5. Carmen
5
Carmen
As soon as I step through the double doors at the back of our charity concert venue, there's a commotion, and I come to a sudden halt.
Panic races through me at the sight of Brent, Jace, and Evan in Donny’s face with their nostrils flaring. Meanwhile, Mia is standing between all of them with a hard glare focused on the leader of the group. “Want to knock some sense into someone, or do I have to do it for you?”
Brent’s cheeks are red, fists clenched tightly at his sides, and he glares at Donny once more before backing down and clearing his throat. “Alright, guys, get off his back.”
“What the hell is going on?” I ask, straightening my spine.
Jace whirls around, a finger pointed at me, and storms over with a scowl. “The better question is what do you think you’re doing?” Before I can ask what he’s talking about, he reaches out and grabs my left hand so that everyone around us can see what’s resting there.
My heart races and I blink, then glance over his shoulder at Donny with a frown. I thought that we’d have time to tell everyone what’s going on, but it looks like Donny beat me to it. I rip my hand free from Jace’s hold and narrow my eyes at him.
"It's a free country," I snap, my heart racing. "My romantic life is none of your concern."
"It is when it's one of your clients," Jace spits, looming over me.
Heat floods my face, anger overriding panic. I step closer, refusing to back down despite his linebacker build. "Oh really?" I seethe. "Where was this attitude when Evan started dating Mia? Or Ryker and Wren?"
My eyes flick to Donny. Why am I fighting so hard for this fake relationship?
I arch a brow, waiting for Jace to answer, and the other guys grunt in response behind him. “I’m sorry,” I say with a smile, “didn’t quite catch that.”
“You’re right,” Brent mutters, then runs a hand through his hair. “We’re on edge after everything that happened with Mack, but you’re right.”
I relax my stance slightly, giving each of them a soft smile before turning to Donny, my frustration boiling over. “How the hell did they even find out? We agreed to talk to them together.”
Donny shifts uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck as he stares at the ground. “Well… about that… we were kinda spotted today, and some pictures of us walking together are already circulating online.”
How did I miss something this big?
I should’ve gotten an alert the second Donny’s name was mentioned in an article—just like I have it set up for all the guys. “Shit,” I mutter under my breath.
This is not good.
As soon as my family sees that, it’s over and this charade will go on for a lot longer than it was meant to. I frown at Donny, studying his reaction, and wonder for a brief moment if he meant for it to happen.
I shake my head and mentally scold myself. He wouldn’t do that, everyone knows this isn’t a boundary I would cross.
“It’s not real,” I blurt.
Everyone’s gaze snaps to mine, even Donny’s — who looks more hurt than anything, which is weird — and Brent cocks his head to the side. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s nothing, just helping one of my guys out.”
Brent jerks his attention to Donny and nudges him. “What’s the deal, man?”
Donny sighs heavily and kicks at an imaginary rock in front of him. “My mom. She’s been up my ass more about marrying and having babies running around everywhere, so I told her I was engaged.”
Evan snorts at that and shakes his head. “God, I can’t wait to see this train wreck.”
“We’ve got it under control. Right, Sunshine?”
My mouth falls open when every gaze darts to me, impatiently waiting for an answer, and I swallow thickly with a nervous smile. “Everything is peachy.”
Where the hell did Sunshine come from?
Everyone asks their round of questions for the next five minutes, then I calmly clap my hands and tell them to get to work. We only have the space for another hour and a half, which doesn’t give anyone much time to get through the set list, and I guess I’ve got a date to prepare for tonight.
Mia walks up to me silently and waits a few beats before leaning into me. “So, helping Donny, huh?” Mia's eyes, usually sharp and vigilant, soften with understanding. She's been here before, walked this tightrope between professionalism and passion. Her hand on my arm is both a comfort and a warning.
I groan and shake my head. “Please don’t start, it’s nothing.”
She smirks. “Mhm, I’m sure that’s what I said about Evan. Look where we are now.”
“Nope. Band members are off-limits for me. You know that, as well as everyone else.”
The amusement that’s shining in her eyes makes me wonder if I’m kidding myself, but I shake the thought away. I can only hope that this charade will only have to last a few days and my family will never know what’s been swirling around on the internet. What’s the odds that my siblings saw it and told my parents?
Very likely.
How likely is it that my siblings have had the time to see it with their work and family’s?
Less likely.
All I have to do is get a handle on the story, erase any traces of it, and they’ll never know. It should be easy.
The guys each stride down the hall, away from their small dressing rooms, and I eye Donny as he walks past. His jeans today are hanging more loosely today, but the shirt he’s got on doesn’t hide a single muscle. I suck in a sharp breath, unable to turn my eyes away from him, and only the sound of someone clearing their throat has me snapping out of it with a frown.
“Nothing,” Mia says in amusement, then she starts heading toward the stage to watch the guys. “ Right. ”
Instead of following her, I keep myself rooted in this spot because I refuse to get lost in Donny again. He might be attractive, any woman who’s not blind would agree to that, but that doesn’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things.
Help him, then walk away.
That's what a professional would do. But as I watch Donny walk past, his presence magnetic, I realize it's anything but simple.
***
Hours later, as I stand in front of my mirror, I realize how naive I've been. This isn't simple at all. It's a complex dance of emotions and expectations, and I'm stumbling through every step.
I smooth down my dark purple dress, the fabric clinging to every curve. The neckline plunges into a deep V, showing just enough cleavage to be enticing. My hair tumbles loose around my shoulders—a far cry from my usual severe updo.
I open the door, expecting Donny in his usual rockstar getup. Instead, I'm face-to-face with a stranger.
Well, stranger. It's Donny, but... different. Devastatingly handsome in light jeans and a button-up, sleeves rolled to expose strong forearms. My mouth goes dry.
Fake date, I remind myself. But my racing heart doesn't seem to care.
I eye the veins running along his arm, watch glistening against his wrist, and finally meet his gaze.
His eyes flare as he trails them over my frame, taking my exposed thighs and strappy heels. I clear my throat and shift nervously. “I’m ready when you are.”
Donny snaps out of whatever the moment is and frowns at me. “Not without a coat you aren’t, you’ll get sick before the night is over with.”
Oops.
As quickly as possible, I hurry through my apartment and into my room to search my closet for the perfect coat to go with my dress. I’m not the most stylish woman, but that’s only because I don’t try. My fingers stop on a silver coat hanging and I tug it away, then slip my arms through it.
Donny's waiting in the doorway, hands shoved deep in his pockets, muttering to himself. At the click of my heels, he looks up, and the grin he flashes steals my breath away.
I stumble, my ankle turning. In an instant, Donny's there, strong arms catching me. We're pressed chest to chest, his cologne enveloping me. My cheeks burn.
Get yourself together, Carmen.
"Easy there," he murmurs, his breath warm on my ear. He doesn't let go immediately, and I find I don't want him to. Finally, he steps back, taking my hand. "You look beautiful, as always."
My heart skips. It's just for show, I remind myself. But God, it feels good.
“There’s no one around, you don’t have to say things like that.”
Something flashes across his face, but it’s gone just as quickly as he comes and Donny drops my hand before taking a step back. “Right, sorry. Just trying to get used to things, my parents will expect us to be the lovey dovey type when they get here in a couple days.”
I nod, then gesture to the door. “Shall we?”
The walk to the car waiting for us outside is silent, along with the ride to the restaurant, and I chew on the inside of my cheek nervously.
This was a mistake. We can barely think of two words to say to each other.
When the car comes to a stop at a curb, I quickly unhook my belt and climb out of the vehicle. Donny frowns as he comes around, then shakes his head and presses a soft kiss to my temple. It’s light, barely there, but my body heats from the simple touch regardless. “Next time, wait for me, Sunshine.”
“I’m capable of opening my own door, Donny.”
He smirks. “I don’t doubt that,” he says gently as we head toward the glass double doors that lead into the restaurant and his hand falls over the small of my back, “but my mother would kill me if she knew you were doing it around me.”
I arch a brow. “Full of manners, are we?”
“That surprising, Sunshine?”
“What’s up with that nickname?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “I’ve got a feeling I’ll never win with you.”
“You could just call me Carmen. Since, you know, that’s my actual name.”
Donny ponders the words for a moment, then shrugs. “I could, but I’m enjoying the reactions you give me from them.”
Just inside the entrance stands a beautiful woman, her eyes locking on Donny first before shifting to me at his side. Her lips purse for a moment, but she quickly forces them into a bright smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Donny,” she gushes, “always lovely to see you. Your table has been prepared, let me escort you back.”
He nods curtly and leaves his hand on my back while she weaves us through the crowded dining room. When she turns to me, I eye her name tag.
Olive clears her throat and leans into Donny, no longer caring that there’s a woman standing right next to him. “Is this a good table for you?”
Donny steps back, putting distance between himself and Olive. Relief floods me, followed quickly by confusion. Why do I care?
"It's great, thank you," he says, his tone polite but cool.
"Anything for you," Olive purrs, her hand lingering on his shoulder. "Wine this evening, Donny?"
My jaw clenches. Donny. She says his name like a caress. How close are they?
I watch their wine discussion, jealousy burning in my gut. Olive finally sashays away, hips swaying dramatically.
Donny's eyes, however, never leave my face. "You okay there, Sunshine?" he asks softly.
I blink, realizing I've been glaring daggers at Olive's retreating form. "Fine," I mutter. "Just fine."
“Should I be worried?” Donny asks with amusement shining in his eyes.
I snap my attention to him and arch a brow. “About?”
“That you’ll smite someone with a single look.”
“Shut it,” I mumble. “It’s rude, that’s all. She clearly sees me standing next to you, yet openly flirts like she has a right.”
“Whatever you say.”
If I don’t rein these emotions in, he’s going to think this is more than what we agreed on.
I’ll admit, though, the banter back and forth has been a lot better than I thought it would be. Normally I’m more than ready to wring his neck, but I haven’t felt the urge tonight.
As we finish our meal, a comfortable silence settles between us. Donny leans back in his chair, watching me intently. His gaze is warm, making the air around us thrum with an unspoken tension.
"You're breathtaking tonight," he murmurs, his voice a soft caress that sends a shiver down my spine. The sincerity in his tone is unmistakable, making my heart flutter.
A blush warms my cheeks as I lower my eyes, suddenly shy under the intensity of his admiration. "We're... we're still pretending." I whisper, but the words lack conviction, even to my own ears.
Donny doesn’t respond right away. Instead, he reaches across the table, his fingers brushing mine with a delicate, almost intentional touch. It's so light, but it sends a spark through me, leaving me breathless. In that moment, the line between pretending and something real starts to blur, and a part of me silently wishes it would vanish altogether.
When I glance up, he’s watching me with a focus that sends a jolt through my heart. Slowly, Donny rises from his chair and moves closer. My breath hitches as he leans in, his lips just inches from mine, his eyes locked on me the whole time.
His lips, soft as a whisper, graze my cheek, lingering just long enough to send shivers cascading through me. His warm breath caresses my skin as he murmurs, "You're a beautiful mystery."
My heart races, and I struggle to find my voice. "Some mysteries are worth taking time to solve," I breathe, surprised by my own boldness.
Donny pulls back slightly, his eyes searching mine. In their depths, I see a tumult of emotions – desire, tenderness, and something deeper that makes my heart ache with longing. For a heartbeat, I think he might close the distance between us, claim my lips with his own. But he steps back, a soft smile playing on his lips.
"You captivate me, Sunshine," he says, his voice a gentle caress filled with genuine affection. The pet name, once teasing, now feels like a cherished endearment, wrapping around my heart and tugging at something deep within me.