Page 4 of Real Tree / Fake Boyfriend

Cameron frowned at Tyler, and as much as he knew Cameron, the only person’s mind he could even pretend to read was Hailey’s. He had no idea what his friend wanted toget across.

“What about three?” Cameron finally said. He turned back to Julien.

Tyler sputtered. It was much more reasonable, but he wasn’t considering hiring this scary stranger to pretend to be his boyfriend over the holiday. Tyler wasn’t going to hireanyone. He would go back home and listen to Hailey discuss her wedding plans while Tyler imagined how lonely he would look in the photos.

Julien seemed to consider the counteroffer. “Five. But I want half up front.”

Cam turned back to Tyler. “Can you do five?”

“When did you become my middleman?” Tyler hissed.

Cameron shook his head and waved an arm toward Julien. “Julien would be perfect for you,” he said. “I mean, look at him. That is a face you want to take home to your family.”

Julien watched Tyler as though he wanted to rip his throat out with his teeth, and not in a fun, playful, sexy way. His thick brows were low over his dark eyes, and his full lips were set in a scowl. He looked the opposite of what Tyler would want to take home to his mother.

Tyler gulped and stood straight, ignoring the sound of fabric pulling off the bar’s wood like a sticker. “Five thousand is a lot. Would you be able to make it believable?” He didn’t know why he entertained this horrible and reckless idea. Tyler didn’t know anything about Julien. As much as he trusted Cameron, how could Tyler spend time with someone he didn’t know and who, frankly, was scary?

Julien tilted his head back and forth as if contemplating the question deeply before he invaded Tyler’s space without warning. Before Tyler could process the situation, Julien’s arms were around his waist, and Tyler was pulled into a tight embrace.

He could smell the deep scent of leather, the faint smell of smoke, and something peppery, woody, and intoxicating. Tyler didn’t realize he had automatically put his arms around broad shoulders and could feel the outline of hard, defined muscle hidden by the fabric of Julien’s tight T-shirt.

It had been a long time since Tyler had been this close to any man, let alone one as big and attractive as Julien. He had never been this close to someone so intimidating, but his body reacted. His heart thudded in his ears, and his cheeksgrew hot.

Julien nuzzled against his neck and murmured in a husky, low voice, “Baby, you smell so good,” into his ear. Tyler didn’t know how he managed to hold in the moan that threatened to bubble up in his throat at the warm breath tickling his sensitive skin. “I can’t wait to spend Christmas with your family. Do you think they’ll like me?”

Warm lips dragged over the tender skin of his neck, and Tyler’s brain stopped functioning correctly.

“Y-yeah,” Tyler stammered. His hands traced over Julien’s muscled back, all but groping him. Julien’s lips brushed against his jaw, and his body reacted stupidly by giving butterflies that made his breath speed up. Tyler couldn’t think clearly about this between the closeness and two beers. “I think so,” he croaked.

Julien pulled back quickly and looked down at him with eyebrows raised. Their height difference was more than just a few inches. Tyler had to lift his chin to meet the man’s dark gaze. “Five thousand dollars, and I’ll make sure they do.”

Tyler was thankful for the darkness of the bar because he knew he was blushing deep enough to be used as a traffic light. He glanced at Cameron, whose crooked teeth wereall on display as he gave two thumbs up. Well, if Cameron knew Julien, then he probably wasn’t a murderer, at least.

“Fine. Five thousand. But you have to stay the whole time and make sure my family believes that we are a stable, happy,perfectcouple.“ Tyler held his hand out.

“I need half right away,” Julien reiterated.

“Fine. The second half is on Christmas, though. I don’t want you running off with my money,” Tyler said. He had to try not to overthink this. What could the harm be? He wanted a fake boyfriend. Despite the price tag, he could make it work if this was his option. He took Julien’s big, warm hand and gave it a shake. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Julien wasn’t hard on the eyes.

Julien nodded. “Deal. I’ll be the best boyfriend you’ve ever had.”

“You’d be the only one he’s eve—“ Tyler shot Cam a look before he could finish his sentence. “I mean, yay, Christmas is saved.” He did a dramatic twirl before chugging his beer.

Tyler’s gaze drifted away from his best friend back to Julien. “Come by my place tomorrow. I’ll get you themoney, and we can work out our story. My family lives in Connecticut, and I’m flying out. We’d have to book your plane ticket, too,” he said as he mentally calculated the expenses and gave Julien his address and phone number. The phone had miraculously survived its earlier attack.

“Great. I’ll be there after work.” Julien slid his phone into his pocket and picked up his jacket from the back of the bar stool. Then, as if mad at the world, he stalked out of the bar without another word to Tyler or Cam.

“I really hope you didn’t just set me up with a serial killer, Cameron.” Tyler swallowed the last bit of beer and ignored the sinking in his gut. How would he make a guy like that fit in with his family? He wasn’t exactly the sort of person the Ashfords would expect from Tyler.

Tyler had always thought he’d bring home a clean-cut man who wore designer clothes, not those scruffy-looking jeans that had hugged Julien’s ass so nicely as he walked out of the bar. If they covered up his tattoos and wiped the scowl off his face, Tylermighthave something to work with, but it wouldn’t be easy.

His friend laughed and slung his arm around Tyler. “No, Julien’s a great guy. I promise you’ll love him,” Cameron assured him.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s hope he can be convincing,” Tyler said as if he had not been convinced with a warm hug.What am I thinking?Tyler could only blame the alcohol and the fact that he hadn’t gotten laid in years.

“I mean, he seemed to win you over,” Cam quipped. He waggled his unruly eyebrows and nudged Tyler.

Tyler sighed. “Shut up. How do you even know him?” he asked, worried it was from some underground street fighting ring. Knowing Cameron, it could be something as unhinged as that.

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