“Well, I wish them every happiness.” The lie was sour in her throat. She didn’t want him to be happy. She wanted to hurt him back.
“Good for you, Rose.” Maxine saluted her with her iced tea. “You’ve moved on and gotten over Ben.”
That sounded like something Lily would say. The realization made Rose uncomfortable with her deception. Her gaze drifted away. Their server returned with their credit card receipts.
“It’s getting late.” Rose checked her silver wristwatch. “I’d better get going. It was great to see everyone.”
Claudia stood. “At least show us a photo of this mystery man.”
Rose chuckled as she stood, as well. “I don’t carry his photo.”
“You don’t want to talk about him. You don’t carry his photo.” Tasha led them from the restaurant. “I have doubts that he really exists. I hope we meet him before the reunion.”
Rose’s shoulders tensed. So do I.
Chapter 2
“I need a boyfriend.” Rose puffed the words as she and Iris continued their five-mile jog through the Park of Roses on Saturday morning.
It was the last day of spring, the day before the longest day of the year. Even this early on a Saturday morning, the park was busy with cyclists, walkers and other runners. Rose jogged beside Iris past the tennis courts. The row of maple trees on their left formed a canopy over them. They continued down the incline to the music of the birdsong around them.
“I thought you’d given up on men.” Iris’s strides were synchronized to Rose’s, the result of years of jogging together.
Her youngest sister’s lemon-yellow jersey and navy blue biker shorts were cheerful contrasts to Rose’s steel-gray jersey and black shorts. They veered to the right at the bottom of the hill.
“A fake one for my reunion. Remember?” Rose frowned into the distance. Ben’s fair features and wavy dark hair superimposed themselves over the park’s picnic area. She briefly squeezed her eyes shut to dispel the objectionable image.
“Do you have any candidates?” Iris’s voice became increasingly breathless as she expended more energy on the path.
“Not even one.” Rose had searched her mind Friday night after dinner with her former classmates: work, church, neighbors, anyone.
“What about Leroi? You’ve worked with him for years.”
“He’s dating someone.” Rose leaned forward and shortened her stride as she climbed the incline that led to the high school. Her words came out in puffs. “Besides, Leroi’s successful. And intelligent. And good-looking. But he doesn’t. Hold a candle. To Ben.” And she needed someone whose looks would eclipse her ex-fiancé’s.
“You’re in luck.” Iris took a breath. “I know someone. He’d be perfect. For your assignment.”
“Who?” Rose crested the hill with Iris. Her pulse and breathing slowly returned to normal.
“Donovan Carroll. Also goes by ‘Van.’ He’s Ty’s friend. Vice president of sales. For Anderson Adventures.”
“How’s he look?” Rose looked at Iris, reluctant to believe her sister had the answer to her problem.
“Six-three, six-four. Clean shaven. Classically handsome. Shaved head. Built like a football player.”
So far, so good. “Smart?”
“Very. And charming.” Iris smiled.
“Sounds perfect.” Almost too good to be true. She wiped the sweat from her eyes. What’s wrong with him?
“Ty’s cousin would be, too. But he’s recovering from his breakup.”
“I remember.” Rose felt an empathetic tug in her heart. “You told me.”
“I don’t think your plan would work if both of you brought baggage to it.”
“I agree.”