Chapter 7 Sawyer
SEVEN
Sawyer
“So, we got the end date down,” Ellie said. “Is there anything we didn’t cover?”
She had that little smile—the one that could short-circuit brain cells and make you forget your own damn name. Social security number? Gone. The fact that I was supposed to be fake dating her? Whoops.
She was cute.
Pretty.
Fucking stunning.
I mean, I knew she was. I’d always known, but it hit different this time—like my body forgot how to breathe for a second. Because holy hell, she was something else.
She was tall, graceful in that way that made it look effortless—like she had no idea every single person in the room would stare whether she was famous or not.
Her collarbones looked like they’d been sketched by an angel with a great eye for detail.
And her hair. God, her hair was swept up in one of those messy knots women did, and somehow, it made her look like she belonged in a shampoo commercial.
Her eyes. Fuck me. Those ocean-blue eyes saw everything and yet gave away nothing, as if she were cataloging the whole world while staying just out of reach. Her skin practically glowed under the café lights, and her mouth—don’t get me started. It was made for pop songs and trouble.
She was the kind of beautiful that made breathing feel optional.
Surprise, it’s not.
Every time she looked at me, my face betrayed me. Full grin. No control. I was a professional athlete. I trained for a living and worked to keep every muscle in top form.
Except apparently, I’d been skipping the cheek workout.
Because being around Ellie Miles? It was an Olympic-level facial exercise.
“Sawyer?” She arched a brow. “You alright?”
“Yeah, I’m great. Why?”
“You just…zoned out. I asked you a question, and you just…stared at me.”
“Sorry,” I said, leaning in a little. “You’re just really pretty. I got distracted. Ask me again, slower this time.”
She scoffed, but her smile betrayed her. “I said we have the end date. Is there anything else we need to cover?”
“Oh. Right.” I cleared my throat but still couldn’t help my eyes drifting down to her mouth. “What do you mean?”
“Well, how do you want to do this? We obviously need to be seen together, make it believable.”
She was all business—which, if I was being honest, only made her more attractive.
“I have zero concerns about believability.” I threw in a wink because self-control was for lesser men.
She laughed and playfully shoved my shoulder from across the table. “Stop. I’m being serious.”
“Okay, okay.” I held my hands up. “We hit some public spots. Dinner. Events. Maybe a red carpet or two if you’re feeling dramatic.
You obviously need to come to the Super Bowl if I make it there.
And come to Woodstone with me sometimes.
Small town, but if you want believable, that’s where I’m usually at when I can be.
Everyone there knows I don’t bring just anyone home. ”
She tilted her head. “When are you going next?”
“Tonight. Wanna come?”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Tonight?”
“Why not?”
“I mean, we haven’t even announced we’re dating yet, and meeting your family? That feels…big.”
I gave her a look, one brow raised. “You’ve technically already met half of them, remember?”
She narrowed her eyes, but I caught the corner of her mouth twitching. “That doesn’t count.”
“I’m staying at my brother-in-law’s extra place. It’s empty. Plenty of space. You could have a room too.”
Her gaze sharpened. “You’re inviting me to crash at your family’s extra house?”
“More like extending a very generous offer,” I smirked. “Think of it as neutral ground. No pressure. Just proximity.”
Her phone rang. She glanced down, then ignored it.
“I don’t know,” she murmured. “When are you headed there again after today?”
“Haven’t planned it yet, but I go whenever I can. It’s home.”
Her phone rang again, and she sighed.
“You can grab that if you need to. I don’t mind.”
She gave me this look. It was soft and a little sad. Then she nodded and answered. “Hey, Rach. What’s up?” A long pause, and then her eyes widened. “Please tell me you’re not serious. You’re joking, right?” Another pause. “Oh no, no, no, no.”
“Everything okay?” I leaned in.
And I shouldn’t have, because she smelled like flowers and whatever heaven was supposed to smell like—sweet, soft, and completely wrecking my focus.
She mouthed one sec and turned away slightly.
“Yeah, well…what do we do now?” she said into the phone. “Okay… No, not really, but if we don’t have much of a choice, then… Let me check. I’ll text you. Love you. Bye.”
She hung up and stared at the table like it had personally betrayed her.
“You okay?” I murmured.
“Yes and no.” She gave me a tight smile. “It’s kind of a long story.”
“I’ve got time.”
She exhaled slowly. “Long story short, it’s another mess. My ex leaked some private texts—twisted things I said to make me look like I don’t care about anyone. Called me cold, selfish, and fake. It’s everywhere now. Rachel says the headlines are a mess.”
“Shit. I’m so sorry. That’s awful. Is there anything I can do?”
She hesitated, then glanced up at me through her lashes. “Are you still okay with the story about us…dating going live? It would help shift the focus. I try not to care about bad press, but with everything else going on, I don’t want him thinking he still has any kind of power over me.”
I didn’t even blink. “Of course. I told you, I’m in.”
Ellie huffed out a breath, brushing her hair off her face as if she needed a second to reboot. “You really don’t have to do this. I don’t want you to think I’m using you.”
“I know I don’t have to.” I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the table. “And this is mutually beneficial, remember?”
She watched me, blue eyes glassy with something I couldn’t quite read. Doubt, maybe. The kind that made me want to reach across and smooth it away with my thumb.
“Okay,” she said slowly. “Let’s say we do this. The story goes live, we’re officially a couple, the internet explodes. Then what?”
I grinned. “Then we go to Woodstone. You come to dinner with my family. My niece will probably cry, and my sister will flip out, but it will still be a good time. My dad might even try to gift you a cow to get in your good graces.”
She blinked. “I’m sorry—a cow?”
“It’s a small town. People show affection with livestock. Accept it and move on.”
She laughed, head tipping back as the tension slipped from her shoulders.
That sound. I’d bottle it if I could. I’d take it, hide it, keep it somewhere only I could find it, bring it out on the days I needed it most, and take my own personal hit of Ellie.
“You make this sound so easy,” she whispered. Her smile melted into something softer.
“That’s because I don’t care about the media. I care about you.”
She peered down at the table, running her finger along the rim of her water glass. “Don’t be crazy. You barely know me.”
“True,” I said gently. “But I’d definitely like to get to know you more.”
Her eyes flicked up to mine, and something cracked open between us—small, but real. Then, she nodded once. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
My heart kicked like I’d just scored in overtime.
“Yeah?” I asked, just to be sure.
“Yeah. Let’s go to Woodstone.”
“Hell yeah.” I pushed my chair back. “I’d recommend packing a flannel. It’s kind of the town uniform. I’ll get you on my flight.”
“I’ll see if we can get my jet ready by tonight.”
“Oh, a private jet. Very fancy.”
Ellie rolled her eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
“True.” I grinned. “But now I’m your ridiculous, Miles.”
Her smile widened. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Ellie Miles pretending to be in love with me?” I whispered, leaning in. “Yeah, I’m living the dream.”
She gave me a mock glare. “Just remember, this is fake.”
“Totally fake.” I nodded solemnly. “So fake. Can’t wait to fake hold your hand and fake kiss you in front of everyone I know.”
She shook her head, but she was laughing again.
Later that evening, Ellie had one foot propped up on the dashboard, watching out the window as the stars passed us by.
“I didn’t realize how dark it gets out here,” she said.
“Welcome to the land of zero streetlights and questionable cell service.”
She glanced over. “A good place to murder people under some questionable circumstances. Sounds like a true crime documentary waiting to happen.”
“Don’t get any ideas. You’re the one who said yes to the rental car. That’s traceable.”
She snorted and reached up to retwist her hair into a messy bun with a scrunchie. I loved seeing her like this—relaxed and a little undone in the best way. After a few beats of silence, she caught me sneaking another glance. Those pretty blues narrowed, sharp and knowing.
“I’m not nervous,” she said, arching a brow. “If that’s what you’re wondering.”
“Wasn’t wondering. But now that you mentioned it…”
She gave me a pointed look. “You think I can’t handle your family?”
“Oh, I know you can. Just saying, they’re loud, nosy, and at least three of them are already obsessed with you. So maybe…brace for impact.”
That earned another real laugh, and I was the lucky son of a gun who got to hear it.
“Did you tell them I’m coming with you?” she asked.
I winced. “Not…exactly.”
“Sawyer!”
“I figured I’d just let it be a fun surprise.”
“You didn’t even warn them?”
“No. I figured I would just let them know when we get there.”
She let out a yawn and tried to hide it behind her sleeve.
“Want to grab a coffee before we head to my dad’s?” I asked.
“No,” she said, stifling another yawn. “I’m okay.”
“Ellie.” I gave her a look. “We have time. Do you want coffee? There’s a good spot on the way.”
She sighed, her lips twitching. “Fine. Twist my arm.”
I flipped on my blinker and turned toward Woodstone Perks. “You know this counts as a second date, right?”
“It definitely doesn’t.”
“Let me have my moment, okay?”
She rolled her eyes. “If that’s what gets you through the day.”