The Companion Love Trap: A Fake Dating Vacation Rom-Com

Chapter 8

My daywith Jace had been a lot of fun, and I was sad when it ended. He’d had Ferro and Peter package all my clothes, sending me home only with one outfit to wear tomorrow. After lunch, we’d gone shopping for shoes and accessories and ended the day at a salon where I’d gotten the full PTA treatment—pits, tits, and ass.

A wax, trim, and blowout later, we both got facials and mani/pedis, ensuring every fluffy and cellulite inch of me had been buffed and polished. I hadn’t felt this fresh and pampered in a long time. Not since before I’d left home.

The thought of home and everything it represented dulled my excitement, so I pushed it away, focusing on the job at hand. Which currently entailed memorizing the binder that Jace had sent with me to study.

With my next week covered, I’d used my tip money to get a hotel room for the night, not wanting to sleep on another miserable lumpy couch. Lounging in my pajamas with a glass of box wine—ssh, it wasn’t that bad—I flipped open the first page and landed on a picture of Kieran with his stats.

His blond hair looked soft enough to run my fingers through, and his blue eyes were so light they reminded me of the sky after a storm. His jaw was peppered with blond stubble, barely noticeable it was so fair but still covered some of the freckles on his face.

There was no doubt this man was attractive. And based on the details next to his picture, he was 6’4”, from Ireland, and thirty-five. Thinking about his Irish accent as he stared at me with those piercing blue eyes had me shifting my legs together.

“Okay, girl. Calm down. It’s just a picture,” I muttered as I scanned over the rest of the data.

Apparently, he liked music, hated people, and spent time snorkeling when he wasn’t busy creating the next big technology gadget. Turning the page to a list of the things he’d been part of, I almost spit out my cheap wine all over the page.

“No freaking way,” I cursed.

Not only had he been behind the neurodivergent earplugs I loved, but he’d also created wearable glasses for blind people that used sonic waves to help them hear their surroundings.

“So you’re a grumpy genius recluse. How did you and Jace become friends?”

I’d admit that despite Jace being more my type on paper, something about Kieran called to me. His eyes held a history that spoke of pain but also beautiful joy. I wanted to know what they both were, and I couldn’t deny the thought of pushing his buttons appealed to me. This man didn’t share how he felt with others, so discovering would be a reward all on its own. And I liked the challenge.

I skimmed the following page; the details of the schools he’d attended and what studies were not nearly as entertaining. It listed like a spoiled rich kid’s CV, so I wasn’t as interested in knowing those details.

Been there, done that. Had the emotional scars to prove it.

My phone buzzed as I refilled my wine, trying to make sense of all the investors and who I’d need to impress. Flicking my eyes to it, a bolt of dopamine hit me at the name, quickly followed by anxiety. I was such a mess.

Cruz: Hey, Meu Tudo.

Cruz: How was your day?

Everly: New phone. Who dis?

I snorted, unable to stop myself. Plus, sarcasm was always my defense mechanism. When Cruz became too perfect, I had to shake him up a bit.

Yeah, right. He’s the one shaken. Keep telling yourself that.

Cruz: Do you have many people who call you Meu Tudo?

Cruz: Here, I’ll remind you.

Cruz: *pic attached*

I sucked in a breath as I took in his abs, his bronze skin on display and covered in tattoos. The dark hair curled just above his waistband. What I wouldn’t give for him to go a little lower.

Bad Everly. Do not engage with the sexy temptation. Must study. Yes.

Shaking my head, I took a deep breath and gulped down the last of my wine.

Everly: Hmm, I’ve seen better.

Cruz: Bullshit.

Cruz: We both know you’re lying, Meu Tudo. But it’s okay.

Cruz: Stay the night with me?

Everly: No, can do. I leave on an important business trip tomorrow.

Everly: And I won’t have cell reception. So, I’ll see you when I see you.

Everly: Night.

Quickly I locked my phone, set it to do-not-disturb, and tossed it far away from me so I wouldn’t be tempted to pick it up and check. Shit. I had to get these feelings for Cruz under wraps before I returned. Thankfully, it seemed like Jace and my fake boyfriend would do just the trick.

After scanning the list of investors again, I filed their companies away to focus more on later and finally let myself turn the page for Jace. There wasn’t as much information on him, probably because he wasn’t the one I was dating and therefore didn’t need to know as much about. But I wanted to. Boy, did I.

He wasn’t the first guy I connected with instantly and then let them touch me. Hell, that was a regular Friday night if Cruz wasn’t available. But something about Jace pulled me in, making me want to stay instead of run. He saw the part of me I pretended didn’t exist. The secrets from my past I tried to ignore. For some reason, it felt like he understood without even saying anything. He matched me in my crazy, never backing down from our banter, and surprised me with how much he truly saw. Maybe it was his photographer’s eye, but it felt like Jace just got me.

Ugh. Flopping back against the soft pillows with a groan, I took a second to center myself. I couldn’t be crushing on three guys. I wasn’t supposed to crush on anyone. Allergic to intimacy and commitment, remember? Mom paid top dollar for that lovely endorsement.

But Cruz pulled me in with his steadiness, always there to anchor me.

Phantom awoke a passion I’d long hidden, drawing out a belief I could achieve things.

And Jace pushed my buttons, challenging me toe-to-toe so I couldn’t hide behind my defenses.

But I had my defenses for a reason, and I wouldn’t forget that. Attachments brought me nothing but pain, allowing someone else to control me and decide what was best for me. I wouldn’t go back to living in the shadows, making myself smaller so I could meet someone else’s expectations.

I would take up as much space as I needed, whether it be my personality or my ass; I wasn’t shrinking myself any longer. Everly Carlisle wouldn’t be silenced, so either get out of my way or applaud me from the sidelines because I was here to stay. I’d given up everything not to be trapped, so I wouldn’t be crawling back into one now—no matter how gilded the cage was.

Spirit strengthened; I poured myself another glass of wine and reviewed Jace’s profile while reminding myself he was temporary.

No, do not stroke the man’s picture!

Temporary. Temporary. Temporary.

Deckedout in my new sundress, sandals, and big sun hat, I felt the epitome of a vacationer. I didn’t typically travel this dressed up. I was more of the yoga pants and flip-flop travel attire crowd, but I could feel the appeal. Maybe I just felt more confident after spending a day with Jace, but I breezed through the airport with my shoulders back and swayed my hips like I owned it. People greeted me and moved out of my way, allowing me to go first, and it felt oddly satisfying.

Somehow I’d managed to arrive at the airport early, one of the few times in my life I’d arrived before the rest of my party. Jace had told me to go ahead to the lounge, so I showed my ticket to the desk, and he pressed the button to open the sliding doors. They parted for me, and I stepped through as the smell of jasmine invaded my nostrils. Damn, I wished the rest of the airport smelled this nice.

Tranquil chimes played over the speakers, and the noise from the rest of the airport disappeared when the doors closed. A beverage station and food cart sat to the side, so I grabbed a few things before sitting in a vacant area. Crossing my legs, I eyed the door as I enjoyed a heavenly croissant and a delicious coffee.

I picked up my phone but didn’t spot any new messages from Jace. There were a couple from Cruz, but I hid the conversation so I wouldn’t be tempted to look at them. This break would do us both some good. I liked him far too much. He’d worn me down over the past year, stealing secrets about my past and life to the point he was now fully entrenched in my heart. And I didn’t like it one bit. Nope. Nope. I shoved a piece of the fluffy croissant in my mouth to stop myself from growling at myself.

I felt him enter the lounge before I saw him. The air shifted like it knew he was important and wanted to give him space. He was alone as he strolled forward, his blond head down as he typed something into his phone. I watched him from under the rim of my hat, giving myself a few minutes to observe him freely.

The man was tall, hovering over everyone else in this lounge. I watched his blue dress pants move with his steps, his legs appearing powerful beneath them. His shirt was a softer blue, one I imagined perfectly matched the shade of his eyes. It had been left open at the collar, the faintest hint of blond tuft poking up.

He stopped midway through the lobby, his forehead creasing as he peered at something on his phone. A leather satchel hung off his shoulder, a magazine sticking out of one end. He checked his watch, the smart design catching my eye, and I wondered if it was one of his. It looked similar to Jace’s, and I bet there was a connection there.

Kieran hadn’t spoken, but I yearned to hear his voice. There was a quiet nature about him that drew in my chaos, wanting to watch it swirl with his. His fingers tapped in a rhythm against his legs in a practiced motion. It almost resembled chords the way he placed his fingers as he moved them against his pant leg in a smooth pattern. It intrigued me, wanting to dig deeper into who Kieran was—more than I had expected.

Even from this causal view of him, something in Kieran called to me, and I didn’t know what. It went beyond attraction, and that terrified me. I’d have to keep my shields up around this guy. It would be just my luck that I fake-dated my way into a relationship, never expecting the floor to fall out from under me.

Jace’s laugh pulled both of our attention as he entered, leaving the station at the front. It didn’t surprise me that he’d made friends. Jace was just like that. He oozed personality, but I spotted the performance hidden beneath the carefully crafted persona. Jace knew his role and played it well, but there was a hidden layer under the fun-loving guy everyone saw. I just knew it.

He was dressed more casually than Kieran in tan skinny jeans and a black t-shirt with a short-sleeved button-down. His usual necklaces and rings adorned him; his smartwatch on his wrist. His hair had been gelled back, keeping the long pieces in the front from falling into his eyes. His hazel eyes sparkled as he neared, a noticeable pep in his step as he sauntered closer to the middle where Kieran had stopped.

Kieran’s shoulders relaxed as Jace neared, a smile almost forming on his lips. Jace was several inches shorter than Kieran, his auburn locks meeting his shoulder. But from how they interacted, it seemed Jace was the more confident of the two, with Kieran almost deferring to him for control. Jace touched Kieran’s arm, and he melted more, the taller man relaxing and softening each second he was near his friend. Interesting.

I’d gotten so caught up in watching their dynamics I hadn’t noticed Jace looking for me. When his eyes met mine, he smiled, and my stomach flipped.

“Firecracker, you look gorgeous.”

He pulled Kieran over to where I sat, a massive smile on his face. I stood, but even in the sandals, I was nowhere near Kieran’s height. I could only see his torso as he neared, the swish of his blue pants capturing my attention. When they stepped closer, I glanced up and caught those pale blue eyes. They widened for a split second, and his cheeks pinked before he turned his head to Jace, his expression shutting down as he glared at his friend.

Something inside of me crumbled, and I didn’t know why. I didn’t care what others thought of me, but feeling the rejection from his obvious displeasure of me hurt. I’d convinced myself there was some weird bond between us in the few seconds I’d watched him, but clearly, I’d been wrong. He was just another entitled rich kid who had more money than he knew what to do with and felt privileged to get whatever he wanted from life.

Stuffing away the tears that wanted to fall, I lifted my chin, remembering I didn’t let anyone tell me how to feel about myself. If he didn’t want me to be his fake girlfriend, he shouldn’t have had his best friend pick me out. At least Jace would be on this trip. I could retreat to his friendly presence when the grump became too much.

“Kieran, I’d like you to meet your fake girlfriend for the trip. This lovely creature is Everly.”

Jace lifted my hand, kissing it before spinning me. He was so effervescent, and it was contagious, making me chuckle as I indulged him. A determination to make this grumpy asshole regret his first impression surged forward, and I smiled as I held out my hand to Kieran. I’d be the best fake girlfriend there ever was.

“Nice to meet you, Kieran. I’m excited to spend the week with you.”

He glanced down at my hand, his nostrils flaring as he looked at it before darting his eyes back to Jace, emotion passing between them I couldn’t decipher. I looked at my hand quickly, ensuring I had nothing on it. But only the smooth skin and pink nails showed. I’d buffed and polished to perfection, and I still didn’t meet this guy’s standards. Typical.

Anger that didn’t belong here rose as flashes of my mother turning up her nose at my messy clothes and chipped fingernails. Of winning a violin competition and her dismissing it by stating I’d only competed against two people with no talent and could’ve played “Twinkle Twinkle” and won. Or the time I was so proud of my research paper I’d worked on for weeks for her to tell me I wasted my time on a topic that didn’t matter.

Over and over throughout my childhood, my mother made me feel less than or unworthy. No matter what I wore, or how I performed, or did in school, she always had a critical word to give me. So many nights, I’d been sent to my room without dinner for crying at her stern words. It worked as a double punishment by keeping me from the comforting embrace of my father and helping me “lose my baby weight.”

You’re too loud, Beverly.

You’re not even trying.

You can do better.

Boys don’t like fat girls.

Try harder, Beverly.

You’re never going to amount to anything.

Fat girls aren’t pretty.

You’re too much. You’re not enough. Never right.

The harsh criticisms of my mother flooded my mind, the intrusive thoughts overpowering me at Kieran’s easy dismissal of me. I’d given everything up to be my own person, but how easily I fell back into the trap.

NO! I refused to feel small.

Clenching my fists at my sides, I felt the fingernails press into my palms. The pain helped center me, my chest rising at my shortened breaths, and my heart galloped off into the sunset, leaving me to clean up the mess.

I’d missed whatever Jace had said while my mind had been at war, but I didn’t care. I opened my mouth to tell Snooty Grumpshire exactly where he could stick the stick in his ass when the sound of Kieran’s voice momentarily shocked me into silence.

“What are you playing at, Jace? I trusted you, and you go and do this! How am I meant to concentrate with—” he stopped, biting his tongue as his nostrils flared more.

The pause shook off the lust I’d felt at his accented words, reminding me I’d been angry first. But I wanted this job more than any other I’d ever had, and I wouldn’t let my anger ruin it for me. I needed to be smart about this. Taking a deep breath, I met his eyes. Anger would get me nowhere.

“I can assure you, Mr. Byrne, that I’ll do the job well. We don’t have to like one another to pretend. But, as it stands, I showed up, and I’m ready to help your investors fawn over you. So, as per the contract, if you’re the one to end the arrangement, I get to keep everything I’ve been given so far, along with a check for two grand for my troubles. I’m completely fine with walking away right now. I don’t particularly want to be stuck on a ship with someone who loathes me based on my appearance, even if he is a handsome elitist grump. But you don’t see me throwing a tantrum in the first-class lounge.”

So much for not being angry, Everly!

To my surprise, his blue eyes widened to the point he resembled an owl, his mouth opening and closing as he stared at me dumbfounded.

And fuck, if that didn’t make me want to push his buttons more. To see how riled up I could get this grumpy billionaire. I stepped closer, an expensive cologne wrapping around me and making me momentarily off-balanced. It smelled familiar, and I tilted my head all the way back to take in his eyes from this close. My finger tapped his chest, the stiff muscles beneath flexing at my touch. I licked my lips, forgetting for a second what I’d meant to do.

“Based on how Jace fingered me and dry-humped my leg yesterday, he at least wants me on this trip. I have a lot to offer and know I can do this job, but I won’t be made to feel less than, for whatever reason you’ve decided.”

My words were soft, the anger gone, and vulnerability shone through despite my best efforts to hide it.

Kieran gave a curt nod, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he stared down at me. His pupils were dilated, and I was tempted to press forward to see if he was aroused, but I managed to rein in my desire and step back. Jace stepped closer, wrapping his arm around my waist and instantly making me feel better. Damn him and his powerful sunshine juju.

“That’s not what this is at all, Firecracker. I surprised Kieran, that’s all. He wants you here. Don’t you, big guy?”

I lifted my eyes slightly from under the brim of my hat, finding Kieran still staring at me. If I left my feelings out of the equation, I could almost notice how scared and nervous he looked—not angry. Shit. Had I overreacted? Did I misread something?

“Yes. Stay,” Kieran said, his accent hitting me.

I nodded, too vulnerable to speak anymore.

“Great. Now that we have that handled, shall we take our seats?”

I stepped back, missing his arm as soon as it dropped from me, and took my seat. Jace sat next to me and Kieran across from us. Jace filled the silence with easy topics, pulling me into a conversation. Kieran stared at me the whole time, never joining in, but I could feel his eyes on me, and I didn’t know how to handle it.

Did he hate me or want me? At this point, I wasn’t sure it mattered.