Fake Summer Boyfriend

Leif chuckled for a momen t. “Julian sounds deadly serious whether he’s firing someone or ordering a martini. It’s just his way.”

“So he’s not going to be mad at you if you stay?”

“Of course he will. But he’ll forgive me in a week. It’s a brother thing.” He stepped another inch closer. “Besides, he’d be a complete ass if he told me I had to move away from the love of my life.”

Instantly I shrank back, shaking my head. “You can’t possibly know that so soon.”

“I do. But you can take as long as you like to come around to the idea.”

We were both silent as Frank, one of my coworkers, approached the door behind Leif, giving me a nod on his way inside.

“I have to work.”

“I know you do, baby,” he said softly, holding out his hand. “May I come to get you at five?”

My head was spinning, and after such a strange night’s sleep, I just couldn’t take any more stress.

“I’ll text you this afternoon, all right?”

Reaching out, I gave his hand a tiny squeeze, then dashed around him to get inside before I was tempted to throw myself into his arms.

I needed a bit more time to think about this. If he was giving up a new job for me, I had to be absolutely certain that I was going to be right for him. And the other way around.

Unless we completely belonged together, there was no sense in messing up his life.

Chapter 16

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Leif

Walking away without hugging Hayden goodbye was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. But I had to show her that I could give her the space she needed.

Driving home slowly because of my mental fog, I rolled up to the gate. “Hey, Glen.”

I looked up into the security booth to see him giving me a very strange look. “Good morning Mr. Martin. If you don’t mind my saying so, you look pretty stressed. Are you all right?”

“Girl trouble,” I said, forcing a smile.

His grin actually cheered me up a bit. “The pretty brunette you were with this weekend? Very kind eyes. She seems like a sweet girl.”

“She is. I just need to convince her that I’m the right guy.”

He nodded, leaning out of the booth a bit. “My mother once told me that in order to prove you’re a good man, you have to actually be a good man. But she may have just been trying to convince me to mow the lawn instead of mooning over the girl I had a crush on.”

Laughing, I gave him a wave as the gate opened. “Thanks, Glen. That might really help.”

As soon as I got home and put on a fresh pot of coffee, I went straight to my office, contemplating what Glen had said. Instead of being the right man for Hayden, what could I do in this situation to simply be a good man?

First, I spent an hour digging through all of my contacts, selecting three people who would be great for the position Julian needed filled. I sent him that information, along with a formal email advising him that I was not moving, and would be retaining my position here.

Then I prepared an official report of Craig’s behavior, citing dates and times as much as possible. I gathered the email addresses of the university Craig wanted to go to, and both of his parents.

I wouldn’t send anything without Hayden’s permission, but at least it was ready to go.

Then I ordered some colorful throw pillows, and a soft blanket for the sofa, so that she would be more comfortable when she came over to watch movies again.

By the time I got my actual work done for the day, it was nearly four-thirty, and I still hadn’t received a text from her. Setting my phone on the desk in front of me, I put my fingers to my temples and tried to will it to beep.