His brow furrowed and anger flickered in his eyes. “My life isn’t perfect, Vanessa. I’ve had my share of hardships.”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I know that. I do. But you and I had very different upbringings. We come from two different worlds. I hated my life here, and you…” She threw her arms out wide. “You were beloved. You still are. It’s just…we don’t see things the same, that’s all.”
He stared at her for a long while before nodding slowly. “Okay, yeah. I can understand that.”
She exhaled and felt her whole chest deflate. They’d been talking about high school, talking about the past, and yet somehow she got the feeling that suddenly he was thinking about the present.
Maybe even the future.
She looked away, crossing her arms over her chest. “Look, I didn’t mean to offend you. Honestly. I’m just trying to apologize here and explain—”
“About Chip.”
“Yes.”
“No need.”
“But—”
He pressed a finger to her lips gently and her mind went on the fritz remembering in vivid detail how he’d kissed her lips just last night. He kissed me!
“No need,” he said again. He dropped his finger and leaned down, lowering his voice, creating an intimate atmosphere even though they were standing in the middle of Main Street. “I may not have had the same experiences, and I respect that. But I do know what it’s like to be around people who have…expectations.”
“Y-you do?” She wasn’t sure if it was his proximity, or the touch, or the thoughts about his kiss, but her heart was racing in her chest like she’d just finished sprinting.
He nodded. “I do. It’s not always easy to be true to yourself when you’re surrounded by people who don’t see you for who you are. They see what they want to see, and sometimes it’s all too easy to react to that. You know?”
His gave her a rueful smile with that last question and she smiled in return. “Yeah, I know. That pretty much sums up my experience coming home, trying to figure out who I am here when the old me is all anyone expects to see, and the new me just feels…off.”
She dipped her head at the same time that he shifted closer and without meaning to—in the most natural effortless way she could imagine—she found herself resting her head against his chest because…he got it.
She didn’t totally get it herself, but he still got it.
His warmth, his solidness, it was more comforting than she could have imagined. When he wrapped his arms around her she sighed with contentment. They stood like that for several heartbeats and it was with another sigh that she forced herself to step back.
“You look tired,” he said gently. “Why don’t you let me finish up with these.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded toward her apartment building. “Go. I’ll see you this weekend for the festivities.”
She smiled. “That’s right. We’ve got our work cut out for ourselves making our fake relationship look real.”
“Ah,” he said. “See, now that’s where our agendas differ.”
She stopped in the middle of turning away. “Excuse me?”
He shifted the posters under his arm. “I won’t be fake dating you.”
She blinked. “What? What does that mean? I thought we agreed—”
“That we’d go out this weekend. As a couple,” he agreed. “Yes. We will do that.”
“But—”
“And you are more than welcome to view this as a fake relationship, if that’s what you wish,” he continued.
“But—”
“However…” He took two steps so he was so close she could smell his soap. He smelled heavenly. “I will not be regarding this as a fake anything.”
Her mouth fell open. What the…what did that even mean?
He lifted his hand and grazed her cheek gently with his knuckles, the gesture so soft, so affectionate, it made her feel precious. Like a fragile, valuable treasure. “For me, this is very real. And I’m hoping that you’ll come to see that, too.”
It wasn’t until his hand dropped and he backed away that she found her voice. “B—But you can’t do that.”
His lips curved up in a smug grin. “Why not?”
“You can’t. You just can’t,” she said. “You can’t really date someone while they’re fake dating you.”
Even as she said it, she knew how absurd she sounded. But while she might sound absurd, he sounded like a lunatic. Whoever heard of dating your fake girlfriend? It just didn’t happen.
“Says who?” He shrugged, his eyes dancing with laughter. “Are there rules on this sort of thing?”
“I—I don’t…” No. The answer was no. “If there aren’t, there should be,” she said with a huff.
“Very well then. If there is a rule, I’m breaking it.” His smile grew to something dangerously sexy. “For the first time in my life, Vanessa Shea, I am breaking the rules.”
13
Trent watched Vanessa work her magic at the booth she’d set up on the grassy hill of Baker’s Field, where the annual Fourth of July celebrations were underway. Some towns held festivities for holidays and special occasions. Cyrano? It had Events, with a capital E.
She was stunning in the sunlight, her dark hair loose, long, and glistening in the sun like she’d just stepped out of the pages of a glossy magazine.
“Careful, Sheriff, you’re going to catch flies.” Gina’s voice at his side had him snapping his mouth shut.
She was laughing as he looked over at her, all tanned and summery in a flowy sundress. Her brown hair had blonde highlights thanks to the sun and she looked so happy it was hard not to share her smile.
“What’s with that smile?” he teased.
She bit her lip, as if trying to stifle the grin. It didn’t work. “Billy’s coming home for the long weekend.”
Ah. The boyfriend.
She held up a finger in his face. “Don’t you start.”
He widened his eyes. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Colton’s gotten into your head, I can see it.”
“I didn’t say anything,” he said again.
“Good,” she said, her stern expression ruined by the smile that she couldn’t quite suppress. “Because I don’t want to hear it.”
He kept his mouth shut and she nodded toward Vanessa. “And how’s Cyrano’s new favorite couple doing?”
He winced. “You heard about that, huh?”
“You two are all anyone is talking about.” She smiled. “They’re eating it up.”
His grin was rueful as he turned back to look at Vanessa, who was too sexy for this small town in that tight dress and those ridiculous heels. He had a feeling she was using these fancy clothes as armor, or as some sort of talisman. A wearable reminder of who she was.
I know who you are. He’d wanted to tell her that but it was too soon. Logically he knew that sentiment was just as ridiculous as her heels.
For Pete’s sake, he barely knew the woman.
But he felt like he did.
What was more, he felt like she knew him too. She just didn’t know it yet.
“What are you thinking, mister, because you look like you’re scheming.” Gina waved a hand in front of his face. “You’re not exactly known for being a schemer, so…what’s up?”
He shrugged but found himself spilling the truth. “Just thinking of how I can get her to see what I already know.”
Her smile was sweet and just a little patronizing, but she refrained from saying aww, which he appreciated. Instead, she clapped him on the shoulder and gave him a stern stare. “You have approximately three weeks with her pretty much obligated to be at your side playing the part of your girlfriend. My advice?”
He waited with more excitement than he’d care to admit.
She patted his shoulder. “Make the most of it.”
He let out a long breath. “Right,” he said. “That’s my plan.”
“Oh yeah
?”
He nodded. “I’ve already informed her that while she’s fake dating me, my intentions are true.”
“Your intentions are true,” she repeated with a soft chuckle. “You’re so cute.” Then she hitched her lips to the side as she considered what he’d said. “Wait…you want to date someone who’s in a fake relationship with you? I’m not sure you can do that.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m pretty sure there aren’t any laws against it.”
“I guess you’d know, Sheriff.”
“Acting Sheriff.” He smiled. “But I love your confidence.”
She nodded toward Vanessa. “It’s her confidence that’s got everyone so sure of the outcome. She has so much faith in you, it’s actually pretty sweet.”
He stared at Vanessa, who was laughing over something Tina from the sheriff’s office was telling her. His heart was doing something strange in his chest as he realized the truth of it. She hadn’t just thrown herself into this campaign for her own benefit, much as she liked to tell him it was for her new business. She believed in him.
The very thought made his chest swell with pride.
Gina sighed softly next to him and when he turned to look, he saw that she was watching Vanessa. “What’s that sigh about?”
“I just feel sorry for the girl, that’s all.” She gave him a quick grin. “You know she used to have a crush on you, right?” Gina rolled her eyes. “She’d deny it, but I mean, everyone had a crush on you. She was no exception.”
He didn’t answer. He wasn’t sure how.
“I don’t want…” Her words trailed off and she turned to him with another sigh. “I’m going to give you the same advice Colton gave Vanessa.”
He frowned. “Colton gave Vanessa advice?”
She ignored that. “Don’t break her heart.”
He felt the words like a sucker punch. The enormity of what she was saying, of the potential harm had him reeling. They both looked over to Vanessa and he knew that Gina wasn’t being mean toward him—she was looking out for Vanessa. Because she saw what he did—a woman who’d perfected the art of playing it cool. She came across calm, cool, and strong as an ox, but beneath all that she was still the girl who’d worn her heart on her sleeve, who’d sat with the outcast, who’d been kind to everyone, who’d been cruelly rejected in return…
She could be hurt.
But it wouldn’t be by him.
Gina was eyeing him oddly. “I have to ask, because I need to be sure…She’s not just, like, a challenge for you, right?”
“What? No!” He looked over at Vanessa. She looked so beautiful, but what he was seeing in his mind’s eye wasn’t the cool, calculating, whip-smart campaign manager—though she was alluring and intriguing. But the girl he’d caught glimpses of—the one who dove under a table, who said the wrong thing, who spoke her mind, and who didn’t let him get away with anything…
He liked both sides of her. He turned to Gina and met her gaze head-on. “This isn’t about a challenge or because she’s new to town. This is about me liking her.”
She pursed her lips before nodding. “Okay, then. You have my approval.”
He arched a brow and she laughed.
“Kidding, kidding. But I have to ask…” She crossed her arms in challenge. “If you’re so into this chick, then what are you doing over here with me?”
He stared at her, temporarily stumped.
She stared back, and her expression was annoyingly smug. Like she knew the answer even though he didn’t. “It’s terrifying, isn’t it?” she asked. “Falling in love.”
He gaped at her. “I didn’t. I never said—”
She patted his arm. “Go get ‘em, champ.”
He turned back to look at Vanessa. There was no denying that there was a bit of fear there. Not because he was falling in love—he barely knew the woman, it couldn’t be love. He was just nervous that he’d mess this up.
This was the first time in a long time that he’d actually felt this sort of connection and he didn’t want to scare her away.
Gina shoved him hard. “Go on.”
Her push put him into motion and he didn’t stop until he was at Vanessa’s side.
“There he is,” she cooed, smiling up at him like she was honestly happy to see him. She slid an arm around his waist—for the sake of the small crowd gathered around, of that he was certain.
He still enjoyed her warmth, nonetheless.
“I was just telling the Vanguards here about your plans to ensure the safety of Redhook,” she said.
He arched a brow. “I wasn’t aware I had any specific plans.”
“Oh, sure you do,” she said, her smile widening as she shot him a meaningful look. “You were just telling me last night about the extra patrols you planned on putting in place, don’t you remember?”
He held her gaze evenly before turning to the Vanguards. “While I love the idea of planning for more patrols, we already have more than enough in place to ensure the safety in that particular area,” he said.
The Vanguards exchanged a look but didn’t argue. This had been an ongoing debate in this town for ages. Rodman had kowtowed to whatever the rich folks on the hill wanted, even if it wasn’t what was best for the town as a whole.
He had no doubt that his competitor held the same philosophy, but he did not. And he wasn’t about to start telling lies just to get elected.
“Look,” he said. “I have the interests of all the citizens of this area in mind. Redhook included. But that’s just a small part of this county and our budget and manpower is finite. I hope you’ll trust that if I get elected I’ll do my best by everyone, without playing favorites.”
Vanessa’s arm tightened around him as they waited for the Vanguards to reply. Mrs. Vanguard smiled kindly. “Well, of course we know that. Don’t we, dear?”
Her husband looked less jovial as he murmured his agreement. When they walked away, he braced himself for Vanessa’s response.
“I’m sorry,” he said when they’d left earshot. “But I won’t lie just to win. I know you meant well, but—”
He was startled into silence when she wrapped her free arm around his front in a bear hug. He chuckled into her hair. “What’s this for?”
She tipped her head back to look at him, the happiness in her eyes very nearly his undoing. “This is why you need to be elected,” she said. “These people deserve to have someone like you looking out for them.”
He tried to laugh it off but she interrupted, correcting herself. “Actually, I don’t know if they do deserve you. I think you might be too good for them.” She dropped her arms and took a step back. “I think you might be too good for all of us.”
He had no idea what to say to that so he didn’t say anything. “What do you say you and I go check out the other booths at the festival?”
She made a funny face. “But the whole point of being here is to interact with people—”
“Which I can do as I walk around,” he interrupted.
“And we really ought to—”
“Look like a happy couple,” he finished. “Which is exactly why we ought to go out there and enjoy ourselves. Wouldn’t you say?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to trick me into something here?”
“Yes,” he said evenly. “I’m trying to trick you into having fun.”
“But—”
“No buts,” he said as he wrapped his arm around her waist, loving the way she fit against his side. “You have a job to do, and so do I.”
Amusement tinged her tone as she fell into step beside him. “And what exactly is your job?”
He looked down at her. “My job is to show you a good time.”
She bit her lower lip, her eyes dancing with laughter. “And that’s supposed to help your campaign…how, exactly?”
He grinned. “I told you I had my own agenda.”
She huffed, but she still wore a smile.
“Look.” He paused so he c
ould turn toward her. “The people of this town know me. They know what I stand for and the kind of guy I am. If they want me as their sheriff, they’ll vote for me. It’s that simple.”
She blinked up at him. “So then why are you parading around this festival with me?”
He tightened his grip on her. “Because I’d like to show you the kind of guy I am. The man I’ve become, which isn’t the same as the boy you remember.” She opened her mouth to protest but he cut her off. “And you’re not the girl I remember. So, what do you say we take the afternoon to get to know each other.”
She hesitated but then her lips tilted up on one side in a funny little grin. “What exactly do you hope I’m going to find out about you?”
He leaned in. “You’ll just have to wait and find out.”
14
Vanessa slapped her hand down on the counter where the last ring was waiting to be tossed. “I get it now,” she said. “You’re trying to show me that you no longer have your throwing arm.”
“Hey.” He gave her a fake pout that made her laugh. “I can still throw.” He pointed to the bottles. “This game is rigged, that’s all.”
She leaned a hip against the counter and crossed her arms. “That’s something the sheriff should definitely look into.”
“Agreed,” he said. “That is definitely the best use of tax payers’ dollars.”
She laughed as she tugged on his arm. “Come on, Addison’s doing face painting for kids at the end of this row. I told her I’d come and say hello.”
He let himself be led along with her but they moved at a slow, easy pace. She thought maybe neither of them was in any hurry to burst this bubble—this little oasis that was just the two of them, being silly and playing games and making each other laugh.
Fake Dating the Hometown Deputy: A Sweet Standalone Romance (Fake Dates Book 2) Page 10
