Chapter Five
ELLIE
Iresisted the urge to stay snuggled up against Drew’s side. His arm, banded tightly around me, made me feel safe. Like he could keep out all the bad things in the world. But for me, that was my family, and there was no keeping them at bay.
I needed to thank them and politely decline their offer. Reluctantly, I edged out of his embrace. “Thank you both for going along with my charade, but when they get here, I’ll have to fess up. There’s no way I can expect you to go through with any of this.”
“No.”
Drew’s sudden and emphatic response made my head turn in his direction. “What do you mean, no?”
“No, I’m not letting you face your family alone. For as long as they’re here, I’m your boyfriend.”
“But—” I protested.
“No buts.”
Except his butt. Even in dress pants, it was a sight to behold.
Stop it, Eleanor Mae!
I shook my head emphatically. Why would he do that?
We were more than acquaintances. I’d even like to call us friends even though we were still strangers on many levels.
Yes, we’d gotten to know each other fairly well over the past few months, but we certainly weren’t in the realm of best friends who might consider faking a relationship for each other.
And he was my boss.
“So just like that you’ll pretend to be my boyfriend?” It was sad that my first instinct was to question something nice someone else offered to do for me. But this was huge. He wasn’t giving me a cup of sugar to borrow. I would need to be involved in his life even if it was just around my family.
His arm tightened around me again. “Just like that. You’re one of us now, like Glamma said. Ruby River takes care of our own.”
“But Drew, this is a lot. Today was just a glimpse at how awful my mom can be. I can’t put you through that.”
“Ellie.” His voice lowered and I had to fight the shiver of need that streaked through me. This was not the time to be getting turned on by every syllable he uttered.
“Drew.” That one word came out far breathier than I’d intended.
He leaned in, his lips close to my ear, and I practically melted. “We don’t have a choice. What do you think will happen if we don’t go along with Glamma’s wishes?”
I considered as my heartbeat thrummed in my ears. “She’d give me the evil eye or a curse?”
The corners of his lips kicked up into a smile and I couldn’t suppress a snort–laugh.
Next to me, Glamma did too, and then the three of us were doubled over.
It felt good.
Why did he have to be so handsome and charming and nice? How would I make it out intact with Drew as my fake boyfriend—or the inevitable moment when pretending became too real and I shattered trying to walk away from something that was never mine to keep?
This was truly a bad idea.
Glamma got up and retrieved us each a glass of water from the water dispenser off to the side of the room. With her silver hair similarly cut like Betty White’s, framing her face beautifully, I made a silent wish that I looked as good as she did when I was her age.
I was grateful for the drink and swallowed half my cup in one sip. Just entertaining the thought of Drew as my boyfriend made my throat parched and my body tingle in awareness.
Grr. Bad Eleanor was at it again.
“I don’t want you to end up with some curse on my behalf,” I said to Drew, with a tentative glance at Glamma.
She did seem the type to participate in witchy mischief if things didn’t go the way she wanted.
“Even though Mom seemed to buy our lie, once she’s had time to think about it, she’ll question why someone like you is dating someone like me. ”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Drew demanded.
I shrugged weakly and gestured between us. “You know.”
Glamma made a rough sounding noise on the other side of me. It was like her version of Drew’s growl. “Explain it to us like we’re toddlers.”
God, why were they so hell bent on making me do this? It was like the cherry on top of my embarrassing sundae of an awful day.
“You’re like … a ten out of ten.” I told him. “You’re handsome, smart, business savvy, and from our calls and email exchanges, I know you’re funny and kind. From everything I’ve gathered, this is you, twenty-four/seven. You’re the perfect man. And I’m just … me.”
They didn’t say a word beyond the glares I was receiving times two.
Silence stretched out between us. I continued, trying to make sure they got what I thought was pretty obvious.
“I might be dressed up today, but most days you’ll find me in worn-out leggings, a t-shirt that may or may not have remnants of my lunch on it by the afternoon, and my hair up in a messy bun with no makeup.
I’m more of an introvert and stuck inside my head half of the time.
This—” I waved my hand over myself, “isn’t the normal me.
I’m dressed to impress my boss after an embarrassing fiasco of a first impression. ”
He regarded me tenderly and took my hand.
“None of those things matter in the real world or in a real relationship. You’re perfect just as you are, whether it’s put together like now or being comfortable at home.
Everything I’ve learned about you over the past few months has reinforced that you’re just as kind and giving, your intelligence is shown in every aspect of your job, and you’re beautiful. ”
The emphasis on the last word made my throat tighten.
I knew I had a cute face and a nice personality.
I didn’t hate myself by any measure, but I just wasn’t at the Kingsley level of cool.
I mean, even Glamma gave me a run for my money, but to be fair, she was likely the belle of the ball no matter where she was or what she was doing.
“Give me the chance to prove it to you,” Drew insisted.
This man was a perfection I could never achieve. Even his response was perfect, saying I was perfect.
Gah. I needed to stop.
He was making it too hard to fight him on this. And part of me didn’t want to. When would I ever get the chance to even pretend to date someone so amazing? “Fine. But how do we convince them we’ve been dating for months?”
Glamma gave an evil cackle. “Oh don’t you worry. I’ve got that covered. How can they dispute the word of a whole town?” She pulled out her phone. “Ruby River Rumor Mill activated. By tomorrow morning there won’t be a single person in town that doesn’t know you two have been dating.”
Sweat beaded my brow. Now we were getting the whole town on board with this? “But isn’t there a greater chance for error if the whole town knows we’re faking it?”
“Pshaw. I’ll just talk about how excited I am to finally meet my grandson’s girlfriend and they’ll do the rest from there. No need for anyone to know it’s fake. They can be mad at Drew for hiding you from them for so long.” She winked.
Small towns were clearly the gossip hub of the world.
I picked up my glass and slowly sipped my remaining water. Before I set it down, the office door opened.
“Hey, Dad!” Drew called out.
“Perfect timing, Robert!” Glamma greeted her son. “You can meet your future daughter-in-law before the town does!”
I choked and water spewed out of my mouth before I could stop it. From the way my nose burned, I had a feeling it shot out of there too.
Oh my God.
What was Glamma doing?!
Drew’s dad laughed and pushed his wire rimmed glasses up his nose.
He was a handsome man and I could see a faint resemblance to Drew.
“This must be Ellie. Mom, stop teasing her.” He moved close enough to extend his hand to me and I immediately saw that he and Drew shared the same eyes.
“I’m Robert. Sorry to have you involved in my mother’s schemes.
Just give her a few days and she’ll probably come up with something else. ”
I shook his hand, wincing slightly when I noticed the beads of water on my wrist and down my shirt. What a way to meet my fake boyfriend’s dad. I suppressed a sigh. When we let go, I reached for the tissues on the coffee table to wipe up my mess.
Glamma glared at her son, but he only rolled his eyes.
I was surprised he took his life into his own hands like that.
“This isn’t a joke, Robert. Poor Ellie here has the misfortune of being born into a terrible family.
So we’re adopting her as one of our own, and we’re going to help her.
” Glamma stabbed her pointer finger in the air with each syllable to emphasize her words and I found myself distracted by and admiring her intricately painted nails.
Robert didn’t say a word, although the crease between his eyebrows indicated he was listening intently. While Drew was in a suit, his dad was dressed in jeans and a long sleeve polo. I estimated him to be at least six feet tall.
“She needs a boyfriend to fend them off once they descend on our town to have her sister’s wedding here,” Glamma explained. “I’ll fill you in on the worst details later. But we’re helping. Got it?”
I couldn’t stop the full body shudder that rippled through me.
Robert’s slow nod of understanding and acceptance was so foreign to me that I might have let my mouth drop open. “Ahh. Okay.”
Okay?
Okay?!?
His mother just told him I was going to fake date his son and that’s the only response he had?
In my house, my dad would sit by silently as my mother and sister reminded me how stupid I was being and how it would all blow up in my face.
My palms dampened as my nerves grew. What if this did blow up in my face? How was I going to recover from that?
As though sensing my distress, Drew’s hand squeezed mine. “It’s all going to be fine.”
Robert stared at me and then Drew for what was probably a few seconds, but felt like hours. “I hope you two know what you’re getting into.”
Drew gave an emphatic nod.
I answered with a weak shrug. I don’t think anything could prepare me adequately for Glamma’s brand of help.
“Okay, then.” Robert grinned. “What do you need me to do?”