When the knock sounded on her office door Monday morning, Christine was already on pins and needles. She hadn’t talked to Gavin other than a simple text about dinner the previous night. When she’d texted back that she had plans, he hadn’t responded and she’d been too nervous to suggest an alternate time to get together.
She imagined him having second, third and fourth thoughts about their arrangement, especially after spending what to him must have been a boring night in his hotel room. Falling asleep after watching movies together—talk about a wasted moment. She figured she’d never get the chance for a do-over.
Maddie and Zach had flown to Cabo for a short mini-honeymoon. Neither of them was willing to leave the Austin branch for too long when business was picking up so much. Christine had no doubt they trusted her to run the internal side of things at the office, and Valene had postponed her return to Houston until they got back. Even Kenneth was pitching in despite his recent retirement. But she still appreciated their commitment and understood their mutual dedication to Fortunado Real Estate was part of what made them such a perfect couple.
Christine might have had a crush on Gavin for years, but what did they really have in common? She loved her work and knew he enjoyed his law career, but that was where the similarities ended. He was a high-powered corporate attorney who worked with big-name clients, and she was more comfortable behind the scenes, keeping everyone in the office organized and on track. She led a quiet life, and he was always off on some new adventure during his downtime.
It had pained her to say no to his dinner invitation last night, even if she was sure he was offering because they needed to confirm their stories before revealing their relationship to his family. But since she’d moved back to Austin, her mother had insisted she come to dinner every Sunday, sitting down to a meal with her parents and sister. And if she needed a physical reminder of why she and Gavin weren’t a great match, her sister, Aimee, was more than happy to provide it.
Aimee was a talented hairstylist but had trouble holding down a job, bouncing from salon to salon so often that only her most loyal clients stayed with her. Still, she always made wherever she landed sound like the most exciting place on the planet to work. Her sister relished every opportunity to point out what a boring life Christine led and how old-fashioned it was to stick with the same company for a decade. Last night had been no exception. The owner of Aimee’s most recent salon had invited her to go to the Bahamas for a weekend. Although the guy sounded like a total creep to Christine, her sister insisted Christine was just too much of a stick-in-the-mud to appreciate an opportunity for adventure.
Someone knocked again, more insistently this time, and Christine realized she’d been lost in her own thoughts.
“Come in,” she called, pasting the polite smile on her face she knew any of her coworkers would expect to see.
Her jaw dropped when Gavin walked into her small office, and it felt like all the air in the room had been sucked out the moment he entered.
She shut her mouth and attempted to draw a breath but ended up choking and sputtering, reaching for the glass of water next to her computer. Her hand tipped it and water spilled across her desk.
With a yelp-cough, she jumped up, at least having enough sense to pluck the stack of contracts she’d been inputting before they were soaked through. She rushed to the utility closet in the corner of the office and grabbed a roll of paper towels, turning back to find Gavin lifting her wireless keyboard and phone out of the water.
“What a mess,” she muttered then quickly cleaned up the spilled water, still coughing every few seconds.
She could feel her face flaming with embarrassment. Only when she’d dumped the last of the wet paper towels in the trash can next to her desk did she look up at Gavin.
“You’re cute when you’re flustered,” he said, tossing the paper towels he’d used to dry the bottom of the keyboard and her cell phone case into the trash.
She gave a small laugh, which turned into a cough.
“Going to make it?” he asked, arching one thick brow.
“I’m fine,” she whispered and took the phone and keyboard from him. “Mortified, but fine. Coordination isn’t always my thing.”
He winked, and her stomach felt like it had taken the first plunge on a roller-coaster ride. “Good to know.”
“I didn’t expect to see you here.” She busied herself with rearranging the items on her desk, trying to ignore how close Gavin stood and how her body reacted to him.
“I’m meeting with my dad in—” he checked his watch “—five minutes.”
“Oh.” Disappointment washed through her at the knowledge that he hadn’t stopped by to see her. Of course, why would he stop by for her when he could easily—
“Are you free for lunch after?”
Her mouth dropped open again and she pressed it shut. “Mmmhrmrh.”
One side of his mouth quirked. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes,” she breathed and was rewarded with a full grin.
It was like being struck with a two-by-four. She felt dazed, like she’d held her breath too long and was getting light-headed from the sensation.
Okay, maybe she was light-headed. Breathe. Remember to breathe.
“I’d like to speak to my dad about us,” Gavin continued like she wasn’t having an internal freak-out inches away from him. “If that’s okay with you?”
“Us?” she squeaked.
“Our relationship.”
“Our fake relationship,” she clarified.
“Yes, well...” He massaged a hand along the back of his neck, and she wondered if she wasn’t the only one trying to hide her nerves. “What would you think about a pretend engagement?”
Christine choked out shocked laugh. “Excuse me?”
“I...uh...my sisters... There was a little...uh...misunderstanding at breakfast the morning after the wedding.”
“A misunderstanding that ended up with us engaged?” she asked, pressing her palms to her cheeks, which felt like they were on fire.
“It’s not much different than dating.”
The sound that came from her throat sounded like the creaking of the old screen door at her parents’ house.
“I’m sorry, Christine.” He started to reach for her then rubbed his neck again. “I should have said something, but they were so happy about it. I thought an engagement might be...uh...fun.”
“Fun,” she repeated. She started to shake her head, but Gavin was looking at her with so much hope that she couldn’t stand to disappoint him. It was what she told herself but only part of the truth. She also didn’t want her time with Gavin—pretend or not—to end. “Sure. It could be fun.”
“Really?”
She smiled when Gavin’s voice cracked on the word like a teenage boy.
“Yes,” she confirmed and when he grinned, she had to believe she’d made the right decision. “So you’re going to tell your dad we’re engaged?”
He nodded. “Before I speak with him, I wanted to make sure you hadn’t changed your mind about the arrangement and now the engagement. When you blew me off last night, I wondered if—”
“I have Sunday dinner at my parents’ every week,” she interrupted. “The only thing that could get me out of it is a trip to the emergency room, and there’s a good chance my mom would pack up the food and bring it to the hospital. She has this notion that eating a meal together will suddenly make the four of us into a happy family after almost three decades.”
“That’s great,” Gavin murmured then shook his head at her frown. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean it’s great for you. It’s not great that you have to deal with that, but I thought you were blowing me off.”
She inclined her head as soft pink tinged his cheeks. Was Gavin Fortunado blushing?
“I wouldn’t blow you off,” she whispered, her voice sounding husky to her own ears. “Ever.”
He drew in a breath like her words meant something to him. As if she meant something to him, which was impossible because before Saturday night they hadn’t done much more than speak in passing throughout the past ten years.
Except he remembered the first time they’d met. He’d told her she’d helped convince him he could make it to law school.
Something tiny and tentative unfurled in Christine’s heart. It felt a lot like hope. Possibility. Her chance for something more.
The same unfamiliar streak of boldness that had prompted her to act at the reception flashed through her again. She stepped forward, placed her hands on his broad shoulders, rose up on her tiptoes and then kissed him.
Their mouths melded together for a few seconds. She wouldn’t allow it to go any further, not in her office. Even though the door was closed, several of her coworkers would feel no hesitation about knocking and walking right in.
When she started to pull away, Gavin gripped her hips with his big hands and squeezed. The touch reverberated through her body, sending shock waves of desire pulsing through her.
She moaned and then felt him smile against her lips. “I can’t wait for lunch,” he said, the rough timbre of his voice tickling her senses. “Suddenly, I’m starving.”
Then he let her go, and she had to place a hand on the corner of her desk to steady herself.
Good gravy, the man could kiss.
“I’ll meet you at the reception desk in twenty minutes?” he asked over his shoulder.
“Sure.” She held up a hand to wave then pulled it to her side. What kind of a ninny would she be to wave to him like he was a knight heading to battle? He was going to talk to his father, and Kenneth Fortunado loved each of his six children and wanted their happiness above anything.
She only hoped Gavin’s happiness wouldn’t come at the expense of her heart.
“You look chipper today.”
Gavin tried to wipe the grin off his face as he entered Maddie’s office, which was currently occupied by their father. Kenneth sat behind the computer, a pair of wire-framed reading glasses perched on his nose. Although he’d officially retired last year, Kenneth was still in his prime and Gavin knew his dad was plenty capable of holding down the fort until Maddie and Zach returned.
One of the things Gavin missed most about living in Texas was spending time with his family. Despite occasionally wishing he were an only child, he truly loved being part of the Fortunado brood. His childhood had been idyllic, tons of love and laughter provided by the close bond his mother had fostered among all the siblings.
“It was nice to have everyone together for the wedding.” He dropped into the chair across from the desk. “I also like seeing you in your natural habitat. Do you miss the daily grind of the agency?”
Kenneth smiled and shook his head. “I’m having a great time cheering on Maddie and Zach from the sidelines. It was one of my more genius moves to arrange for them to work together last year.”
“Among a lifetime of genius moves,” Gavin murmured with an exaggerated eye roll.
“Smart boy.” His father steepled his fingers. “The smartest one remains marrying your mother. We’re thrilled that Maddie’s found so much happiness with Zach. It’s what we want for each of our children.” He raised a brow. “If you know what I mean?”
“As a matter of fact...” Gavin’s stomach knotted even though his father had given him the perfect opening to discuss his relationship with Christine. He hadn’t felt this nervous since he’d sat before his dad and explained that he was taking a position with a firm in Denver instead of the offer from one of his father’s friends at a prominent Houston law firm. “I’m dating someone and thought—”
“That’s wonderful, son.” Kenneth’s wide smile made guilt seep through Gavin’s veins like poison. “Is it serious? Why didn’t you bring her to the wedding?”
“Actually, it’s serious and she was at the wedding.” Gavin cleared his throat. “We’ve been keeping things private because she was worried about—”
“Worried?” Kenneth interrupted.
“About you,” Gavin said softly. “What you’d think of our relationship.”
“Why would I have a problem if she makes you happy?” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, the gold band on the third finger of his left hand shining. “Does she make you happy?”
Gavin thought about Christine’s sweet smile and the way she looked at him like he was the only man in the world. “Yes,” he murmured, almost more to himself than his father. “Christine makes me happy.”
“Christine?” His father’s expression went blank. “You’re not talking about our Christine?”
“I am.” Gavin drew in a deep breath as Kenneth frowned. “Although I wouldn’t exactly say she belongs to the family.”
“Would you say she belongs to you?”
Gavin thought about that then shook his head. “She’s her own person. I like that about her.” He held up a hand when his dad opened his mouth to speak. “But she’s dedicated to you and to Fortunado Real Estate in general. Your approval of our relationship is important to her.”
Kenneth inclined his head. “And you?”
“She’s important to me,” Gavin said immediately, surprised to find how much the statement resonated in his chest.
“Why haven’t I heard about the two of you dating before now?”
“As I said, she wanted to keep things private at first to ensure it didn’t impact her working relationship with anyone here.”
“What’s changed?”
Gavin fought the urge to grimace. It felt vaguely like facing a stiff cross-examination. “It’s more than just dating, Dad. Christine and I are engaged.”
“To be married?” his father asked, thick brows rising.
“That’s the plan, and I’d like your support. You know I’m going to be spending the next few weeks in Austin. I don’t want to have to hide anything or skulk around playing cloak and dagger if I want to see her. Plus, Schuyler is insisting Christine come to the reunion she’s planning.”
“I’m glad you talked to me,” Kenneth said with a nod. “I don’t like secrets.”
Gavin chuckled. “Like discovering we’re part of the famous Fortune family?”
“Some things even I can’t control,” his father admitted, almost reluctantly. “But you don’t have to hide a relationship from us, son. I’ve told you we want your happiness above all.”
Gavin didn’t bother to explain how unhappy it made him that his family took such an interest in his love life. That feeling as though he were under the microscope had forced him into this arrangement with Christine in the first place.
But that wouldn’t do any good at this point. Besides, he wasn’t ready to end things before they even really got started. Pretending to be in love with and engaged to Christine might be a farce, but he liked her and knew they’d have a great time together over the next few weeks until he returned to Denver.
“Does that mean you approve?”
“You don’t need my approval.” His father smiled. “But of course I’m happy for you. Your mother will be, as well. You know how much we like Christine. Frankly, she’s quite a step up in quality from the women you normally date.”
Gavin rolled his eyes. “Schuyler said almost the same thing. I date decent women.”
“Not in the same league as Christine.”
“My girlfriends have been in Colorado,” Gavin protested. “You haven’t met most of them.”
“Connor keeps us updated. He’s ridiculously good with details.”
“Connor should learn to keep his mouth shut. I’m not even sure he knows many of the women I’ve dated, so I’m not sure what makes him such an expert.”
“He cares about you. We all do.”
“I know.”
“We care about Christine, too. Take care of her, Gavin. You aren’t known for your staying power in relationships.”
Ouch.
“Well, I’m committed to Christine now.” Gavin smiled even as another wave of guilt crested inside him. His dad was right. Gavin didn’t do long-term. It hadn’t been a conscious decision, but he certainly had a habit of dating women who felt the same way about no-strings-attached as he did.
Christine was different. He knew that, even though their relationship was pretend. It was crucial he make sure they both remained on the same page so that she didn’t get hurt.
“I’m glad to see it,” his dad told him with a wide smile. “Your mom and I want you to be happy.”
“Thanks, Dad. I am happy.” He made a show of checking the Rolex that encircled his wrist. “I also need to get going. Christine and I are going to lunch.”
“Enjoy,” his dad answered, sounding pleased. “Let’s plan a dinner with the two of you and your mom and me. I’m sure she’d be happy to come up from Houston to celebrate your engagement.”
“Sure.” Gavin walked toward the door. “I’ll talk to Christine and we’ll figure out a night that works.”
“I’m really happy for you,” Kenneth said, and Gavin left the office, trying to ignore the acid that felt like it was burning a hole in his stomach.