Best Fake Fiance (Loveless Brothers 2)

He can be a little overprotective. The kid had a blast.

Daniel finishes his sandwich, sighs, and leans back in his chair. He took the tie and jacket off, so now he’s just wearing a white button-down shirt, both sleeves rolled up, the top two buttons undone.

It’s an even better look, or at least it would be if I were noticing how Daniel looks, which I’m not.

The man does shine up like a new penny, though.

“Anyway, that’s why I panicked,” he says, shaking his head slightly. “I know I shouldn’t have, but they were going on about gated communities and private schools and raising her with her sister, and shit, Charlie, I’ve got none of that.”

I lean in, push my empty plate out of the way.

“Yeah, but none of that shit can make Crystal a good parent,” I say, keeping my voice low.

“Tell that to the court.”

“You want me to?” I ask, taking a sip of water. “Want me to go in there and tell everyone exactly what I think?”

He rubs his hands over his face, laughing.

“Please don’t,” he says. “As much as I’d love to see her reaction, I don’t need my fake fiancée reprimanded by a judge.”

I just shrug, smiling into my water glass.

“You sure that’s all you need?” I ask. “Should we mockup save-the-dates or a registry or something?”

For a split second, I wonder what we would put on our registry, what our invitations would look like if we really were engaged. It’s not the worst thought.

“I think that’s overkill,” he says. “Besides, how do we explain if someone finds it?”

“True,” I concede.

“It’s probably smartest to keep a lie simple,” he says. “I’ll find you a fake ring, you’ll show up for a single court date, and—”

He cuts off mid-sentence as someone steps up to our table, and we both turn.

“I am so sorry to interrupt y’all,” Shirley Crest says.

She settles one be-ringed hand on each of our shoulders, like she’s about to lead us in prayer. Daniel and I trade a quick glance, then look back at her.

“But I just heard your good news from Mavis and then I saw you sitting over here, and I knew it was a sign,” she goes on. “I am so happy for y’all, and I just know you’ve got years of love and happiness ahead of you.”

Shirley smiles, her frosted hair swaying ever-so-slightly on top of her head. I stare at her with my mouth open, literally speechless.

There’s a brief pause. Daniel collects himself first.

“Thank you, Shirley,” Daniel says, covering her hand with his.

“You two were always so sweet together,” she says. “Not to mention that now Karen Rogers owes me fifty dollars. Blessings!”

Then she waves, turns, and she’s off.

My mouth is still open. I close it, jerking one thumb after Shirley’s retreating form.

“Daniel,” I hiss.

His face has turned to stone, and he’s still looking after Shirley, like he can undo the last thirty seconds with the force of his mind.

“Daniel, who was in that courtroom?” I ask, my voice low and deadly serious. “You, Lucinda, Crystal, her people, the judge? Who else?”

He presses his lips together and swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. Then he takes a deep breath, sighs, rubs one temple like he’s just remembered something.

“The bailiff,” he says.

I just wait.

“Pete Bresley.”

I put my face in my hands, my BLT now rolling in my stomach. I’m slightly nauseous. I force myself to take a deep breath, my mind going a thousand miles a minute.

“You told the town gossip’s gossipy-ass son that you and I are engaged?” I ask. I’m trying my best to keep my voice low and steady, but it’s definitely not working.

“Maybe it won’t get out,” he says. “Plenty of people get married in Sprucevale, there’s no—”

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out while he’s still talking.

It’s my mother. I show Daniel the screen. He stops talking. I put the phone down on the table very gingerly, then softly tap the decline call button, like being gentle will help.

“She’s calling to ask why I didn’t tell her first,” I say, and look frantically at Daniel.

He leans forward, blue eyes blazing, forearms on the table.

“Tell her,” he says, his voice low, steady. “That we were keeping it a secret, but the judge asked me a direct question, so I couldn’t—”

“You want me to tell my mother that we’re engaged?” I whisper-shout.

He says nothing, just looks at me steadily.

“No,” I say, holding up both hands like I can ward him off. “What? No.”

“It’s not that—”

“It’s a huge deal!” I hiss, as my phone rings again. It’s Mom. I decline the call. “This is fucking insane, Daniel, I can’t—”

I swallow hard, force my voice lower.

“I can’t tell everyone I know we’re engaged,” I say.

He swallows again. His fists clench, then relax.

“Look, I’ll lie to a judge,” I say. My voice is shaking. “Fine. Sure. But I can’t lie to everyone I know, Daniel. I’m not that good of an actress, they’re going to figure it out, they’re not going to believe us, they’re—”