“Christmas Eve,” she said to the open space. “It’s Christmas Eve.” She was racking up the tally on botched holidays and last-minute flights. First the crappy trip over New Years, and now this.
Betzy hadn’t thought it’d be possible to sleep on the flight over, but sleep she had. During most of the trip, in fact, her body too exhausted to endure the turmoil.
Yet as she sat in the bright, open sunroom, eyeing the endless stretch of nearby villas and the ocean view, Betzy started to wish she hadn’t slept at all. Because what was she supposed to do now? It was Christmas Eve and she was all alone, thousands of miles from home, and even further from finding the love she longed for.
She grabbed the remote, flicked on the flat screen, and surfed past at least two-dozen triggers before settling on a music station instead. Then, as Christmas tunes lulled her into memories of her past, Betzy watched the room slowly slip through the twilight glow, and eventually, into darkness.
Lights began popping up from the villas stacked along the hillside. One brave soul sailed along the ocean, his boat lit up with Christmas lights as he moved close to the shore.
Suddenly, she heard a distinct creaking sound come from…she couldn’t tell where. At once, Betzy stood to her feet, worrying that she wasn’t, in fact, alone as she’d thought. Was it possible someone had been tucked into the upper quarters of the home all this time? Perhaps someone had been staying in the nearby guesthouse.
The creaking came again, and then again, sounding at a rhythmic pace.
The chances of anyone getting past the security system were slim, but even still, Betzy climbed off the couch, moved slowly to the fireplace, and reached for one of the fire pokers.
The sharp sound of iron on iron briefly cut through the rhythmic creak, but then it picked back up again.
“Betzy!” called a male voice from beyond the glass.
A flare of fire burst in her chest. That voice…
“No way.” Betzy crossed the room in a hurry and moved into the dining area, which offered a view of their private yard. Dad had restored the tall, old-fashioned swing set out back in hopes that the grandchildren would soon come.
They hadn’t yet, but there was definitely somebody swinging out there just the same. Outdoor lights lit the area, making it clear to see. She squinted to see beyond the distance, positive she must be dreaming.
The uninvited guest called out once more. “Betzy Boo! Come swing with me.”
The poker slipped from her hand and hit the rug with a clank. This was impossible. There was no way Sawyer Kingsley was here in Italy with her. Perhaps she’d fallen asleep after all.
“Betzy,” he called again.
Excitement bubbled around her heart. In a rush, she hurried over to the door, pulled it open, and darted outside. Once her feet hit the cold ground, Betzy spun back around to grab her shoes.
She shoved one foot into the ankle boot as she walked, then stepped into the other before hurrying toward the back part of the property.
“Sawyer?” she hollered.
“Come swing with me,” he prompted again.
She shook her head, staring at the sight before her in shock. “What is this?”
Hadn’t she just seen proof that he was pursuing Daisy Shay? Betzy wanted to hold onto her anger and doubt, but she couldn’t. Sawyer had flown all the way out to Venice on Christmas Eve to find her. That outrageous detail replaced those threads of doubt with a growing rush of hope.
“This is me trying to remind you of who I am, because it seems like you forgot.” At once Sawyer jumped out of the swing and into the night. He landed flat on his feet like a panther, and straightened his tall, impressive form. “I came here to tell you that Daisy lied. A fact that shouldn’t be too shocking, if you think about it; she was trying to save face.”
The outdoor light poured over his sculpted jaw as he approached. Those hazel eyes captured the glow in tones of gold.
“Will you let me show you?” he asked.
Betzy could only shake her head. The shock hadn’t worn off. In fact, it was only now just settling in. “I can’t believe you’re here,” she said.
A soft smile crossed over his handsome face. “So…is that a yes, no, maybe so?”
“Yes,” she blurted. “Come inside.” Was it possible he could really combat Daisy’s accusation? Betzy couldn’t imagine how.
It occurred to her, as she led him into the home, that none of the indoor lights were on, save the small, automatic lamp glowing in the corner. She flicked on lights—the fireplace too—and joined him on the couch. And though Sawyer had been outside longer than she had, he felt warm by her side.
“Hi,” he rasped as their eyes met.
A thrill rushed through her. “Hi.”
Sawyer tugged his phone from his pocket, eyes narrowing as he swiped, then tapped at the screen. “First things first,” he said, tilting the phone so they could both view it.
“The bar picture. It was actually taken during Daisy’s visit to the city when she came out for my interview and shoot.”
Betzy lifted a brow. “She came out there?”
He nodded, then hit play on the video. The angle said it was surveillance footage. There they were, sitting in the very place portrayed in the front-page photo.
Daisy leaned into him and traced a finger under his chin.
Sawyer smiled but backed away. They talked a bit more it seemed, and then suddenly Daisy was leaning in, wrapping her hand around his neck and kissing him.
“Wow, that was quick,” she said.
Even quicker was the pace at which Sawyer pulled back, resting his hand on her shoulder in return. He shook his head, scratched a hand along his jaw, and reached for his drink.
The two spoke some more, and then Daisy came to a stand and snatched her bag off the nearby chair, hollering something to the bartender as he approached.
Betzy could hardly believe her eyes. “I can’t believe she used a shot from that scene.”
“It’s all she had,” Sawyer said with a shrug. “I’m afraid that moment might have set things in motion,” he said. “See, back in high school, I told her about that little contract we wrote up. When she didn’t believe me, I texted her proof of it. A detail I forgot until it appeared in the article.” He shook his head. “Anyway, because of everything I’d told her in the past, Daisy guessed why I wasn’t interested in her. She knew where my heart was.”
That last comment felt like a promise. “And where was it?” she asked, hope filling her chest once more.
“With you, of course. It’s always been you.”
A million parades marched in the beats of her heart, each heated thump filling her with an added burst of joy. “Really?”
Sawyer nodded, slipped a hand up the side of her neck, and kissed her.
Betzy had barely tuned in to the bliss of that kiss when he pulled back the slightest bit to speak against her lips. “I’m sorry I waited so long,” he said before kissing her again.
That brought another question to mind. One she asked after relishing his kiss a moment longer.
“Why did you take so long?”
He kissed her lips once more before pulling back to meet her gaze. “Long story short, I was an idiot,” he said. “I just…kept telling myself that I wasn’t enough for someone like you.”
“Sawyer,” she said, searching his face. “You’ve always been enough. More than enough. You’re the one I always dreamt of being with.”
He grinned. “You have no idea how nice it is to hear that. Especially since we don’t have an audience. Oh, except the one hiding outside, but I’m sure they can’t hear what we’re saying.”
Betzy tipped her head. “What audience?”
“Your family’s here. And mine too.”
Her eyes widened at the news. “You’re kidding.”
Sawyer’s phone buzzed. He glanced down to look at it. “No, I’m not kidding. And they’re already asking if they can come in. They’re probably worried about
the two of us giving the kids a show.”
A fresh dash of excitement stirred in her heart. “Lilly and Link are here too?”
Sawyer nodded. “They sure are.”
A laugh sounded in her throat as Betzy came to a stand. “Oh my goodness, yes. Tell them to come in!” She spun to face the door when Sawyer spoke up from his spot on the couch.
“Maybe we should have taken a few more minutes to ourselves,” he said with a laugh. “I was just getting started.”
Betzy spun back around and took hold of his hand. “I’ll make sure we get some time alone,” she promised.
At once, the door swung open. “Ho, ho, ho!” Duke boomed as he stepped inside with fists full of suitcases and bags.
Zander was just behind him, Lilly in one arm, Link’s hand in the other.
“Thanks for making me carry your luggage, chump,” Duke grumbled.
“Hey,” Zander said with a shrug. “If the kids liked you, we could have done this in reverse.”
Duke rolled his eyes. “Kids hate me.”
“I don’t hate you,” Lilly promised. “I just like Zan Zan better.”
A huge grin came over Duke’s face. “Zan Zan?”
“Shut up, man,” Zander warned, “or I’ll tell everyone the news.”
“Let me see the happy couple,” Kellianne crooned as she came in next. Her boyfriend, Ted, trailed behind, carting luggage of his own.
She hurried over to Betzy and gave her an exuberant hug. “Oh, dear,” she mumbled, pulling back to look her in the face. “Is everything all settled then?”
Betzy looked around the room, spotting her mom, Matthew, and Grandma Lo. James and Camila were there too, all of them seeming to wait for the answer to Kellianne’s question.
Joy, gratitude, and excitement rushed through her at the glorious sight of them. “Yes,” Betzy announced with a grin.
“I’m so glad,” Kellianne gushed, pulling her in for another hug. She pulled Sawyer into the embrace and sighed. “I’m so happy for you two.”
“So am I!” squealed Lilly.
The rest of the family members greeted them with hugs and words of congratulations. “Does that mean you guys are going to get married for real?” Lilly asked as she skipped circles around them.
“I hope so,” Betzy said, turning to look at Sawyer. “I did say yes.”
Sawyer held her gaze, seeming to register what she was saying. “Yes, you did. And we’ve already waited a very long time to get to this point.”
She bit at her lip and grinned. “Short engagement?”
Sawyer grinned back. “Christmas wedding? In Italy?”
Betzy scanned the room for Grandma Lo. She spotted her in the corner of the room, a knowing look on her face as she pointed a thumb to her side.
She glanced over to see that Matthew held one of the boutique’s gowns, the logo on the zipped bag making it clear. A gasp pulled from her throat as Betzy looked back at her grandma.
“Is it?” she asked, chills rippling up her arms.
“It is,” Grandma assured with a smile.
Betzy turned back to Sawyer. “Let’s do it.”
At once, he pulled her into his arms and lifted her off the ground. “I can’t wait.”
“A Christmas wedding in Italy it is,” Grandma cheered.
Betzy sighed as Sawyer kissed her once again. She assured herself that their time alone was coming at last; she could hardly wait. They did have a guesthouse, after all.
For now, it seemed as if she had a wedding to plan.
“I’ll contact the local preacher,” she heard her mom say.
“I’ll take care of the food,” Camila offered.
Betzy gave Sawyer one more kiss before joining the cluster of improvised wedding planners.
Duke pressed his hands to his cheeks. “I’ll paint everybody’s nails,” he joked.
“Do mine first!” Lilly said, hopping up and down.
Matthew pointed a finger at Duke. “She’ll hold you to that.”
“Great,” Duke grumbled with an eye roll. “At least if I end up having to get married, I’ll know that Betzy’s wedding arrangement was crazier than mine.”
Betzy moved her gaze from Duke to Zander, recalling the wedding game show he’d mentioned at the cabin. Was that actually a real thing?
“How does it feel?” Grandma asked, coming up beside her.
Betzy tore her thoughts back to the present. “How does what feel?”
A knowing grin tugged at one corner of her mouth. “When fate takes hold of the wheel?”
Betzy gave that some thought, realizing that, as much as she liked being in the driver’s seat, she didn’t always steer things in the right direction.
Yet somehow, despite the ruins she’d raced into, things were turning out just as she’d dreamed.
A deep rush of gratitude pooled into her heart, so full she couldn’t contain it. She pictured her father up in the heavens, with Grandpa and Winston at his side. Perhaps they had a bit of pull. It seemed that what Grandma had been trying to tell her was true after all.
With that acknowledgment running through her mind, she wrapped an arm around her grandma, locked her eyes on Sawyer through the small crowd, and gave her an honest answer.
“It feels…better than I ever imagined.”
Thank you for reading Her Best Friend Fake Fiancé.
For more Fake Fiancé fun catch the next in the series, Her Stand-in Fake Fiancé by Cindy Roland Anderson.
Watch for the Benton Brothers Romance Series to continue. James’ book, 28 Days with a Billionaire, can be found here. Zander and Duke will get their happy ending soon as well, but for now, enjoy this sample chapter from Fresh Starts by Kimberly Krey.
Fresh Starts
Chapter One
Bree spun full-circle as she looked over her now vacant home. Blank walls and empty spaces that – to anyone else – would look like just another house on the street. For Bree it was different.
In the kitchen, she saw little Sophie proudly making her very first pizza. She envisioned Carter in the front room, dancing his heart out to his favorite tunes.
Her chest rose as she considered all she’d accomplished in the six years since her divorce. Running a successful daycare business from home was at the top of her list. Second only to an achievement that had taken nearly five years to master: Fear-free living. Would all of it be lost to her now?
Her brother’s footsteps sounded down the hall. “You about ready to go?”
Bree gulped, trapped in the mental mud of her mind. The part that held memories of her terrorized years. “Almost.”
If the clock Mom gave her were still on the shelf, Bree would hear it in the quiet moment. The absence of it held a significance all its own. One she wouldn’t focus on then.
“Come here, sis.” Braden draped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her in for a sideways hug.
Bree hugged him back and stepped away before she could cry, squeezing her eyes shut to trap the tears. Tears from leaving the home she loved. Leaving the only sibling she had. Leaving her very own kids.
“I wish there was a better way to ensure your safety.”
His words were laced with a sense of burden that put a rock in Bree’s gut.
“We just don’t know what Carl Ronsberg is capable of.” He glared down at the floor. “Or maybe we do.”
Or maybe we do… Four words. Four words that – when used separately – were as harmless as a stray kitten. But when used with that name they were enough to shoot ice through her spine. Carl Ronsberg – the stalker she’d help put behind bars. The stalker who’d be out in just fourteen days.
Haunting images soaked into her mind like a crimson stain, spreading to her blood in a wicked flash. “Yeah.” It came out in a whisper. She cleared her throat, put strength into her next words. “I still can’t believe you bought that orchard house. I, I can’t…” She shook her head, awed by Braden’s plan to get her safely out of Montana before Ronsberg was free. A pl
an that would let them test the stalker-infested waters while she stayed in a place off the Oregon Coast. A home Braden purchased just after the scumbag was sentenced five years ago. “I really appreciate you letting me live there for…” she couldn’t get herself to say the better part of a year. “For a while. I know it’s a sacrifice.”
“Hey, I wouldn’t have bought the place if it wasn’t a good investment. This won’t put me out a bit.” The expression on his face changed, a pained look she’d seen before. A look that pulled at her far-too-close-to-the-surface emotions.
“Mom and Dad might not have been around at the time,” he said, “but I’m positive they’re the ones who led me to that orchard.”
The truth of his words swelled in her chest. She pulled in a breath of promise. “I’m sure they were too.” Whether in her home state of Montana, or the soon-to-be safe house in Oregon, they would always be with her.
“Should we clear out? Your new tenants will be here first thing in the morning.” He glanced down at his watch. Dad’s old watch. “And it’ll be officially tomorrow morning in just twenty minutes.”
“It’s that late?” Bree asked. “Think the kids are still up?”
Braden chuckled. “With Jillian and Page to keep them company? My guess is yes.”
She didn’t mind the idea of her kids being up so late. Not if it was with Braden’s darling stepdaughters. And not if it meant she’d get to see their faces when she got home.
Braden pulled open the front door and held it for her.
Bree flicked the lights out, forcing herself not to look back.
The door closed. “You’ll be back in nine months,” Braden said.
What he didn’t say was the part that usually followed: if all goes well. You’ll be back in nine months if all goes well. Two-hundred-seventy days.
“I know.” She had to practically shove the words off her tongue, but at least they went. She gripped the stair rail, the pulse in her palm hammering against the cool steel. “It’s more than that. It’s leaving the kids. It’s living in fear. It’s knowing that that creep is ruling my life again.”
Braden stopped halfway down the steps, spun back to look at her, his jaw clenched so tight it had to hurt. “Trust me, Bree. If I could take this guy out in his sleep and get away with it… there’d be no stopping me.”
Her Best Friend Fake Fiancé Page 15
