ChapterThirteen
Nine Months Earlier
Day 7: Fake Relationship with a Real-Life Hero
Sunny scanned the guests at the reception, soaking in the joy that saturated the atmosphere. She sighed as Marshall held Lena close as they danced, her sister’s cheeks pinking at whatever her new husband whispered in her ear. No two people deserved happiness more than them.
“That will be you soon, sweetheart. I promise.” Marshall’s grandma bumped Sunny’s shoulder with a chuckle.
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Sunny shook her head, trying not to let her own lack infiltrate the happiness.
“I’ve seen the way your young man looks at you.”
“Davis?” Sunny stifled her laugh at the thought of the distant man pretending to be her boyfriend looking at her lovingly.
She had to watch what she said since only a few select people knew their relationship was fake.
“With the way he watches you like there’s nothing else in the world worth looking at, I’d say you’ll be walking down your own aisle sooner than you think.” The old woman winked, then pointed her chin toward Davis standing off to the side of the crowd.
Sure enough, his gaze locked with Sunny’s. Marshall’s grandma cackled as she patted Sunny’s shoulder in a told-you-so way and walked off. Crazy old woman. Why do people always see love where there was none? Maybe it was human delusion, this hope that everyone would find their happily ever after.
Davis’s eyebrow rose and lips lifted on one side as he made his way across the reception area to Sunny. She jerked her gaze away, too late realizing she’d been staring at him. Her eyes didn’t stray long, though, as he confidently strode toward her.
“Care to dance?” His sultry, low voice oozed like melted rich, dark chocolate over her, tempting her to rise up on her toes and taste his words.
“I’d love to.” Giddiness flooded her as he threaded his fingers through hers and lead her to the dance floor.
They’d already danced several times, and Davis Fields, her robot, fake boyfriend, had moves. His country swing, while stiff, had pleasantly surprised her, keeping her guessing what he’d do next. She’d been glad for Lena’s warning, otherwise his aloofness during the week would have stung. Instead, the mystery of who Davis was before he’d changed intrigued Sunny.
He lifted her hand over her head and twirled her, then pulled her close against him. She closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath of his earthy cologne. It reminded her of being outdoors, but sexier.
“You okay?” He whispered in her ear, sending a shiver of delight down her spine.
“Yeah. Why?”
“It looked like whatever Gamma Suzy said upset you.” He skimmed his fingers against the bare skin of her back.
“Gamma?” Sunny chuckled, but it came out breathless. She couldn’t focus with his calloused skin smoothing along hers.
He shrugged. “She insisted I call her that. She’s … a character.”
“She’s cute.” Sunny pulled him closer, running her fingers into the hair along his neck.
He flinched, and she almost pulled away. Then, he spread his hands wide on her back, pushing her flush against him with a growl.
“Firefly, you’ve got me on dangerous ground here.” He pressed a kiss to the place where her shoulder and neck met.
Hope blasted her off into the air, then excitement’s thrusters rocketed her even higher. Could Gamma Suzy’s observation be real? Sunny’s heart raced as he held her close through the rest of the dance into the next.
Sunny cringed as the ladder groaned with each of Davis’s steps up. She shifted on the flaking plywood and bit her lip when it creaked. Maybe this old tree stand wasn’t the best place to hide out. From the way the boards peeled upwards, they had been nailed up here for a long time.
Davis’s palm pressed to the wood a second before his head popped into view. She backed up against the trunks of two trees, their spindly branches jabbing her through her jacket. When Davis hefted himself up on the board, she squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for it to crash down.
The platform was small, barely big enough for the two of them. Davis’s pack pushed against her as he adjusted. She pulled her knees to her chest to give him more space. With his one arm pressed against her shin and his pack against her side, he froze.
She held her breath, scanning below them for their pursuers. Davis tipped his head like an owl, then motioned with his hands that he had eyes on them. Sunny bit her lip and looked the direction Davis was watching. The willows waved like signal flags, marking the men’s approach. If only Davis had some kind of weapon.
Wait a minute. She sat up a little straighter, angry at herself. Sunny, you are an idiot.