My Fake Fiancé (4 page)

Sam touched my arm. “Guess it still really
hurts.”

I nodded. And I didn’t think I could ever
make it up to my mom. Which is why I had to get my shit together
while she was still here with me.

***

With the ring on my finger, and my hot fake
fiancé at my side, we got to the church ten minutes after two and
dashed up the steps. I opened the door slowly; Carrie and her
father were standing in the entryway waiting to make their way down
the aisle. She looked like she’d stepped out of a photo in a
wedding magazine. If life was fair, she’d have a big zit on the end
of her nose, but she didn’t. She frowned at us busting in at the
last minute.

I grimaced. “Sorry!” I whispered.

She looked at me, and I could tell it took a
moment for her to place me. “Samantha. I’m so glad you could come,”
she said without a hint of a smile. Then her eyes flicked over to
Justin.

He grabbed my hand. “We’ll just grab our
seats,” he said, in a divine Australian accent.

Carrie’s eyes widened and we dashed off.

I liked the feel of Justin’s hand in mine,
and was disappointed when he let go as we sat down. But then he put
his arm around me. I looked up into his big brown eyes and smiled.
“Thanks,” I whispered.

He leaned over and his breath was hot on my
cheek. “We never set any rules about kissing and hand holding. How
do you want me to handle that?”

“Whatever seems appropriate.”

“We’re supposed to be crazy in love,
right?”

“Like, nauseating.”

He nodded and kissed my cheek just as Carrie
and her father walked past. I was so distracted by the way his soft
lips felt on my skin, I didn’t even get to scrutinize Carrie’s hair
and bouquet as she walked past.

He reached for my hand again and squeezed.
“Can’t keep my hands off you because I’m thinking ahead to our
wedding.”

I nodded, and held back a few tears as I
tried to remember the last time I had a boyfriend sweet enough to
hold my hand at a wedding. My last boyfriend never held my hand at
all. When I’d asked him why, he’d shrugged and said, “I’m just not
a mushy kind of guy.” Stupid Martin. Never got flowers from him
either, and he worked for a landscaping company and handled flowers
every day. Figures.

That brought me back to reality in time to
catch the small orchestra in the balcony and the twinkle lights
that had been hung from the rafters and the hardcover program book
we’d been handed when we walked in, featuring an agenda for the day
and photos of the bride and groom along with the personalized vows
they’d written for each other. Damn. Churches should have little
barf bags attached to the pews for occasions like this.

Carrie cried just enough during her vows to
be sweet, but not to ruin her perfect makeup. Doves and balloons
were released when they left the church as man and wife—I just knew
doves would be involved somehow—and then a parade of horse-drawn
carriages led the wedding party to the country club down the
road.

I saw Micki jotting a few notes on a pad
she’d pulled from her purse. Carrie’s wedding was excellent blog
fodder.

“So far so good,” I told Justin as we drove
toward the country club.

“I was thinking, maybe we should show up
later.”

“Why?”

“The fewer people we have to talk to, the
less likely we’ll blow this. They’ll be getting their pictures
taken for a while, and we’ll have to mingle.” He looked at me and
raised an eyebrow.

“True. Where should we go instead?” Part of
me was hoping he’d say, my place, but instead he said, “The Apple
Blossom festival.”

I waited for him to laugh, but he was
serious. “Really? You’re a big apple fan?”

He laughed. “Not exactly.” He sighed. “Okay.
Confession time. I’m saving up to open a catering company that
operates out of a food truck for special events, like casual
weddings, reunions, and that kind of thing. There are going to be
dozens of food trucks from Boston at the festival. I’d just like to
poke around and see how they operate, see how people are
interacting with them. Would that be ok? We’ll be back in time for
the reception and we won’t risk blowing our cover.”

I didn’t care where we were. I just liked
spending time with him. “Sure. That’d be great.”

***

I was working on a giant mound of cotton
candy (who knew it came in apple flavor) as Justin inspected one of
the food trucks. The guys had been nice enough to let him check it
out during a quiet spell when the crowd was busy watching a kids’
chorus group sing.

While we strolled the festival grounds and
sampled all sorts of apple goodies, Justin explained how he was
saving every penny to start his business. “That’s why I haven’t had
time for a relationship. Between that and taking care of my mom,
women have been the last thing on my list.”

“What do you mean, taking care of your
mom?”

He looked down, like he hadn’t meant to tell
me that. Then he finally said, “Remember I told you she’s been
sick? She’s been battling ovarian cancer. Her last test showed she
was in remission, but she was stage four when she was diagnosed. My
sister lives across the country, so I’ve had to drive her to her
doctors’ appointments and stay with her when she’s really sick. I
don’t mind at all. I’m happy to be there for her. She really
doesn’t have anyone she can count on but me. It’s just severely
stunted my social life.”

I grabbed his hand even though no wedding
guests were there to see it. “That’s wonderful of you.”

“I’m lucky to do it. I don’t know how much
longer she’ll be around.”

I nodded. “My mother died four years ago. Car
accident. She skidded off the road and hit a tree. I don’t even
have anyone I can be mad at. Just one of those stupid things that
happen.” I swallowed back the tears.

He stopped walking and searched my face. “I’m
so sorry.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and his finger
trailed down my cheek.

My throat tightened. “There are so many
things we didn’t get to do. I hate that she didn’t get to see me
married.”

He planted his hands on his hips and looked
off behind me. “I know. That’s a big one for moms, isn’t it?” He
looked back at me and smiled. “That’s why I’m so grateful you’re
going to carry on this fake fiancé thing for a while. I know my mom
will be disappointed in the end, but at least she won’t have as
much guilt. She’s convinced I’m single because of her. I don’t want
her thinking that.”

I grinned up at him, the smell of apple
blossoms sweetening the air. “I will do my best to be a fantastic
fake future daughter in law.”

He kissed the side of my head. “Now let’s get
back and finish up with Carrie LaMont.”

I felt a little silly as we drove to the
reception. I was pulling off this ruse to make a childhood enemy
jealous. He was going to do it to make his mother happy. Not fun
feeling like a juvenile jackass. But we were at the wedding, I’d
bought the dress and the gift, and we might as well go through with
it.

As we walked into the reception hall, I
realized our timing was horrible again. Carrie and her new husband
were just getting ready to be announced to the crowd as husband and
wife. I also realized, as I passed by a mirror, that most of my
lipstick was gone—probably consumed along with the cotton candy—and
wisps of hair had escaped from my updo.

Carrie caught sight of us, and Justin kissed
me as we walked past.

“Where have you two been?” Micki asked
loudly, lined up behind Carrie.

Justin winked at her. “Just passing the time
with my fiancé. Getting a little practice in.”

I playfully jabbed in with my elbow and
noticed Carrie’s jaw drop a bit.

We scooted off to our table and watched
Carrie and her new husband enter the room like royalty as they were
announced to the crowd. I expected to feel jealous, but I was too
busy looking at Justin, thinking about his plans and problems and
the way his lips felt the times he’d kissed me. I hoped to God I’d
get a chance to feel them again.

We were sitting with co-workers of Carrie’s
husband, Gerald, and we tried to keep them chatting about
themselves during dinner, which wasn’t too hard. But when Carrie
and Gerald started greeting guests at their tables, she came right
over to me first.

“Samantha! I’m so happy you could come. I
wasn’t sure, with the invitation being so last minute. But I
realized I’d forgotten to invite you, and I had someone else cancel
so I could squeeze you in.”

Witch
, I thought, proud of myself for
not saying it. I gave her a great big smile and felt quite
confident I could pull this off. “No problem. I didn’t remember
your name at first when I got the invitation, but then when my
roommate told me she was in your wedding, I wanted to come and
support her. She’s in like a thousand weddings this summer.” I
looked at her husband. “I live with your cousin, Micki.”

Gerald seemed to turn a shade paler, but
smiled. “Really? Great girl. Has she said much about me?”

“She says you’re chatty when you get drunk.”
Just what a pediatric brain surgeon wants to hear in front of his
colleagues.

Carrie put her hand on my shoulder. “So, who
is this with you?”

In sucked in a deep breath.
Show time
.
“This is my fiancé, Justin.”

Justin stood up to shake her hand. “Lovely to
meet you. Very nice wedding. We’re taking some notes since we’ll be
getting hitched soon ourselves.”

“Is that an Australian accent?”

He nodded.

Carrie turned her model-perfect face to me
with a fake smile and wide eyes. “Samantha, wherever did you meet
an Australian?”

Justin jumped in with the answer. “I’m sure
you know she’s a sculptor. I saw her work in Boston, commissioned a
piece for my Australian office, and when she showed up to install
it…” He slapped his hand over his heart. “Love at first site. Never
believed in it until I saw my Sammie.” He squeezed my shoulder, and
I just smiled and shrugged like I couldn’t help being so instantly
loveable.

He went on in a perfect, sexy accent talking
about his many offices and his private jet and all that.

Carrie gave me a pained smile.
“Congratulations. I’ll have to get in touch to talk about
commissioning a sculpture. I’d love something for our new home.
We’re building an eight-thousand square foot colonial.” Blech. She
actually trilled her voice.

I wrinkled my nose. “I’m booked for the next
two years.”

“And she’s really expensive,” Justin
added.

“Oh,” she said. “Well, I hope you enjoy the
reception.”

When they wandered off, I squeezed Justin’s
knee. He leaned closed to me and whispered, “I’m impressed. You’re
an excellent liar.” Then he kissed my ear.

Gerald’s partner asked for my card. “We could
use a sculpture in our office. Can you do something with a boy and
a kite?”

“I’ll get back to you.”

***

Justin led me to the dance floor and I
whispered in his ear. “I think we should leave early, like the
wedding’s not interesting enough for us.”

He brushed his lips along my cheekbone. “Or
because we can’t keep our hands off each other.”

I gulped. “Even better.”

Justin had some impressive dance moves and
maneuvered us near the bride and groom. That’s when he took my face
in his hands and grazed his lips across mine. It wasn’t the kind of
public kiss that made you cringe and look away. No, this was the
kind of kiss that would make wives glare at their husbands and
wonder when they’d last been kissed like that.

“You’re amazing,” he said in his Australian
accent.

A tall, beautiful blonde approached us.
“Excuse me, are you Australian?” She batted her eyelashes.

I could feel Carrie watching us. I hoped this
girl didn’t have any questions that would trip us up.

“Yes, why?” asked Justin.

She blew out a breath. “I just have a thing
for Australians.”

“So do I,” I said.

And by the way Carrie was looking at him,
she’d suddenly developed a similar craving, too. The blonde
continued staring at my man and I wasn’t sure how to shoo her
away.

Luckily, a short brunette grabbed the woman’s
arm. “Miranda, you have your own Aussie. Remember? The one you’re
marrying this summer.”

Miranda rolled her eyes “Of course I do,
Jane. I’m just looking.”

I couldn’t have scripted it better if I’d
hired them for this ruse, too.

Jane looked at me. “I’m so sorry, she was
hypnotized at a magic show to chase hot men from down under.
Unfortunately, we don’t know how to snap her out of it.” Jane
clapped her hands in front of Miranda’s face, then shrugged.

“No harm,” said Justin, pulling me closer.
“No one could tear me away from my Sammie.”

“We’ll just be going now,” Jane said, pulling
the blond goddess away. “Can’t you see they’re totally in love?”
she asked the blonde as they walked away.

Justin kissed me again, like he was proving
that point. When he pulled away, Carrie was watching us. I smiled
at her. “I think we’ll be going now. Congratulations!”

“What about the cake?” Carrie asked, sounding
hurt.

“We’ll get our own dessert.” Justin said,
grabbing my hand. Then we scurried off the dance floor. I followed
him into the parking lot and we collapsed in his VW, laughing. I
high-fived him and next thing I knew, we were kissing again. But
this time, it was a kiss that would make a person cringe in public.
Only we were in a car, the moon was full, and I wanted him bad.

When I finally pulled away breathless, I
said, “I suppose we should get used to acting like we’re engaged
since we have to keep this up for a few more weeks.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I was
thinking.”