Chapter 17 #2
Tally grins so wide at me she looks deranged. “I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to be bitchy so we change the subject, but that’s not going to happen. This is amazing, Pen. You always had such a crush on him in high school. It’s like it was meant to be.”
“It certainly is.” The deep gravelly voice behind me makes me jump, causing my drink to slosh all over my chest.
“Shit,” I mutter as I turn to glare at Monty.
One would expect if a man causes you to spill your beverage all over yourself, said man would look regretful. But Monty wears an amused smirk.
“Good morning, Xuxuzinho,” he murmurs, his voice too husky for public. My cheeks must be as red as a fire truck at this point.
“Anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on people?” I grouse, taking the towel Rosie grabbed off one of the nearby tables and handing her the now-empty mug.
Monty doesn’t even try to hide his grin. “I was just walking by when I heard my name mentioned.” His eyes dance. “I’d love to hear more about this crush.”
With a huff, I shove him backward. Monty laughs, barely moving, though he does grab my hands and hold them pressed against his chest. Asshole.
He must know he’s as solid as a rock beneath the black Dropkick Murphys shirt he’s wearing.
He always liked alternative rock, and the Irish band that’s famous in New England was a favorite of his back in high school.
My gaze dances over the design on his shirt and across to his broad ink-covered arms. I spot a calligraphy quote and narrow my eyes as I try to read it, but Monty’s voice interrupts my perusal.
“And, for the record, we have definitely defined what we are.” I snap my gaze up to meet his.
He’s speaking louder now, which means, while his green eyes stay on mine, he’s clearly talking to the crowd.
He squeezes my fingers, which haven’t left his pecs, and the fireworks inside my chest start shooting off like it’s the Fourth of July.
Apparently, my body is not so good at the pretending part.
Monty closes the minuscule space between us with a dip of his head and I suck in a surprised breath when his lips brush against mine. “You’re mine, Xuxuzinho.”
I’m stunned as he pulls back, and silently thank the Lord he’s created some distance. Because if Monty kissed me right now, I might forget that anyone else is around and straight up hump his leg. Yup, definitely should have taken the edge off with my vibrator this morning.
“Well, I have to get back to my table,” Tally cuts in before bouncing down the steps. “Though this has all been very enlightening.”
Rosie points to the door. “And I’m going to go…in there.”
She hurries away awkwardly as I’m left wet—because of my spilled drink—and staring at my fake boyfriend.
“I think that went well,” he mumbles, folding his arms over his chest and leaning against the railing with an easy air.
I nod woodenly. “Yup. I should probably”—I hike a thumb over my shoulder—“change.”
“Right.” He chuckles as he readies to leave. “I promised Vovo I’d take her around the market. So I guess I’ll see you in a bit.”
With my lips pressed tightly together so I don’t beg him to stay and maybe brush his lips against mine again, I watch Monty head down the steps toward Tally’s table, where she and Vovo are in deep conversation.
I close my eyes and blow out a breath. Why do I make a fool out of myself every time I’m in Monty’s vicinity? And how in God’s name will I survive these next few months of fake dating without completely embarrassing myself?
The back door opens and Billie appears with my mug. Rosie must have snatched it when she went inside. “Heard you had a bit of a spill?” I groan as she laughs. “I can grab you a clean brewery shirt from the back if you want?”
I glance down at my shirt, which isn’t too bad. “I’m fine. Thanks, though.”
“Okay, no worries. I’ll be out in a bit. Babs and Rayna just sat down at the bar and asked Rosie to explain what DVP is. Apparently, it’s in this week’s book. If I don’t go back quick, she’ll kill me.” Billie shrugs.
If I had to guess, she has no idea what DVP is, either. Billie can only make it to book club every so often because of Quinn and her shifts at the bar. I doubt she has much time to read between all her responsibilities.
Fuck, I can’t send her in blind.
“Um, I don’t know how to say this without just coming out and saying it so…” I flash my hands out dramatically. “Bear with me.”
“Sure, you can tell me whatever.” Billie nods seriously. “I’m a mom, nothing fazes me.”
“Yeah, well, if you engaged in DVP you wouldn’t know who the dad was.”
Billie’s face scrunches in confusion. “Huh?”
I don’t know what comes over me but I can’t seem to stop myself as I make a circle with one hand, and take two fingers from the other, thrusting them repeatedly into the hole. “It’s when two men penetrate her at the same time.”
Billie’s eyes flare wide and she points down between her legs. “In there?!”
I nod as she glances back at the door before taking a deep breath. “Okay, I can handle that.”
I laugh and watch as she heads back inside. Better her than me.
Still smiling, I settle at one of the little bistro tables and finally let myself relax with my drink.
I open up Instagram while I wait for the girls and am surprised by the absurd number of notifications at the top of my profile. What the…I’ve gained like four thousand followers?!
I search for the source of what has garnered so much attention and realize it’s from yesterday’s post—the one about the book boyfriend. I start reading through the comments and giggle at the excitement from all my new followers.
Oh, tell us more! Is he hot?
We need updates!
What exactly is a book boyfriend? Is he real?
Oh is he a fake boyfriend? Why do you need a fake boyfriend?
Below that comment there’s one in response from a name that has me smiling.
theredheadedsmut: Who says she’s the one who needs him? Maybe he needs her.
I snort. That sounds like something Rosie would say. I keep scanning and am excited when I see that one of the top liked comments is a question about the book I posted.
Oh my god I read that book and it was SO good. Where can I buy more like it?
There’s a link in her bio to a store. Maybe try there, someone else replied.
I bite the inside of my cheek and quickly tap out of the app to pull up my affiliate link. Holy shit. That book is making me money! There’s been over a hundred purchases since yesterday morning.
I should probably update my link at the top to include the bookstore. That way, people could order from the shop directly.
Before I can do that I hear footsteps heading my way.
“Penny, there you are, amor,” Ana says, as she grips Monty’s arm. “I keep forgetting to ask, where did you put my books?”
I stand up to greet her and frown. “Your books?”
“You brought them the day that this one”—Ana nods her head to Monty—“was a Peeping Tom and walked in on you naked.”
Monty sighs. “I didn’t know she was in there.”
“And I wasn’t naked,” I whine. “I was just—” I feel my cheeks go red again and I shake my head. “Never mind. I left them on the table by the door, I think.”
“I can’t find them anywhere.” Ana turns to Monty, a perplexed look on her face. “Have you seen my books?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he mutters. “What kind of books?”
“They were in a Bonfire and Bliss bag.”
Monty’s mouth falls open and he shudders.
Ana mumbles something in Portuguese and then her eyes narrow on him. “Did you steal my books?”
“I thought they were Penny’s!” He shakes his head and then turns on me. “Are you peddling spicy books to my sweet Vovo?”
I snort and Ana smacks Monty’s arm.
“I thought they were her books.” Monty points toward me. “I kept meaning to bring them back to the store. They’re in the car.”
“Oh good, I can start on them tonight,” Ana says.
Monty shudders again. “What’s wrong with a murder mystery? A thriller? Why aliens?”
“For the love story, obviously,” Eli says as he walks by, a sly smirk on his face. “Absolutely not because of all the extra appendages.”
I cover my mouth to hide my laugh and am glad that for once the town’s teasing isn’t aimed at me.