Page 30 of Rex's Honor
“Not a good idea. My mom wants you there. I actually think she believes we’ll make the announcement of our engagement.”
“That would givemymother a heart attack.”
“Doesn’t she know this is all fake dating? That we are just pretending for the sake of my mother?”
Tilly shook her head, biting down on her lower lip. Never a good sign.
“Wonderful. So, she thinks we’re getting back together as well.”
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say she’s hopeful. She thinks my dating record has gone downhill since you, which is funny, considering she used to tell me I could do better than you.”
He winked. “Boyfriends don’t come any better than me.”
She cocked her head. “You’re a conceited ass.” She slapped his shoulder, letting her fingers linger over their shared tattoo.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I can’t take it anymore.” He pointed to the kids on the boat next to them. The young boy kept trying to get closer to the girl on the deck. “We need to give that boy a hand.”
“How do you suppose we do that?”
Rex whistled. “Hey. Do either of you have a cell phone we can use? Ours are dead, and I need to let a buddy of ours know where we are.”
Tilly leaned closer. “What are you doing?” she whispered.
“Helping a brother out.”
“Sure,” the boy yelled.
“This is going to be fun.” Rex dove into the water, swimming toward the kid’s boat. As a kid, boy, he had no game. If it wasn’t for Tilly and her ability to sweep him off his feet, he would have never asked her out.
Now all he had to do was put some helpful notes about dating on the teenager’s phone, get the kid’s number, and shoot him some texts while he watched and hopefully the poor boy wouldn’t crash and burn.
“I really appreciate this,” Rex said as he pushed himself up, sitting on the stern swim platform, taking the phone the boy offered. “Your phone or hers?”
“Mine,” the boy said, glancing over his shoulder.
The young girl lay on the bow with earbuds, her feet tapping away. First Rex punched in his number, sending himself a text, then he opened the notes tab on the phone.
You want help with making a move on the girl? Just watch and follow what I do.
He handed the phone back, with the notes facing the boy who squinted and gave Rex a funny look. He realized he must have really looked like a creeper, but hopefully the boy would take notice.
Rex dove back into the water. The cool feel of the ocean rolled over his skin. He eyed Tilly, who sat, hugging her knees, smiling.
God, what a fool he’d been for twelve fucking years.
“Seriously, what did you do?” Tilly asked, handing him a towel.
“I told him to follow exactly what I do, so whatever you do, don’t hit me and when I lean in to kiss you, make it look good.”
“I don’t think I can do that. I mean, you’re such a terrible kisser.” She rolled her eyes.
He smiled, but what he really wanted to do was draw her in by her hips and plant a wet one on her right now, but he’d have to wait.
They sat on the bow, cross-legged, watching the young couple, waiting for the right moment, which came when the girl sat up.
Rex noticed the kid glancing his way, so he raised a hand, brushing a piece of hair from Tilly’s face, dropping his finger to her shoulder and gliding it across her skin.
“Wow, the boy’s mimicking you.”
