Chapter 5
five
. . .
Rafe
I’ve never iced so many body parts in my life. My throat had recovered, but my head still hurt, and my dick had just taken one for the team.
I’d do it all over again to see her little hands fist when I sank that ball in the left center pocket and she was forced to concede.
I’d been up and working from home this morning for all of twenty minutes when someone knocked on the door.
Not once. Not twice.
At least a dozen times.
I made my way through the small space and pulled the door open to see my nemesis on the other side.
“Wildcat,” I said, calm and ready for whatever she was going to throw at me today.
I reached into my pocket and found the green stone that I’d snatched back from Clark last night, and rubbed it between my fingers because I didn’t trust that this woman wouldn’t cause me pain once again.
“Rafael,” she purred, her voice lighter and sweeter than usual, but her eyes looked slightly frantic. She was wearing a pair of jeans, a white turtleneck sweater, and some sort of colorful scarf tied around the top of her head. Long blonde waves fell around her shoulders, and I tried hard not to stare.
“What can I do for you?”
“Funny you should ask.” She cleared her throat and pushed past me into the house, even though I hadn’t invited her in. “I need a favor.”
“That’s rich. Why would I do you a favor?”
“Because my options are limited. So, basically, you’re here, and I don’t have a lot of time. So, if you do this for me, I’ll owe you one.”
“You’ll owe me one? What does that mean? Are you saying that I can have anything I want?”
“It depends how well you play the part,” she smirked. “But yes, within reason.”
“Wow. You must be really desperate.” I walked to the counter in the kitchen, picked up an apple, and took a bite.
“It’s pretty simple, actually.” She walked past me and grabbed an apple out of the same basket, acting like she owned the place before taking a bite.
The woman oozed confidence and sex appeal, and as much as I despised her, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued.
And by intrigued, I mean that my dick was highly entranced with her.
And considering he’d been through a trauma—caused by her—that was saying a lot.
“Take your shot.” I leaned my ass against the kitchen counter and crossed my feet at the ankles.
“Okay. Time is of the essence, so try to keep up.” She paced in front of me.
She was nervous.
I liked it because it meant I had all the power in the situation.
“I’ll do my best.”
“My family, well, they aren’t like yours. Everyone is kind of… competitive.”
“We’re competitive. That’s not unusual,” I said.
“This is different.” She came to a stop in front of me. “My cousin, Charlotte, is a real piece of work. But she’s the shining star, so to speak, and she loves to point out that I’m sort of a black sheep.”
“You don’t say?” I said, not hiding my sarcasm.
Color me intrigued.
“Here’s the short version. I dated a guy who became a famous rock star after we were together, and let’s just say he’s an unpredictable time bomb. He’s pulled me into his endless drama, dragging my name into the press all the time.” She shrugged. “But I’ve been done with that for a long time. However, no one seems to believe me. So, I stretched the truth a bit and said I had a very serious boyfriend in Rosewood River, and that’s why I was coming here for three months.”
“And you don’t have a boyfriend here?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“Correct.”
“You didn’t stretch the truth, Wildcat. You lied. I can’t condone that kind of behavior,” I smirked. “Is this because you’re still in love with the boy-band shit show you used to date?”
“No. I can’t stand the guy. But I haven’t met anyone, probably because I kind of hate men at the moment. No offense.”
“None taken. Being hated by you feels like a compliment.”
She snapped her fingers in my face. “Focus, Rafael. I have no time for games. It’s my grandfather’s eightieth birthday next weekend, and they want me to bring my boyfriend to the family party. I’ve told them that he has a bad virus—you know, the kind that’s super contagious. It’s a reasonable explanation for why he can’t make it. But they texted this morning and said that my cousin Charlotte, the ice queen from hell, is telling everyone I made the whole thing up and that my boyfriend is fake.”
She gaped at me like this was the most incredulous thing she’d ever heard.
“So, Charlotte would be correct, then?” I arched a brow.
“That is not the point. I denied the allegations, of course. I told them that my boyfriend was in the shower and that we’d FaceTime them in twenty minutes. I don’t have time to go find myself a fake boyfriend right now, so I need you to just come over to the house and act like the doting boyfriend. Tell them you wish you could come to the birthday party, but you don’t want to risk getting my grandparents sick. Act like you are crazy about me, and that’s it. Five minutes of your life. And I’ll owe you a favor.” She smiled like this was no big deal.
“What do they know about me?”
“What? Why does that matter? It’s a five-minute call with people you don’t know. Just roll with it. We know how theatrical you are already, so this plays into your wheelhouse.”
“Don’t try to flatter me. What do they think I do for a living?”
“I haven’t told them. They just know that I’m ridiculously in love with a man who isn’t a rock star and is an upstanding citizen. That’s all they needed.” She started to walk toward the door.
“So, if I agree to this, what do I get in return?” I already knew I would agree to it, I just wanted to see her squirm.
“What do you want?”
“Oh. If you put it that way, I could think of several things.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Hmmm… anything I want?”
She rolled her eyes, glancing at the watch on her wrist as if time was of the essence. “Try me.”
“I’d like you to crawl to me and then settle between my thighs and give me the best blow job of my life.” I knew that would piss her off, and I’d enjoy it. Not that I’d actually have her go through with it. She’d probably bite it off.
“You wish. I don’t crawl for any man. And all sexual favors are off the table.” She crossed her arms over her chest, pushing up her perky tits the slightest bit, and I internally scolded my dick for reacting.
Again.
“I figured as much,” I chuckled. “So, I’ll need you to agree to go to my boss’s wedding with me in two weeks. Put on a show like we’re ridiculously in love because he thinks I have a girlfriend.”
“So you lied about the same thing, yet you shamed me for doing it?” she huffed.
“Correct.”
“Is the wedding a one-day thing?”
“Not exactly. It’s a weekend full of events. We already have a suite at the Four Seasons booked. Your man is already spoiling you.”
“I’m asking you for five minutes, and you expect me to give you a weekend?” she hissed.
“It’s a hard line for me. That’s the deal.”
“Fine. You get me my own room, and I get to order as much room service as I want, and you throw in a massage and a facial.”
“Yes, to everything but your own room. My boss, Joseph, has a daughter.”
“And this is my problem… why?”
“His daughter, Chloe, has been trying to close the deal with me for months. She’ll be watching like a hawk. We have to stay in the same room.”
“You’ll order a cot?”
“Nope. She could find out. She’s a persistent little thing.”
“You’ll sleep on the floor,” she said, raising a brow as she studied me.
“I’ve sustained several injuries this week, and I’m not adding back pain to the list,” I laughed. “I’ll sleep above the covers, and you can sleep below.”
“I agree to everything but the sleeping arrangements. I’ll spend the weekend acting like you’re an amazing girlfriend, but you sleep on the floor or the deal’s off.”
“Ah… someone’s afraid to sleep in the same bed as me.” I winked. “Fine. Done deal.”
“Great. We’ll work out the logistics after the call. Just follow my lead. And pour on the charm. They’ll love that.” She took one more bite of her apple and tossed it in the garbage before storming toward the door.
I followed, of course. My eyes were unable to focus on anything but her tight little ass.
I couldn’t help myself.
She may be a heathen who’d caused me too much pain to overlook, but my fake girlfriend was hot as hell.
We stepped into the main house, and it smelled like vanilla and jasmine. There was a sketchbook on the table with drawings that I wanted to look at further, but she hurried me over to the couch.
“Okay, just agree with whatever I say. They can be very inquisitive, so keep it simple. But let them know how amazing I am and how crazy you are about me.”
“Should I kiss you? Cop a feel? A little under-the-sweater action?”
“Are you high?” She gaped at me, pointing to the couch for me to sit before she settled beside me. I pitched my apple core in the trash and quickly washed my hands before joining her.
“No. I’m working from home today. I’m just trying to figure out what you want.”
“If you attempt to kiss me or make a move, I will twist your balls so hard they’ll fall off your body.”
“As your fake boyfriend, I feel inclined to tell you that you’re very difficult to be in a relationship with.” She turned to look at me, adjusting the colorful scarf on her head.
“I am not.”
“I’ve dated plenty of women before you, and no one has ever caused me so much discomfort without giving any sort of affection back to me.” I shrugged, trying hard not to laugh.
“Put your arm around me and get into character.”
“Oh, I’m there, Wildcat. Don’t you worry. Parents love me. I’ve got this. Cousin Charlotte is going to be a jealous little beeyotch after she hears about us.”
This earned me a laugh. A genuine, from the belly, real laugh.
I puffed up my chest. I was already winning the boyfriend game.
She dialed her phone and waited for the screen to display her parents.
Wow. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. She looked just like her mother, but a younger version. Her father was a good-looking man, in that stately, wealthy sort of way.
“Hey there. I wanted you guys to meet Rafe. He’s definitely very real, so you can let Charlotte know that there are no fake boyfriends over here,” Lulu said, and I pulled her a little closer, as my arm was wrapped around her shoulder.
“Rafe. Hello. It’s so wonderful to meet you. I’m Noemie, and this is my husband, William,” her mother said, with a French accent.
“It’s wonderful to meet you both. I can’t believe anyone would accuse my girl of having a fake boyfriend. I promise you, I’m very much real,” I said, winking at the phone. “And I’m crazy about my little wildcat.”
Both of her parents chuckled before her father spoke. “We’re just happy that she’s no longer in that toxic relationship. That man, if you can even call him that, has caused her and our family more trouble than I can say.”
Lulu sighed. “It’s been over for more than a year, Dad. I wish you’d stop bringing it up. I can’t help it if every time he does something, it embarrasses you. I’m with Rafe now, so that’s all that matters.”
“Yes, sweetheart. I know it’s not your fault. But then Charlotte was telling everyone in the family that she didn’t believe your boyfriend was real because he missed the holidays and now he can’t attend Grandpa’s eightieth birthday party.” Her father lifted his Starbucks white-and-green to-go cup and took a sip.
“It is such a shame, Rafe. We’d really love to meet you in person. And we’ll all be staying at the beach house in Los Angeles, so the weather will be so lovely. You’re sure you can’t make it?” her mother asked.
Did she say beach house?
“He’s had that virus, Mom. We don’t want to get Gramps sick at his own party, not to mention Grandma as well.”
“Rafe, you look well to me,” William said. “And both of my parents have stronger immune systems than the rest of us.”
“Thank you, William. I am feeling much better.” I moved my hand to play with the ends of Lulu’s hair. I wasn’t even acting at the moment. I wanted to see if it was as silky as it looked.
Her blonde tresses did not lie, unlike the little deviant who was having me pretend to date her.
Glass houses and all that, because I’d be doing the same thing at my boss’s wedding in the not-too-distant future.
Her fingers found mine, and she made it appear that she was being touchy-feely with me, but she dug her nails into my knuckles, an obvious attempt to make me stop touching her hair.
“But he was sick for quite a while, so I’m sure he’s just exhausted. This poor guy has had the shits for days. We almost had to put him in a diaper,” Lulu said.
I was pissed that I was meeting her parents for the first time, and she was giving me a bad case of the shits?
I wasn’t going down that way.
I didn’t give a shit if this was fake; a man had his pride. I placed my hand behind her head, tucking my fingers into the back of her hair before pulling her closer to rest her cheek on my chest. “It was rough, but actually, it’s been two days with no incidents. My doctor cleared me to go back to work today. So, my little wildcat can put those diapers away, at least until we’re in our eighties and need them again.” I kissed the top of her head as her fingers dug into my thigh in the most painful way.
I released her, and she sat forward.
“Oh, this is fabulous news. Is this why you wanted to FaceTime us, Lulubelle?” her mother said.
Lulubelle? That little tidbit was going in the vault for a later date.
“No, actually. I was FaceTiming just so you could let Charlotte know that you met my boyfriend in person.”
“You know she never gave us your name before now, Rafe.” Noemie chuckled. “She called you Love Her Boy.”
William and I both chuckled like we were old friends.
“She does like to call me that. She’s got so many pet names for me, it’s adorable.” I winked at my fake girlfriend. “But I believe my little wildcat kept my name from you because she’s desperate to protect this special thing we’ve got going.”
Lulu’s foot pressed down so hard on mine that it was challenging not to wince. “The nickname is actually Loverboy , Mother. It’s just one of many things I like to call my man.” She slapped her hand down a few times on my thigh, and it still stung from where her blade-sharp nails had tried to draw blood. “But I can’t ask him to put his health and the health of our family at risk.”
“Nonsense. We’ve got a private plane to fly you both to the beach house in a few days, so he wouldn’t even need to go to the airport or subject himself to any illness there. We’d be pleased to have the family meet you, Rafe. It’s about time our daughter brings home a man who has an ounce of class to the family gatherings.” Her father kept his lips in a straight line, giving very little emotion, which made him hard to read.
“William, I assure you, I am overflowing with class,” I said, with a playful chuckle.
“So you’ll come, then?” Noemie clapped her hands together. “It’ll mean so much to all of us.”
“I wouldn’t miss this special occasion for the world. Gramps is turning eighty, after all. Lulu talks about him all the time,” I said.
“We’re looking forward to it. The whole family will be there. And you can show Charlotte for yourself that you’re very much real,” William said.
“Personally, I think Charlotte has always been a little jealous of our Lulu. Hopefully, she will let it go now.” Noemie smiled and then swiped at an invisible tear below her eye.
“I can’t wait to meet you all in person and start making some good ole Sonnet family memories.”
“We look forward to it. See you both in a few days.”
Lulu had gone completely silent over the last part of the conversation, and I wasn’t sure that she was still breathing.
“You okay, Wildcat? Just overcome with emotion about your parents and I finally meeting?” I asked, winking at the phone screen.
She nodded. “Yes. That’s exactly it. We’ll see you soon.”
“Love you, Lulubelle,” her mother said, and her father gave a curt nod.
“Love you, too,” she said.
I said my goodbye, just as she ended the call and turned her imminent rage in my direction.
“What the hell was that?” she shouted.
I leaned back on the couch and reached into my pocket, pulling the green stone of protection out and holding it in front of me to ward off her attack.
She slapped it out of my hand and pushed to her feet as it rolled beneath the coffee table. “You were supposed to spend five minutes impressing them. Not agree to fly to Malibu with the family, you jackass. Charlotte will sniff you out like a vampire at a blood bath. She’s not oblivious like my parents, and she isn’t easily fooled.”
Lulu paced in front of me.
“You’re overreacting,” I said over my laughter. Her parents were great. People loved me. This would be a piece of cake.
“What if we find a reason to have you admitted to the hospital? We could use the pool stick to break one of your kneecaps,” she said, her hands on her hips like she was completely serious.
“My God. You would harm me just to keep me from going to Malibu for a few pina coladas and some family fun?” I reached for the malachite stone on the floor and tucked it back into my pocket. “Good luck with that. My kneecaps will remain unharmed. I’m going to meet Gramps for his big day, and I’ll charm the shit out of the ice queen, Charlotte. And then you’ll return the favor and pour it on thick the following weekend. We kill two birds with one stone.”
“What if I choose to save the birds and kill you instead?” she hissed.
“You’re shit out of luck. I’ve got the green stone, Wildcat. And I’m looking forward to meeting your family and enjoying some warmer weather. You had me at beach house.”