Chapter 23
The past and its complications kept coming back to haunt or humiliate her. The conversation Kylie had with Lance last week kept replaying. Every embarrassing word. Why had she put herself out there like that?
Tired of waiting for him to make a move, she took charge and asked him out first. She squeezed her eyes shut as the memory resurfaced. “I’m sorry, Jayna, while I’m flattered, I’m not into casual dating,” he had said gently. Clearly, the rumors about her had reached his ears. She’d heard them all—the names the townsfolk called her. Jayna the man-eater, Jayna the manizer, and the latest one—Jayna Date and Dash.
“I am attracted to you, it’s just that…” She didn’t let him finish the sentence.
With a bright smile that hid the hurt, she blinked away the sudden tears that had formed in her eyes and brushed him off. “No worries, have a great day.”
As Jayna pulled open the door to Patty’s Pub the scent of spicy wings and stale beer greeted her. The crunch of peanut shells under her suede booties immediately caught her attention. She never understood why people thought it acceptable to toss shells on the floor. Someone had to clean it up! Her gaze swept across the room, landing in the far corner where Lance sat with a couple of other paramedics. She froze. Too late—his eyes locked onto hers.
Swallowing hard, she felt her cheeks heat up. What the hell? She was Jayna Sutton. Jayna Sutton didn’t blush or back down. She never cowered or ran away.
Lance was staring across the bar at her with pity. Pity? No one pitied her. She sucked in a deep breath and looked away. Derek Brennan sat at the bar, and she quickly walked toward him, pulling out a stool.
“What’s got you scowling into your drink?”
Derek swirled the amber whiskey in the lowball glass before lifting it and chugging it back. He grimaced before turning to look at her. “I’m not scowling.”
“Yeah, okay! Can you get him another glass of get over himself? Add in a straw so he can suck it up!” Jayna placed an order with the bartender. “And I’ll have a margarita, please.”
“Make it extra salty, just like she is,” Derek chuckled low.
“Oh, good one!” Jayna scoffed.
Derek’s phone dinged, and he glanced down at it, scowl deepening.
“Your latest girlfriend is unhappy with you?”
“No, her father.”
“That’s classic,” she giggled. “What did you do to get her father pissed off?”
“I didn’t ask her last name before I asked her out,” he said through clenched teeth. “She turned out to be the daughter of the developer I am working for. A very well-connected developer.”
“What the hell were you thinking? Not even you could be that stupid!”
He lifted his palms upward. “I didn’t know who she was.”
“What are you planning to do about it?”
“No clue.” He shrugged and pointed to Lance’s table. “So, what’s happening with Lance Romance? Is he still dating that other nurse?”
“No, they broke up a while ago.”
He sat up straight, staring directly at her. “Why are you here, making my life a living hell, when you could be at his table ruining his life?”
“Shut up, Derek!” She made a face at him then smiled at the bartender when he set down her drink.
“Oh, did I touch a nerve? ”
With a twist of the lime, she removed the salt from the rim of the sombrero shaped glass and let it drop into her drink. Taking a sip, she narrowed her eyes at Derek. “If you must know, he isn’t into casual dating and thinks that’s all I’m interested in.”
“And he’d be right. You’re not interested in a relationship.”
“Who said that?” Jayna’s forehead furrowed.
“You did.” He pointed that annoying sanctimonious index finger at her.
“Well, maybe I’ve changed my mind!”
“Or maybe he’s just a challenge. A man who is finally immune to your charms.”
“Seriously, Brennan. I’m not in the mood for your crap tonight.”
“Yet, you sat down. Uninvited. Next to me!” His phone dinged, and he swiped to read the incoming text message, groaning as he did.
Jayna leaned over his shoulder, not bothering to hide the fact that she was reading the text on his phone.
My daughter called and said you’re ignoring her. I will have both your legs broken if you hurt her
“Is this guy for real?”
Derek stuck the phone in his back pocket and took a long swallow of whiskey. “He’s legit. Rumored to have mafia ties. Lots of friends in high places and even more friends in low places.”
She let out a whistle. “So, is this threat real?”
“Yep.”
Jayna’s eyes flitted to the table in the corner. Lance was watching her. Interesting.
“You should show the boy toy that you can do relationships.” Derek’s eyes followed her gaze. “Get some poor schmuck to date you for a while. Make Lance Romance jealous.”
Her gaze shifted back to Derek. She stared at him long and hard. “For once, Brennan, you’ve actually had a great idea.”
She stood and grabbed his hand, yanking hard until he stood as well.
“What’s happening?” he asked .
“We’re dating, schmuck, make it look good!”
“Whoa, I wasn’t offering to be the schmuck!” He pulled his hand free.
“Too bad.” She grabbed his hand again, steering him toward the dance floor. “I need a fake boyfriend and you need a fake girlfriend to keep you out of a full-body cast.”
“Hooking up with another chick is not going to help me.” Derek wrapped his arms around her waist, and she looped hers around his neck.
“Oh, we are not hooking up!” Jayna scrunched up her nose. “This is pure show. You tell the mob boss that your old girlfriend reappeared and is pregnant. You’re going to try to make it work for the baby’s sake. Get married.”
“Whoa!” He pulled back, blinking rapidly. Oh, she was really enjoying the look of panic on his stupid face. “I go from being a fake boyfriend to a fake fiancé?”
“Unless you have a better idea to keep yourself out of traction?”
“This is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard, and I’m the king of stupid ideas,” he moaned.
“And when has the fact that an idea is stupid ever stopped you from going through with it?”
He shook his head rapidly back and forth. “No one will believe that we’re a couple.”
“Why not?” She frowned.
“Because you’re you and I’m me. We’re basically the same person. Anti-relationship people.” He looked at her like she had just lost her mind. And maybe she had. Was she actually proposing that they date?
Her eyes found Lance again. He was definitely watching her with Derek. It might be a really stupid idea, but it may just work. She had nothing to lose, and Derek—well, he could lose his ability to walk unassisted.
“We’re perfect for each other!” Jayna exclaimed, her eyes growing large.
“No, we are not!” he said, enunciating each word. “I hate you and you hate me. ”
“Love and hate are a fine, blurry line,” she quipped.
“No one will buy it.” Derek’s eyes narrowed.
“I’ve always had bad taste in men. So, dating you should be an easy sell.” She flashed him a saccharine smile.
His lip curled up. “Are you saying that I’m not boyfriend material?”
She snorted. “Yeah! You’re definitely not boyfriend material. If you were this great guy, then Daddy Warbucks wouldn’t be threatening bodily harm.”
“That is true,” he acknowledged.
“Besides, we only need Vito Corleone and Lance to buy it.”