Chapter 2
TWO
JUSTIN
A thick sheen of perspiration beads on my forehead and the back of my neck as I raise the ax again. The log in front of me splits it neatly in half.
Lifting the bottom of my shirt, I wipe my forehead before reaching for another log. Strictly speaking, I don’t have much need to build up my pile of firewood. I always keep my supply full, and it’s summer.
But it’s good exercise. Even though my muscles are now relegated to my work as a volunteer firefighter and playing hockey in an amateur league during the winter, I still like to keep them limber.
There was a time I’d hoped for more, but that’s in the past. Now, I have my small construction business, good friends, and this little slice of heaven. It could be a hell of a lot worse.
Settling the fresh log on the chopping block, I once again raise the ax, but my phone buzzes. The only time my phone notifications go off these days is in case of an emergency with Swift Mountain Fire & Rescue. I get the occasional message to meet one of my crew members for a beer at the Elk Shack, but it’s too early in the day for that.
Figuring it’s an emergency, I drop the ax and reach into my back pocket as I head toward my cabin to grab my keys. I freeze with my hand on the door.
It’s a message from an unknown number.
Hi, you may or may not remember me, but I’m Aaron’s sister, Gigi.
Gigi. How could I forget? I’ve only met her once, but Aaron and Selena talk about her so much it’s like she’s here.
I shoot back a quick message asking if everything is okay. My hand remains poised on the door handle unless there is some sort of emergency. One involving her brother or his woman.
I’m not left waiting long.
Gigi: Sorry, I should have started with that. Aaron and Selena are great. But I do have a proposition for you involving someone we both have a little bad blood with: Brad.
My eyebrows shoot up, my curiosity piqued.
Before I can respond, she tells me the situation she’s in. As she lists the rumors I’ve heard buzzing around time, I’m increasingly incensed. While I’d dismissed the buzz, I hadn’t really thought about how much the comments might actually hurt Gigi. They were so ridiculous.
Now that they’re put in the context of that douche-canoe’s wedding… Well, it’s just one more reason to want to kick his proverbial ass.
Gigi: That’s where you come in.
Me: I’m listening.
Gigi: How would you feel about playing the part of the devoted boyfriend for the wedding weekend? No funny business. No strings. I’ll cover all costs. But it’ll give me a chance to save face.
Me: And meanwhile I can rub Brad’s face in it.
Gigi: Exactly. So… Are you in?
A slow grin spreads across my face. The plan is petty and probably juvenile. Then again, that’s how I’d describe most of my interactions with Brad. Even now that we’re adults, the few times our amateur hockey teams meet on the ice, there’s no lost love between us.
He’d be so pissed to see me with his ex.
Me: I’m in. Let’s stir the damn pot.
One week later, I’m standing near the baggage claim at the airport waiting for my fake girlfriend to arrive.
That was something else to develop during our brief texting exchanges. We decided that just attending Brad’s wedding as dates wasn’t enough. To really squash the rumors—and stick it to the man—we needed to put on a show of being in love.
Aaron wasn’t crazy about this new plan, but he’s going along with it. I had to swear up and down that I’d take good care of his sister and not hurt her.
It’s only thanks to Selena’s insistence that I’m here to pick up Gigi solo. If Aaron had his way, he would have driven and made sure I kept at least a ruler-length distance from his sister at all times.
He worries too much. Not me. This little arrangement of ours is going to be fun. I can’t wait to watch Brad squirm.
Craning my neck, I’m about to text Gigi to ask if she’s deplaned when I see her through the crowd.
My heart unexpectedly skips a beat. I’ve only met her once, and we barely exchanged more than a glance, which is a pity. With her long dark hair cascading down her shoulders and her piercing ice-blue gaze scanning the airport, she’s gorgeous. Add in her curvy figure and the way she’s nervously nibbling on her neck, and she’s nothing short of a fantasy.
That ex-boyfriend of hers is an idiot. I don’t know how any man could let her walk out of their lives.
Her gaze finally lands on me and those lips curve into a smile. It’s like a punch to my gut. It’s also a reminder that I can’t lose my head, even if my heart is in real danger.
I made a commitment to Gigi. I promised to help her save face and get revenge on Brad and his nasty rumors.
There’s just one thing to do.
“Gigi.” I pull her into my arms as soon as she’s within reach. “God, I’m so glad you’re here.”
She sucks in a breath, and I wrap my arms firmly around her back, dipping her low. She stares at me, stunned. We’ll laugh about this later. Especially after word gets back to Brad about the PG-13 welcome I gave his ex-girlfriend.
Channeling the suave heroes from the Old Hollywood movies I used to watch with Gran, I give Gigi my most smoldering stare and murmur “darling” as I lower my puckered lips.
The kiss starts as a joke. Or a performance. The second my lips touch Gigi’s, I forget why I’m kissing her in the first place.
All humor, all pretense disappears. A jolt of flaming hot desire shoots through me, setting my whole body ablaze as it does. Her soft lips mold to mine. Like they know exactly how I want to be touched.
Forgetting that this is only for show, I deepen the kiss. I gently urge her lips open to get a better taste of her. Her hands slide up to my chest, and my muscles clench under her fingers.
She’s sweet. Intoxicating. My tongue tentatively traces her bottom lip. She releases a soft whimper, which throws lighter fluid to my burning desire.
Instinctively, my grip on her tightens. My fingers dig into her curves. I’m desperate to hold on to her. I’m desperate to make this feeling last forever.
I guess the joke’s on me. But I’m not laughing. I’m too busy keeping myself from pulling her to the ground of the airport lobby and making her mine.
I’m lost to everything but the fiery desire burning inside of me when the sudden pinprick of her nails bites into the back of my neck. It sends a shiver down my spine.
It also cuts through my lusty haze, reminding me of why we’re here in the first place.
Pulling Gigi back upright, I clear my throat and take a step back. When she gapes at me, I give a sheepish grin.
"Nice to meet you again, Gigi,” I whisper, my voice husky. “Hope you don’t mind that I put our plan into action right away.”
She blinks. “Our plan.”
“I figured we might as well start showing people we’re in love from the start.” I give her a half grin. “You know, let word get back to Brad using his rumor mill.”
I nod toward the door where a family of locals from our small town are watching with interest. The two teen girls are already on their phones, one of them recording the whole exchange from a distance.”
Gigi’s lips—still swollen from our kiss—form an ‘O’ before settling into a smile. Her pale blue eyes sparkle. “Good thinking.”
I tip the fake hat on my head. “Just doing my job.”
She glances over her shoulders and notes the girls on their phones.
“Would you look at that?” Her smile brightens. “You definitely made an impression.”
I shrug and sneak a couple of deep breaths to cool my arousal.
She reaches for her bags, but I brush her aside.
“Please, allow me.” I give her a wink and appreciate the immediate flush in her cheeks. “What kind of fake boyfriend would I be if I didn’t carry your luggage?”
“That’s really n…” she trails off and her eyes grow wide. “Oh, no!”
I freeze with one bag slung over my shoulder and the other reaching for the handle of her roller case. “What?”
“Your neck.” She traces a finger over the back of it sending fresh goosebumps up and down my spine. “I scratched it. I hope that doesn’t leave a nasty scar.”
“I play hockey and fight fires for fun.” I wink at her. “Trust me, I’ve had worse.”
She rolls her eyes. “Aaron warned me about you.”
“Oh yeah?”
“He said you were pretty smooth.”
“I like to think so.”
She narrows her eyes. “And that I should watch myself with you.”
I can only chuckle at that. “Come on, my fake love. Let’s get the hell out of here so we can start having all this fun.”
“We should probably hash out a plan,” Gigi says as soon as she’s settled in my truck's passenger seat.
“Fire away.”
“First, we need a back story. We’ve only met once. People might find it hard to believe we’ve magically started dating.”
“Fair point.” I nod. “We could say we met through Aaron and Selena.”
“And how would that have led us to dating?”
“I’ve left town a couple times since they got together. We could say I went to New York to see you.”
“And people will believe that?”
“Why not? It’s not like I told anyone besides your brother where I was going.”
“Okay, that should work. Then, I suppose, we can say we’ve kept in touch by phone.”
“Exactly. We Facetime every day.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her. “We could even let it slip that we keep all aspects of our love life interesting thanks to the power of phones.”
“Settle down, Casanova. I doubt Brad’s future mother-in-law is going to want to know about our fictional sex life.”
“No, but his grandma might want to know. What?” I fake an innocent look at her outrage. “She always struck me as the sassy type when she was cheering him on at our hockey games.”
“You’re right about that.” Her brows knit. “You know, I used to go to all of his hockey games. I’m surprised we haven’t met more before.”
“I’m not. I doubt Brad would have wanted you mixing with the enemies.”
“True.” She sighs. “He always was petty about that kind of stuff.”
From the way he’s been spreading rumors about her, it sounds like that isn’t the only thing he’s been petty about.
We fall silent as I pull onto the main highway. Without the distraction of conversation, I'm even more aware of the woman seated next to me. Gigi really is a looker. And, based on the few words we’ve exchanged so far, it’s clear she also has a good head on her shoulders. She’s no shrinking violet.
A woman like her shouldn’t have any problem finding a date for a wedding. It’s a wonder she had to ask me. I’d bet guys are knocking on her door all the time.
At least, I would be. If she didn’t live in New York and she wasn’t my friend’s baby sister.
I need to remind myself of that. Hell, I’ll probably have to keep reminding myself of that for as long as she’s here.
“So…” I cast a sidelong glance her way. “Exactly how much trouble are we planning to cause while you’re here?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” She taps her chin thoughtfully. “Enough to make sure Brad knows better than to mess with either of us ever again.” She arches an eyebrow. “Think we can manage that.”
“I know we can.” I reach for her hand, appreciating the instant zing that shoots through me from the contact. “And, can I just say, it’s going to be a pleasure working with you.”