Wanting to get another reaction from her, even though I shouldn’t, I set the towel on the deck. “Do you mind turning around? I’m gonna take off my boxer briefs so they don’t drip all over your hardwood floors when I go inside to change.”
Her cheeks flush. “Right… yeah… good idea.”
She turns around, and like an asshole, I use the opportunity to check out her perfect ass covered in Lycra. It doesn’t disappoint. In fact, if I’m not careful, I’ll be pitching a tent under the towel.
I get out of my boxer briefs, then wrap the towel around my waist. “You’re good.”
She turns around, and once again, her gaze focuses on my chest and abdomen.
When her eyes fall to my crotch, I chuckle. “It’s not polite to stare, you know.”
“I’m sorry. I know I’m being rude, it’s just that… wow. You’re in really great shape.” The way she says it in a breathy sultry tone makes my dick twitch.
“I could say the same about you.” My eyes travel a path down her body appreciatively.
“Thanks,” she says in a soft voice.
Neither of us step toward the other, but the sense of being pulled toward her is strong and I find myself leaning in. I swear she is too. As our mouths get closer together, our eyes catch and my body hums.
Just as I’m about to close my eyes and dive in, a voice sounds from behind her.
“So this is why you’re not answering your phone?”
I look over Camila as she whips around to a smug-looking brunette with long hair.
“Amber, what are you doing here?” Camila asks.
The woman walks toward us. “I tried calling you a few times to see if I could pop by, but you didn’t answer so I came by anyway, and I must say, I’m glad I did.”
“I was running the trails, sorry.”
Her friend looks between the two of us. “Is that what you’re calling this? Who’s your friend?” Her friend’s eyes make a lingering trip up and down my body.
“Oh, Amber, this is Lucas. He’s the one renovating my bathroom. Lucas, this is my best friend, Amber.”
I nod. “Nice to meet you, Amber. Excuse me while I go get dressed.”
I secure my towel around my waist, then grab my clean clothes from the deck and pick up my wet boxer briefs off the ground. Amber looks as if she’s biting down a laugh while Camila appears mortified. I’m not sure how exactly to take that, but I think her friend did us a favor by showing up when she did.
Sure, I’m attracted to Camila, and maybe I was thinking of asking her out once I was finished working on her bathroom and she was no longer a client. But I see now what a bad idea that is. I’m not looking for anything to distract me from my goal of building this business, and Camila’s ex did a number on her. The last thing I’d want is to hurt her because our expectations weren’t aligned. Based on what she told me about her ex, she definitely wants a relationship that’s leading to marriage.
It’s not that I’m afraid of commitment or anything, but that kind of serious relationship is just not on my radar at the moment—I have other priorities. So regardless of how many times I’ve wondered what her lips would taste like, it’s a good thing we didn’t cross the line.
I can be a fake boyfriend to her, but no way I can be a real one.
Fifteen
Camila
“All right, you totally bullshitted about your contractor’s level of hotness. ‘He’s okay.’” She impersonates me. Badly, I might add. “Cami, that man is a total smokeshow.”
“Shhh, he’ll hear you.”
Amber rolls her eyes. “Oh please. I saw the way you guys were eye-fucking each other. He knows you’re into him.”
“I am not into him.” I give her a look that I hope conveys “what the fuck, shut up.”
“Bullshit. How could you not be into him? And now he’s going to pretend to be your boyfriend. How perfect is that?”
“You’re being ridiculous. Give me a minute to have a quick shower, okay?” I pull down my shorts and am left in my undies and my sports bra—nothing my best friend hasn’t seen before.
I rush through my shower so I can finish before Lucas comes back out. Or maybe he’s already left without saying goodbye because of the awkwardness when we almost kissed. Who knows? I don’t even know what to think of it myself.
When I’m done, Amber is still standing there playing on her phone.
I wrap the towel around myself. “All done. Let’s go inside.”
The relief that swamps me when I come around the side of the house and find Lucas’s truck still there should concern me. He’s standing on the porch, wearing a fresh pair of cargo shorts and snug T-shirt, hair still wet. I want to run my fingers through and ruffle it.
“Hey,” I say and look away from him as I open the door.
“It’s good that you’re both here. It’s the reason I came over,” Amber says behind me.
I turn to see her standing on the porch beside Lucas.
“What do you mean?” My forehead creases.
“Do you have time to come in and chat?” she asks Lucas.
He looks between the two of us, seeming a little wary. “Sure.”
My stomach flips over. What is she up to? This better not be some little matchmaking mission or something. “What’s going on, Amber?”
She heads into the living room. “Sit. Both of you.”
Lucas and I look at each other and take a seat on opposite ends of the couch.
Amber rolls her eyes. “This is what I was afraid of.”
“What are you talking about?”
She motions with her hands. “Scooch together. You two can’t even sit near each other. How in the hell do you think you’re going to sell the fact that you’re boyfriend and girlfriend to a bunch of strangers? They’ll be on to you from your body language alone before you even open your mouths.”
“Is that why you’re here?” I ask.
“It’s exactly why I’m here. We need to make sure you’re both ready and prepared for battle. I will not have you going down in flames in front of that asshat ex of yours. Now scooch!”
I glance at Lucas, whose eyes are wide. He stands then comes to sit beside me on the couch.
“Closer,” Amber orders and he does what she says.
Our thighs touch and my heart rate picks up a bit at the feel of his warmth against my skin. It doesn’t help that I’m still wrapped in a towel and wearing barely anything underneath.
“Can I go get changed?” I ask.
“No, you’re fine,” she says to me, then looks at Lucas. “Okay, so fill me in on what you already know about my girl here.”
“Uh…” He glances at me before returning his attention to Amber. “I know she works as a headhunter for large corporations, she commutes every day, she used to do trail running competitions and she’s trying to get back into them… what else… I know she has bad eating habits—”
“Hey! I do not.” I jab him with my elbow.
He gives me a bland look. “You eat like a six-year-old.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means every time I see you, you’re eating a frozen pizza or chicken nuggets or grilled cheese. Don’t you ever make yourself something decent for dinner?”
“There’s nothing wrong with the way I eat.”
“What’s right about the way you eat? Are you telling me you never crave a real home-cooked meal for yourself?”
“Of course I do, but it’s so much effort for just one person. I have long days at work and the last thing I want to do when I get home is spend an hour or two in the kitchen.”
“You should get one of those meal kits.”
I actually had been considering doing just that, but I’m not going to tell him that. Not now anyway. “Do you cook a big spread for yourself every night?”
He shrugs. “Not every night, but at least a few nights a week.”
“What kind of stuff do you make?”
“Depends, sometime
s salmon and rice and a veg or steak and potatoes. I try to watch what I put in this gorgeous bod.”
The sound of a throat clearing makes us look at Amber, who’s still standing over us. “Well, at least you can bicker like a real couple. Okay, Lucas… what else?”
“Well, Camila grew up in downtown Seattle with her mom, she was saving to finish her basement but now has to spend the money on her bathroom, she’s analytical as hell which I know from trying to pick out tiles with her, and she used to date some dumbass named Elijah she was too good for but for some reason she has this notion like it’s the other way around.”
My mouth drops and I look at him. Does he really think that? I glance at Amber, who has a slow smile spreading across her face.
“You know a lot for some guy who’s just finishing her bathroom,” she says. “Okay, Cami, your turn. What do you know about him?”
It’s not like I shouldn’t have seen this coming, but I suddenly feel completely on the spot and panic feels like a belt tightening around my chest. “I, um… well, okay, he’s… he and his two brothers own Rent-A Husband together and he’s the oldest of his siblings. He’s a workaholic and he works out most mornings… I think that’s it.”
Amber presses her lips together in disappointment. “All right, your mission before next weekend is to learn more about Lucas. Got it?” She raises both eyebrows.
I nod. Jeez, I feel like I’m back in elementary school, getting a scolding from the teacher.
She claps her hands together in front of her. “Now, let’s figure out your origin story.”
“Origin story?” Lucas says with a crease between his brows.
“Yeah, how you two came to be. So where are you going to say you met?” Amber sits down on the coffee table directly across from us.
“Why don’t we keep it easy and just tell the truth? I’ll say I had a problem at my house, called his company, and he came out to the house.”
Lucas nods. “That works.”
“Good idea. Any time you can weave in a small amount of truth there, the easier it’ll be to pass off the lie.” She taps her lips with her index finger.
“You’re really taking this seriously,” I say.
“So should you two. You realize people are going to ask you a lot of questions, right? I mean, you’re going to be there with some coworkers who will have never heard of your ‘boyfriend.’” She puts air quotes around the word boyfriend, which makes me frown. “Speaking of, what reason are you going to give for not telling anyone about him?”
I look from her to Lucas. “Um… maybe I’ll just say he asked me not to tell anyone.” I shrug.
“No way,” Amber says, and I look back at her. “That makes him sound like an asshole or like you’re the other woman.”
“Why don’t we say that things were going so well that she didn’t want to jinx it after what happened with her ex?” Lucas says.
Amber smacks his knee with her hand. “Great idea. Go with that, Cami.”
I nod in agreement.
“That’s the basics. Now let’s talk about the level of physical intimacy you’re going to have to have through all this.”
“Amber!”
“Cami!” she says right back. “You two can’t look like eighth graders who haven’t French kissed before. You need to look like lovers who can’t keep their hands off each other, and right now you resemble the former.”
I feel my cheeks heat. Truth be told, I’d love nothing more than to rub my naked skin against Lucas’s, but the idea of him being forced unwillingly to do the same to me makes my stomach sour.
To my surprise, Lucas asks, “What did you have in mind?”
“I’m not saying you two need to make out and be all over each other, but you should look like a couple. Hold hands, put your arm around her waist, lean in and whisper sweet nothings in her ear.”
My face gets even hotter at the idea of the two of us touching. “I don’t think this is necessary.”
“I know it’s necessary. Now stand up.” Amber motions for us to stand, then does herself.
Lucas stands first, then holds his hand out to help me up. With a sigh, I take his offering. When the towel almost becomes unhooked and falls off of me, I grab it quickly.
“All right, now I’m changing. Be right back.”
I don’t wait for Amber to protest before I rush off to my room. I quickly put on a bra and underwear, then slide on a pair of leggings and a tank top. With a cleansing breath for courage, I return to the living room where Lucas and Amber are chatting.
“Okay, Cami, come over here and grab Lucas’s hand and the two of you try to stand there naturally.”
I swear my palms grow sweaty from just the thought of holding his hand, and I absently wipe mine on my leggings. Deep down, a part of me knows she’s right. If we’re standing beside each other stiff as boards next weekend, afraid to even touch each other, no one will buy that we’re a couple.
With that in mind, I step over to Lucas with my hand out. He takes it and interlocks our fingers. I’m startled for a second because Elijah never held my hand like this. He’d always hold it more like we were parent and child—and that was when he’d even hold my hand to begin with. He wasn’t particularly fond of any forms of PDA, or so he said.
“Great. Now how does that feel?” Amber asks.
“Like you’re treating us like children,” I say in a saccharine voice. I haven’t had the courage to look Lucas in the eye and see what he’s thinking of all this. I’m sure he wants to run and somehow get himself out of this situation with me.
“Lucas, you look nice and relaxed, but you need to loosen up, Cami. Your shoulders are tense.”
I glare daggers at her, then suck in a deep breath and exhale slowly, feeling my shoulders relax.
“Better,” Amber says, studying us. “Okay, Lucas, drop her hand and put your arm around her when you’re standing beside her.”
I’m shocked Lucas is going along without complaint. Maybe he can tell how persistent my best friend can be and he realizes there’s no getting out of this.
“Like this?” he says, bringing his arm around my waist so that his hand rests on my opposite hip.
When I inhale, I smell the scent of him. It’s a mixture of my soap and man and if you’d asked me before this moment if it would be a turn on, I would’ve told you absolutely not. But I’d have been wrong.
“Exactly like that.” Amber’s expression lights up as though she likes what she sees. “Now lean into him a bit.” She motions with her hand for me to get closer to Lucas.
I shuffle over until I feel his hard body against my side.
“Perfect. Now just stand like that for a minute and get used to being in each other’s space.”
We do, and though I was somewhat comfortable when this started, it begins to feel awkward because no one is speaking. The only sound in the room is all of us breathing.
“Okay, I think that’s good.” I step away from Lucas and his hand drops off my hip.
Amber frowns. “Next step, kissing.” When my eyes widen, she adds, “Just, like, a peck on the cheek or the temple or something.” She must see that I’ve reached my limit because she puts her hands up in front of herself and steps back. “I’m just trying to help. But if you guys won’t do it while I’m here, make sure you figure something out before you go to that party next weekend.”
“I think maybe it’s time for you to go,” I say with a smile, reaching for her elbow to lead her out.
“Probably. Henry is waiting for me and he’s cooking my favorite tonight.”
We reach the door and I drop my hand from her arm to open it. “Tell Henry I said hi. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Nice to meet you, Lucas,” she calls over her shoulder as I push her out the door.
“Same,” he calls from the living room.
When she’s on the front porch, Amber spins around to face me, index finger pointed straight at me. “Make sure you guys figure something out before nex
t weekend.”
“Yes, Mom,” I say and close the door before she tries to weasel her way in again.
I head back to the living room and find Lucas still standing where I left him.
“I’m sorry about Amber. She can be… a lot sometimes. But she means well.”
He chuckles and runs a hand through his mostly dry hair. It’s so damn sexy when he does that and I have to bite my bottom lip to stifle back a moan.
“She seems like a riot. Her fiancé must have his hands full.”
“That he does.”
We stand there in silence for a moment, and I’m unsure what to say. Thankfully Lucas speaks up and saves me from saying or doing something awkward.
“I guess I should be going. I wanted to get some paperwork done tonight so I have tomorrow to myself.”
I nod. “Right, well, thanks again for putting up with my crazy best friend.”
He walks to the door and I follow to see him out.
“You know she was right about one thing.”
I raise my eyebrows.
“You do need to learn a little more about me and vice versa,” he says. “If we’re going to go ahead with this crazy plan, we might as well make it believable.”
“Of course.” I nod, not sure where he’s going with this.
Lucas glances at the floor then back up at me, almost as if he’s nervous. “What would you say to going out for dinner one night this week?”
All the air rushes from my body. Is this beautiful specimen asking me out on a date? I blink a couple of times then open my mouth to answer, but he beats me to it.
“Not like a real date or anything. It’s just… I mean when I’m here, I’m working on the bathroom. Being out together will probably make us more comfortable around each other, and we can talk and give each other all the important highlights from our lives.”
Hope in me withers and dies. Of course a guy like him isn’t asking me out. It was stupid to think he might. “Yeah, no, I mean it’s obviously not a date. But sure. That sounds like a good plan.”
He rests his hands on his hips and nods. “Great. It’s a date then. Well, not a date, I guess, but a date for a non-date. How’s Thursday sound?”
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