Fake Summer Boyfriend

Leif nodded, the slight smile bringing far too much attention to his mouth, then every detail of that tough but handsome face. “Now, again, without looking, who is out there?”

“Craig Landers.”

“Is he armed? Dangerous? Any military training?”

I held back a snort, not wanting to appear unladylike. “Not in the slightest. He’s just a very aggressive creep.”

“Other than the fact that you are absolutely heart-wrenchingly beautiful, why is he fixated on you?”

Blinking hard, I stared into those striking blue eyes. How could he say that in such a matter of fact tone of voice?

“Oh, um. We were in an improv class a month ago, and in the spirit of meeting new people, I had a coffee with him afterward.”

“And then?”

“And since then, he won’t stop. He’s always lurking everywhere I go.”

Leif shook his head. “That’s awful. I’m so sorry, Hayden. Have you confronted him about it?”

I shook my head quickly. “No. I’m not good with that sort of thing. I just… I get flustered easily and he gives me the creeps now.”

“Okay. Let’s think this through.”

I realized I was staring at his perfect lips, unable to tear my eyes away as he spoke. He really was too gorgeous for words, and it was almost hard to concentrate on what he was saying.

“We could do absolutely nothing, and you could continue to hide out here at the diner,” he said with a gentle smile.

“Or?”

“Or I

could go out there and scare him off—”

“No, please,” I said, cutting him off. “His father is a professor at the language studies department at Huntley. I’m taking two of their online courses right now. I absolutely have to get those finished so that I can keep my job in the fall. I can’t have him messing up my plans.”

Leif frowned. “Is this a job where Craig will be able to keep bothering you?”

“No. He’s going to university in California, so he’ll be leaving a few days before Labor Day weekend.”

“You’re sure about this?” Leif asked.

I had to admire his attention to detail. “Pretty sure. At our coffee chat, he was showing me photos of the campus, and telling me that his dad had to pull all sorts of strings to get him in or something.”

“So you just have to keep him at bay for four more weeks.”

I nodded. “Pretty much. I’ve been hiding out at work, at home, and at a friend’s place. Well, and here at the diner. It’ll be nice to be able to go out to a park or something before the weather turns cold.”

Leif held out his hand across the table, and I took it without thinking. He was so warm, and the connection was so comforting, even if the electric tingle might have just been in my mind.

“I don’t like that you’ve missed your summer because of this jerk, Hayden,” he said. “Listen, I’ve been working like crazy, and I’m taking some time off for August. What if we did some summer things together?”

“Like what?”

He gave me a full wattage smile that managed to show off his perfect teeth, high cheekbones, and those sexy eyes all at once.

“Easy hikes. Ice creams on patios. The beach. The outdoor sculpture museum. You know – just wandering around being a tourist in your own city.”

“Craig will be lurking everywhere and I’ll get all freaked out.”