“Oh, I do.”
After I entered Jade’s number in my phone, I watched as she strolled back into the bar. Her cowboy boots struck on the gravel with each step and her hair swung at her waist. Electricity sizzled up my spine. Three days with Jade was going to be interesting.
Chapter Three
Jade
“You’re what?” Valentina asked from where she sat at the kitchen table in the house she shared with my older brother.
“I’m going to be Walker’s date for the wedding. His ex screwed around on him with his best friend’s brother. That is so not cool.”
Reflexively, I glanced over my shoulder to see if Lucas happened to be approaching. Lucas was long over what happened with his late wife. Hell, he hadn’t even found out until after she died, which in a way made it all worse. He was stumbling through grief over her death and found out she’d been screwing around.
Valentina—the love of his life and as far I was concerned the best woman ever for him—gave me a wide-eyed look. “I can’t imagine pulling that off.”
“Don’t worry. I took drama in high school, and I am committed to this. It’s personal.”
“What, did someone screw around on you?” Valentina asked as she leaned forward to snag her cup of coffee.
“No, but after what Lucas went through, it’s a sore point for me.”
“Oh gosh, Lucas is doing fine,” Valentina replied, brushing her curly hair off her shoulders.
Valentina was almost too beautiful. She had dark red hair that fell in curls around her shoulders and wide blue eyes. She had this ridiculously beautiful skin with freckles scattered like gold glitter on her cheeks. Lucas had fallen for her so hard it was ridiculous. Despite her beauty, that wasn’t what I cared about. Valentina adored Lucas and was loyal to the bone.
“Of course he’s doing fine. He’s got you,” I said. “He’s no longer in the running to win a gold medal for being a broody asshole. For that, I will forever be grateful. You’re the sunshine in his life, and I’m not even kidding when I say that.”
Valentina flashed a shy grin. “All right then. I’m just trying to picture anyone spending the weekend with Walker. Walker’s kinda, I don’t know, quiet.”
“Yeah, he’s kinda like Lucas used to be after he got screwed over.”
Chapter Four
Walker
“Who did you say you’re bringing with you to that wedding?” Jackson asked, the skepticism evident in his tone.
“Jade,” I replied before adjusting the air gun I held in my hand and giving the nail a final tap.
We were in the middle of installing wide plank hardwood flooring in a new guest cabin on the grounds where I worked at Stolen Hearts Lodge. I held my hand out, expecting to feel another piece of wood laid in my palm. When I didn’t, I glanced up to find Jackson staring at me, his mouth slightly open and one hand on his hip.
I wiggled my fingers. He let out a rough laugh before leaning over and handing me another piece of flooring. I fit the piece of wood into the grooves of the last row before reaching for the air gun and quickly nailing the board into place.
“Have you lost your damn mind?” Jackson asked.
“Not that I’m aware of,” I replied as I straightened. “Why do you ask?”
“You know Jade is Lucas’s sister, right?” Jackson paused to snag a water bottle sitting on the edge of the miter saw stand nearby.
I took my leather work gloves off and reached for a water bottle on the unfinished windowsill by my elbow. Turning, I leaned my hips against it as I drained the half empty bottle. “Yeah, I know she’s Lucas’s sister,” I replied as I spun the now empty bottle in my palm. “It’s not a real date. It’s a fake date.”
Jackson lowered his water slowly, running a hand through his shaggy brown curls as he eyed me dubiously. “A fake date? Is that a real thing?”
“You’re asking me if a fake date is real?” At Jackson’s nod, I couldn’t help but laugh. “In this case, yes, it is.”
Jackson shook his head slowly. “Dude, that’s fucked up. I have so many questions. For starters, why do you have a fake date? Then, how did this conversation even come about? Does Lucas know?”
A voice carried from the open doorway. “And how the hell did you get Jade Cole to agree to that date?” Dawson asked as he stepped into the semi-finished cabin.
Jackson threw his head back with a laugh. “I was about to get to that question.”
Jackson Stone was my boss at Stolen Hearts Lodge and owned the outdoor adventure lodge. He also happened to be a veterinarian and had a clinic on site, which was handy since there was also a rescue program for animals here. Dawson also worked here and was on the Stolen Hearts Valley Emergency Response crew with both Jackson and me. I’d snapped up this job when I saw it about six months ago.
For the most part, I liked my job. The lodge was one of those places where everyone was friends with everyone. I didn’t mind that so much. But most everyone here was nosy. Even the guys.
I looked between Jackson and Dawson and asked, “Where should I start?”
Dawson’s face broke into a wide smile. He shrugged easily, his eyes glinting with mirth. “Take your pick, man.”
Jackson chuckled and drained his water before leveling me with his gaze. “What the fuck, dude?”
“I’ll keep it brief. I needed a favor. Jade offered. Y’all saw when I stepped in the middle of that scene at Lost Deer Bar
