Page 19 of Make it Real
“I think we just need to be seen together around town. Pretend to go on enough dates to convince Granny we’re happy so she can feel confident going off to Florida and leaving me here in your hands.”
One of his eyebrows ticked up.
“Not that I’ll actually be in your hands. I’ll be in my own hands. It’s just a figure of speech. Never mind.”
“Who’s going to know it’s not real?”
“Just us.”
That brought out another eyebrow twitch. “You won’t tell Harper or June that we’re just for show?”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought about that. I guess I could let them in on it if that’s easier on you.”
Probably some slim chance existed they wouldn’t judge me too hard once they knew my reasons for it. They’d known I’d been on a few bummer dates lately, but I hadn’t explained it all. Something about admitting that I was going on these dates to keep a group of elderly women happy just didn’t feel like a win.
“No, don’t tell them.”
Jed turned his body toward me, and his knee brushed mine beneath the bar top. That little spot of warmth drew all my attention, but I needed to ignore it. Twisting back slightly, he gave me space again, already several million points up on Mr. Groper.
Even if I kind of missed the touch.
“What do you say to being my plus-one to my sister’s wedding next month? There’s bound to be a few other events, too. Wouldn’t hurt to have Pop ease up on his hints I need to settle down.”
“Is he meddling, too?”
“He’s made it abundantly clear he’d like me to follow in Wade’s footsteps.”
“And you don’t want to do that?”
He watched me half a second. “I don’t think that’s in the cards for me.”
That answer only raised more questions, but I would accept it for now. I kind of liked it better knowing this wouldn’t all be for my benefit, anyway. We needed each other, in a somewhat lopsided way.
“Will it be hard for you to pretend about us in front of your family?” I asked. “Won’t it make you uncomfortable?”
“Not a lot makes me uncomfortable.”
I believed it. His slanted grin reinforced his casual attitude.
“Then sure, I’ll be your date to June’s wedding, too.”
“What are the ground rules?”
“Um, you mean like PDA and stuff?”
He tilted his head down in a slow nod.
I gulped because I was smooth like that. I wouldnotget caught up imagining PDA with Jed. “What do you think is best?”
He considered me for a minute, and I prayed to God he wasn’t sizing up my kissing abilities. I had a feeling he’d guessed already my experience in that department was pretty slim.
“How about I let you be in charge of that whole thing?” he finally said.
“You don’t want any say?”
“I trust your judgment.”
Considering his initial reaction to this proposal, I wasn’t sure he meant that. “So if Gran’s around and I think I should touch you or hug you or just kiss you like crazy, you’d be okay with it?”
