Page 43 of Faking It with the Firefighter

“I’m not happy with a lot of things right now.”

He took a step toward me. “I really, really appreciate you doing this for me, Abigail. I hope you understand that. I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said yesterday when we were out here…” He trailed off, shoving a hand through his hair.

I kicked at a clump of grass. It was nice that he acknowledged that I was actually doing him a big favor.

“Look, you were right,” he finally said. “Donny is old enough to handle his own shit, but I’ve been too used to saving him from every disaster. If I could’ve saved his knee by taking the injury on myself, I probably would’ve done it. But he’s a grown man, and it’s time I started treating him like one.”

I glanced up to meet his gaze. “We wouldn’t be in this situation if you’d had the guts to tell him that a few days ago.”

“I know,” Rex replied, but his gaze shifted away from mine. He was hiding something.

A memory twigged. Yesterday, Blair had made a comment about the wedding’s RSVP. I took a step closer. “Hold on a minute,” I said quietly, a crazy thought entering my mind. It couldn’t be true…but how else could I explain Blair’s comment? I stared at Rex and demanded, “It was more than a few days, wasn’t it? You told them you were dating me when you RSVP’d to the wedding, didn’t you?”

Rex’s nose wrinkled, and after a long moment, his eyes dragged back to mine. “I can explain.”

My jaw dropped. “You told them you were dating someone, or you told them you were dating me?”

“It just came out!”

“‘It just came out?’” I hissed back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’d just seen you at Sullivan’s earlier that day, and when Donny asked me who my plus-one was, I just… I just said your name, okay? It wasn’t… I’m not… It isn’t…”

The porch door swung open, and Blair’s perfectly styled blond head poked out. “Trouble in paradise?” she asked innocently. “Is everything okay with you two lovebirds?”

At this rate, I’d have to go to the dentist and get a mouthguard, because my teeth grinding was out of control. I waved the garbage bag at her. “We’re discussing lawn maintenance and have differing opinions about the compost.”

She didn’t believe me, obviously, but she shrugged and went back inside. Through the windows on the enclosed porch,I could see the entire wedding party staring at us through the glass.

“We have an audience,” I pointed out.

Rex flicked a quick glance over his shoulder, then turned back to face me. “After this is over, I’ll be firmer with Donny. I have you to thank for that, Abigail.”

“That’s great,” I said. “After this is over, I’m going to book a trip to an all-inclusive resort and drink so many margaritas my tongue will shrivel up from all the salted rims.”

Rex huffed and caught my arm when I moved toward another pile of grass clippings. “The other thing I wanted to tell you is I’m sorry.”

My heart clanged. I paused. “For what?”

“For yesterday, when Gabe was here. We were rude to you. I can see how he doesn’t believe you can handle yourself, but I shouldn’t have gone along with it. I should’ve stood up for you instead.”

Heat rose up my neck. He’d read me so easily. What else could he tell just by looking at me?

“You’re a capable, intelligent woman, Abigail. I never want you to think I don’t believe that.” Oh, hell. I was going to cry. Rex knew it. He moved to block our audience’s view of me, which I simultaneously appreciated and resented. “Can you forgive me?”

I folded my arms, thinking it was strange for a man to be asking for my forgiveness. I wasn’t used to it. I didn’t know what to think, so I said, “Sure.”

“Then we’re good?” he asked. I nodded, and he glanced back over his shoulder. “What was Blair talking about when I walked in?”

I waved a hand, staring at a spot over his shoulder. “Just how you were all over her when you were together. Couldn’t keep your hands to yourself, apparently. She was wondering why you’re not that way with me.”

Rex’s fingers touched my chin, angling it slightly so I had no choice but to meet his eyes. He looked soft and teasing and dangerous, as if there was some hidden reserve of mischief inside him that was begging to be cracked open.

I studied his expression, tilting my head back. “Is the whole good-guy thing an act, Rex?”

He shook his head, the corner of his lips tugging. “No. But it’s not all I am.”

“Oh?”

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