Chapter 10
I’m energized this morning despite my late movie night with Cal.
I already texted him about meeting up soon.
We’re going to Something’s Brewing Café for coffee.
Nice high-visibility setting. I know we’ve already convinced Mom we’re a couple, but we have to follow through being seen around town together for a while more. Keeping it realistic is very important.
I hand Harper a mug of coffee and join her at our kitchen table with a tall glass of water.
Harper sips her coffee and eyes me blearily over the rim. “So you actually went back to his place? How is that a public fake relationship?”
I give Felix a scritch behind his ear. He jumped on my lap as soon as I sat down. “Well, I had never seen his favorite movie of all time, and it sounded good. I even teared up at the end.”
“And then he comforted you and took you to bed?”
I laugh even as heat rises to my cheeks. “No! Then I insisted he watch my favorite baseball movie.” I fan myself. “I forgot how many seriously sexy scenes are in Bull Durham. It would’ve been awkward, but by that point we were cuddled up on the couch.”
“Cuddled up? Mac—”
“In a platonic way.”
“Does platonic mean foreplay in your world?”
“Just because you haven’t had a guy friend since you and Nathan—”
“We were in second grade! Back then, a boy friend was the exact same thing as a girl friend but with more balls.”
I snort. “The sport kind or the other kind?”
“Both!”
We crack up.
I pull a hairband from my pocket, putting my hair into a ponytail. “Well, we’re all adults now. I’m sure Nathan would be happy to be your guy friend if you ever stopped hating on him long enough.”
She sips her coffee, her expression shuttering closed. “No hate, just no love. There’s a difference.”
“I’m going on a run.” I leave out that I’m running to meet up with Cal. She’ll make a big deal out of it.
I stand and do a few stretches.
“Have fun on your freezing cold run.”
I smile and wave. “I will.”
I jog by Cal’s new apartment and find him on the sidewalk, already waiting for me. His lips curve up slowly, like he’s pleased to see me. “Morning.”
Warmth fills my chest. “Morning.”
He joins me, and we start walking toward Main Street. “So what’s new since I last saw you?”
I laugh. “A lot’s happened in those nine hours. Sleep, a shower, oh, I encouraged Harper to have a guy friend. Have you ever had a woman friend before me?”
His brows draw together. “I was too busy working in the city to meet a lot of women, but I’ve met a lot of women here. I guess they could become friends, but I don’t really see the point.”
I nearly break stride. I thought I was the only woman he’d met. Is he hooking up with other women while we fake date? Because that would look bad.
He glances at me. “You okay? Do you want me to have more women friends?”
“No, forget I asked. Just making conversation.”
“Looking forward to our next movie night. You did invite me over for fresh-popped popcorn.”
I smile so big my cheeks hurt. He wants to come over. Does this mean something more than friends? I could be reading too much into it.
“I’ve got a nosy roommate,” I say, waiting for him to say it doesn’t matter. That would mean friends.
He says nothing. Hmm…
“Fair warning, we’ll be watching my favorite movies,” I say. “I feel like two baseball movies in a row is plenty.”
“Okay, what movies?”
“Wonder Woman and The Woman King.”
“So you’re a fan of kickass female-lead movies.”
I lift my brows. “Problem?”
“They turn me on too.” He grins. I give him a playful shove, and he pulls me in for a quick squeeze before releasing me. He’s charming, even first thing in the morning. But can we get back to all the other women he’s met?
“My sister loves Wonder Woman too,” he says.
What women has he met?
He keeps talking, oblivious to my increasing agitation. “I’m a fan of Claire’s action movies too. Actually, I’ve seen all of her movies. You probably have too since she’s your aunt, right?”
I stop short on the sidewalk. “You can’t be with other women while we fake date.”
He cocks his head. “So it’s a monogamous fake relationship?”
I gesture around town, though no one’s out yet. “It’s hardly convincing if people see you running around town with other women.”
He gives my ponytail a tug. “So you can’t be running around town with other men either.”
I lift my chin. “I’m not.”
“I’m not either. You’re the first woman to invite me on a fake-relationship walk.”
“What other women have you met?” I blurt and instantly regret it.
His smile is wide. “You like me.”
I pick up the pace, glad for the cold breeze. My cheeks are flaming hot.
He says, “I’ve met all your female family members and a few clients.”
Beyond embarrassed, I mumble, “Doesn’t matter.”
After a long pause while I reconsider my life choices, he says, “What’s our next public date in your planner? Should we have a shared online calendar?”
I get the nagging feeling he’s teasing me about my fake-date plan. But how else can I catch Mom in the act and put an end to her crazy matchmaking once and for all?
Cal is the opposite of a sure thing. He has to earn my trust. Maybe after a platonic relationship for, oh, six months, then I’d consider a relationship.
Okay, I’m scared out of my mind. I’ve never felt this way before, sort of light and fizzy when we’re talking and stupid with lust the rest of the time. A dangerous combo. My instincts tell me to run. But I can’t let him know he’s getting to me.
I pick up the pace to a fast walk.
“Is there a reason we’re speedwalking?” he asks.
“I’ve got some energy.”
“You’re the first person I’ve met who gains energy as they walk in the winter.”
“Spring is only twelve days away.”
“You’re counting the days?” He sounds amused. I wish I could feel as casual as he sounds.
“Let me check the town events calendar, and I’ll get back to you.”
“There’s always Sunday family dinner tonight.” He gives me an adorable lopsided smile. “I have an open invitation.”
I stare at him. “Are you insane? We did family dinner last night.”
“Will you be there?”
“I have to go. Save yourself.”
“I like your family.”
I shake my head even as part of me warms at the sentiment. “Let’s stay focused.” And then I promptly trip on a raised sidewalk square. “Aah!” I’m about to fall flat on my face when Cal wraps his arms around me, my back to his front.
My heart races purely from the adrenaline of nearly falling.
Miss Smith leans out her front door in her bathrobe and slippers. “Are you okay, Mackenzie?”
Cal loosens his hold but keeps his hands on my arms. He’s putting on a show. I put my hand over his. “Yes, Miss Smith, thank you. My boyfriend caught me.”
She squints. “Who’s that?”
Cal waves. “Cal Davis. I’m the new town lawyer taking over for Gabe Reynolds.”
Her lips pucker. “A lawyer.” She shuts the door.
I turn to Cal. “That’s good. Spotted already by Miss Smith as a couple.” We continue on our way to Main Street.
“Is she a central part of the town gossip line?”
“Not really. She’s a retired librarian hell-bent on keeping things quiet. Not easy in this town.”
“So looks like we definitely need to be seen by more people. We should stay at Something’s Brewing for a bit. Another fake date in the books.”
“Mmm.” I’m starting to feel a little silly, like maybe he thinks this is a weird thing, and he’s humoring me. But then why go along with it?
When we get to Something’s Brewing Café, Cal holds the door open for me. Cal’s the first man to put me first. At least through the doorway, and in line. I feel a little like a queen.
I point to the glass display case of cream puffs. They’re small, about golf ball size, with a light flaky crust and sweet cream. “The special only on Sundays.”
His hands go to my waist as he whispers in my ear, “Do you want one?” My knees go weak. He’s very good at public affection.
I glance over my shoulder, my breath coming faster at his warm expression. “Just one?”
When it’s our turn to order, I say, “I’ll take an espresso for here, please.”
“Make that two and six cream puffs,” Cal says. I’m glad Cal understands the cream-puff situation.
We sit at a table with our espressos and cream puffs. I finish off one and hum my pleasure. Heaven.
Cal watches me intently.
“Try one,” I say.
He takes one, pops it in his mouth whole, and gestures for me to have more.
I do. “Mmm.” I so rarely treat myself to these, but they are to die for.
He leans forward, swiping his thumb across my upper lip. “Cream,” he says before placing his finger in his mouth to taste. My insides tighten, a delicious ache lingering.
“Have another,” he says in a sexy low tone.
Are we still talking about cream puffs? I’d rather not embarrass myself by leaping across the table and throwing myself at him.
“Uh, no, thank you,” I say demurely.
I sip my espresso.
His eyes clash with mine, and the tension skyrockets between us. I want him. Badly. He wants me. I lick my lips, about to throw caution to the wind when Aunt Mad stops by the table.
Screech! That’s my lust hitting the brakes. She’s Dad’s younger sister, a brash badass who raised four rambunctious boys while building an impressive real estate career. She’s also Mom’s best friend.
Aunt Mad’s dressed casually in a flannel with jeans, her brown hair in a short bob. “Hey, Mackenzie, Cal. I’m heading next door to grab the book for our next book club meeting. You want in? Still time to read it. Meeting’s a week from Thursday.” She’s entirely sincere.
“What’re you reading?” Cal asks.
“It’s a romance book club,” I tell him. “The Happy Endings Book Club.” Mom and friends love to swoon over mushy romance. Total fantasy. I’m much too practical to find the stories realistic.
One corner of his mouth tilts up. “What kind of happy ending?”
“The best kind,” Aunt Mad says with a knowing smile.
Cal looks intrigued.
“No, thanks,” I say quickly. “We have plans.”