Chapter 1 #2
The universe, a notorious showoff, struck again when Todd materialized beside me. He pointed to the TV over the bar. “Do you like documentaries about shipwrecks?”
I lied. “Not really.”
“Oh. Well, maybe we’ll find something else to watch.” He stood there, expectant, as if the only barrier between us and true love was a Netflix title.
“Sounds good,” I said, my pulse ratcheting up.
“I just thought, if you want to borrow my Fire Stick—”
“That’s sweet, Todd,” I interrupted, my eyes darting inside as I desperately searched for a lifeline.
My gaze landed on a tall, dark-haired man in a steel-blue button-down being mauled by a cackling redhead.
Dean Mercer, the best man. We’d met several times in Atlanta, and he had a face that stuck with you—square jaw, sharp dimple, eyes like glacier runoff.
Yeah, that color blue. I’d always pegged him as too handsome, too slick and successful.
But the raw, trapped look on his face was so relatable I almost laughed.
Our eyes met.
His eyebrow shot up, the corner of his mouth curling in a silent, Can you believe this?
My own lips twitched, and I lifted my glass in salute. His smile widened.
“I should go see if Holly needs help,” I told Todd, already moving.
“Totally. See you inside?”
I threaded through the noisy crowd, heart thrumming with reckless energy. Dean had wedged a stool between himself and the relentless redhead, but she just leaned over him, invading his space. I steeled myself, glided up to his open side, and perched on the empty stool.
“There you are,” I said with a breathless laugh, wrapping my arm around his broad shoulders. “I’ve been looking everywhere.”
Dean’s eyes widened, but he thought fast. He pivoted, his knee bumping mine.
“Baby,” he drawled with deadpan affection that almost made me choke. “You’re late.”
“Don’t start,” I improvised, leaning in. “You know I get lost in these places.”
The redhead blinked. “Sorry, I didn’t realize—”
“It’s fine,” I cut her off with a paint-stripping smile. “I’m used to the effect he has on women. But I’m afraid he’s taken.” I patted his shoulder, and he slid his hand over mine in a perfect fit. She wilted and vanished.
We exhaled in synchronized relief.
“Thanks, Brynn.” Dean’s voice was low and warm. “God, thank you. I owe you my potential first kid.”
“Only if he comes with a range extender and a Fire Stick,” I deadpanned, then waved absently when Dean’s brow scrunched up. “Long story.”
He grinned, signaling the bartender. “So. Fake boyfriend or plausible deniability?”
“A little of both. I’m being hunted by the wedding’s official sad-single-girl wrangler.”
His face lit up with understanding. “Aunt Carol?”
“She never misses.”
“Mine is the mother of the groom. She thinks I’m a flight risk. We could help each other out.” The proposal hung between us, a current of pure possibility. “We pretend to be together, everyone leaves us alone, and we drink in peace.”
“Tempting. But are you any good at the together part?”
A slow, lazy smile spread across his face. “I’m an excellent fake boyfriend. Rave reviews.”
I laughed. “Fine. But if you ditch me, I reserve the right to set fire to your luggage.”
“Deal,” he leaned in, eyes dancing. “Good thing I travel light.”
As I sipped my beer, I took in Dean’s face up close—faint five o’clock shadow, a tiny scar above his eyebrow, a mouth that looked like it could ruin a woman with a single smirk. Tall, dark, and handsome in the flesh. He was trouble, and apparently exactly what I needed.
“So how do we play this?” I asked. “Subtle, or should I start calling you darling?”
Dean’s gaze held mine. “Let’s go big. They’ll expect subtle.”
He stood and offered his hand. I took it, my palm fitting perfectly against his as he led me through the bar, turning heads. The heat of his body radiated through his linen shirt. This was supposed to be an act, but the chemistry was disorienting and real.
At the edge of the deck, he stopped, his breath stirring the hair at my temple.
“You’re shaking,” he said quietly.
“It’s the IPA,” I lied. “Hoppy.”
He smiled, tightening his grip on my waist. “Just checking. I don’t want my girlfriend fainting on day one.”
“Brynn! There you are!” Aunt Carol marched up, towing a crestfallen Todd.
Dean straightened, murmuring, “Showtime.”
“Brynn, dear, you left so suddenly,” Aunt Carol said. “Everything all right?”
“Never better.” A surge of wicked delight ran through me. “Dean was just about to show me the pier.”
He played his part perfectly, pulling me snug against him. “We were getting some air.”
Todd’s face fell as his gaze dropped to Dean’s hand on my waist. “Oh. I didn’t realize you two were—”
“Together? It’s pretty new,” I said, turning my face up to Dean’s, marveling at how easily the lie came.
He didn’t hesitate, cupping my cheek. “Yeah. She’s the best thing to happen to me in a long time.”
The cheesy words landed deep in my chest. I leaned into his touch, then handed Todd his business card back. “Sorry, Todd. I wasn’t sure if you were just being friendly, so I didn’t say anything.”
“Well,” Aunt Carol sniffed. “Isn’t that something. Todd, didn’t you want to check the sound system inside?”
Todd blinked. “Yeah. I’ll just, uh, be over there.”
He shuffled away, business card clutched in his hand like a tragic souvenir. After a curious look at us, Aunt Carol followed.
Dean waited until they were gone before dropping his arm. “Too much?”
“No, it was perfect,” I said, feeling dizzy. “You even convinced me.”
He ducked his head. “Sorry. I have a tendency to go overboard.”
“At least you commit,” I said, steadying myself with my cold glass. “More than I can say for most men I’ve known.”
“Don’t compliment me yet. You might be disappointed.” He leaned on the railing beside me. “Are you here just to support Holly? It can’t be just to dodge Todd.”
The truth slipped out before I could stop it. “My ex told me I was utterly unambitious. He said I’d never take a real risk.” My voice was sour with the memory. “So I saw you across the bar and took one.”
Dean nodded. “People say crap like that because they’re scared you’ll do something they never could. Trust me,” he added softly, “I know the type.”
A comfortable silence settled between us as I wondered if we had more in common than I’d thought.
“I’m not usually this reckless,” I admitted.
He smiled, his eyes crinkling. “Good. You’ll need your wits to survive this weekend.” His fingertips skated over my knuckles, and this time, it didn’t feel like an act at all.
Across the room, Holly caught my eye and lifted her glass in a salute. For the first time since arriving, I felt something other than dread. I felt hope. And a little bit of fire.
Dean’s gaze was steady. “Ready to make them all jealous?”
“Absolutely.” I let him pull me into the crowd, two halves of a perfect, improbable lie. For now, I was exactly where I wanted to be.