Page 19 of No Rings Attached
I shook my head emphatically.Why would he do that? We were more than acquaintances. I’d even like to call us friends even though we were still strangers on many levels. Yes, we’d gotten to know each other fairly well over the past few months, but we certainly weren’t in the realm of best friends who might consider faking a relationship for each other.
And he was myboss.
“So just like that you’ll pretend to be my boyfriend?” It was sad that my first instinct was to question something nice someone else offered to do for me. But this was huge. He wasn’t giving me a cup of sugar to borrow. I would need to be involved in his life even if it was just around my family.
His arm tightened around me again. “Just like that. You’re one of us now, like Glamma said. Ruby River takes care of our own.”
“But Drew, this is a lot. Today was just a glimpse at how awful my mom can be. I can’t put you through that.”
“Ellie.” His voice lowered and I had to fight the shiver of need that streaked through me. This was not the time to be getting turned on by every syllable he uttered.
“Drew.” That one word came out far breathier than I’d intended.
He leaned in, his lips close to my ear, and I practically melted. “We don’t have a choice. What do you think will happen if we don’t go along with Glamma’s wishes?”
I considered as my heartbeat thrummed in my ears. “She’d give me the evil eye or a curse?”
The corners of his lips kicked up into a smile and I couldn’t suppress a snort–laugh.
Next to me, Glamma did too, and then the three of us were doubled over.
It felt good.
Why did he have to be so handsome and charming and nice? How would I make it out intact with Drew as my fake boyfriend—or the inevitable moment when pretending became too real and I shattered trying to walk away from something that was never mine to keep?
This was truly a bad idea.
Glamma got up and retrieved us each a glass of water from the water dispenser off to the side of the room. With her silver hair similarly cut like Betty White’s, framing her face beautifully, I made a silent wish that I looked as good as she did when I was her age.
I was grateful for the drink and swallowed half my cup in one sip. Just entertaining the thought of Drew as my boyfriend made my throat parched and my body tingle in awareness.
Grr.Bad Eleanor was at it again.
“I don’t want you to end up with some curse on my behalf,” I said to Drew, with a tentative glance at Glamma. She did seem the type to participate in witchy mischief if things didn’t go the way she wanted. “Even though Mom seemed to buy our lie, once she’s had time to think about it, she’ll question why someone likeyouis dating someone likeme.”
“What thehellis that supposed to mean?” Drew demanded.
I shrugged weakly and gestured between us. “You know.”
Glamma made a rough sounding noise on the other side of me. It was like her version of Drew’s growl. “Explain it to us like we’re toddlers.”
God, why were they so hell bent on making me do this? It was like the cherry on top of my embarrassing sundae of an awful day.
“You’re like … a ten out of ten.” I told him. “You’re handsome, smart, business savvy, and from our calls and email exchanges, I know you’re funny and kind. From everything I’ve gathered, this is you, twenty-four/seven. You’re the perfect man. And I’m just … me.”
They didn’t say a word beyond the glares I was receiving times two. Silence stretched out between us. I continued, trying to make sure they got what I thought was pretty obvious. “I might be dressed up today, but most days you’ll find me in worn-out leggings, a t-shirt that may or may not have remnants of my lunch on it by the afternoon, and my hair up in a messy bun with no makeup. I’m more of an introvert and stuck inside my head half of the time. This—” I waved my hand over myself, “isn’t the normal me. I’m dressed to impress my boss after an embarrassing fiasco of a first impression.”
He regarded me tenderly and took my hand. “None of those things matter in the real world or in a real relationship. You’re perfect just as you are, whether it’s put together like now or being comfortable at home. Everything I’ve learned about you over the past few months has reinforced that you’re just as kind and giving, your intelligence is shown in every aspect of your job, and you’rebeautiful.”
The emphasis on the last word made my throat tighten.I knew I had a cute face and a nice personality. I didn’t hate myself by any measure, but I just wasn’t at the Kingsley level of cool. I mean, even Glamma gave me a run for my money, but to be fair, she was likely the belle of the ball no matter where she was or what she was doing.
“Give me the chance to prove it to you,” Drew insisted.
This man was a perfection I could never achieve. Even his response was perfect, sayingIwas perfect.
Gah. I needed to stop.
He was making it too hard to fight him on this. And part of me didn’t want to. When would I ever get the chance to even pretend to date someone so amazing? “Fine. But how do we convince them we’ve been dating for months?”
