Her Accidental Boyfriend: A Secret Wishes Novel (Entangled Bliss) (8 page)

Chapter Six

Either Shane had the flu or the idea of taking a week off work made him sick to his stomach. Or…

He pushed that
or
out of his head for the hundredth time. Women did not tie his gut in a knot. They didn’t lick at his wounds and give him hope for redemption. They didn’t star in every damn dream, in various stages of undress. In the shower, out of the shower, in
his
bed.

Only his pretend girlfriend did those things.

With a shake of his head, he cleared his mind of Kagan and walked down the hall of Burke & Associates. He’d finished making several phone calls and confirming expectations for the week. His team knew their stuff and he had no worries about being out of the office. Now Belinda wanted to see him before he left.

Shane knocked on the office door and poked his head in.

Belinda waved him inside, the phone at her ear, her cheery voice and Monday morning smile firmly in place. She started every week like it was Friday.

Sitting in the plush leather seat across the desk from her, Shane pulled his cell from his pocket to give Belinda some privacy. He thought to check the news, but two text messages came through simultaneously.

Kagan:
Thx again for getting me home safe and sound last night.

Shane smiled. She didn’t need to thank him, but it did feel good.

Sebastian:
Dude, Thursday night. Kaskade at The Wind Jammer. Sold out show, but got u a ticket and a babe. You in?

Normally, Shane would be right on board. His favorite DJ and a hot girl? Done deal. Sebastian worked in security and had connections all over Portland and pulled these last minute invites all the time. He was also the one friend who knew about Mia, since they’d gone to grad school together.

He texted Sebastian:
Got my own babe. That cool?

Half a minute later Bash texted back:
You’re shitting me.

Nope. And don’t get any ideas. She’s mine.

WTF? Can’t wait to meet her. 9 sharp.

See u then. Thanks, Bash.

Shane looked up to find Belinda hanging up the phone and eyeing him like she’d heard Shane’s text messages.
She’s mine?
The text had slipped from his fingertips with ease. He hadn’t given it a second thought. This fake boyfriend thing had gone to his head.

Belinda crossed her arms over her chest. “Vacation, huh?”

“Thought it was about time, since you’ve mentioned more than once that I have several weeks stored up. I touched base with everyone on the restaurant project this morning, and I can always be reached by phone.”

“Got any special plans?”

“Not really. Mostly some R and R.”
With a gorgeous can’t-get-her-out-of-my-head woman.

“Alone?” Belinda was fishing, not something Shane was used to. The older woman usually got right to the point. “Or with that pretty blonde you brought to the hotel opening?”

There it was.“Her name’s Kagan.”

“She seemed like a nice girl. Smart. You thinking of tossing in the bachelor towel? Because I have to tell you I like your single status. It really comes in handy sometimes.”

Shane squirmed. “No worries, Belinda. We’re just having some fun. Nothing more.” In no time his favor to Kagan would be over, and they’d go back to the way things were before Brett showed up.

His stomach churned again. Before Brett showed up, what were they? Not the same thing they’d been before the hotel opening. And how would his family and friends react to their “breakup”? Would they ask questions he couldn’t answer?

“I’m happy to hear that. Keep up that track record of yours and I see big things in your future.”

Meaning stay single and get the promotion to vice president?

“It’s not that I don’t approve of commitment, but you’re young. And you’ve got that killer instinct that tends to fall by the wayside once someone settles down.”

“What do you mean?” Shane asked.

“I mean when something else grows important besides work, a person can lose focus and I’m selfish, Shane. I want all your attention right now.”

“You’ve got it, Belinda. I have no plans to settle down anytime soon.” Or ever. He’d learned the hard way that he didn’t have what it took to be that kind of man. And now he had another reason. His job mattered more than anything else. It kept him sane. Happy.

Belinda uncrossed her arms and stood. “Well enjoy your vacation, and I’ll see you next Monday.”

Shane got to his feet. “Thanks. I’ll be in touch if anything comes up.”

On his way out of the building, Shane played their conversation over in his head. He wanted the VP promotion, and he deserved it. Single or not, no one worked harder or knew more than he did when it came to project management. He was the backbone of Burke & Associates. His creativity and business sense far outweighed the suggestion that he sweet-talked his way to success. Until Mrs. Houston and The Duchess, he couldn’t ever remember charming a client quite that way.

But maybe he’d just never realized it until a woman who had started to mean something to him had entered the picture?

Kagan popped into his head. He’d never texted her back. He slipped behind the wheel of his convertible and pulled out his cell.

You’re welcome
.
What r u doing?
His watch said ten. He’d told her three o’clock, but maybe they could rent tandem bikes or go paddle boarding. That’s what couples did on vacation, wasn’t it?

I’m working on bracelets. Thought you said 3.

His shoulders sagged.
I did. Need help?

That’s sweet of you, but I’m good. According to Cascade’s blog, I’m the next big thing. :) Better live up to my reputation.

Go get ’em and I’ll see you soon.
He pulled his sunglasses from the visor, put his keys in the ignition.

With five hours of free time now, he should’ve stayed at work. Putting the car in gear, though, the idea of taking the day off to do whatever he wanted sounded fantastic. With or without his agreement with Kagan, he deserved this break. She might have been the driving force, but after four years working non-stop, he relished the freedom.

He hit the road with the wind in his hair and knew exactly the destination.

…

During the summer, Shane’s dad took Mondays off as captain of Fire Station Twenty-nine to coach baseball at the community center. The camp had been around since Shane was a scrappy kid with dreams of playing in the major leagues. Back then his dad had coached his little league teams too. Today was the last Monday before kids went back to school.

He parked in the lot, grabbed his glove off the passenger seat, and slapped on his baseball hat. He’d stopped at home to change into shorts and a T-shirt and now leapt out of the car, eager to play some catch with his dad. They hadn’t thrown a ball around in years.

The smile on his dad’s face when Shane stepped onto the field made him feel like a twelve-year-old again. A swell of love and admiration for the man who’d raised him hit hard. Memories of Shane’s homeruns, his misses, his winning catches and major errors, played between them. Hell, his dad had on the Ducks cap from Shane’s last season before high school.

“Hey, Dad. Thought you could use some help today,” Shane said, approaching the pitcher’s mound. A dozen or so kids, nine or ten years old and surrounding his dad, turned their heads in his direction.

“I’d like that. You off work early today? Feeling okay? I didn’t think I’d see you until later.” His dad had called him last night to make sure he was okay after the fire.

“Vacation week.”

His dad nodded and threw him a ball from the bucket at his side. Looked like Shane had arrived just in time for his dad’s pep talk. Henry Sullivan believed in lifting his players up before every practice or game.

Words like “fun,” “teamwork,” and “try your hardest” were always included. Dad found something good in every player, and if a kid ended the season wanting to play again next year, then his dad counted it a success.

Shane helped when asked, staying out of the way of the assistant coaches who showed up right after he had. An hour later, the kids broke for lunch and swimming for the rest of the day. That’s when his dad picked up a ball and they stood in the outfield for a game of catch.

The sun beat down on his shoulders and sweat coated his back, but Shane could stand outside all day with his dad like this. The smooth overhand motion stretched the muscles in his shoulder and bicep, the snapping sound of the ball hitting his glove made him smile, and the easy companionship filled his chest with memories he didn’t recall often enough.

His dad, though, looked tired, so after about twenty minutes Shane closed the gap between them and said, “How about a cold drink?”

“Good idea. You’re looking a little beat.”

Shane mimicked his dad’s grin. He’d been told more than once they had the same shit-eating smile.

They walked across the street to Mudd’s Sandwich Shop and grabbed some food to have with Mudd’s famous lemonade.

“This vacation of yours wouldn’t have anything to do with Kagan, would it?” his dad asked from across the small square wood table.

“Pretty much everything.” The little consideration he’d given to taking time off still surprised him. Nothing had ever made him want to take off work before.

“I think you might really like this girl.”

He did like her. More than he’d liked anyone else since Mia. But he wouldn’t let himself feel anything else. His job promotion meant too much. He glanced across the restaurant. Two twenty-something attractive women sat at a table. One stared back, her eyes flashing the kind of blatant interest he’d seen dozens of times before.

“That surprises you?” Shane drew his eyes back to his sandwich. Weird, but he had zero desire to flirt in return.

“Given the reputation you seem to have established for yourself, yeah.”

“You know I’m not the marrying kind.”

“I know you’re a good man.” His dad put down his drink. “And I know Kagan looks at you differently than other girls I’ve seen you with around town.”

No doubt. The women in Cascade all eyed him like the brunette across the restaurant did. While Kagan had certainly eyed him like she had more than friendship on her mind, she’d never looked at him in that predatory way that brought out his wolfish tendencies. No. With Kagan a trio of letter “A” emotions flowed through his veins—allegiance, admiration, affection.

Shit.
She’d started to slip past his defenses.

“I’d like to think I look at her differently, too. But don’t get your hopes up.”
This happened by accident and isn’t going to last.
“And please keep Mom cool.”

“You don’t like us bugging you about finding a nice girl?”

Shane laughed. His parents and sister bothered him all the time about finding The One. He thought he’d get a reprieve now. “I’ve found one, but don’t put much stock in it, okay?” When his life returned to normal he hated the idea of his family being disappointed in him.

With a shake of his head, his dad leaned back. “Kiddo, you can’t cross the finish line without running the full race. You’re only just out of the gate.”

A gate he had no business being at in the first place. He couldn’t risk hurting someone so deeply again, and with his past mistakes and dedication to his job, the chances of that happening were just too great. If he caused harm to Kagan, he’d never forgive himself.

“I see those cogs turning,” his dad said. “Didn’t mean to make a big deal of it. You know your mom and I just want you to be happy outside of work too.”

“I know.”

Since landing back in Cascade after grad school, his mom had always told him he’d find the right girl when he was ready.

He had no plans to be ready anytime soon.

…

Kagan studied herself in the full-length mirror that hung on the back of her bedroom door. This dress worked. This dress said friendly. Fun. The gray ruffle-hem tee dress was soft and drapey. Comfortable. Paired with her flat silver and turquoise sandals, she’d be relaxed at the barbeque at Shane’s parents’ house.

Yeah, right. She
wished
clothing could cure her anxiety.

She lifted her long, wavy hair up and contemplated twisting it into some sort of up-do. Her cell phone rang before she’d reached a decision.

“Hello.”

“Okay. Sorry about that. I can talk now,” Charlotte said, still slightly out of breath.

Kagan’s call a few minutes ago had caught her best friend in the throes of an afternoon bootie call. “Why did you even answer the phone if you were busy having sex?”

“Because it was your number that popped up. And it was only Daniel. He doesn’t mind interruptions. Nothing cools his enthusiasm.”

“I heard,” Kagan said, positive if she ever saw Charlotte’s sometime-boyfriend again she’d immediately think of this unwanted moment.

Charlotte giggled. “Sorry about that. Truly. So, what’s up?”

Since they hadn’t spoken in several days, a lot was up. Kagan walked downstairs and plopped onto the couch. Sunshine squeezed through the small gap in the curtains and she stood. Spreading the linen drapes as wide as they’d go, she let daylight rush inside.

“Brett’s still here,” Kagan said, trying to get comfy on the sofa again.

“What?”

Kagan pictured Charlotte sitting at attention, her eyes wide, her mouth in the pissed-off position she often wore when Kagan talked about him or her dad. The “what” wasn’t in misunderstanding. It was in shock.