Chapter 13
I step up, trying to find something clever or cool to say, but all that comes out is—
“Eva Ross. Look at you.” Smooth.
Her smile widens, and those damn green eyes lock on mine. “Hi, Esteban.”
Even her voice has changed, still soft, still familiar, but there’s something deeper now, more confident. It brushes against something inside me I didn’t even know was there.
“It’s been a long time,” I say, feeling something weird in my chest. “It’s… uh… good to see you again,” I manage to say, though it comes out low and a little rough.
She tilts her head, and for a second, I swear she knows exactly what she’s doing to me.
It’s dangerous. All of it.
She’s Noah’s little sister, and I’m standing here like a fool, completely wrecked by the sight of her.
I glance around and spot Ashton and Payton still sitting at the booth. Eva turns to smile at them, and I follow her gaze just as Payton lifts her glass with that signature smirk of hers.
“Hi, boss,” she says to me, all sass and sparkle.
Then there's Ashton’s eyes on me.
Blatantly.
I’m used to it by now. Ashton checks me out like it’s his side hustle, and honestly? I respect the consistency. His eyes trail down from my face to my chest, then lower. When I raise an eyebrow, he just grins like I caught him doing something adorable.
“What’s up, Ashton,” I say, a little amused.
“Hey, Esteban,” he replies, practically purring. “Looking good tonight, as always.”
I shake my head with a low laugh. “You’re relentless.”
“Not my fault you walk around town like you belong on a billboard,” he fires back.
Eva rolls her eyes beside me. “God, Ashton. Can you not flirt with everyone for one night?”
He throws a hand over his heart. “I’m not flirting. I’m appreciating.”
We all laugh, and before the booth gets more crowded with our group hovering nearby, someone suggests moving to a bigger table.
Austin points toward the large round table near the back. “Let’s head over there, more room, better view of the chaos.”
We all agree and start shifting. I step back to let Eva out of the booth, and she brushes past me as we move across the room. I catch the faintest trace of her perfume, something clean with a hint of flowers. It lingers, making my thoughts fuzzier than they should be.
I follow behind her, aware of the way she walks, of the way heads turn as she passes by.
She’s definitely not the kid I remember.
As we settle into our new table, Ashton takes the seat directly across from me, chin propped on his hand as he watches me with that same mischievous gleam in his eye. I look away, but I can feel his stare like a spotlight.
Payton leans in beside him. “Don’t mind Ashton,” she says under her breath with a smile. “He’s harmless.”
I smirk. “Yeah. But bold.”
“You have no idea,” she laughs, taking a sip of her drink.
Across from me, Eva is already chatting with Josy and Violet, her laughter soft.
And me?
I’m sitting here trying to act like I’m not completely thrown off by being in the same room as Eva Ross again.
But I am.
The drinks are flowing, the wings are disappearing fast, and the table is buzzing with laughter and overlapping conversations when Josy suddenly leans in, eyes locked on me like she’s about to spill something big.
“Hey,” she says with a dramatic whisper that everyone somehow hears. “What’s this Noah told me you did yesterday in that business meeting?”
All conversation dies as every head at the table turns in my direction with synchronized curiosity, like a bunch of gossip-starved high schoolers.
I blink. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t act all innocent, dude,” Austin jumps in, grinning. “You know exactly what she’s talking about.”
Josy shakes her head with mock disappointment. “You told Mr. McNeal you were engaged. Are you out of your damn mind?”
The table erupts.
Ashton nearly chokes on his drink. Violet gasps, then starts laughing. Payton slaps a hand on the table. And Eva’s just staring at me, wide-eyed and amused.
I throw my hands up, trying to defend myself. “Okay, okay—listen. It wasn’t like I planned it!”
“Oh this should be good,” Violet says, leaning forward with interest.
I point to Austin. “Y’all remember how serious McNeal was during that lunch. He starts talking about how much he values men who are grounded. Family-oriented. You know, ‘my wife this’ and ‘my kid that.’ Then Noah starts talking about Josy—”
Josy smirks, clearly proud of herself.
“—and Austin brings up Violet and his sons—”
Austin beams like a proud dad.
“—and I’m sitting there with zero mention of a dog, a girlfriend, a plant, nothing. Man looked at me like I was a liability.”
“Oh my God,” Payton laughs. “So your solution was… to lie?”
“It was a strategic move!” I argue. “I panicked. The man had this ‘Are you the party boy?’ face going on, and I didn’t want to be the reason he bailed on the project.”
“So you saved the deal… by inventing a fiancée?” Ashton says between snorts. “That’s bold, even for you.”
“Exactly,” I say, placing a hand on my chest like I deserve a damn medal. “Esteban Báez. Team player.” Everyone is cracking up now.
“So…” Josy smirks. “Where exactly are you planning to find this fake fiancée of yours?”
I lean back, scanning the table with exaggerated seriousness. “That’s why I’m here tonight, seeing if I can find a friendly, cooperative woman who might do me the favor of pretending to be wildly in love with me for a few weeks.”
Shooting Payton a hopeful look, she just shakes her head. “Sorry, boss. I’d do a lot for you, but faking a relationship is crossing a line.”
Before I can reply, Ashton perks up like he’s just been cast in a role. “I volunteer as tribute.”
I snort. “Thanks, man. I appreciate the offer, but unfortunately, I need a woman.”
Ashton winks. “You’re missing out.”
Quietly but clearly, Eva speaks, “What about me?”
The whole table stills as my head snaps in her direction. She’s watching me with this playful little smirk, like she’s only half joking.
“You?” I ask, blinking like I misheard her.
She shrugs, nonchalant. “I mean, it sounds kinda fun.”
Ashton gasps. “Oh my God. I live for this twist.”
Josy’s eyes go wide. Violet leans forward, grinning like she’s watching her favorite show.
And me? I suddenly can’t remember how to speak.
Eva Ross, my best friend’s little sister, just offered to be my fake fiancée.
I’m still staring at Eva like she just volunteered to walk barefoot across hot coals when I hear Noah shift beside me. He hasn’t said a word since she offered, until now. Leaning forward, eyebrows furrowed, jaw tight, he locks eyes on his sister like she’s just told him she’s joining a cult.
“Fuck. No.”
The whole table goes dead silent. Again.
Ashton lets out a little gasp. “Oooh, Daddy Ross has entered the chat.”
Eva groans. “Noah—”
“No.” He crosses his arms, tone final. “Absolutely not. That’s my baby sister, Esteban. Are you out of your damn mind?”
Okay, now I have to step in. I raise both hands like I’m trying to calm a wild animal. “Whoa, whoa. Just hear me out, bro.”
“No.”
“Come on. Think about it. Eva’s perfect for this. She’s smart, charming, classy, she already knows me. Hell, she’s known me since she was in diapers!”
Eva nods along, cool as ever. “Exactly. We’ve known each other forever. And I have zero interest in him.” Ouch, those words hurt me a little, but I keep my face calm.
Noah’s still shaking his head like he’s trying to rattle the idea right out of his skull. “I don’t care how long you’ve known each other. Or how uninterested you claim to be. I really, really love you, man, but I do not want you anywhere near my sister like that.”
I throw my hands up. “Dude. I would never touch her.”
Payton snorts. “Physically or emotionally?”
“Either! I mean, come on. She’s your sister. That’s like sacred territory. Holy grail of off-limits.”
“Right?” Eva adds. “This is strictly professional fake love. Like a rom-com but with none of the good parts.”
Austin chuckles. “I dunno, this has all the good parts for me.”
“Same,” Ashton says, grinning. “I am thriving right now.”
Josy leans in, clearly loving every second of this. “Noah, come on. You’re being dramatic. It’s not like they’re actually getting married.”
Violet nods, eyes twinkling. “They just need to look convincing long enough to close the deal. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Noah shoots her a glare. “You’re not helping.”
I shrug and grin. “Look, I save the deal, McNeal gets all warm and fuzzy about us being family men, you look great, I look great, everybody wins.”
Noah groans, dragging a hand down his face like this physically hurts him. “You’re all insane.”
But he doesn’t walk away. He doesn’t say no again. Instead, he just… stalls.
That’s when I know he’s cracking. After a long beat of everyone watching him, waiting, he finally caves. “Fine,” he mutters. “But one condition.”
I straighten like I’m getting sworn in. “Name it.”
“You don’t touch my sister.”
I cross my heart. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“And this ends the second the deal is done. Got it?”
“Crystal clear.”
Eva raises her glass with a little smirk. “To fake love and zero physical contact.”
Ashton clinks his drink against hers. “And the slow descent into chaos.”
Noah drops into his chair, defeated. “I’m gonna need another drink.”