The Dating Plan(69)
Layla shook her head. “Get out now. Forget about the aunties. It’s not worth it. Roshan is a catch. I met him and you know I wouldn’t steer you wrong.”
“I can’t get hurt if it isn’t real,” Daisy said lightly. “Even his friends didn’t think it was real—which is highly problematic for the success of our charade, and I have yet to properly think it through.”
“It sounds real.” Layla followed her across the floor to keep up the conversation.
Daisy dropped to a crouch and sprang up again. “It’s not just about me anymore. It’s about saving jobs and helping my friends at Organicare. I can’t let them down.”
“And I can’t watch you go through that again,” Layla said. “Liam was bad news before and he’s bad news now. I just can’t see a happy ending to this fake relationship.”
Daisy fought back her anger and disappointment at not getting the support she had expected from the woman who was as close to her as a sister. Her new friends at work were much more enthusiastic.
“I can handle this without getting hurt. I know what happens when I care too much. And I know the things that make me special are not the kinds of things that would make me . . . desirable—my mom made that pretty clear. And that’s okay. I’m good with it.”
“I used to hate Liam with all my heart,” Layla said, her jaw clenching. “But now I realize the hurt he caused you was nothing compared to what your mother did. I wish I could wash her words out of your head, or at least make you see them for the bullshit they really are.”
The music stopped and Daisy looked back to see Mehar Auntie waving her over. “I have to go. Don’t worry about me. I’ve got my rules and I’m sticking to them. Trust me.”
“I do trust you,” Layla said. “But I don’t trust him.”
* * *
? ? ?
“WHAT are you doing over here when your girl is over there?” Rainey took a bottle of whiskey down from the shelf.
“I was sent for refills. Three pitchers of draft, four vodka coolers, and two pink lemonade martinis.” Liam gestured to the Organicare crowd who had taken over all the tables in the back corner of the bar. “Not exactly what I had in mind when I suggested Daisy and I come here for our date.”
Rainey laughed. “Errand boy. I like it. I’ll give you a free shot because it means I don’t have to go over and serve. I’m trying to conserve energy for my weekend race.”
Liam took a seat at the bar. “Death Race?”
“Nah. Just a marathon. But I’ll be wearing a ten-pound bag of flour on my back, so that should make it more interesting.” She grabbed two empty glasses from the rack.
“Did Ethan get the box of Murphy whiskey I sent over?” Liam asked. “I found a few extra cases in the visitor center and since we’re not getting many visitors, I thought he could use it.”
“Ethan!” Rainey yelled down to the end of the bar. “Did you get Liam’s cases of Murphy whiskey?”
Liam winced. “You could have just told me he was there.”
“Then I couldn’t have annoyed him. He hates it when I shout.”
Ethan joined them a few moments later with a scowl for Rainey and a handshake for Liam. “Thanks for the bottles. That must have been a good year.” He looked over at the Organicare table. “So, which one is the fake fiancée?”
Liam pointed out Daisy, who was wearing a layered green dress, the skirt just skimming the bottom of her ass, neckline diving down so low he could see the soft swells of her breasts. She’d taken off her quirky green hat when she arrived at the bar, and the yellow feather that had adorned it was now tucked behind her ear.
“She’s not really your type,” Ethan said, leaning against the bar.
Liam bristled. “You don’t know what my type is. Maybe I’ve just been killing time, waiting for a woman like Daisy who is beautiful, fiercely smart, funny, kindhearted, loving, and totally dedicated to her family. She’s organized and efficient, and she created an entire spreadsheet with a plan to make this marriage authentic. She’s got it all under control. And she’s going to kill it at quiz night tonight because she has an incredible memory for trivia. She knows how many tamales people ate in San Francisco in 1890.”
Rainey and Ethan shared a look.
“He slept with her.” Rainey poured a shot of Murphy’s into Liam’s glass.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You’re not saying a lot of things.” She smirked. “Usually you’re the most talkative customer at the bar.”
Daisy looked up just then and smiled, making him feel like he was the only person in the room. She started toward him and he tried to rearrange his face so he looked cool and casual when inside he felt anything but.
“You hungry?” Rainey offered Liam a napkin. “You’ve got a bit of drool on your chin. Or is that for the girl who’s walking this way?”
He snatched the napkin from her hand. “Don’t you have other customers to serve?”
“Are you kidding?” She grabbed a towel and wiped down the counter. “I am dying to meet this woman who has you all tied up in knots. Have you told her how you feel?”
“There’s nothing to tell.” He toyed with the knife in his pocket, running his thumb over the smooth wood surface.