Chapter 17
RENéE
Seeing Javier grinning over his sunny-side-up eggs and toast as if he hadn’t been the source of every headache I’d had this week, was the last thing on my bucket list for the day—maybe even the entire year. My usually prickly, too-cool-to-care Javier, having a cozy morning chat with my brothers like he actually enjoyed it? That was as out of character as him wearing a floral apron and baking cookies. I shot him a “What are you doing?” look, half-expecting him to break into his usual brooding, “Don’t talk to me before 10 a.m.” self.
But no. His face lit up with this terrifyingly cheerful smile as I approached, and before I could say a word, he leaned in and kissed me on the forehead like we were in some cheesy rom-com.
“Good morning, beautiful!” he practically sang, flashing that all-too-innocent grin that was about as believable as a cat pretending not to want your sandwich.
“What are you doing?” I whispered, totally thrown off by his sudden display of affection. Javier was never the type to do anything resembling “cuddly.”
“Just playing along,” he murmured, smiling in a way that made me shiver—and not in a good way.
I could practically feel my brothers’ tension from across the table. Hael looked one eye-roll away from flipping the table, and Aeros was already glaring at Javier with all the subtlety of a high-security alarm. And not to mention they looked as though the two of them were already plotting his “accidental” demise.
“Can you not?” Aeros drawled, giving Javier a withering look. “It’s bad enough that we’ve got to accept you’re here. Don’t make us see it.”
“And are we supposed to just ignore the fact that he was in her bed?” Hael added, shooting me a glare like he was ready to drag Javier out by his collar.
“Oh, please,” I scoffed, trying not to feel the burning embarrassment creeping up my neck. “It’s not like I’m a little kid. You two have witnessed every embarrassing ‘first’ moment of my life, remember? You even barged in after my first kiss.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t want to toss him out a window,” Aeros said, his glare sharp enough to break glass. “And keep your hands off her in front of us.”
Javier threw up his hands in mock surrender, flashing another unsettlingly out-of-character grin. “You’ve got my word, gentlemen—just trying to have breakfast.”
He winked at me as he said it, and I wanted to crawl under the table. “If you’re so freaked out by him being here,” I said, trying to regain some dignity, “why didn’t you kick him out last night?”
Aeros shrugged, looking like he’d rather be in an active volcano than in this room. “Didn’t think Kian would actually believe your whole ‘boyfriend’ situation, let alone let him stay.”
“It’s not that serious. You’ll survive,” I said, taking a long, defiant sip of my coffee.
“Yeah, well, I still don’t like him,” Hael muttered, looking at Javier like he was one loose button away from unhinged.
Javier just smiled, even brighter if that was possible, leaning back in his chair like he didn’t have a care in the world. “Hey, don’t worry. I come with a guarantee. Boyfriend material, premium edition.”
Hael and Aeros exchanged glances. Aeros even rolled his eyes, though the corner of his mouth twitched. “More like premium nightmare material,” he grumbled.
“Can we just eat in peace?” Hael sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose like this whole ordeal was interrupting his precious morning routine.
I glared at Javier, trying to piece together what kind of possessed mood he was in. Usually, he’d rather die than go along with some scheme just to riel me up. I grabbed my coffee, trying to distract myself from his unusual cheeriness, when I noticed two other chairs were empty. “Where is Kian and Ezio?”
“They left early,” Hael said, stabbing his eggs with unnecessary force. “Father called them back—something urgent.”
I bit back the urge to ask more, but didn’t, not in front of Javier.
Instead, I muttered, rolling my eyes, “Of course, they did.”
“Why are you so grumpy this morning?” Aeros asked with a raised brow while pouring himself another mug of coffee.
I turned, snapping. “Because I barely got any sleep last night! Javier snores like a freight train.”
Javier, visibly shocked, dropped his fork mid-bite, blinking at me. “I do not snore,” he said, feigning hurt. “If anyone was keeping anyone awake, it was you, stealing the covers like it was life or death.”
“Oh, please!” I rolled my eyes. “If I was stealing covers, it was in self-defense. You were wrapped up like you were bracing for a blizzard.”
Javier leaned back, crossing his arms with a grin that was now bordering on terrifying. “Right. And you’re the one who drools in your sleep. I woke up to you using my arm as a drool rag.”
My face turned beet red, and I shot him a look of pure indignation. “I do NOT drool!” I hissed. “Take that back!”
He leaned closer, his eyes twinkling. “Yeah? How about you start by admitting I don’t snore.”
“As if!” I replied through gritted teeth. “And let’s not forget the time you tried to snuggle up to me like a body pillow. I had to kick you away!” Though none of it was true it was fun embarrassing him like this.
Across the table, Hael choked on his coffee, shooting us both a horrified look. “We’re sitting right here,” he said, his tone hovering between disbelief and disgust.
“Yeah, can we not?” Aeros added, squirming in his seat. “I’m trying to enjoy my scrambled eggs here without the side of some fucking mental scars.”
Javier shrugged, trying to look innocent. “Hey, I’m just trying to share my experiences. She just kicks like a mule in her sleep, I’ve got the bruises to prove it.”
I narrowed my eyes, crossing my arms. “Oh yeah? Well, you talk in your sleep! Kept mumbling about ‘getting the deal done’ or something. I thought I’d woken up next to a mafia boss.”
Javier snorted. “Better than you babbling about chocolate cake. I thought you were about to start eating the pillow.”
“Oh, come on,” I said, shooting him a glare while trying to hide my smile behind my coffee cup. “That was one time.”
Aeros groaned, scraping his chair back. “I’m officially done. I don’t need a ringside seat to whatever this is.”
Hael was right behind him, muttering under his breath. “We’re getting Kian and Ezio back as soon as possible. At least they don’t drag us through… whatever this is.”
I felt frustration bubbling up and glared at Javier. “I hate you; you know that?”
Javier leaned back, lifting his mug with a smug little smile that somehow seemed even more out of character than before. “Not as much as I hate you, sweetheart.” He took a slow, deliberate sip, his eyes glittering with that strange, unsettling amusement.
“How long do I have to keep this up? Not that I’m complaining.” Javier shot me a wink.
“About that.” I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. “We need to talk.”
“Okay, talk.”
“Not here. I don’t trust my brothers.” I stood up, tugging his arm. “Let’s go.”
Javier glanced at my hand, then back at me, his lips curling into a smile.
“What?” I frowned. “Let’s go.”
His smile only deepened as he got to his feet. Then he leaned in, so close that if either of us moved, our lips would touch. His voice dropped to a low murmur. “I’d follow you to the depths of hell if you asked nicely , sweetheart.”
I shoved him back, rolling my eyes. “When hell freezes over, I’ll consider it.”
I turned to leave, throwing a glance over my shoulder just in time to catch him grinning. Shaking my head, I kept walking. Of course, he followed.
“So, you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend for an indefinite amount of time,” Javier repeated my words like they were some kind of joke.
I shook my head, crossing my arms. “It’s not indefinite—just a few months until I’m ready to... accept the arranged marriage.” The words tasted bitter, but I forced them out.
He didn’t say anything at first, just stared at me with that intense, stormy look in his gray eyes. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head. Then, without warning, he took a step forward. And then another.
Instinctively, I stepped back, but he kept coming until my back hit the cool metal of the terrace railing. My pulse kicked up a notch as he planted both hands on either side of me, boxing me in.
“What do I get out of this?” His voice was low, the kind of tone that made it impossible to tell if he was serious or playing.
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. “What do you want?”
He tilted his head, his eyes flicking to my lips for just a second before meeting mine again. “I don’t think you can afford what I want.”
I straightened my shoulders. “Try me. I can afford anything you might ever want.”
His lips curled into that signature smirk, the one that usually meant trouble. “Alright, Renée. I’ll play your little game. I’ll be your fake boyfriend. And when the time’s right, I’ll tell you what I want.”
He stepped back then, giving me space to breathe again.
I exhaled slowly. “So, we have a deal?”
He reached out, taking my hand in his firm grip. His eyes locked on mine as he gave it a shake. “You’ve got a deal, Ms. Margot.”