Page 107 of Fake it for Keeps

“I’m letting my heart lead,” I said simply.

“Wow, look at you,” she said, nodding like she was impressed.

“I figured you would tell me I’m making a mistake, like before.”

My sister shrugged. “If you really like this girl, that’s awesome. Assuming she’s on the same page about this?”

“I mean, we haven’t had a real conversation about it, but I’m pretty sure she has feelings too.”

“You’re pretty sure?” Frankie asked. “See, now I’m worried again.”

“We have history. Real history.” I told her about Hallie’s revelation, about how we’d known each other in high school, about the beach incident, about how I’d apologized, and she’d forgiven me.

Frankie listened, her expression softening. “So she’s not just some random woman you hired. She’s someone you’ve hurt before.”

“And someone I’m trying to do right by now.”

“By falling in love with her?”

The words hung in the air between us.

“Yeah,” I said. “By falling in love with her.”

Frankie sighed and sat down across from me. “I want you to be happy. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

“But I’m also terrified you’re going to get your heart broken. Again.” Her voice cracked slightly. “I can’t watch you go through that again, Colt.”

“This isn’t like Lauren,” I interrupted gently. “Hallie’s not—” I stopped, trying to find the right words. “Lauren’s death destroyed me because I couldn’t control it. Couldn’t prevent it. Couldn’t do anything but watch my entire future disappear in an instant. There were so many what-ifs from that night. The situations are not even a little similar. Lauren’s gone, Frankie. I have to let her go.”

“And Hallie?”

“Hallie’s here. She’s choosing to be here. Every night this week, she’s stayed over. She didn’t have to. The contract doesn’t require that. But she stayed.” I met Frankie’s eyes. “And she’s been bringing me lunch to hang out with me. If she doesn’t like me, she’s an amazing actress.”

Frankie studied me, her eyes calculating my every expression. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, I trust your judgment. Even when you’re being an idiot, you’re still my brother, and I trust you.” She stood up. “Just be careful. Please. Guard your heart at least a little bit.”

“I’ll try.”

“That’s all I ask.” She headed for the door, then paused. “Oh, and Colt? For what it’s worth, I think Hallie’s good for you. I’ve never seen you this happy. I don’t think she’s pretending either.”

She left before I could respond. I sat there staring at the closed door, her words echoing in my head.

Was I happy?

I thought about waking up with Hallie in my arms every morning this week. The routine we had kind of stumbled into. About how she’d started leaving little things at my place—a toothbrush, a change of clothes, a book on my nightstand. Her shampoo, which damn, that was an erotic journey in itself. If I had to shower alone, not going to lie, her shampoo served as an excellent lube.

I loved that my penthouse felt like a home instead of just a space when she was there.

Yeah. I was happy.

Happier than I’d been since I was a nineteen year old kid.

I turned to the picture of my father on my desk, the same photo that had been there since I’d moved into this office. He was younger in it, maybe mid-forties, standing in front of the original Valenteen store with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He’d been driven, focused, always pushing forward.

I picked up the frame, studying his face.

“I think I might have accidentally fallen for my fake fiancée,” I said to the photo. “If you were here, you’d probably chew me out for this. Tell me I was letting emotions compromise business. That I was being reckless.”

The photo didn’t respond, obviously, but I kept talking anyway.

“Or maybe you’d be proud of me. For actually letting myself feel something instead of just going through the motions.” I traced my thumb over the frame’s edge. “You always said Frankie was the angel and I was the devil. But maybe the devil deserves a shot at redemption too.”