judgement, she laid down beside him, curling her small body around his and wrapping an arm over him, offering him the comfort he desperately needed.
He sighed, his body relaxing as he tucked her arm beneath his. As his breathing deepened, he quickly drifted to sleep.
Chapter Ten
Ellie
It took a while, but Ellie finally fell asleep too, only to wake a few hours later when her phone blared to life in her purse near the door. For a second, she had no idea where she was, only that she was tucked into someone’s arms, feeling warm and safe, and had been in the middle of a fantastic
