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Powering on my phone, it buzzed repeatedly with incoming texts. And I knew they were from.
Dreamboat: You mother fucker!
Dreamboat: You sent him to me, didn’t you?
Dreamboat: You just wait.
Dreamboat: Goddamn you. He’s so fucking sexy.
I tilted my head back and laughed. I could just imagine how he reacted when John Langdon walked in the door and found him flirting with Caleb.
Me: Serves you right, asshole.
I pocketed my phone and turned to look for Greer. As I watched, he handed a white envelope to each of them. His generosity and the way they looked at him chipped away at the walls I’d built around my heart. And when Sandra leaned in and hugged him, I knew he’d done something else really nice for her. I found myself hoping it was a spa day.
Looking away, I gave him his moment with them. We were here during the rainy season, but it was actually more pleasant. But the longer I stood there, the more I needed a long run on the beach to release some of the tension in my body.
“Thanks for waiting.”
I frowned. “What did you think I was going to do?”
“I don’t know,” he sighed, before walking a few steps ahead of me. “I realize I coerced you into coming, but I’m glad you’re here.”
As I followed him and assessed our surroundings, it was easy to see this was a popular landing spot for tourists. And that got me thinking.
“When do we have to start the boyfriend thing?”
He glanced over his shoulder as we entered the small terminal. “Probably wouldn’t hurt to start now. I don’t know when the guests are arriving, but I’m sure most of them will recognize me, thanks to my sister.”
His eyes met mine, and I knew I was scowling. But what he didn’t know was my scowl wasn’t about being his boyfriend. It was jealousy.
Greer stopped suddenly, then leaned closer to my ear. There was no mistaking the aggravation in his tone. “Maybe try not to look like you hate me, Austin. That’s all I’m asking.”
He stepped back, putting space between us. We stared at each other for a long moment, neither of us knowing quite what to say. Greer chuckled to himself humorlessly, then ran a hand through his thick hair. He was exasperated with me.
“You know what? Let’s make it easier. I’ll come clean and tell everyone we’re just friends.”
Before he could walk too far away, I reached for him with my free hand. His skin was warm to the touch, reminding me of that night so long ago. My pulse rate picked up as he turned and looked at me in confusion. I knew I was on unsteady ground, because my feelings about him were like ping-pong balls bouncing around all over the place.
Still, no matter how much anger I had toward him, some fucked up, jealous part of me wanted everyone to think we were together. And no matter how much I denied it now, I’d always wanted to be with him. I guess that’s why I felt blindsided.
“No. We’re not deviating from the plan. We just spent eight hours preparing for this. I’ll try not to be an asshole when everyone is around, but I can’t make any promises when we’re alone.”
“You could pretend I never fucked up.”
I shook my head. “Not likely. But it doesn’t matter now, anyway. We’re not the same two people we were back then, so let’s just stick to the plan.”
Without thinking about it, I released his arm and then held out my hand. Greer looked down at my upturned palm waiting for his, then back up to me.
“You don’t have to do this,” he murmured.
I gave him a single nod, immediately relieved that he couldn’t see my eyes. “I want to. I agreed to come do this for you, and I will. But it’ll be up to you to explain why we broke up when we get home.”
With a hint of a smile, he slid his free hand into mine. We both looked at where we were connected. Twenty-two-year-old me would have been over the fucking moon right now, and all it took was the feel of his hand in mine.
I twisted my hand to lace our fingers together, ready to do battle with all the women who wanted my man. My breath hitched as the emotion rose at the realization of how long I’d wanted Greer’s attention like this.
“Thank you,” he murmured.
