Page 6 of The Christmas Cover Rule
“Stella!” I try again, this time with success. She turns toward me, her face a mixture of defeat and confusion. I wave her over, pleading with my eyes. She holds up a finger to the woman, her lips mouthing, ‘one moment, I’m sorry.’
“There you are, darling.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder, pulling her close, but she pulls back, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. I can’t blame her, I’m not positive I haven’t.
“Here she is. So let’s wristband her up and we’ll be on our way.”
“Mrs. Jonas.” He smiles, extending the wristband to her.
“Oh, no. I’m not.” She’s frantically shaking her head, and I squeeze her tighter. “We’re not married.” At that, the man drops his hand, the wristband hanging from his fingers as he looks at me.
“Well, notyet.” I squeeze her tighter, hoping my award-winning grin is distracting enough. “She was so stressed with all that planning, we decided to take a pre-wedding, Christmas vacation this year.”
He looks to Stella for confirmation, and I’m already mentally writing my resignation letter. I drop my hand from her shoulder and rub my eyebrows with a defeated sigh. “That’s right.” I snap my head up as she pulls up her sleeve, offering her wrist to the receptionist.
“Have a lovely stay, Mr. and Mrs. Jonas.”
“Thank you, we will.” She smiles at him and then, because I’m still in a trance, she pulls me by the front of my damp shirt to a railing with a view I’m sure is stunning, but I can’t quite process just yet.
“Hey, so, quick question. What the fuck was that?”
“I’m sorry. I got caught up in a little lie and saw you standing there and…”
“And decided to use me?” she cuts me off.
“You seemed like you were struggling to check in. From where I’m standing, I did you a favor.”
She shifts on her feet and somehow shrinks an inch. “Aiden, my…ex, he… well, he booked the rooms.” She stumbles over her words, looking lost in thought before squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin. “Anyway, they wouldn’t let me check in without him and his ID.” She rolls her eyes, flicking a hand toward the front desk. “It doesn’t matter. I will not be staying withyouunderanycircumstances.”
There’s a special place in hell for anyone who cheats on their girl. And there’s a seat at the DMV for guys who do it right before a family trip. I feel for Stella, I do. If this were any other circumstance, if I had just happened to run into her at the resort, I would have already taken my shot, we’d meet up for drinks later, and end the night horizontal in her room. But in this current situation, it’s too complicated now. I have to bite my tongue and take my losses with this one.
I drape one of my bags across my shoulder, grabbing my suitcase with the other. “Where you sleep doesn’t really affect me. I just needed a pretty wrist. Enjoy the pool.” I shoot her a wink, my lips tugging into a teasing grin, grab my suitcase, and take a step past her.
Small but mighty fists grip the back of my suit jacket, pulling me back. When I turn around, Stella’s eyes are wide, but not focused on me. “What are you?—”
“Shut up and act like you like me,” she seethes through a forced smile.
“What?”
She looks up at me with a radiant smile and adorning eyes, rather than the devilish ones I think she actually has. “Put your arm around me and smile, otherwise I’m going to tell my new best friend at the desk that you’re a fraud.”
This girl is nuts. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like a little crazy from time to time, but not when my job and my firm are on the line. Utterly confused, I hesitantly wrap my arm across her shoulders, and she leans in, dropping her head to my chest. Her subtle coconut lotion drifts up, and I lose myself in the sweet, tropical scent. I stroke the pad of my thumb over her bare shoulder while loose strands of her onyx hair fall over my hand. Her body is soft and warm against mine, and I’m unsure if it’s because of the sweltering heat or just her. I’m wrapped so deeply in her magnetism that I’ve completely forgotten why I’m doing this. Her arm that’s wrapped aroundmy lower back grips onto me with the jaws of life, shaking me back to reality, and her other arm begins waving at a black SUV that’s unloading.
“Mom!”
Oh. Hell.
CHAPTER4
stella
I’ve done a lot of half-baked shit in my life, but this takes the cake.
My mom is the first to exit the cab. Her bright, coral dress flows behind her as she runs toward me with an ear-to-ear smile. I let go of Jonas, extending my arms for her, only to be bypassed. Mariana Clarke has no idea she’s squeezing a complete stranger right now.
“I’m sorry. I’m a hugger, and I’ve been waiting so long to meet you,” my mom all but squeals as she rocks from side to side. She pulls back, but Jonas keeps his hands endearingly on her shoulders. “Muy guapo.” She smiles, wiggling her eyebrows, and if I wasn’t in shock, I would bury my face in my hands.
“Thank you. It’s nice to finally meet you, too,” he replies without missing a beat. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Really? Stella is always so secretive. She keeps everything very hush-hush. Callum!” she yells over her shoulder without taking a breath. “Callum, this is Stella’s secret boyfriend, Aiden.”
