“And all I need to do is pretend to be your ever so loving girlfriend?Again?”
“That is all.”
“I don’t know, Lucas.Won’t this be opening up a can of whoop ass with your mother?I mean, I’m sure she is going to remember me.”
“Of course she’s going to remember you.She wanted us to get married and have babies, which she still throws in my face every now and again.It will at least quiet her up for a while.Give me the mental break I need from the constant harping of finding someone.”
I didn’t know if I should agree or not, but I also knew Lucas hated the type of spotlight I was going to be putting him into, and I needed him to do this campaign, so if I were going to do this for him, he had to agree to do this for me.
“I’ll do it, but only on two conditions.”
Lucas looked over at me.“Two conditions?”
“Yes, two,” I said, not faltering at all.
He let out a sigh, dug his fork into his food, and then muttered, “Okay, name it.”
Lucas must have been desperate to get his mother off his back.He never succumbed this quickly.
“That you be my date for my friend’s wedding this summer?”
“And the other?”he questioned.
“That you take part in this campaign, since I’ve been told you are replacing Dylan and Knox because you are out on injury,” I countered.
Lucas hated doing any type of publicity, which was why when I saw the email, I knew I’d have my work cut out for me.There was no way I could do another wedding solo, and if he said no, then I’d just curl up in my condo, have a good cry, then put on my big girl panties and deal with not only forcing him to do the campaign, but suffering through the wedding just like I’d done the past two.
At first, he said nothing while he shoved a few bites of food into his mouth.It was as if he were enjoying watching me squirm, which he probably was.After a few minutes, he finally looked over at me.
“Alright, Larson, you got it.Just let me know what I need to do and I’ll do it,” he said, extending his hand across the table for me to shake.
Chapter Two
Lucas
I’d been sodesperate to appease my mother, I really didn’t even realize what I’d agreed to, I thought to myself as we made our way through the airport.What had I been thinking when asking my ex-girlfriend, whom my sisters and mother had loved, to join me this weekend and play the ever-so-doting girlfriend?
Also, whose bright idea was it to decide to travel on a long weekend?I was so used to getting preferential treatment with the team, I’d forgotten how busy airports were on weekends like this.I slipped my ball cap on and forced my way through the crowd while Ella walked slowly behind me.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” she said as she struggled to keep up.
I talked her into this.I let out a huff.I didn’t talk her into anything.I simply mentioned she looked like she needed some time away.
“Me talk you into this?”I said.
“Yes, you flashed the offer of a free trip when you knew I desperately needed one, and don’t say you didn’t.We dated long enough for you to know the signs of me being burnt out and stressed.”
“Just do me a favor and don’t get lost.The last thing I need is to have to go back into that mess of people to find you, increasing my chances of being recognized,” I said, finally spotting the fake last name I’d used when I booked the taxi.
“You remember I hate crowds, right?”Ella questioned.“You really think I’m going to just wander off?”
“Look, there’s our ride,” I said, reaching around and guiding her to the front of me as we made our way toward the driver.
“That isn’t our ride,” Ella said, stopping.“It says Keller.”
I leaned down, bringing my mouth to the edge of her ear.Immediately, all I could smell was the scent of her skin and perfume, a scent I’d loved at one point and, according to my body’s response, still did.“That’s right, that is the name I gave.Otherwise, we’d face the possibility of being mauled to death if someone recognized me.”
“Oh, please.”She shrugged her shoulder, her cheeks flushing as I placed my hand on the small of her back, leading her forward.“You aren’t that popular.”
