Chapter 6
Natalie
Great idea, Natalie.
The thought crossed my mind as I was hyperventilating in the bathroom.
Being stuck in the friend zone was one thing, but being stuck in the fake-wife zone?
There was no way this was going to work out well.
I would spend time with him, talk about him, be asked about him, and then go home alone and cry in perpetual singleness.
Just as I was trying to figure out how I could escape to Mexico and live under a fake name my phone vibrated in my purse. It was a text from Jake.
Want to get dinner tonight? We should talk.
******
I slid into a booth at Ruby’s Diner and waited for Jake.
Ruby’s was one of those places that hadn’t changed since it had opened fifty years ago.
The coffee was always hot. The meals were filling, and the waitresses met you with a smile and an adorable blue uniform.
Not the place to go if you were looking for gourmet or calorie wise meals but when you were eating your feelings after making a wild, spur of the moment offer to your crush, it was perfect.
My fingernails made a little tapping sound against the laminate tabletop, and it took me a moment to realize I was the one making the sound. I forced myself to stop. I was nervous. Really nervous. What I couldn’t figure out was why. Was I nervous that he still wanted to do this, or that he didn’t?
Jake arrived a few minutes later, and I watched as he scanned the restaurant before his eyes fell on me.
His face lit up like the sun coming over the horizon and he came towards me.
Being the object of his attention had me frozen in my seat, watching the oddly erotic display that was Jake in motion.
Quad muscles flexed under his jeans with each step, arms swinging in a casual yet powerful stride.
This guy was going to be my husband. How the hell would I keep my hands to myself?
How was I supposed to move on when it was over?
Jake slid into the seat across from me and the air in the room seemed to go with him. I fought for a breath in and returned the smile he gave me. We made stilted small talk until our food arrived and then took full advantage of the distraction of eating.
“I guess we should talk about our plan.” He grabbed a fry from my plate and dipped it in ketchup.
The pressure in my chest eased. That answered my question. “We should.”
He adjusted in his seat. “Question one, are you sure about this? I’ll probably ask you this at least ten more times. You are offering a lot, and you have a track record of saying yes when you want to say no.”
I tilted my head and studied him. He was sweet to ask, but there was no way I was changing my mind. This wasn’t like the other times. This time I was helping someone I really cared about, and, in a way, I wanted to. “I’m sure Jake. Let’s talk details. How did we meet?”
“I like the real story. I came into the library, and you dazzled me with your looks and smarts and enthusiasm for books.”
“I dazzled you, did I?” I smirked, more out of embarrassment than anything. “I don’t think I’ve ever dazzled anyone before.”
“Their loss.” He eyed the half a sandwich still on my plate, and I slid it towards him. His eyes lit up and he made half disappear with a single bite.
“Okay, what about the proposal?”
He wiped his hands on a napkin. “A lot of pressure on a proposal. If I know you well enough to marry you then I better get this right.” He studied me for a moment.
“It would have been a surprise. Maybe, a ring hidden in the dessert or on a romantic walk. I’d have a photographer there to capture it.
Wait, no, people will ask to see the pictures. Scratch that.”
God, he was doing so well already.
He ran a hand along his jaw, making a very distracting raspy sound. “Traditional down on one knee. A massive bouquet of your favorite flowers. What is your favorite by the way?”
“I’m a true romantic, so red roses.”
He nodded. “Okay, Miss True Romantic, how am I doing here? Would you have said yes?”