Faking Ms. Right (Dirty Martini Running Club, #1)(53)

“So Everly and Shepherd have scent compatibility on their side,” Nora said brightly. “I amend my previous warning about catching feelings. You’ve clearly caught them, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

I eyed my friend. Who was this, and what had she done with Nora? “You don’t?”

“Not at all.”

Hazel appeared similarly perplexed. “You realize this has the potential to go badly for at least a dozen reasons.”

“I know it does.” Nora waved her hand like those things didn’t matter. “You’re supposed to be faking Ms. Right, and what happens when you don’t have to fake it anymore? And he’s your boss, so there’s the added complication of your career. But I’m on Team Shepherd. I think this is it, Everly.”

My heart sang with hope at the suggestion. But there were so many unknowns. So many potential problems. Just because I’d slept with Shepherd didn’t mean he intended to take our relationship from fake to real. Maybe we were just indulging in pure physical attraction.

But if he’d just wanted in my pants, he wouldn’t have had to show me his band. Or his secret hideaway. Was there really something happening between us? Something deeper than the raw power of sexual attraction?

Could Shepherd have feelings for me too?

I was afraid to hope Nora was right.





22





Shepherd





Leaning my hip against the kitchen counter, I took a sip of my whiskey while I eyed Everly. She was curled up in that ugly yellow bean bag chair, reading a book, an almost-empty glass of wine perched on her knee. Dressed in a pink shirt and a pair of light blue shorts that showed a hell of a lot of leg, she was a bright pop of color in my living room.

Not just in the room. In my life.

I wasn’t playing at the bar tonight, so normally I would have poured my whiskey and gone straight to my office. Instead, I lingered, watching her, my eyes roving over her skin. Her silky hair. Thinking of all the ways I wanted to fuck her tonight.

As if she could feel my eyes on her, she glanced up.

The hint of shyness in her face drove me crazy. She smiled, nibbling her bottom lip, and uncurled herself to stand.

“Hi,” she said as she came into the kitchen. She finished the last of her wine and set the glass by the sink.

I looked her up and down, not bothering to hide the heat in my gaze. “Hi.”

She was magnetic, her pull irresistible. I closed the distance between us, slipping a hand around her waist. Leaned in to brush my lips against hers.

“Shep—oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

I stepped back and turned to my dad. “Do you need something?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact. I’m glad you’re both here. We need to talk details about your engagement party.”

“We don’t need an engagement party.”

“Of course you do,” he said, as if the very notion shocked him. “Don’t worry, we’ll keep it very private. No public announcements. No press. In fact, keeping it secretive will increase the appeal. Maybe we can work that into the theme.”

“Theme?” Everly asked, her voice amused.

“I’m thinking Roaring Twenties. Something very Great Gatsby, with glitz and glamour. Live jazz. What do you think?”

“Dad, The Great Gatsby is a tragedy.”

“True, but I’m going for style over substance. And I know all things Gatsby were very trendy a while back, but really, the style is timeless.”

I absolutely did not want my dad—or anyone—throwing us an engagement party. It had nothing to do with the engagement being fake. Even if Everly and I were planning an actual wedding, I would have vetoed a party.

“That sounds amazing,” Everly said.

My eyes darted to her. She couldn’t be taking his side.

She looked right at me, a playful smile on her lips. “Come on, Shep. It’s just a little party.”

“Exactly,” Dad said. “This is a big deal. We need to celebrate. Just an intimate gathering, nothing too extravagant. I already talked to your brother. He and Grant are looking forward to it.”

Everly winked. “See? Ethan and Grant are excited.”

The little vixen was fucking with me. I’d just have to fuck with her right back. “Well, we’ll have to invite your parents and sister, Everly.”

Her smile faded and she started fidgeting with her hair. “Right. Well, my parents live in Florida. And they’re busy, and they travel a lot. I’m not sure if they’d be able to make it.”

“Your sister, though,” I said, enjoying the way she was trying not to squirm. “She lives in the area, doesn’t she?”

The color drained from her face.

“I can’t wait to meet her,” Dad said. “Just think, both families, together in one place.”

“I’ll, um…” She fumbled over her words. “I’ll have to check the calendar.”

“Great,” Dad said. “I’m taking Svetlana to a benefit luncheon tomorrow. We’ll start working on the details. You won’t have to lift a finger.”

I had to stop myself from groaning at the mention of Svetlana.

“And just to let you know, things are looking up,” Dad said. “The market’s been turning in my favor, and I have some big deals going through that are going to put me back in the black. Well in the black, if all goes according to plan.”