2. Reid
CHAPTER 2
Reid
I know people referred to me as the rude, grumpy asshole lawyer of the firm. It didn’t bother me in the slightest normally but when I heard it today leaving Lilian Raeflower’s lips it hit me deeply in the chest. It was as if someone had cut into my blackened heart and made me hurt more than I have ever done in the past.
People said words can cut deep… they weren’t fucking wrong in the slightest.
My best friend and colleague at Spivey I was allergic to the stuff. It’s a good thing it was only mild but you could never be too cautious as my doctor warned me—things could always change and improve or unfortunately get worse over the years hence taking precautionary medications just to be on the safe side. “We’ve been trying to keep things quiet, but I guess the secret’s out now.”
I couldn’t help but admire her commitment to the charade. I don’t know if it had been to do more with the fear and worry of potentially having to undertake the forfeit by Paisley or if she was settling more into the idea of being in my company. Originally, she had been absolutely horrified at the idea of having to fake-date me but she was putting on quite a convincing show making me wonder if perhaps she had any other hidden talents beyond crafting exquisite chocolates.
“Well, I think it’s wonderful,” Mrs. Henderson gushed, clasping her hands together. “You two make a lovely couple! I’ve always wished to see you both find some happiness. It’s not been an easy road for either of you.”
“Thank you,” I said as I allowed my arm to find its way around Lilian’s waist as if it belonged there, ignoring the way Mrs. Henderson attempted to delve into our past history. It wasn’t common knowledge to the whole town so obviously there had been whispers and talks over how and why we’d been single for so long. I wasn’t about to indulge in those conversations to support those next tea and coffee gossip meetups. “We think so too.”
As we continued our leisurely walk, I found myself oddly conscious of every time our bodies touched—my hand cusping around her waist or the way her shoulder occasionally brushed against the top of my chest. I had to keep reminding myself that this was all fake. It was just a dare and for pretence but there was something about the physical proximity around her that made my normally composed self-feel... unsettled.
“You’re a better actor than I expected,” Lilian commented as we turned down a less populated street with no one we recognized on it as we headed towards the park.
“That’s what years of courtroom experience does for someone,” I replied back, allowing a small smirk to form on my lips. “I have to convince people that what I say is the truth. I mean it’s what I do for a living afterall.” I shrugged my shoulders, making her chuckle underneath her breath.
“And here I thought you just bullied them into submission with all the legal jargon you could whilst using that scowl you wear so well,” she retorted back with a slight curl to her lip.
“That’s Plan B. I have to use the charm first and if all else fails I can always fall back on some class intimidation.” I chuckled.
“Charm? Is that what you call it?” She raised an eyebrow as I found myself studying the dusting of freckles across her nose—something I’d never noticed before. “I haven’t seen much evidence of this alleged charm.”
“I’m saving it for when I really need it,” I countered. “Besides, I thought women liked the brooding, mysterious type of guy.” I waggled my eyebrows at her, making her laugh. The genuine sound knocked me instantly off guard as it hit me deep in the gut.
“Maybe in a romance novel you’d see that but in real life? I think most women would prefer someone who can actually carry a conversation without looking like they’re trying to plot a murder.” She admitted.
“Is that what you want though?” I asked but she just pouted at me continuing in her stride as I took a few steps to catch up to her.
A sudden gust of wind tousled Lilian’s hair, sending auburn strands across her face. Without thinking I reached forward and brushed the stray locks away from her cheek, my fingers lingering perhaps a moment longer than necessary and committing this moment to memory. The closeness between us suddenly felt charged and the atmosphere heavy with something neither of us had anticipated.
“Are you okay?” I asked her, my voice much softer than I intended to.
“I’m fine,” she replied, her voice slightly breathless. “Just... committed to the role.”
I had to remind myself this was supposed to be fake, just a dare. But as we continued walking, I realized I didn’t want to let go of her hand. It made me think how this felt natural and if it was meant to be somehow but also how easily things could spiral out of control.
“We should probably discuss some ground rules,” I said, attempting to regain some semblance of a professional distance between us. “If we’re going to convince everyone this is real then we need to be able to know where we both stand.”
“Good idea,” she agreed, quickly retorting back as if she was grateful for the change in subject. “What would you suggest?”
“Well, for starters, we should agree on how we got together. People are going to ask.” I began, stating the first thing that came to my mind.
Lilian nodded thoughtfully. “Something believable but maybe not too detailed. Maybe... you came into the shop one day, and instead of being your usual charming self,” she said with a hint of sarcasm and potential truth, “you actually smiled at me and I was so shocked that I agreed to go on a date with you?” She said cheekily as I rolled my eyes at her.
“Hilarious. How about something that doesn’t paint me as the town villain?”
“But that’s your brand,” she teased me as I found myself fighting back another smile. “Fine. What’s your suggestion?” She asked me with a sense of intrigue.
“How about... we ran into each other at the bookstore just outside of town. You were reaching for a book on the top shelf and I helped you get it down, surprised to recognize you outside of your little shop. We started talking about books and discovered we had a similar taste before deciding to grab a coffee together.”
“That’s... actually quite sweet. I didn’t know you had it in you.” Lilian admitted her mouth widened in shock before she quickly closed it realizing how she must have looked like her cheeks turned a delicious shade of pink.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” I replied, surprising myself with how truthful the statement felt. “I love a juicy, intense, good, filthy?—”
“La—la—la. I can’t hear you.” She shouted loudly over the wind, placing her fingers in her ears. “I don’t want to know about your wicked, wildish obsession with love and kinks, Reid Belgrave.” She told me as I leaned in and pulled her hands away from her ears.
“But I know you do, Lilian Raeflower… You want to know it all, don’t you?” I squinted, leaning in closing the gap between us until we were breathing the same small pocket of air. “It’ll only be a matter of time, trust me.” I whispered before I pulled back.
We eventually found ourselves at a bench overlooking the bay with the morning sun casting a golden glow across the water. Without discussing it, we both sat down, still maintaining our proximity though there was plenty of room for space between us.
“So, what else should we know about each other? What other rules or thoughts should we have pre-determined as you, lawyers would state?” Lilian asked. “If we’re supposedly dating, people will expect us to know basic things about each other, right?”
“My favorite color is navy blue,” I offered as an ice breaker. “My birthday is November 17th. I’m allergic to chocolate and I hate reality TV shows. How’s that to start with?”
“My favorite color is emerald green,” she replied back. “Birthday is April 2nd. No allergies, but I can’t stand the taste of liquorice and try to avoid it in my recipes. I still can’t believe you are allergic to chocolate—ironic really—the two of us doing this together. And I secretly love trashy reality dating shows, which I can already tell you’re judging me for.”
I was, but I found it more endearing than I wanted to admit.
“Everyone has their vices,” I said diplomatically. “Mine is a good mature single malt and watching a historical documentary that can put the majority of people I know to sleep. Plus, on that note—you don’t need to worry about the allergy. I take enough medications as a precaution.”
“Thrilling,” she said with a laugh. “Plus, that’s a good point to know about the medications as you know someone may ask about it after all. Your allergy is common knowledge around town. What about family? People will ask about that too.”
I felt the familiar tightening in my chest at the mention of family. “Not that much to tell. My parents divorced when I was twelve and then my father remarried before passing away recently. My mother lives a good few hours away and I’ve no siblings to cause havoc with.” I kept my tone deliberately casual but inside rage was building. It was a topic I stayed well clear of at all costs.
“I’m sorry about your day.” She uttered, shaking her head at me. “I’m close with my mom and a cousin and I usually visit them for National Dare Day but they’re traveling this year—hence why I couldn’t escape Paisley’s scheme.” Lilian interrupted if she sensed the subject was a struggle for me and thought it was best to quickly divert away from it.
“Speaking of which,” I said, “how did Paisley convince you to go along with this haywire crazed idea of hers? You didn’t exactly seem thrilled by the idea at the chocolate shop.”
“It was either this or the forfeit—hosting a tour of Starlight Bay wearing a baby costume and giving incorrect facts about the town.” Lilian sighed loudly. “Paisley has a flair for the extremes shall we say.”
“Well, when you put it that way, I suppose I’m the lesser of two evils.” I laughed out loud when I thought of the potential mental image. “Paisley’s meant to be your best friend too. I’d hate to be her enemy.”
“Barely,” she quipped, but there was a lightness to her tone that hadn’t been there before. “What about you? What did Paisley offer you to agree to this madness?”
“Let’s just say she made a compelling argument about how this arrangement could benefit us both. You avoid a humiliating forfeit, and I get a brief respite from being the object of the town’s matchmaking efforts.” I admitted hesitating how much more I should actually reveal of the reason I said yes.
“Ah, the eligible bachelor problem,” Lilian nodded knowingly at me. “I’ve seen the way some of the women around here look at you. It’s like you’re one of the last few pieces of prime real estate left on the market.”
“It’s exhausting,” I admitted, surprising myself with the candor and ease to her. “Ever since the... well, since I moved here, it’s been a constant parade of not-so-subtle setups and accidental encounters, shall we say. Just by having a girlfriend—even a fake one—should put a stop to that, at least temporarily for the moment.” I replied watching the way Lilian narrowed her gaze at me with curiosity.
“You were about to say something else. Ever since what?” She cut in as I immediately shook my head and bit down hard on my lip, welcoming the pain.
“Nothing important. Just... past history.” I forced the words out through gritted teeth.
“The mysterious heartbreak that turned you into the town grouch?” Lilian gently mentioned despite still an air of teasing in her words.
“Gossip definitely travels fast in small towns. I thought Mrs. Henderson had just been toying. I guess there was a bit more to her words earlier.” I uttered as I stiffened slightly.
“It’s not gossip so much as observation from my perspective,” she replied. “You give off a very distinct ‘love burned me and now I hate the world’ vibe. I can’t speak for the likes of Mrs. Henderson or the town gossip Reid. Their words don’t matter at this moment.”
“I don’t hate the world,” I corrected her. “I just hate specific parts of it—like deception, false promises and empty words.” I poised swallowing harshly as I watched Lilian still in the silence and her gaze take in the horizon.
“Is that why you’re a divorce lawyer? To fight against the deception between two people?” She queried.
“Partly,” I acknowledged as I double blinked realizing that Lilian had actually caught me slightly off guard with her line of questioning. The thing was I hadn’t minded and she was the first woman or person who had seen the real me—maybe that could be seen in a positive or negative light—but to me it showed interest and intrigue, a premise that she was different from the past woman who’d been in my life? Then scrap that this was all fake. Why had I even gone down that train of thought… “I believe in the truth and in people getting what they deserve—whether that be good or bad.”
“That’s why you take on all the tough cases,” she retorted, not as a question but as if she were piecing something together in her mind. “The ones where someone’s been wronged or have a lot to lose potentially.”
I nodded, uncomfortable with how easily she seemed to read me. “We should probably start heading back. You have a shop to run, and I have a client meeting at eleven.”
We stood and without thinking I reached for her hand again. It felt strangely natural now as if my body had already forgotten that this connection was fabricated.
As we walked back toward Main Street, I caught sight of the mayor and his wife approaching from the opposite direction. Instinctively, I drew Lilian closer to my side.
“The mayor,” I murmured under my breath. “This is a big one. His wife has just started running the town’s social committee on a Tuesday night.”
“I know,” Lilian whispered back. “If we convince them, the whole town will know by dinner.” When they were just a few feet away, I turned to Lilian and acted on pure instinct caressed my thumb across her cheekbone.
“Play along,” I whispered into the crook of her ear before she had a chance to overthink it as I turned my body slightly and pressed my lips to hers. I’d originally intended it to be brief—a peck for show—but the moment our lips connected, something unexpected happened. A jolt of electricity seemed to pass between us and what should have been a quick kiss lingered. Her lips were soft, tasting faintly of vanilla and I found myself forgetting that we had an audience and that this was all pretend. When we finally broke apart, Lilian’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes wide with surprise and I felt oddly breathless myself, thrown off balance by the intensity of my reaction.
“Well,” The Mayor’s voice broke through my daze, “isn’t this a pleasant surprise! Good morning, Reid, Lilian!”
“Good morning, Mayor Wilkins,” I managed, my arm still firmly tucked around Lilian’s waist. “Mrs. Wilkins.”
“I had no idea you two were…” Mrs. Wilkins began, her eyes gleaming with the delight of fresh gossip. I bet she and Mrs. Henderson were the best of friends.
“Together?” Lilian finished her sentence for her managing to pull her composure together remarkably quickly. “Yes, we’ve been keeping it quiet, but…” She looked up at me with such convincing affection that for a moment I almost believed it myself.
“Well, it’s wonderful to see,” the mayor said warmly. “Isn’t it, dear?”
“Absolutely,” Mrs. Wilkins agreed. “You must come around and join us for dinner soon. Next week, perhaps? If we can all make our schedules align.”
Before I could think of an excuse, Lilian was nodding. “We’d love to. Wouldn’t we, darling?”
I swallowed harshly as the endearment caught me off guard but I recovered quickly. “Of course. Just let us know when and we’ll sort it out.”
After exchanging a few more pleasantries between us, we continued on our way back up Main Street and towards the familiar square, maintaining our couple’s facade until we were out of sight and view. Only then did Lilian step away from me, breaking our physical connection.
“That was... convincing,” she said, not quite meeting my eyes.
“Yes,” I agreed, trying to ignore the lingering sensation of her lips on mine. “I think we’ve officially launched our relationship into the Starlight Bay gossip circuit.”
“I’d say it’s mission accomplished, then,” she said with a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I should get back to the shop.”
“And I should head to the office. Grant will probably be wondering where I’ve got to,” I replied, suddenly feeling awkward in a way I hadn’t since my teenage years. “So... dinner at the mayor’s next week.”
“Apparently, so…” she sighed. “The things we do for a dare, hey.”
“Indeed,” I murmured under my breath as I watched her walk away. My gaze glued to the way her hips swayed as I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to this arrangement than either of us had bargained for. The kiss—meant to be performative, strategic—had stirred something in me that I’d thought I had long ago buried. As I turned toward my office, I tried to convince myself it was nothing. A momentary lapse. A physical reaction that meant nothing beyond the obvious but with the way my hard length pressed against the zipper of my trousers I knew that was all just in my head. She had ignited a fire and I wasn’t sure I wanted to put it out. I could do one of two things: continue lying to myself about what she meant to me or accept that there was something so much more happening behind the scenes. The thing was for a man who prided himself on honesty, that was perhaps the most troubling realization of all.