Page 67 of Fool Me

“Yes,” I say as I pull into the lot at the overlook, backing into the spot with the best view of the stunning valley below.

“Good, I can’t wait to meet the guy that’s got the formidable Harlowe Corbin all tied up.”

“Traitor.” Phantom’s doors creak as I step out, opening the hatch door so I can stretch out in the back.

“I’m always on your side, babe. I just think he might be good for you if you give it a chance.”

“You’re just lovesick and want everyone to drink the Kool-aid.”

“Take a sip. You know you want to,” she teases.

I grumble a response about wanting a lot of things I shouldn’t have, and then we move on to other topics. Vivienne and I talk about the wedding for a while before she has an absolute fit when I tell her I’m heading over to Atlas’s for a movie night before we finally hang up.

I try not to think too much about what she said about Atlas being good for me, but it keeps creeping back in. Whether I’m ready to confront my feelings for him or not, they’ve made themselves known. Now to figure out if I’m going to risk our entire plan by telling him before either of us accomplishes what we set out to do.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-ONE

ATLAS

Jealousy is an ugly look on me, but no more than when I’m envious of my own mule.

The braying starts up the second Harlowe and Echo come around the back where I’m grilling burgers for dinner. I’m bypassed with a brief hello and a wave on her way to the fence to show my pain-in-the-ass boarder some love.

“I see where I rate,” I say over my shoulder and she shoots me a beaming smile but keeps on walking. Bold as brass.

Harlowe looks cozy in a pair of spandex shorts and an oversized t-shirt. Her blonde hair is piled into a messy knot on the top of her head with a few strands coming loose in the front. If she were really mine, it would be the perfect outfit for cuddling under the stars. I’d slip my hand under her shirt and hold her close just the way she asked the other day in her sleepy, possibly concussed, haze.

Across the yard, Muley nuzzles Harlowe, pressing her wet nose into her side any time her attention wanders. That goes on until the donkey decides she’s had enough and runs to the opposite end of the pen chuffing, trying to get Echo to chase her.

The patio chair scrapes across the concrete as Harlowe takes a seat a few feet away, tipping her face to the sky and kicking her feet up on the chair next to her. “Is she always so demanding?”

“Yes, but with me she nips when she wants something,” I grumble, the fresh pain of this morning’s bite still on my mind.

“She got you on the butt again?”

“Fucking, yes. A literal pain in the ass.”

“I mean can you blame her. It’s a really good butt.”

There’s no stopping the smirk that tugs at my lips. “You think so?”

“This relationship might be for show, but those squats you do aren’t.” Lightness lifts her voice and it almost numbs the sting of her calling us fake. I’ve got no right to feel bitter over it when it’s exactly what we agreed to, but everything about us feels so genuine that it’s hard to think of this as anything but real.

“Burgers are done. Are we eating out here or inside?”

Her eyes drift to the mountains beyond, where Echo and Muley chase each other up the fence line. “Let’s stay out here. It’s too pretty to head in yet.”

“Keep an eye on those two. I don’t want her to get spooked and kick him. I’ll grab the rest of the food.”

“I can recall Echo and help.”

Bending to set the burgers down, she tilts her head back, awaiting my response. I can’t pass up the opportunity to drop a kiss on her forehead. I’m careful to avoid the healing cut and the yellowing bruise surrounding it.

“Stay here and relax. I’ll be right back.”

“Keep it up with the gold-star boyfriend treatment and you’ll never get rid of me.”

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