Page 36 of Faking the Shot


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“I want to go to this dinner, fake the hell out of this marriage because that’s all it will ever be, and go to bed. And I want you to be honest with me about how scared you are.” She turned away, but I grabbed her arm before she could leave and pulled her close enough to me, so our lips were only inches apart. Her backside was pressed against the dresser, and I was pressed againsther.

“Maggie Hennicke,” I spoke in a harsh whisper. She shivered at the sound of her new—fake—last name, eyes hungrily meeting mine. “If you want to prove this marriage is real for even a second, then you need to believe it with your mind,” I caressed her soft tresses, letting the silk run through my fingers like water. “Body,” I slid my hand down to her shoulder and slowly dragged it toward her collarbone. “And soul.”

Her green eyes darkened as her chest rose and fell heavier than it had a minute ago. “Oh, Jack. You have no idea what a good actress I am.” She leaned in closer than either of us could handle and let her lips hover below mine. I closed my eyes, preparing for the curse she was about to put on me, before her soft lips dragged across my cheek to my ear. “See? I could make anyone think we’re destined for each other. Even you.”

Her whisper sent a shiver down my spine, causing me to back off. My blood was rushing to my cock. I was light-headed. I wanted her.

But she pulled back. “I’ll be waiting in the truck.” Maggie’s voice returned to normal as she turned and left the room, seductive eyes tempting me as she glanced back. If that was any indication of how the rest of the night would go, I was in for one hell of a ride.

***

“Hennicke! It’s so good to see you, boy!” A tall, silver-haired, Latin man pulled me into a hug after opening his front door. His white and blue gingham shirt was showered with cologne, causing me to disguise a cough with a chuckle.

“Great to see you, Mike. It’s been, what, four years?” I pulled out of the embrace to face him.

“Yeah, something like that. It was when you were a scrawny little college freshman getting your sea legs in the real polo world.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets.

“And look at you now,” Alvita, Mike’s wife, greeted as she popped out from behind him. Her Jamaican accent and motherly tone made me feel more at home in the presence of my new boss. “Oh, and is this your beautiful wife?” She rushed to hold Maggie by the shoulders and introduce herself.

“Yes, this is Maggie Ry-Hennicke,” I corrected myself, noticing Maggie was still uncomfortable with the sudden shift in her last name. “My beautiful wife.”

She shot me a small, quick smile before returning her attention to Alvita, who was eager to welcome her. “I’m Alvita. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

“Well, come, come inside.” Mike motioned us through the front door into his expansive foyer and living room. “We’ve got dinner ready at the table, so go ahead and take a seat.” His massive grin reminded me to keep a smile on my face, despite how unhappy I was about my standing with Maggie. The four of us entered the white and gray dining area with a clear glass table, a sparkly chandelier, and flickering candles.

“Would either of you like a drink?” Alvita asked over her shoulder as she made her way into the butler’s pantry.

“Just water, please,” I replied, Maggie echoing, “Same here, thank you,” and Alvita

turned to retrieve crystal glasses from the cabinet. I liked that she didn’t question our lack of alcohol, even though four champagne glasses sat on the table.

I pulled out a chair for Maggie, and a small smile graced her lips again before she sat

down. Maybe I was winning some brownie points. Or maybe this was all part of the game.

I took the seat next to her and reached for her lap to grasp the hand I knew was already shaking. She squeezed mine in return.

“So, Mike, tell me about Golden Meadow.” I wanted to lead the conversation before either of them could ask about Maggie and me.

“Oh, where do I start? I couldn’t tell you enough about this beautiful place. Alvita and I are so happy out here. Since we’re not too far from Sheridan, it’s peaceful and quiet with the community just thirty minutes away. The town has grown quite a bit in the last few years, which has increased the club’s revenue, but it still has that small-town charm. We have public games every Sunday now, lessons, clinics, the whole deal. And not to mention, the Big Horn mountains are a beauty to look at.”

Alvita nodded. “The serenity of this place is unmatchable. You two need to check out the trails around the club as well. They wind around all of the properties in the club and spit you out at the base of the mountains, where there is another public trail you can ride for miles.”

“That sounds incredible,” Maggie chimed in, then turned to me. “We’ll have to check them out once I can ride again.”

My arm fell against the table, making theclankof my utensils hitting each other rather loud.Shit.I didn’t want her to bring it up so quickly, but her grip on my hand told me she just wanted to rip off the Band-Aid.

“Ride again?” Alvita looked between us with a curiosity that lacked expectation or judgment.

“I’m, uh…” Maggie glanced at me before I dipped my head. We had already foreshadowed it. May as well tell them now before people start asking questions. Her faux smile tightened as she turned back to Mike and Alvita, her hand clutching mine in a death grip. “I’m pregnant.”

Alvita broke into a huge smile, revealing her blinding white teeth. “Congratulations! You two are expecting!” she exclaimed, reaching for the au gratin potatoes across from me. “Are you excited? Do you know the gender yet?”

Mike placed a soft hand on his wife’s forearm and chuckled. “Vita, give them a second.” She smirked at her husband before shooting a wink our way.

I looked over to Maggie, attempting to hide my pained expression, but she simply nodded and smiled bigger than what was believably real. “We are so excited. Everything happened so fast, but in the best way possible. We’re waiting to find out the gender, but I’ll be scheduling my doctor’s appointments within the next few weeks. Do you two have any kids?”

Good. Steer the conversation anywhere but here.