From Friend to Fake Fiancé

Damn that man. He was owning this role of fiancé/lover. No way would he win this bet, though.

Jenna smiled and nodded as Amy stated how their mother had found the most beautiful lilac dress for the wedding. But Mac’s relentless touches had her shifting in her seat, spreading her legs slightly and letting out a low, soft sigh.

Mac froze a half second before he moved his hand to her inner thigh. Jenna’s first thought was that he’d probably never felt a thick, bare leg like hers before. Her second thought was...she wished he could just go a little higher to relieve her ache.

“If you did a Christmas wedding, we could totally do a classy white theme,” Amy went on, clearly oblivious to what was happening beneath the table.

Unable to help herself, Jenna leaned against Mac. She told herself she was just playing the part, but she was starting to think this part was playing her. He removed his hand from her thigh, and she nearly whimpered at the loss, but then he smoothed her hair away from her neck and started massaging the sensitive flesh there. Oh, yeah. He had some talented hands and she didn’t want to think about how many women had groaned beneath his touch.

“No matter when Jenna decides to have the wedding, she’ll be a beautiful bride.”

Mac kissed her cheek and trailed his fingertips down her spine, sending an instant onslaught of goose bumps all over her body despite the heat.

“I hate to cut this dinner short,” Mac went on. “But Martin is staring in this direction and I won’t have him upsetting Jenna again. Besides, I want to have as much alone time with my gorgeous fiancée as I can. You understand, don’t you, Nathan?”

Nathan nodded and lifted his nearly empty beer mug. “I do. I’ll talk to Martin in a bit. I didn’t know he was harassing you guys.”

“He’s not harassing us.” Jenna refused to add fuel to the fire. The situation with Martin was bad enough. “He just thinks we’re getting back together and I’ve had to tell him several times it’s not happening. I’m sure now that he’s seen how close Mac and I are, he’ll back off.”

Mac squeezed her shoulder. “Let’s go, sweetheart. I’m done discussing your ex.”

The endearment he delivered seemed so genuine, so perfect. Jenna didn’t want to get so wrapped up in this that she forgot what was truly happening. Mac was simply playing a role. He wasn’t a man she could ever tame and he wasn’t looking for anything beyond this week. She knew him better than most, so to cling to any false hope would only leave her with a bruised heart.

Amy winked at Jenna. “See you tomorrow. Don’t forget we have a bonfire on the beach at nine.”

Jenna came to her feet when Mac pulled out her chair. “I’ll be there,” she promised. “See you guys tomorrow.”

Mac rested his hand on the small of her back, his fingertips brushing her rear end, sending even more jolts of arousal through her. She didn’t remember being so responsive before, but she’d also never been touched so intimately by Mac, either. Clearly the man had a special touch, one her body instantly loved.

As soon as they reached the doorway, Mac patted her bottom. “Go on ahead, sweetheart. I’m going to settle the bill and I’ll be right there.”

“There’s no bill,” she told him. “It’s all part of the package my sister paid for.”

“Go on, Jenna.”

Something about the way his eyes seemed darker, his smile seemed tighter, had her wondering what he wasn’t telling her, but Jenna nodded and headed back toward their bungalow. She needed a moment without Mac, a moment away from his touch, his powerful presence. Jenna pulled in deep breaths as she walked along the docks leading toward various areas of the resort. If she ever did get married, she’d seriously consider Bora Bora for her honeymoon.

If she ever found the one who made her heart kick up, who made her want to rip his clothes off, who made her want to reveal all her hopes and fears. Did that miracle man even exist?

Well, Mac did all those things, but he’d made it abundantly clear he couldn’t be that man. As soon as she entered her bungalow, she slid out of her wedges and padded across the room and out onto her private deck. She sank down onto the hammock and carefully swiveled around to lie back. The gentle breeze had her swaying. Jenna laced her hands over her abdomen and closed her eyes. Yeah, she’d definitely bring her husband here.

She let the daydream of a faceless man flood her mind. Would they make love out here in the open, but where nobody could see them? Would they walk hand in hand along the shore and discuss their dreams for the future? Have a romantic dinner and come back to their bungalow and skinny-dip in the dark?