Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 135831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
In the lobby, we pass artful bouquets of dahlias and an elegant waterfall structure when I catch sight of the familiar silhouette of my redheaded friend. “Fable’s here. I didn’t realize the team party she’s going to was tonight.”
“Your friend who works for the Renegades?”
“Yes.” And she’s walking across the lobby right now with Wilder Blaine, who owns the team and the hotel.
“Are they together?” he asks of the man I chatted with at the city vegetable garden.
I make a seesaw motion with my hand because I know a lot of the details of what’s been going on with Wilder and Fable for the last few weeks since the guy she was dating—Brady—showed his true colors. “Not exactly,” I hedge, then tell him what happened at Thanksgiving. Max cringes when he learns what her ex did that day. “But then Wilder—her boss—asked her to be his fake girlfriend for the holiday season.”
“So the billionaire needs a fake girlfriend,” he says quietly, sounding intrigued.
“But don’t tell a soul because it’s a secret, and nobody knows it’s fake.”
Max mimes zipping his lips. “You know I know how to keep a secret.”
Fable must catch sight of us since she stops and beelines for me. “Good to see you,” she says, then makes quick intros to everyone even though I’ve already met Wilder.
He looks me in the eye and says, “Good to see you again. And congratulations on the new job. I’m not at all surprised.”
“Thank you so much,” I say. “And your vote of confidence meant a lot to me. It was part of what drove me to go after the promotion with everything I have.”
“That’s fantastic. I like it when good things happen to people who deserve them.” Then to Max, he says, “And congratulations on…your future wife.” Wilder’s lips curve in a grin.
Max laughs, dragging a hand down the back of his neck. “I guess you saw that.”
“A lot of people saw it,” Wilder says with a clever smile. “Like, the whole world. That was quite a gesture. You set the bar awfully high for men everywhere.” He steals a glance at Fable, then something like longing passes in his eyes as he adds, “And it should be high.”
We say goodbye and they leave. But as they go, he sets a hand on her back. Possessively. Maybe more possessive than a fake boyfriend should be.
I tug Max close. “I can’t wait to tell Maeve she was right. She’s had this theory that he’s had a massive crush on her for a long time.”
Max checks one last time then turns to me. “Maeve is definitely right.” He makes a move to go to the bar, but then stops. “Speaking of massive crushes, I’m pretty sure Asher has exactly those kinds of feelings for Maeve.”
The corner of my lips curves up. “You don’t say?”
He gives me a curious look. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’ve had that feeling for a while too. But I don’t know if he’ll ever do a thing about it. Since he’s her brother’s best friend and all.”
Max drags a hand through his hair, like all this romance stuff is too complicated. “Sometimes you just have to screw all that stuff and go after what you want.”
“True,” I say.
He runs a hand down my back, sending shivers through my whole body. “Because it’s worth it.”
I smile. “Yes, it is,” I say, as we head to the bar.
We quickly find Sophie and her date.
Lucas.
After a warm hello, Max clears his throat and says to my former physical therapist, “I need to apologize for my behavior when we first met—”
Lucas waves him off. “No need. That date played out perfectly.” Then he kisses Sophie’s cheek.
Sophie looks at him with genuine affection and says, “It sure did.”
We join the new couple for a drink.
After, we head to our room. When the door closes, shutting out the world, Max picks me up and carries me to the king-size bed. He sets me down and holds my face, his eyes filled with both a love and lust that I hope never ends, especially when he says, “And now I’m going to undress my future wife and kiss her everywhere all night long.”
I run a hand along his arm. “Get to it, future husband.”
And he does.