Christine tried not to look like she was about to throw up as she opened the door to her parents’ house and led Gavin inside.
At this point she would have taken skydiving, maybe even without a parachute, over introducing him to her family. The prospect of it had seemed manageable during the drive, thanks to Gavin’s quiet confidence, but the reality of it was a different story.
“Chris?” her mom called from the kitchen, and she grimaced. She hated the nickname her family still insisted on using. It brought back memories of being a chubby kid with an unfortunate bowl haircut that made her look like a boy. She’d tried her hardest to fit in but ended up feeling lousy about herself most of the time.
She wanted to believe she’d shed her self-doubts the way she had her extra weight, but it was easier when she was away from this house and her family.
“Hi, Mom,” she said with a forced smile as she entered the kitchen.
Her mother looked up from where she was cutting tomatoes for a salad, her eyes widening at the sight of Gavin. Christine might not be the fat, awkward girl she once was, but she knew her mom wouldn’t expect her to be dating someone who looked like Gavin.
Christine’s dad walked into the kitchen from the family room. “Hey, kid,” he said, taking in Christine’s tousled hair and dusty clothes. “Looks like you need a shower.”
“We went zip lining and didn’t have time to change before coming here,” she reported. “Mom and Dad, this is Gavin Fortunado. My...um...boyfriend.” Cursing her fair complexion, she willed away the color she could feel flooding her cheeks. She hoped Gavin was okay that she didn’t mention their pretend engagement to her family. She understood why it helped with the Fortunados, but the shock of her having an actual boyfriend would be plenty for her parents and sister.
“Fortunado? Like the family who owns the agency where Christine works?”
Gavin nodded. “Kenneth is my dad. Christine and I met at the office in Houston.”
“I’m Stephanie and this is Dave,” her mother told him, her tone almost dazed. “Are you a real estate agent?”
“Nice to meet you,” Gavin said smoothly, walking forward and shaking first her father’s hand and then her mother’s. “I’m actually an attorney, and I’m sorry Christine and I are a bit of a mess. She just had to do the ropes course after we finished the zip line tour, and time got away from us.”
Dave Briscoe gave a disbelieving laugh. “Chris on a ropes course? You’ve got to be kidding.”
“I’m not.” Gavin pulled out his phone. “She did fantastic. Would you like to see the photos?”
Her mother put down the knife. “I would.”
“Did they have a harness big enough for her?”
The comment came from behind her and Christine turned, her chest tightening as her sister, Aimee, sauntered into the room. She wore a black tank top and tight jeans that hugged her trim hips. Aimee placed an empty beer bottle on the counter and gave a bubbly laugh, like this was all a big joke. “Oh, wait. She’s not fat anymore. I always forget.”
“I lost the weight years ago,” Christine said through clenched teeth.
Gavin gave her sister the barest hint of a smile then took out his phone and pulled up the photos for her mother.
“Good for you, Christine,” her mom said, taking the phone from Gavin and scrolling through the photos. “You don’t look scared at all. Dave, look at these pictures.”
“It was fun,” Christine said quietly, darting a glance at her sister. Historically, Aimee did not respond well to Christine getting attention from their mother.
“Do you live in Austin, Gavin?” She moved around the counter, tugging on the hem of her tank top, revealing more of her world-class cleavage.
Christine glanced at Gavin, but he didn’t seem to notice. How was that even possible?
“Denver,” he answered. “I’m in Austin for a few weeks because of work.”
“Do you ski?”
“Whenever I get the chance.”
“I’m road-tripping up to Vail with some friends next month. I just ordered a new set of twin tips.”
“Sounds great,” he said, but shifted closer to Christine.
She tried to take comfort in his presence but couldn’t seem to settle her nerves. “Aimee, Mom said you lost your job.”
“I got another one,” Aimee snapped. “A better one.” She turned to Gavin. “We’re looking to do the back bowls. Expert terrain only. You should meet us up there. It’s an awesome group.”
“Thanks for the invite,” he said.
“Chris doesn’t ski,” Aimee announced as if Christine had tried to make Gavin believe that she did. “There’s no way she’d be able to handle even the bunny hill.” She laughed again. “Don’t even get me started on a chairlift. With her fear of heights—”
“You should take a look at the photos,” Gavin told Aimee as Christine’s father handed back his phone. “She’s got that fear of heights under control.”
Christine glanced toward her father, who was studying her like he’d never seen her before. It had been so easy to believe she’d conquered the worst of her fears when they’d been in the middle of their date. Now she felt as awkward and bumbling as she always had with her family.
“It’s nice to see you smiling,” Dave said finally, inclining his head toward Gavin’s phone.
Not exactly a ringing show of support but it felt like a huge endorsement from her normally recalcitrant father. Aimee must have noticed it, too, because her eyes turned hard.
“Let me show you my workshop while the women finish up dinner,” Dave told Gavin. “Got a beer cooler out there stocked with cold ones.”
Gavin nodded but looked at Christine’s mom. “Do you need help with anything?”
Christine watched her mother’s face soften. Her parents loved each other, but theirs was a traditional marriage with the bulk of the household duties falling to Stephanie. She could tell it meant a lot to her mom that Gavin offered to help. Once again Christine reminded herself that today was merely a detour on the trajectory of their relationship, which couldn’t end in anything but heartache for her. How much of her heart she gave him was the only question.
“Thank you for the offer,” her mom said, blushing slightly. “But I’ve got things under control. Dave is so proud of his workshop. You go with him.”
“I’d love a beer, then,” Gavin said to her dad and followed Dave toward the garage that housed his workshop.
“He’s so handsome,” her mom said when the door closed behind the two men. She fanned a hand in front of her face. “Makes me feel like I’m having a hot flash.”
Christine knew exactly how her mother felt.
“It’s difficult to believe you landed someone like him,” Aimee said, opening the refrigerator to pull out another beer. The workshop was their father’s man cave and a space where Christine’s mother rarely ventured. Instead, she kept a few beers stocked in the kitchen fridge for when friends or her daughters stopped by. Of course, Aimee didn’t bother to offer one to Christine now.
“He’s great,” Christine murmured, hoping to avoid an in-depth conversation about Gavin. The Briscoe women might not be close, but she feared that her mom and sister would be able to read the lie of their relationship on her face nonetheless.
“What’s he doing with you?” Aimee asked as she popped the top on the beer bottle.
“Be nice,” their mother chided.
“We have a lot in common,” Christine said, automatically going to the cabinet to begin setting the table. It was the second Sunday of the month, so that meant meat loaf. She could smell it baking, and the scent brought back both good and bad memories from childhood. Her mother had always been a great cook, although it still embarrassed Christine to remember herself as a girl, trying to take an extra portion at mealtimes or sneaking into the kitchen late at night to munch on leftovers.
Aimee took the napkins out of the drawer and followed Christine to the table. “Like what?”
How was she supposed to explain her connection to Gavin? On the surface, they were a mismatched pair, but he seemed to like her just the way she was. She saw beyond his polished playboy facade to the kindhearted man he didn’t reveal to many people. That sort of connection would be lost on her abrasive sister, most likely chalked up to wishful thinking on Christine’s part.
“Well, we both like zip lining.” She grinned when Aimee snorted. “I’m also going to learn to water-ski this summer.” Gavin gave her the confidence to conquer her fears. She’d never been a strong swimmer, mostly because as a kid she hadn’t wanted to be seen in a bathing suit. But she could start doing laps in the pool at the gym where she belonged. By summer, certainly she’d be ready for waterskiing.
“Is Prince Fortunado going to teach you?” Aimee asked, her tone at once bitter and teasing.
“Maybe.” Christine bit down on her lip. On second thought, Gavin probably wouldn’t be around to see her water-ski, if she even managed it. Aimee didn’t need to know that. She placed a plate at the head of the table and glanced up to meet her sister’s gaze. “Or you could help me. I remember how great you were when we’d go out to Aunt Celia’s place in the summer.”
“That’s a lovely idea,” their mother said, clapping her hands together. “I’d love to see you girls doing something together.”
Aimee looked torn between shooting down Christine and placating their mother. “If I have time,” she agreed eventually. “We’ll see.”
Christine smiled even as her stomach pinched. She wished she understood where the animosity between the two of them had originated. Their parents loved them both, although Dave Briscoe had made it clear that he wished he’d had a son. Aimee had done her best to fill that void by being a rough-and-tumble tomboy growing up, interested in sports and cars and whatever else she thought would bring her closer to their father.
Christine had been the odd one out, so Aimee’s constant resentment didn’t make sense, but it had persisted just the same.
Maybe it was silly that she still wanted a relationship with her sister, but she couldn’t help it.
“It’s obvious Gavin really likes you,” Stephanie said, ignoring her younger daughter. “I like seeing you this happy.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Aimee grumbled a bit more but they managed to get dinner on the table without an outright argument. Christine’s father was more animated than she’d seen him in years during the meal. It was clear he liked Gavin, and Christine felt the all-too-familiar guilt that she was exposing her family to their fake relationship. Obviously, her parents would be sorely disappointed when she and Gavin parted ways. But she consoled herself with the knowledge that at least now they saw her as more than just their boring, awkward daughter.
Thanks to Gavin, she felt like so much more.
She made an excuse about needing to prepare for a Monday meeting, and they said their goodbyes soon after dinner. The sun had fully set while they were at her parents’ and she was grateful for the cover of darkness so she had a bit of time to regain control of her emotions.
The ride back to her house was quiet, and she wasn’t sure what to make of Gavin’s silence. Her family and her role in it were the polar opposite of the tight-knit Fortunado clan. Even discovering the connection to the famous Fortunes had only seemed to bring them closer. She couldn’t imagine anything that would truly bridge the distance in her family.
When he pulled up in front of her condo, she pasted on a smile and turned to say good-night, only to have him lean across the front seat and fuse his mouth to hers.
Her breath caught in her lungs, and she immediately relaxed into the kiss even though the intensity of it shocked her.
“That was fun,” he whispered against her lips.
She pulled back with a soft laugh. “You must be talking about the kiss because dinner with my family was about as much fun as a root canal.”
“They don’t give you enough credit,” he said, his tone serious.
She shrugged. “It’s hard to break old patterns. You wouldn’t understand because your family is perfect.”
“Hardly,” he answered with a snort. “I don’t think any family is perfect.”
They both looked out the front window as headlights turned down the street, illuminating the front of the Audi. “I need to take Princess Di for a walk,” she said, her heart suddenly beginning to pound in her chest. “Any chance you want to join me?” It was such a simple question, yet it felt funny requesting something from Gavin. He had initiated most of the time they’d spent together, and it felt strange to be so nervous—like somehow she was imposing on his evening.
He flashed a small, almost grateful smile. “I’d love to.”
They walked to her condo hand in hand, and she unlocked the door, immediately greeted by the dog. While Gavin got busy loving up Diana, Christine pulled on a heavier jacket and took the dog’s leash from its hook in the laundry room. She grabbed a flashlight, as well, and they headed out to the street.
“My family sometimes feels larger than life,” Gavin said as they walked, Princess Di happily sniffing the edge of the sidewalk as she trotted along. “We all have big personalities.”
“It’s one of the things I liked best when I first started with Fortunado Real Estate,” Christine admitted. “Your dad is great and it was fun when any of the kids or your mom stopped by the office.”
“Yeah. We’re a ton of fun.” Gavin scrubbed a hand across his jaw, the scratchy sound reverberating in the quiet of the evening and doing funny things to Christine’s insides. “But growing up it was hard to get noticed—there were so many of us doing different activities. Honestly, my mom is a saint for handling all of it. But that’s part of how I became an adrenaline junkie. All of my antics were a way to get attention.”
“Really?” Christine was shocked by the admission. “The adventurous side of you seems so natural.”
He shrugged. “I guess it is by this point, but sometimes it feels like a compulsion rather than something I do because I love it. Don’t get me wrong, I like to have fun, but I wonder if there’s more to me than working and taking off on the weekend for more thrill-seeking.”
“I think there is,” she said softly.
“I don’t even own a houseplant,” he told her out of nowhere.
She frowned. “Um...okay.”
“I know that sounds random.” He shook his head. “But I’m not exactly known for my skills at adulting. I have a great job, but even at the firm I’m the guy who woos the prospective clients. I move too fast to be able to stay with one for the long haul, so much that it’s a shock I’m in Austin for so long. I admire your dedication and how steady you are.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“And your sweetness and loyalty,” he continued. As the dog blissfully investigated a nearby shrub, Gavin turned and cupped her cheeks between his palms. “Your family doesn’t have any idea how lucky they are to have you.”
She swallowed the emotion that threatened to clog her throat. She wanted to believe that. It didn’t matter that she was a grown woman and had made a wonderful life for herself. The fact that she’d never fit in with her parents and sister was like an itch that she couldn’t seem to scratch, always distracting her from allowing herself to be truly happy.
“I’m lucky to have you,” he continued, and her heart soared. “Even if it’s only for a few weeks, I’m grateful for our time together.”
Right. Like a balloon that had been stuck with a pin, her happiness deflated, thanks to the reminder that their arrangement was temporary. Gavin might enjoy being with her, but he wasn’t looking to make this into something real. He had no problem remembering the parameters of their relationship. Why did she?
“We should head back,” she said, pulling away and tugging on Di’s leash. “I actually do have a meeting first thing tomorrow with Maddie and Zach.”
He frowned but dropped his hands. The cool night air swirled around her, making her body miss the warmth of his touch.
She purposely kept a greater distance between them as they returned to her condo. What was the point of letting him close when he was just going to walk away? She might not be the most confident woman in the world, but she had enough self-respect to not allow herself to turn into a blathering idiot begging him to want more. At least not to his face.
“Can I see you this week?” he asked, placing a hand on her back as she unlocked her door.
Whenever you want, her heart shouted. It felt like her emotions were rattling her insides like bars on a prison window. What would happen if she threw her self-respect to the wind and invited him in? Would he take her up on the invitation?
Instead, she smiled and shook her head. Physical distance was the only way she could think of to keep her feelings for him from spiraling out of control. “It’s going to be crazy around the agency with your sister and Zach returning. I think it would be better if we waited until the reunion next weekend.”
“Oh.” Gavin’s thick brows drew together over his gorgeous green eyes. “Is everything okay?”
I’m falling for you, she wanted to tell him. I don’t know how to stop it or protect my heart.
But she did know and, unfortunately, it involved keeping her distance unless they had to be together for the ruse. She hated pushing him away, but what choice did she have?
“Everything’s fine, but I’m busy and I’m sure you are, too. I mean, the sooner you close the new client, the sooner you’ll be able to head home. Right?”
“I guess,” he said slowly. “I’m in no hurry.”
“Me neither,” she admitted before she could stop herself. Princess Di gave a soft whine, ready to be in bed for the night. “Let’s talk in a few days,” she told Gavin with fake cheer. “Thanks again for the adventure, and for joining my family for Sunday dinner—an adventure unto itself.”
He stepped back, studying her face as if trying to figure out why she was acting so remote. She couldn’t explain it to him, couldn’t bear for him to deny that he would hurt her.
Already her heart ached more than she could have imagined.
“Good night,” she said and slipped into her quiet house.