Chapter 1
BLAKE
PRESENT DAY
“You’re going where?” My mother’s voice is dripping with disdain. She knows where I’m going; she just wants me to repeat it so that I hear how ludicrous it sounds.
“Blackstone Falls,” I reply evenly, dropping another stack of precisely folded undershirts into my suitcase as I listen to her huff, the sound magnified by the fact that she’s on speaker.
“I can’t believe you’re going to see her.” This time I have to hold back the laugh that wants to escape—that will get me nowhere.
“Things didn’t work out, but Ellison is still my friend. She’s having a baby and I’d really like to be able to spend some time with her and her family.”
“Your family is here, Blake. I don’t know why you insist on playing these games.
Two months is a long time and right before the gala!
” She clears her throat politely and I can imagine her catching a glimpse of herself in the overly fancy mirror in the foyer, a blush creeping across her cheeks.
“I have a perfectly nice girl for you to date and—”
“And, as I’ve mentioned before, I am not interested in being set up with any of the daughters of your friends.” Pausing, I add, “As a matter of fact, I’m not interested in being set up with women at all.”
The noise that comes over the line can only be described as a growl, and my lips curve up into a smile because it’s usually much harder to rile up my mother than that.
Guess I’ve gotten better at it.
“Stop pretending you’re seeing someone,” she hisses, and because she can’t see me, I roll my eyes and pray for patience.
“I’m not pretending, Mother.”
I’m totally pretending.
Telling her I had a boyfriend was an accident, but I’m smart enough to know admitting to the lie would strike me down like the fire of a thousand suns.
And I don’t have time for that.
“Then why aren’t there any pictures on your social media? No notes or calls.” She sniffs. “If he’s so important why haven’t we met him?”
“Because he lives in Blackstone Falls.”
“And?”
“And it’s new and you’re judgmental and I don’t want to throw him to the wolves just yet.”
My mother gasps and I cringe. I was on a roll but probably…definitely…should have dialed it back a notch.
“How could you—”
“Mother, listen,” I placate, adopting the most soothing tone I can manage. “I just want to be able to spend some time with him—actual time. Long distance is hard, so let me just have this, okay?”
In the couple of years since Ellison and I ended our mutually beneficial and ultimately fake relationship, I finally let myself do some soul searching. Ellison had never hidden the fact that her now husband, Montana Greene, would forever be the one.
At the time I hadn’t minded too much. There was just enough spark to keep the societal vultures at bay, and the rest was a real, honest-to-God platonic love for each other that hadn’t faded.
Our parents, specifically our mothers, were on some perpetual high horse as if their status would somehow be elevated by marrying us off.
While I’m sure there are a few women that would love the perks of being Mrs. Blake Reynolds, no one is knocking down my door for the exclusive on my personal life.
Seriously, no one cares.
I’m just a guy who sucks at finding meaningful relationships with a one-way ticket out of Savannah.
Who needs a fake boyfriend.
No problem.
“And what about your responsibilities here, Blake? This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for lymphoma research in Savannah.”
“I’ve been working diligently on this since it was placed in my capable hands,” I tell her like I haven’t been doing this for the last several years.
“I have everything in place so I can be away for a couple months, and then I’ll be back in time to handle all the last-minute details for the event.
Dana has my cell if there’s an emergency, and I’ll be working the rest of the time remotely. ”
“Blake—”
“It’s going to be fine. I need a break, and you badgering me about this won’t fix anything.”
“Well, if you’ll give me nothing else,” she muses, injecting a healthy dose of guilt in her tone, “I expect to meet him at the gala. No exceptions.”
“Mother…”
“I’m serious, Blake. If you insist this isn’t a charade, then it’s more than reasonable to assume he’ll accompany you to Savannah for such an important night.”
“I am not making any promises.”
“You will and he will. You will not embarrass me by coming alone.”
I want to yell how antiquated she’s making this all sound, as if she’s waiting for a dowry to be offered for my hand.
Or however that’s supposed to work.
Am I the bride in that analogy?
Doesn’t matter, because now I need to not only find a boyfriend but I also have to manage to convince that person to come meet my family in two months.
I’m so lost in thought, it takes me a minute to realize she’s ended the call.
Dammit.
It’s just as well because now I have a new problem.
And a deadline.
And instead of casually enjoying my time in Blackstone Falls, I need to ask Ellison to introduce me to her super-hot friend, convince him I’m not completely out of my mind, and also that my mother means well.
No big deal.
And because there’s no time like the present, I snatch my phone from my nightstand and type out the message that will undoubtedly cost me more than I can afford.
BLAKE: I need a favor
ELLISON: I’ll just bet you do…