LOST IN YOU

AMANDA BAILEY
Lost in You Copyright © 2020 by Amanda Bailey

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This novel is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters,
places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons,
living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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 CONTENTS

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Epilogue
SNEAK PEEK: Fight for You

Also by Amanda Bailey

Also by Amanda Bailey
Dear Reader
Acknowledgments
About the Author
CHAPTER 1
 MADISON

I can’t believe I have to go to yet another family wedding alone. For probably the fiftieth time today, I
cringe internally just thinking about it. Lonely girl, party of one. With a deep breath, I shove all
thoughts of white dresses, dancing, and cake to the back of my mind, determined to enjoy my evening
with friends before all hell breaks loose this weekend.
My hands burrow down into the warmth of my coat pockets and I shiver, picking up my pace as I
walk the fifteen minutes from the high school to the center of town where all the shops and restaurants
are located. My cheeks and nose feel ice cold from the sudden rock-bottom temperatures we are
experiencing in Newberry. The frigid wind whips around me as I get closer to my destination. It’s
getting cold enough that soon I’ll have to drive to work instead of walk, as I prefer to do.
If it were a warmer day, I’d glance through the windows into some of the shops, taking time to just
breathe in the fresh air. Not today. I’m almost as eager to get inside and out of the cold as I am to meet
up with my friends. Boy, do I ever need their thoughts on how to handle things this weekend.
I double-check the address on my phone. It looks like it’s just down the street from the coffee shop
I frequent on a regular basis, so I don’t know how I haven’t ever noticed it before.
From a distance, I can see it’s an older building, just like most of the establishments in the rest of
the tiny town of Newberry. Most people would say it’s in need of a little sprucing up. In my opinion,
it’s quaint and the one window shutter hanging slightly crookedly only adds to its charm. I’m a fan of
our town, having lived here my whole life, but I definitely can’t remember giving this particular place
so much as a passing glance before my coworker friend Sophia suggested we meet here this afternoon
for our book club.
We’ve got a half day of school tomorrow, and then we are as free as birds—for two weeks,
anyway, until winter break is over and school resumes. I know the other teachers are itching for the
break; the high school students have been driving them half-insane with gift exchanges in the middle
of the hallways between classes. Constant candy cane consumption has given everyone a permanent
sugar high.
From my perspective as the school librarian, I need this evening so I have someone to actually
talk to. This last week has been quiet in the library, with just a handful of students checking out books
to take home over the holidays. No one has been looking for my help with research on projects and
there hasn’t been a single study group in sight for me to provide guidance to. Apparently, all
assignments due before break are already in and there are no tests scheduled, so no studying is
happening. It had been party central in other parts of the building today, and I know it will be the same
tomorrow. In my library, though, it’s been dead quiet, and it’s left me way too much time to spend
wishing I had someone to go with me this weekend and constantly wondering how I even came to be
so alone, unable and unwilling to try again with anyone else. Stupid Chase. I haven’t been able to
shake what he’d done to me; his actions are still having an effect on my life years later.
So, while I need this night out to cure my case of the lonelies, I know everyone else needs it to
decompress and get ready for the last bit of crazy tomorrow. Then everyone can relax and enjoy the
holidays with their families. Or they’ll relax, and I’ll just try to get by for a bit.
Don’t get me wrong, I do keep to myself a lot—it’s no wonder I’m a freaking librarian—but in the
face of what’s to come tomorrow with this family wedding, I definitely need human interaction
tonight. And it’s the best distraction when it’s in the form of some Secret Santa fun and book talk with
my girls. Book talk will invariably turn into girl talk, which is just what I need.
It’s depressing (to say the least) to think about attending yet another wedding without a date at the
age of twenty-four. I’m not looking forward to all the prying eyes and questions, and I’m hoping my
girls can give me the boost of confidence I need to help me figure out how to get through this. It’s not
the way I want to start my break, that’s for sure.
Speaking of my girls, this is the first time in my life that I’ve had a whole group of female friends,
and it’s definitely a new and different experience for me. I have a brother who I’m close to, but it’s
definitely not the same as having other women to talk to. So, when Sophia approached me about
getting people together to talk about books—hello, my favorite—and have some girl time? I’m not
ashamed to admit that I’d jumped at the chance to help her put it together.
Outside the bar, I pause briefly to blow out a deep breath before I pull open the heavy door and
step inside. I close my eyes for a second, appreciating the warmth from the fireplace in the corner.
When I open them again, I immediately spy Sophia sitting on the far side of the room in the corner
booth with Quinn. They both spot me at the same time and wave me over, all smiles.
“Hey, ladies. I see the science department made tracks after school, huh?” Quinn and Sophia are
both science teachers, along with Sophia’s fiancé, Heath.
Quinn laughs, hazel eyes twinkling, and takes a quick sip of her margarita. “Yeah. We made a
quick escape to Heath’s car right after the bell rang.”
Sophia grins at the mention of Heath, brushing her chestnut waves over her shoulder. We haven’t
had a book club meeting since their engagement during Thanksgiving, so I’m sure that’ll be a hot topic
later.
My eyes are drawn once again to the beautiful ring gracing her left hand. Heath sure can pick
’em. Focusing on their happy faces again, I ask, “He dropped you guys off?”
 Sophia nods. “Well, yeah. That way we can indulge and have no worries about having to walk
home because he’ll come back and get us, too.” With a wink, she gestures to the pitcher of margaritas.
“Thirsty?”
“Of course. Sounds great.” I slide into the booth kitty-corner to Quinn as she pours my drink.
Once I’ve settled, Sophia claps her hands excitedly, eyes alight with something I can only
describe as joy in its purest form. “Madison, guess what? Heath went to pick up Ava from Kelly. We
just confirmed we get to have her for Christmas this year.” I’ve got to hand it to her, she’s taken to
being a soon-to-be stepmom like a duck to water. She loves Ava so much you’d think she was hers.
Heath and Sophia had hit a rough patch with his ex-wife for a while, but that seems to have been
resolved. It sounds like all three of them realized they all just want what’s best for Ava, and I’m glad
to see things working out.
“That’s going to be so much fun for you guys.” I’m just about to ask what Ava wants for Christmas
when I’m distracted by Piper heading our way. Her brows are pinched together in what can only be
described as a grim expression. Uh-oh.
She tosses her long, dark hair over her shoulder and stops in front of the table with a huff. “You
all aren’t going to believe this. Jake is finally retiring as the English department chair, and I just found
out I might not be a shoo-in for the position after all.” Her pretty face sets into a deep scowl. “I need
a drink,” she huffs.
Before Piper can expand on the issue, Hadleigh hurries over to the table and slides in right beside
me. “What are we talking about?”
“Nothing I want to ruin our night with, that’s for sure. Let’s talk about something else,” Piper
grumbles.
Sophia makes her best yikes face. “How about a margarita, Piper? Maybe that will help.”
It doesn’t go unnoticed by anyone that Quinn pours Piper’s margarita glass extra full. I stifle a
laugh as Quinn winks at me again when our gazes connect.
Amused, I focus on Hadleigh, our resident history teacher. “Had, where were you? I looked for
you before I left.” Her room happens to be right next to the library. It’s rather convenient because she
is an excellent and endless source of entertainment for me. I never know what’s going to come out of
that woman’s mouth next. She’s like a tornado; she gets all whipped up and excited, and the next thing
I know, thoughts are flying everywhere, torn from her mouth before she’s really had a chance to think
them through. Like I said, she’s all kinds of fun.
She reaches for the glass that Sophia slides in her direction and takes a deep swallow. “Mr.
Steele asked me to swing by the office before I left.” She sips the margarita again before she
continues. “He’s assigning me a student teacher next semester.”
“Hi, ladies!” The final member of our group, Zoey, hurries toward the table. “How is everyone?
Ready for some Secret Santa?” Truly petite at five-foot-one, her raven hair and dark eyes can barely
be seen behind the huge gift-wrapped box she carries. She sets it down carefully next to the wall just
outside of our booth, and Hadleigh hops up to give our friend a quick squeeze.
When they are both seated, Hadleigh directs a question to Zoey. “So, what inside info do you
know about the student teacher who is being assigned to me? Have you heard anything around the
office?” Zoey is the new guidance counselor this year, so sometimes she hears about things before the
rest of us do.
“Just that he’s from some small college east of here.” She wrinkles her nose. “I wouldn’t really
know anything at all, but I may have overheard Miles talking on the phone with him.” She smiles at
first, but then as she looks around the table at the rest of us, she notices our faces all hold the same
hint of surprise. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
Quinn pauses, her drink halfway to her mouth, and chuckles. “Miles, huh?”
Zoey blushes. “Mr. Steele. Sorry.”
The whole group giggles. Every time one of us brings up the assistant principal, Miles Steele,
Zoey blushes like mad. It’s freaking adorable.
I look down into my glass only to realize I’m almost done with my first drink. “I’m going to need
a refill, and we haven’t done our Secret Santa exchange or even mentioned the book yet. This could
get bad.”
I exhale loudly and slide my glass over to Quinn, who arches her brow at me. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I wave a hand. “I’m fine. We can talk about it later.”
“Okay, then, let’s dive into this book.” Sophia holds up her book of choice, effectively ending the
gabbing for the moment. “So, what’d you all think? Overall impressions first.”
The whole group gives it a thumbs up with the exception of Piper. “Sci-fi is just not my thing,
guys.”

After thirty minutes of actual book talk, we’re ready to move on, namely to our Secret Santa exchange,
but my mind keeps drifting to the absolute suck of showing up alone to my cousin’s wedding. Stop
ruining tonight’s fun for yourself, Madison.
With a soft smile, Sophia reaches into her bag. “Can I go first? I have Madison’s gift … and I
think she needs a little pick-me-up right now.”
My eyes flick to hers. “How’d you know?”
Four additional pairs of eyes land on me.
“We can totally tell you’re out of sorts.” Quinn tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, eyeing me
carefully.
Hadleigh wrinkles her nose. “You were acting a little weird this morning, too.”
“And at lunch,” chimes in Zoey.
Piper squints at me from across the table. “Spill.”
 At my grumpy expression, Sophia holds up the gift she brought for me. “Let it out, then we can get
back to fun stuff.”
I look down at my hands in my lap for a brief second, then around the table at each of my friends.
“I’ve got a family wedding to attend this weekend, and I’m dreading it. Big-time.”
“Aw, why? Weddings are so much fun.” Hadleigh tilts her head to the side in question.
“It’s the showing-up-alone part that I’m not managing well. It’s been a long time since I’ve dated
anyone, and I hate all the questions and assumptions that come with flying solo at a wedding.”
Piper works her jaw back and forth. “Well, what about bringing a friend?”
A sharp laugh rips from me. “A male friend? I don’t really have any.”
Quinn frowns. “And you’re leaving tomorrow?”
I nod. “Yep.” I let the P pop on my lips.
Sophia frowns. “You didn’t give me any time to play matchmaker. Why didn’t you say something
about it? We could have figured something out.”
My voice is soft when I respond, “I’m embarrassed that I’m letting this get to me.”
At my explanation, Zoey gives a quick shake of her head. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed
about. You’ll find someone when the time is right.”
“Maybe. I’d already thought I had.” I shrug. “Will you guys text me while I’m away and make sure
I’m not losing it?”
A slow smile spreads across Sophia’s face. “A group text. That’s always fun.”
I nod and take a deep breath, then expel it slowly. “Okay, I’m fine. I’m ready for Secret Santa
now.”
I school my features as Sophia studies me. I’m not okay, but I can’t handle talking anymore about
it right now. Hopefully, I’ll make it through the weekend and can put this behind me.
Sophia passes me the gorgeously wrapped gift that she’d been holding hostage.
“Should I go ahead and open?” I ask as I accept it.
Sophia gives me a warm smile. “Yeah, I think it’s more fun to do one at a time so we can see what
everyone gets. Go on, open it.”
I carefully pull the wrapping paper off to reveal a book sleeve—one Sophia knew I’d been
looking at. “Aw, thank you so much.” My gaze wanders over everyone at the table. “I saw this a few
weeks ago when Sophia and I were glancing through the new bookstore together.” My gaze lands on
Sophia. “You even remembered the exact one I was looking at, too, with all the music notes on it.” I
bite my lip and wipe away the hint of a tear from the corner of my eye. “I just love it.”
Sophia tilts her head, studying me. “Aw, come on now, don’t cry. You’ll get us all going.”
I blow out a deep breath and nod, then pull out Piper’s gift. “I had Piper.” With a watery chuckle,
I hand it over to her. “Don’t worry, ladies. I don’t think she’s going to cry over this one.”
Piper wrinkles her nose as she starts unwrapping. “Thank goodness. I couldn’t handle it if we all
got sappy.” She pulls a T-shirt from the gift box. “Oh!”
 Zoey leans closer to read as Piper holds it up in front of the two of them. “‘Mediocrity knows
nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.’”
Zoey frowns and looks at me and then Piper. “What’s that all about?”
I smile. “It’s a—
“Quote from The Valley of Fear by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,” Piper finishes, gasping, and drops
the T-shirt into her lap. She puts her hands over her mouth to keep herself from squealing. “Madi, it’s
so perfect. Thank you.”
“I know how you love your Sherlock. I couldn’t resist getting it for you when I saw it, my genius
friend.” I wink at her, feeling a little bit better. Piper is about the smartest person I know. That English
department would do well with her at the helm, so I hope everything works out for her after her
earlier outburst.
Piper pulls a gift bag out that she’d stowed under the table and hands it to Zoey. “For you, my
lovely.”
Zoey’s eyes light up. “I love that we did this, you guys.” With that, she digs into the bag, pulling
out a wood-framed sign. “Oh my gosh.” She pauses to swallow. “It says, ‘You’re in a safe place to
spill the tea.’”
Piper nods. “I figured it would be great for your office, Zoey.” Then on a chuckle, she says,
“Maybe we should have gotten it out earlier so we didn’t have to pry Madison’s problem out of her.”
Her gaze slides to me and she winks.
With a giggle, Zoey holds it against her chest for a second, all smiles, before she carefully puts it
back in the bag. “Thank you so much, Piper. It’s just what my office needed.” She takes a second to
wrap an arm around Piper, giving her a hug before scrambling out of the booth to pick up the huge box
she’d brought in. “This one’s for Quinn.” She wrinkles her nose as we have to make room on the table
for the box.
Curiously, it’s very lightweight.
Quinn pulls the wrapping paper off, then pokes around for a minute through Styrofoam pieces.
“Hang on, there’s another box.” Lips twitching with laughter, she pulls out another wrapped box.
“Well, at least we can take the big box off the table.” She opens it, finds another wrapped box inside
of that one, repeat. She eyes Zoey carefully. “Is the real gift the laugh you’re having over there?”
Zoey can’t contain herself. “My mom used to do this for me at Christmas to make it more fun.
Sorry,” she giggles, “I think the gift is in that one.”
Quinn pulls it open to find a mug and a gift card to our local coffee shop inside. She smirks as she
reads the saying on the side. “‘Science doesn’t care what you believe.’” Snorting with laughter, she
exclaims, “Too funny. Okay, all that unwrapping was worth it. Thank you, Zoey.”
“You’re welcome.”
Quinn passes a bag over to Hadleigh. “For our resident naughty girl.”
“Uh-oh. Now I’m scared. You all trusted Quinn with my gift?” Hadleigh looks at all of us, an
expression of mock-fear in her eyes.
I can’t help but laugh. “None of us knew who had whom. Luck of the draw, girlfriend.”
“Right. Here goes nothing.” Hadleigh quickly pulls a book out of the bag and flips it over to take a
look at the title. “Oh. My. God. So funny.” She turns it around for everyone else to see. “Bad Girls
through History.” She giggles. “So perfect for me in so many ways. Thank you.”
Quinn snorts. “Wait until you read some of that. Definitely don’t use it in your world history
class.”
Hadleigh grins wickedly. “I can’t wait to look through it.” She winks at Quinn, then pins her gaze
on Sophia. “Okay, one last gift. Obviously, I had Sophia.” She hands her a small gift bag, and covers
her mouth with her hand. I can see out of the corner of my eye that she’s already trying not to laugh.
Piper’s eyes meet mine across the table and she mouths, “Do you know what’s in there?”
I shake my head with a quick shrug. I really don’t, but knowing Hadleigh, it’ll be good.
Sophia takes a deep breath and gives Hadleigh the stink eye. I think we all know this is most
likely not a science mug to match Quinn’s if it’s coming from Hadleigh.
Sophia dips her hand in and comes out with … edible underwear.
Oh, Hadleigh.
The whole table freezes for a second before bursting into laughter.
Piper is the first to be able to speak. “Oh my gosh, Hadleigh.” She giggles. “I can’t believe you.”
Hadleigh grins devilishly, holding both hands up. “What? They’re engaged now. We all know
what they are up to.”
Quinn rolls her eyes. “When’s the wedding again? You’re going to end up pregnant before you get
down the aisle.”
Sophia’s eyes gleam with excitement. “The middle of June.”
“Doesn’t she look just blissfully happy?” Piper interrupts, patting Sophia’s shoulder and giving
her a goofy, margarita-fueled smile.
“It’s all the sex,” Zoey snickers behind her hand as our gazes all snap to her.
My eyes widen, and before I know what I’m doing, the words fall right out of my tipsy mouth on a
giggle. “Heath must really know what he’s doing.”
“Ew, gross!” Quinn shudders, making me laugh harder. “You remember I have to work with the
two of them in the same department, right?”
Amid more lighthearted laughter, Hadleigh nods knowingly, and I see the naughty look in her eyes
right before she very solemnly says, “He definitely knows how to dick her down.”
No sooner are the words out of Hadleigh’s mouth than Piper chokes on some water and Zoey
snorts loudly, then covers her mouth, a horrified look on her face.
We devolve into one booth of six hysterical women in no time flat.
These women. I have never felt so sure that I’ve finally found my tribe. I feel like I belong when
I’m with them.
Now, if only I could get the other pieces of my life in order.
CHAPTER 2
 SHAWN

I’ve only just come out of the stockroom from doing some inventory, but whatever Sophia and her
friends are talking about over there sure must be amusing. It’s all excited chatter, gales of laughter,
and every once in a while, a giggle-snort catches my attention. If I strain to hear, snippets of their
conversation drift to my ears. Whether or not it’s a good idea to listen in is debatable.
The brunette sitting on my soon-to-be sister-in-law’s right must be feeling her margarita because
she doesn’t seem to realize how loudly she’s talking. It’s like her volume has accidentally been turned
all the way up.
“We aren’t talking about C-O-C-K. This is a book club.”
Oh, boy. Did I just hear her spell out what I think I did? I stifle a chuckle and try to mind my own
business. My face flushes red. Definitely not a conversation that I need to overhear.
In the same moment I decide maybe I should go find some earplugs, the women dissolve into fits
of laughter. “Piper, you can just say it, you don’t have to spell it.” Tears stream from Sophia’s eyes,
and her body shakes with amusement.
I head out from behind the bar and stride purposefully toward the back hallway on the pretense of
needing something—anything—because I don’t want them to see me howl with laughter. I shake my
head as I near their table and attempt to avert my eyes. Their supposed “book talk” is some funny shit.
As I walk past their table, my gaze flicks over to the group for just a split second. My body
startles in recognition of a familiar face, but I continue on to the storage room.
I’d be able to pick Madison out of any crowd. That long, thick, curly mane of hair is impossible to
control, so she just lets it float around her shoulders and do what it will. It’s been like that ever since
I can remember. She’s someone I was aware of in high school, and then I’d gotten to know her better
when she’d dated my best friend right after we all finished up our respective college degrees.
Madison. I roll her name around in my mind, thinking about how I’d actually asked Heath about her
just the other day. I’d spotted Sophia out with Madison a couple of times and was curious to know
how she’d been since I’d last spoken to her. I remember her as a sweet, sensitive girl—she definitely
hadn’t deserved what Chase had done to her.
It’d been a long time since I’d seen her at all, and now it’s happened for a third time in just a few
weeks.
Seeing her again is dredging up all sorts of memories—things I’d tried to shove way down deep
and forget about. At the same time, though, there’s just something about her; something that makes me
want to take a chance and talk to her again.
When I finally return from the storage room with a roll of paper towels in hand, the ladies are
scooting out of the booth, exchanging hugs. A few of them take off pretty quickly, but Sophia,
Madison, and another girl who I seem to remember as another science teacher, stick around
chitchatting. Quinn, maybe? I’m not great with names, but give me a song, and I’ll remember every
last lyric.
“Hey, Shawn, come here a sec, would you?”
With a slightly raised brow, I wander through the tables toward Sophia and her friends. “Hey. Did
your book club meeting or whatever go well?”
“Our ‘whatever,’” she cackles. “Yeah. That sums it up nicely.” She shoots her friends a sassy grin.
“I want to introduce you to some of my new friends. This is Quinn, who I think you may have met
before. She works with me and Heath in the science department.” She gestures to the tall, thin brunette
with hazel eyes.
I nod and hold out a hand to her. I guess my memory is better than I thought. “Nice to see you
again, Quinn. How the hell you put up with Sophia and Heath all day, I’ll never know.”
She chuckles, shaking my hand. “Your guess is as good as mine. It’s been a wild ride so far this
year.”
Sophia pokes her in the stomach. “Hey!” She gives us both a fake pout and then gestures to
Madison, whose pale skin has flushed pink from her neck to her cheeks. “And this is Madison. She’s
our librarian.” Sophia winks at me, making me assume she’s already heard from Heath that I was
asking about her.
Fucking hell, Heath. He wasn’t supposed to have said anything to Sophia. So much for just
casually mentioning that I’d seen his fiancée with a new friend—a friend I happened to know. I didn’t
mean for him to actually say anything to Sophia, knowing how she delights in her matchmaking talents.
I hadn’t been asking for a reintroduction. I’d just been … curious about the girl I used to know.
My former best friend’s ex. I’d do well to remind myself that this is the girl Chase had boasted he
was going to marry … that is, until he screwed things up so badly. Total idiot.
As I look into Madison’s bold jade-green eyes and hold out my hand, my throat goes dry. She’s
even more gorgeous now. She accepts my handshake with a cautious grin. Some unknown feeling hits
me square in the chest when our hands connect. I blow out a quick breath and try to follow the
conversation, even though my thoughts have scattered in a dozen different directions.
Her shoulders lift to her ears and she giggles—a sound so pure, it works its way inside me,
warming me to my very soul. “Shawn and I actually know each other already, Sophia. Sorry to burst
your matchmaking bubble.”
 Caught by surprise, laughter barks out of me. “I see you are getting acquainted with the meddling
woman who has weaseled her way back into my brother’s heart.”
Sophia looks from Madison to me and back to her again. “Well, I thought it was worth a shot with
your little issue, Madi.”
“Thanks, but I used to date his friend.” Madison wraps an arm around Sophia, and I notice the two
of them sway on their feet just a tiny bit. Hmm. Maybe it’s time for some water.
“Right.” I have no idea what to make of her comment, but I need to talk about something else. I
jerk a thumb toward the bar. “Why don’t you all come sit over at the bar with me. I assume you’re
waiting on Heath?”
They nod and follow me over, each taking a seat on a stool. Madison sits directly in front of me. I
don’t bother asking, but pour a glass of water for each of them and slide the drinks across the bar.
There’s something that I’ve only admitted to myself—I’d wished, more than once, that it had been
me dating Madison instead of Chase. But she’d been one hundred thousand percent off limits as my
best friend’s girl.
Back then I still had eyes and a brain, so I couldn’t help but see Madison and appreciate her
beauty, inside and out. It hadn’t been easy for me to hang out with the two of them feeling as I had, but
I’d done it.
Fortunately for me, it hadn’t been long after she and Chase had gotten together that I’d met and
started dating Dana. She’d provided the distraction I’d needed from the growing, unrequited,
impossible feelings I’d developed for Madison.
There’d been a few times we’d gone out for drinks as a foursome, and I remember many of the
conversations I’d had with Madison revolving around her trying to find a job. She’d just finished up
her degree in library science and had struggled to find an open position. I remember thinking it had
been adorable how excited she’d been when she landed the job as the librarian at the high school.
I study Madison for a second, bits and pieces of memories bombarding me. My favorite is a night
out at a karaoke bar when she’d sung numerous times. Her voice might be the sweetest thing I’ve ever
heard. I’d listened with my eyes closed as her dreamy, breathy voice had flowed over me like thick
honey.
My attention returns to the three ladies, who alternately seem to be steadying each other on their
seats. One of my favorite parts of my job is observing people and their interactions. I can’t even help
but be amused by these three. I’ve always found women to be more interesting to study after they’ve
had a few drinks because they are each so different.
For instance, Quinn has come completely out of her shell, talking and laughing, and seems younger
than the quiet, in-control woman who had come in earlier. Sophia, aw, hell. Sophia isn’t that different
yet, but just wait. If she gets too much further into her cups, she’ll mistake me for Heath. She has the
world’s best alcohol goggles ever. And then there’s Madison. I eye her for a moment—she’s totally
not paying attention to me. In fact, she’s turned quiet and introspective. Sure, she smiles and laughs
when it’s appropriate, but I can see the gears in her head working so hard that she has smoke coming
out of her ears. Each woman is completely unique in her personality, as is the change brought on with
alcohol consumption.
Men? We’re easy. We think with our dicks half the time as is. Then we get drunk and think solely
with our dicks. And then we act like dicks. And then everything goes all to hell from there, which is
why bar fights break out. That’s my theory, anyway, based on years of research and observation from
behind the bar.
The bell above the door jingles and in walks Heath with my niece, five-year-old Ava, in his arms.
“There’s Fia now, see?”
Sophia turns on her stool, hops down, and bends over, holding her arms out to Ava as Heath sets
her on her feet. “Hey, pumpkin! How are you?”
My heart squeezes in my chest. Someday. Someday I’ll have that.
“I’m good, Fia. Daddy says I just have one more day of school and then Santa’s coming!” She
gives Sophia a big grin, several of her teeth adorably missing.
Sophia smiles right back at her and delivers a peck to her little nose. “Yep, soon. Santa’s coming
soon.”
Heath looks up at me with a quick flash of a grin as he looks at the line up in front of me. “How’d
things go tonight, ladies?”
“Pretty fun, I’d say.” Quinn slides off the stool and grasps at the bar top as her legs decide
whether they want to hold her up or not.
Heath tries to cover his smile with a cough. “You need a ride, Q?”
“Yeah,” she giggles. “Your brother makes a mean margarita.”
I shrug at him, my eyes comically wide for effect. “Same damn margarita I always make.” I
chuckle, shaking my head. “They seem to have hit a few of these ladies just right.”
“How about you, Madison?” Heath helps Sophia into her coat, and then does the same for Quinn.
“You need a ride home? The chauffeur is about to leave.”
I glance at Madison, who seems to still be off in another world. “I think she’s staying for a bit.”
Madison finally looks up, startled to find everyone leaving. “Oh. Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just going to
have some more water, then I’ll walk home. I don’t live far from here.”
I shake my head. “You won’t be walking. Too cold.” I glance at Heath, Sophia, and Quinn, who
are looking at me curiously. I wave them on their way. “I can get her home. Don’t worry about it.”
I don’t know what they’re thinking. No, wait, that’s a lie. I do know what they are thinking from
the looks on their faces, but one hello doesn’t mean jack. Helping someone home doesn’t mean much
more.
“Madison, are you good with that?” Quinn calls to her from the doorway.
She swivels on her stool to wave at them. “Yeah, I’m fine. See you guys at school.”
“Okay. Time to head out, then.” Heath corrals the two women and Ava in front of him, and they
exit to the steadily dropping temperatures outside. “Shawn, I’ll be by tomorrow for a drink. See you
at school, Madison.”
Madison gives them a small smile. “Bye, guys.”
Sophia punches her fist into the air on the way out, glancing over her shoulder at us. Her words
drift to me as she whisper-shouts, “My work here is done!”
Great. The matchmaker still thinks she’s on the job.
As the door shuts, I go back to cleaning up, preparing the bar for the next shift. The door opens
again, bringing Lenore in, the bartender who will be working the rest of the evening, and I give her a
wave and a nod as she heads for the office. She’ll be out in a few minutes, and then I’ll be able to get
Madison home.
I pat the bar in front of Madison and push another glass of water across to her. “You okay there?”
“Hmm?” She glances around. “Oh. Yeah, sorry.”
“You’ve been thinking hard about something.” I rest my hands on the top of the bar, trying to
accurately assess just how tipsy she is. I don’t think she’s that bad off. It seems more that she’s
become really preoccupied by whatever she’s worrying over. And it is some sort of worry. I can see
the complex emotions on her face, wave after wave of them.
She takes a long drink of the water, her throat working to swallow as I watch her. She then props
her elbow on the bar, holding her head up with her hand. “Yeah. I tend to think too much when I
drink.”
“I noticed.”
She purses her lips.
“What’s on your mind, Madison? This is what I’m supposed to do, right? Bartender as therapist?”
She giggle-snorts and takes another drink of water. Her eyes wander around the bar area, which is
completely empty, before landing on me again. She still doesn’t say anything.
She’s not the first person I’ve waited out before they spill their guts to me—and spill, they all
eventually do. I pick up a wine glass from the rack of clean ones that I just washed and dry it while I
wait for her. I have several dried and put away before she opens her mouth again.
“It’s this wedding I’m supposed to go to this weekend. It’s a family deal and probably, like, the
eighty-five thousandth since I broke up with Chase.” She rolls her eyes comedically and presses her
bow-shaped lips together.
Her exaggeration has me stifling laughter. So fucking funny. At the same time, though, I understand
what she’s saying. Being single sucks, especially at weddings.
She lifts the glass of water to her plump lips again, and I watch as she takes a sip. Oh, man. I’m
unable to control my gaze—it follows every last thing she does with that mouth of hers, like it has me
in a trance.
Continuing on, oblivious to my growing discomfort, she rambles, “I know in the grand scheme of
things Chase and I didn’t date all that long, just for a while after college, but it was nice to have him
around because I always had someone to go to events with. And here I am, years after we are no
longer together, still unattached, attending yet another family wedding alone. This is how you get stuck
at the kiddie table, you know? It sucks. It really sucks.” Her teeth trap her lower lip, and she slowly
rakes the upper ones over it. I’m completely fucking mesmerized.
I give myself a quick shake and nod my understanding.
She barrels on, and I can tell from the downward tilt of her lips that this whole situation has really
gotten to her. “The pity party is the worst. I have no doubt I’ll be asked a ton of times about whether
I’m seeing anyone, and the looks on their faces when I say, again, ‘No, no one special right now.’
Well, it gets freaking old, Shawn.”
Out of nowhere, my mouth opens, and I speak before I’ve actually had a chance to think things
through. “Why don’t you let me go with you?” I clear my throat, which suddenly feels thick. “I mean, I
could—if you wanted me to.” My gaze settles on her, and I wait for it to sink in what I’ve just offered.
What the fuck did I just do? Oh, boy.
I just hate to see her so worked up over something like this because I get it. I truly do. I haven’t
dated anyone seriously since Dana. Something in me makes me want to do whatever I can to protect
Madison from the hurt of the situation. To some, it may not be a big deal to just go it alone. But for her
it is, and that’s all that matters.
A wide range of emotions surge through her, showing on her face—confusion, embarrassment, and
… hope? Yep, I’m pretty sure that’s what that is, and it makes me feel better for offering. Maybe it
wasn’t such a crazy idea after all.
Her eyes flicker up to mine, the sheen of what I think are unshed tears in them making the green
impossibly vibrant and beautiful. “You’d … you would go with me?”
I shrug and smile, trying to play it off as no big deal. “Sure. Why not? There probably won’t be
any people I know. I love a little road trip. An adventure? Why not?”
“And you’d …” Her voice hitches, and she pauses, wetting her lips. “You’d pretend to be my
boyfriend?” She looks down at the bar as she traces her fingers in the condensation left behind by her
water glass.
I rub my hand over the stubble on my jaw, thinking. I nod. “You’ll have all the other girls jealous.
I’ll be such a good fake boyfriend you’ll forget it’s not real.”
She swallows hard at that last statement, but ignores it in favor of responding to the first thing I
said. “I’m not trying to make them jealous.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I wink at her. “They will be. Wait until you see my moves on the dance floor.” I
shimmy my hips and do a little spin in front of her.
She shakes her head with a small chuckle and mumbles to herself, “This has got to be the most
insane idea ever.”
I reach across the bar and touch a finger to her chin to get her to look at me. Mistake. Holy
mistake. Energy shoots through my arm and zips along my spine, the room suddenly way too hot. I
snatch my hand back and swallow hard, not quite understanding what’s just happened. Doing my best
to shake the feeling off, I implore, “Come on—drinks, dancing, people watching, cake? How can we
go wrong? And you’ll have your family and all the nosy people off your back because they’ll all think
we’re together.” Tilting my head, I watch her for a reaction, pick up another glass, and wipe it dry.
“Okay.” Her acceptance of my offer is no more than a whisper swept away by the wind that has
begun to howl outside. “Put your number into my phone for me, would you?” She pats herself down
until she finds it and slides it across the bar to me.
I plug my number in and then text myself so I have hers. “Done. Now, how about we get you
home?”
CHAPTER 3
 MADISON

When I wake in the morning with only a slight pounding in my head, I know I have Shawn to thank.
He’d driven me home, then made sure I drank another bottle of water and had some ibuprofen before
he left. I think I remember him saying something about how it would be a rough last day before
vacation if I had to go to work hungover. My brain ticks around for a second as I lie in bed for the last
few minutes before my alarm goes off. He’d said he’d text me about the details for this weekend.
Wait. This weekend! Had I imagined all that? Had I really agreed to have him attend this wedding
with me … as my fake boyfriend? My throat goes dry as I scramble through the events of the previous
evening in my head, trying to remember every little bit of our conversation after Sophia, Quinn, and
Heath had left the bar.
It had been his idea, if I remember correctly. He’d seemed like he genuinely wanted to help. And
now I can’t help but wonder—is he really going to follow through? It’s not like we knew each other
that well before, and I haven’t spoken to him since I split with Chase.
Oh God, what was I thinking? We’re going to attempt to fake a relationship in front of my entire
family. How would this possibly work?
I suddenly feel like I may throw up, and it’s not because of the drinking last night. I’m nervous.
My ex’s best friend. My ex’s very hot best friend. And I’ve agreed to let him pretend to love me
this weekend. A swift rush of heat washes over me, warming parts of my body better left
unmentioned.
No one—and I mean no one—knows this, but I’d totally had a little crush on him in high school.
Nothing ever came of it. Of course it hadn’t because I hadn’t done anything about it. He was a cute,
sweet guy, and always seemed just a little out of my reach. He was the nice person who’d help the
music teacher after school. He’d held doors for people. He’d been the one who’d say hello to the new
kid in the hallway. He was a kindhearted guy, if a little broody at times. I’d always just chalked that
up to his musician’s heart because, man, had he played a mean guitar.
Then the next time Shawn and I’d circled in the same orbit, I’d been dating his best friend. A
friend had introduced me to Chase, and I remember thinking it was funny I’d never really noticed him
in high school. I’d been so into Shawn, Chase had paled in comparison. Imagine my surprise when my
crush showed up at the bar to meet us and hang out. It was like the wind had been knocked straight out
of me. Fate is cruel sometimes. I’d stuffed my schoolgirl feelings down, all lingering thoughts about
Shawn buried deep.
I’d kept my distance as much as possible for a while. But when I’d heard Shawn was involved
with a nice girl, I’d breathed a sigh of relief. At least there would be no more awkward outings with
just the three of us. We’d even hung out as a foursome once or twice. I hadn’t been jealous of his
sweetness with her. Nope, not at all. Liar.
I’d been shocked only a few months later when I’d found out Shawn had cheated on Dana. It had
seemed so out of character, but I’d seen the evidence with my own eyes, and Chase had casually
shrugged his shoulders, like it was a normal thing for a guy to do.
Who knows what causes people to cheat anyway; I’d certainly never thought Chase would do that
to me, but eventually he had.
Men, they kind of suck. The whole situation made me overly cautious to date or get close to
anyone.
I’ve even continued to live in the same town as Shawn for over two years now and have barely
even seen him. Maybe in the back of my head, I’ve avoided him, not wanting to deal with what I knew
he’d done.
That all happened years ago, though, and I’ve changed since then—grown up—so maybe Shawn
has, too. And here he is, offering me a solution to my embarrassing single-lady issue … and he’s even
being nice about it.
I roll over to grab for my phone off the nightstand. It’s not like I’m actually dating him. Just fake
dating. He’ll be my fake boyfriend and I’ll be his fake girlfriend, and I guess we’ll see how many
people we can manage to fool. It’d seemed like he was into it, maybe even a little excited about it.
When he’d said the other girls would all be jealous, his bright blue eyes had held mine so steadily,
willing me to say yes. So I’d agreed, somehow strangely affected by him after all these years.
Besides, I’d have been a fool to pass up the chance to walk into a wedding on his arm. To show
everyone that Madison Green really isn’t the loser who can’t seem to find the right guy.
Even so … I blow out a quick breath. I should give him an out. Maybe he’d suggested it assuming
I’d say no or that I’d say he was off his rocker, completely disregarding the offer. Oh God, what if he
feels sorry for me? The thought makes my mood sour, and I grimace as I tap out a text to him.

Me: Hey, it’s Madison. Thanks for getting me home last night.

My fingers feel damp with nervous sweat, and I hesitate over what message to send next. I bite my
lip, and will the sharp sting in my nose to disappear. I’m not going to cry over letting him off the hook.
This is stupid.
Me: I wanted you to know that I appreciate your offer, but you don’t have to go with me to the
wedding.

My alarm goes off, and I silence it, rolling out of bed. There. I guess that does it. I stumble to my
closet, eyes still a little bleary with sleep. I pull out my NHS sweatshirt along with a T-shirt, a pair of
jeans, and undergarments and lay them out on the bed. We’re allowed to dress down the day before
break, which is good for me given my current state of mind. Yawning, I hustle to the bathroom for a
quick shower.
I set my phone on the counter, mumbling all the while about how I’ll probably end up awkward
and alone in a corner at this stupid wedding.
Just as I strip out of my T-shirt and sleep shorts, my phone lights up with an incoming text. I go
ahead and turn the shower on, then pick up my phone again to look at the text while I wait for the
water to heat.

Shawn: Good morning. Feeling okay today?

Me: I’m fine. But if you’ve decided you had an out-of-body moment and hadn’t realized what you
were offering …

I bite my lip. Why does it make me feel so damn sad that I’m trying to make him change his mind
about going? I hold my fingers under the spray of the water. Hot. I pull my hand back out and take a
quick second to finish my thought.

Me: I’m okay with that.

I set the phone on the counter and hurriedly step under the hot spray of water. I make quick work
of shampooing my thick hair, then apply a handful of conditioner to the long curls, winding them
around and piling them high on top of my head. When I pick up the shower pouf and body wash, I
realize my hands are shaking. What the hell? It’s not that big of a deal. He doesn’t have to go with
me. I’m okay. Strong, independent female right here, folks.
I sniffle. Oh, Madison. You are such a bad liar.
I’m actually terrified that he’ll back out, and I’m the one who suggested I’d be fine if he didn’t
come with me. Stupid.
It’ll be nothing when he backs out, Madi. Just one more blow to your already fragile ego.
You’ll go to this wedding alone and just tell everyone to eff off. It’ll be fine.
It may sound fine to the logical part of my brain, but by the time I get out of the shower, tears are
leaking from my eyes, and my nose is bright red when I look at my reflection in the mirror. I take a
second to blot my eyes and blow my nose before looking at myself again.
 Crap. Nothing like going to school on the last day before break looking exactly like Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer. My shoulders slump as I dry myself off, my pep talk in the shower having done
no damn good at all.
I wipe my fingers under my eyes, and notice my phone is lighting up again. When I thumb it open,
I’m surprised by the quantity of texts.

Shawn: I knew what I was offering.

Shawn: I’m going with you. It’ll work out, you’ll see.
Shawn: I’m very charming. And a good dancer.

It looks like he’d stopped there to wait for me to respond, and when I hadn’t, another set of texts
had come in. Oops.

Shawn: Madison?
Shawn: Hey, are you okay over there?
Shawn: Don’t make me come check on you.

I huff out a frantic breath, and finally realize if I don’t respond, he’s likely to march right over
here, and I don’t have time for that. I’ve got to get to work.

Me: Sorry, I was in the shower. You understand that we’ll have to act like we’re really together,
right?
Me: Like together, together.
Me: Otherwise, I’m just the loser who doesn’t have a boyfriend and had to ask an old friend to be her
date to a wedding.

Ugh. Madison, how do you manage to get yourself into these messes? I wrap a towel around
myself and head back to my bedroom where I slip into my panties and bra, then sit down on my bed to
pull on my jeans and throw first my T-shirt and then my sweatshirt over my head.

Shawn: I understand perfectly well what we’d be doing. And you aren’t a loser, Madison.

I press my lips together. He’s being so damn nice I don’t know how to respond, so I don’t. I gather
up my things and take off for school. The whole way there, my mind is all twisted up as I try to decide
if I’m being silly or taking this too seriously or what. I can’t figure myself out.
Deciding I need help with this whole situation, I shoot off a quick message to Sophia.
Me: Can you come see me when you get to school?
Me: I think Shawn is coming with me to the wedding.
Me: I’m freaking out.
Sophia: Whaaaa? See you in a bit.

Upon entering the building, I wave at students, make small-talk with other teachers, and check my
box in the office, all while inwardly panicking about whether or not to have Shawn come with me.
Oh, and whether or not I still look like Rudolph. Ugh.
When I get to the library, I sit down behind my desk, exhaling loudly. I think I’m finally ready to
give him the green light. I just hope I’m not getting in over my head.

Me: Okay. Think of all the things you’d know about me if we were together. We can discuss them on
the drive. I’ll do the same.
Shawn: Logistics?
Me: Meet this afternoon, drive up, wedding is Saturday, late afternoon. Stay over again.
Shawn: So, two nights? What am I getting into?
Me: Crap. Is that too much to ask? I mean, we could come back—

Abort mission. Why did I think this was a good idea? Had I even mentioned to him that the trip
was overnight? Over two nights?
“Hey, Madison. How’s the margarita brain this morning?”
My head shoots up to find Sophia perched on the other side of my desk. I guess I was so involved
in the arrangements with Shawn that I hadn’t heard her sneak in like a quiet little cat.
I press one hand to my chest, gasping for air. “You scared me.”
She wrinkles her nose. “Whatcha doing there?” Her head bobs in the direction of my phone.
I grimace. “Nothing really. Just talking to Shawn.”
“Nice. So, whose idea was this?”
I clamp my teeth together and suck in some air as I peer up at her. “Um. It was his …”
Her lips tip up into a grin. “It’s okay if you like him, you know. He’s a nice guy.”
I glance back down at my phone to see another response. I hold up a finger to Sophia. “Give me a
sec.”

Shawn: I’m messing with you. I’m fine getting back on Sunday. I’ll make sure all the shifts at the bar
are taken care of. No worries at all.
Me: See you after school, then. I’m done at one. I can come by the bar when I’m ready. Your car or
mine?
Shawn: We can take my truck. See you soon.
 My heart hammers behind my rib cage, and when I go to set my phone down in front of me, it
clatters on the desktop. I draw my shaky hand back and into my lap where Sophia can’t see it.
“Miss Green, what aren’t you telling me?”
I look up, trying to plaster on my most innocent face. “Um. Well, there’s a thing or two you don’t
know.”
Sophia’s eyes widen. “Tell me everything.”
CHAPTER 4
 SHAWN

Friday mornings and afternoons are fairly quiet at the bar. There’s only one person who regularly
shows up before four. The bell above the door jingles. Today, he’s earlier than normal because of the
one o’clock release for the students.
Heath strolls in and slaps his hands on the bar. “Hey, bro.” He slides onto the barstool across
from where I’m diligently slicing fruit for cocktails. “What’s this I hear about you going to some
wedding this weekend?”
I shrug nonchalantly. “Yep, with Madison.”
“Madison, Madison. The librarian from the high school who was here last night? The one who
went to our high school? The one who dated your best friend after college?”
“Yeah. Don’t tell me you didn’t have something to do with Sophia ‘reintroducing’ her to me last
night.” I open and then slide a bottle of his favorite beer over to him.
Heath takes a quick gulp and chuckles. “Hey, you’re the one who asked about her last week. All I
did was mention something to Sophia about how you’d seen Madison around and wasn’t she in the
book club? You know Sophia well enough to know she took matters into her own hands from there.”
I roll my eyes to the ceiling. “Whatever. But yeah, we talked about this wedding she has to go to
this weekend after you all took off.”
Heath works his jaw back and forth. “Isn’t that going to be awkward as hell, considering what you
know about Chase? Does she even know you all aren’t friends anymore?”
My eyes meet his. “I’m not sure. I don’t know if she thinks we are or not. We’d started to drift
apart naturally before they broke up. And then I found out what he’d done to mess up my relationship
with Dana and that was definitely that. I don’t know what, if anything, Madison knows about that
whole debacle.”
Heath shakes his head and takes another sip of his beer. “Damn bro, that’s too much drama for
me.”
I snort at him. “Right. Like I haven’t witnessed you and Sophia have your share of ups and downs.
Anyway, I think I’ve kind of subconsciously avoided being places I knew she’d be since then. I don’t
even know how two people can live in the same town and not run into each other,” I grumble, setting
down the paring knife and fruit I’d been working with before planting my hands on the counter and
eyeing my brother. “My plan is to keep things simple. Wedding escort, dinner, dancing, cake.”
“So, wait, is this an actual date or what? I’m losing track already.” The bastard stifles another
laugh.
“Technically, it’s a fake date.”
“What exactly do you mean when you say fake?”
“Listen, you aren’t to breathe a word of this to Sophia. Or anyone else. I don’t want Madison
thinking I betrayed her trust.”
“You know if Sophia asks, that I won’t lie to her about anything. I don’t even fib.”
I roll my eyes again. “Fine. Just make sure Sophia is aware that it’s a sensitive situation.” I exhale
slowly. “Apparently, Madison hasn’t dated anyone seriously since Chase and was upset thinking
about going to yet another family function alone.”
“So, you … what? Offered yourself up to be her boyfriend for the weekend?”
“Well, yeah.” My brows draw together. “Pretty much. But she was straight up panicking this
morning about the whole thing. She almost called it all off.”
Heath snorts, shaking his head, his eyes alight with amusement. “Oh, man. Well, this should be
interesting. And as for keeping things simple? Nothing like this is ever simple. In fact, very fucking
complicated sounds more like what you’re about to do, man.”
I put the fruit into containers and tuck them in the fridge, and then take another few seconds to give
my hands a rinse. Heath takes another gulp of his beer while eyeing me like he knows I’ve gotten in
over my head. Blowing out a quick breath, I rough a hand through my hair. “Yeah, well, I can’t back
out now. I wouldn’t do that to her.”
He smiles and toasts me with his bottle. “Of course you wouldn’t. Good luck with it. She should
be here any minute, by the way. She said something to Sophia about grabbing her things from home
and meeting you here.”
“Man, you gossip as bad as Sophia these days.”
“Eh, whatever. It’s easier to be completely transparent with each other. I told you we tell each
other everything.” He laughs when I roll my eyes at him for a third time. “You ready?”
I glance up at the clock on the wall. Yep. T-minus five minutes to fake boyfriend. “My bag is
already in the truck.”

Madison

I hurry from my apartment down to the bar, wheeling a small carry-on suitcase behind me with an
overnight bag thrown over my shoulder. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.
 It’s twenty-five degrees outside and yet, I’m sweating. Awesome. This is a case of nerves unlike
I’ve ever had before.
It’s finally hitting me exactly what I’m going to have to do and be like with Shawn this weekend.
Hopefully, we’ll pull the wool over everyone’s eyes. Give the illusion of being happily together in a
long-standing, loving relationship.
After talking to Sophia this morning, it dawned on me that this may be more difficult to pull off
than I’d first assumed. Because as much as I keep saying to myself it’s no big deal and we’re just
putting one over on my family so I don’t have to deal with the curious stares and the talking behind the
hands that always happens at events like this, I’ve had kind of a hard time already. I’m wavering
between confusion and all-out panic over just who Shawn is to me.
First, I’ve had to shove thoughts of him being a cheater out of my head and try to focus on him as
the guy who is trying to help me. For my purposes, it doesn’t matter what he’d done behind his
girlfriend’s back.
But second, this is someone who I’ve always found very attractive, and the more interaction I’ve
had with him in the last twenty-four hours, the more I remember why I’d liked him. Which makes no
freaking sense, knowing what I know about him. The bottom line is I’m terribly confused. My stomach
has been full of anxious flutters which have only increased in intensity the closer I get to meeting up
with him. How did I ever think I’d get through forty-eight plus hours of a wedding weekend in his
presence?
With a deep gulp of fortifying air, I pull open the door to the bar and roll my bag inside. Just as I
set my things out of the way and look up, Shawn strides down the hallway from the back. Our eyes
meet and … Someone help me. I think I’m going to pass out right here.
He. Looks. Good.
My gaze sweeps down over him quickly, then meanders its way back up. He’s got boots on his
feet, jeans that fit his strong legs like they were made for him, and his narrow waist, broad chest, and
muscular shoulders are half hidden under the coat he’s just pulled on. His hair is strategically
rumpled, and his face … he’s so damn good-looking with his square chiseled jaw and defined
cheekbones. His blue eyes twinkle as they shine brightly, waiting for me to finish my perusal.
That wasn’t embarrassing at all. I guess if you are going to have a fake boyfriend for a weekend,
it’s helpful if he’s attractive. Inwardly, I cringe at my thoughts, but I put a smile on my face in greeting.
My voice comes out in a croak. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah, I—oh wait, just a sec.” He holds up a finger before bolting back down the hallway and up
the stairs at the end. When he comes down a few minutes later, he has his guitar in hand and a broad
smile flashes across his ruggedly handsome face.
I point up with my finger, glancing at the ceiling. “You live up there?”
“Yeah. There’s an apartment up there. I thought you knew that.”
“Nope. And you still play guitar.” I wince as I realize it’d come out as more of a statement than a
question, considering he’s standing there holding one. At this point, I’m just saying anything to keep
the conversation rolling and my mind off of where we are going and what we are doing.
“Yep, I do. It helps me relax.” He chuckles. “I figure we may need it this weekend.”
My lips twitch. He’s … thoughtful. “Fair enough. Are you ready to go?”
“Sure am. My truck’s out back. Let’s do this.” He points at my bag. “Let me help you with that.”
He hands me my smaller bag and pulls up the handle on the roller bag before he leads me out the back
door into the biting cold air. He carefully loads his guitar—obviously, it’s his baby—onto the back
seat and places my bag behind the passenger seat before slamming the door shut and turning to me, his
arms outstretched. “Ready, girlfriend?” He hooks an arm around my shoulders and pulls me to him
with a quick squeeze before he opens the passenger door for me.
I can’t hide my semi-shocked expression from him, and he gets a funny look on his face. “What?
Too soon?”
“No, I—practice is good, I guess.” I give him a small smile before I reach for the handle, step on
the running board, and pull myself into the cab of the huge truck. Once I’m seated, I set my bag on the
floorboard and grab for the seat buckle, preparing to strap in. That’s when I realize he’s still standing
there, just inside the open door.
“I don’t want to make this weird for you. I’m sorry.” He grabs the back of his neck, pulling on it.
“I’m fine, Shawn. You just surprised me, but we’re going to be together all weekend. I’m sure I’ll
get used to you touching me.”
Because that’s what had sent me reeling—that’s why I’m currently quaking in my running shoes—I
haven’t had a man’s arm around me in a long, long time. It felt good. His strength, the size of him, his
warmth, the way his scent is still swirling around my head, invading my senses. He smells like a mix
of fresh citrus fruit and some sort of cologne. Everything about him feels good to me.
While I’m recovering from the onslaught of what he’s stirring inside me, he circles to the other
side, and climbs into the driver’s seat, setting his wallet, a charger, a pair of gloves, and a hat in the
center console. I glance at the small pile. “You’re like a Boy Scout, huh?”
Starting the truck, he pulls out of the parking space before responding to me with an easy grin.
“Yep. Pretty much always prepared. Especially on a road trip.” He pulls onto the main road and
heads out of town. “You said this place is near Kingston?”
“Yeah.” I waggle my phone. “I have my GPS set with the address.”
“Good. Then let’s get reacquainted, girlfriend.” He sends me a wink that I swear looks half-
naughty.
I suppose it’s a little late now to wonder again what I’ve gotten myself into, so here we go—me
and my fake boyfriend—on a weekend-long road trip together.
CHAPTER 5
 MADISON

We spend the first five minutes mostly in silence. I keep trying to sneak peeks at Shawn, but every
time I do, he notices, and a tiny little smirk lifts one corner of his mouth. My face feels hot, and I’m
definitely sweating again. I can’t even blame it on the truck’s heater either. It’s all about my proximity
to Shawn and those wicked little looks he keeps giving me.
After another couple of minutes, I motion to the radio. “Do you mind if I put on some music?”
He shakes his head. “Not at all.”
With a quick smile, I turn the radio on and flip through the stations until I find one that has some
fairly new popular music on it. Before long, I’m humming along, unable to keep quiet. The next time I
glance in Shawn’s direction he smiles big.
“I remember how much you love music. Go ahead and sing along if you want.”
Suddenly embarrassed, I bite my lip, the edges of my mouth curving into a smile. “Sorry.”
“No need to be sorry about it. I love your voice. I remember that for sure.”
I suck in a breath at the idea he’d paid any attention to me at all. “Okay … so, speaking of, tell me
everything you remember about me. Maybe that’s where we start with this whole mess. We’ve got
two hours to figure out how to act around each other and to prepare ourselves for questions people
may ask.”
“Right.” He holds out his hand. “Give me your hand.”
My face screws up into a frown, and I look at him like he’s lost his mind because I think maybe he
has. “What?”
“If you’re my girlfriend, I’m definitely holding your hand this weekend. And do you really want
that face you just made to be the one you show to your family when I take your hand in mine at this
place?”
I work my jaw. “You have a point.” I place my hand in his where it’s resting on the center
console. It’s big and warm, his fingertips just a little rough—I assume from playing his guitar—and
the overall sensation of having my hand in his just about knocks me over, so it’s a good thing I’m
already sitting down.
He squeezes my hand gently and gives me a sheepish smile. “See? Not so bad. This is going to be
easy.”
I draw in a stuttered breath. “Easy.”
He chuckles. “Anyway, that’s my first real memory of you—all the way back in high school when
you sang in the choir. Do you still sing?”
I let the breath back out. “Um. In the shower? No, I’m kidding … but not. And I also sing a really
wicked version of ‘Happy Birthday.’ That’s the extent of my singing these days.” I lift my shoulders
and let them drop. “Oh, and along with the radio, but you already heard that.”
Laughter rumbles from deep in his stomach. “I don’t remember you being funny.”
I shrug and hold up my free hand. “I’m less uptight than I used to be, I guess.”
He squeezes my hand in his. “I didn’t mean you were uptight. You just used to be a little quieter
and more reserved, even when I saw you just a few years back. And that image of you fit the librarian
you were about to become.” He runs his thumb over the back of my hand, sending shivers through me.
“Doesn’t mean I don’t like your sense of humor. Tell me about that job. I remember when you got it
you seemed really happy about it.”
I’m trying really hard to make all the words he’s saying compute in my head, but the way his
thumb lazily moves over the skin on the back of my hand is really damn distracting. I glance at his
profile as he watches the road, and that turns out to be a bad idea, as now I’m wondering what it
would feel like if I reached out and scratched my fingers through the stubble on his cheek. Oh my
God, Madison, breathe. You can do this. It’s just small talk about work. Easy.
“I love to read, I love kids, and I love helping people, so it’s a good fit for me. Especially since
my career as a backup singer for Beyoncé never took off, you know?” I send him a teasing grin, which
he returns before I look out the side window. “It’s not exactly what I envisioned doing for the rest of
my life, but I’m happy enough with it for now.” I look back over at him. “What about this financial
advisor stuff? That doesn’t seem quite like you either.”
His hand grips the steering wheel a little more tightly than before. He side-eyes me before
answering. “I did what I thought was sensible at the time. And …” he sucks in air through his teeth, “I
admit it—I hate it. I’ve scaled way back with it and mostly just work at the bar now, with the
exception of a few clients. It’s hard to think I wasted time and money going to school for a degree
when I’m not going to use it.” He hesitates, glancing at me for a second. “It just hasn’t turned out to be
what I want for myself.”
“Hey, you never know, maybe we’ll reinvent ourselves at some point. A new reincarnation of you
and me.” I swallow hard. That kind of sounded like I’d meant you and me together.
He chuckles, “And would that make you a singing butterfly leaving the librarian cocoon?”
I wrinkle my nose. “Maybe. We’ll see. Unlike your financial advisor gig, I do actually enjoy
working at the school, so I’d be okay just having something on the side to enjoy. Something that’s just
for me.” My heart beats fast as Shawn looks at me, his gaze meeting mine. Oh, man. Why does it feel
like he’s seeing my every thought playing out in my eyes? Deep breaths.
 Relief pours through me when he focuses back on the road. “How about you tell me about this
book club that you are in because it sounded like a whole lot of noise to me.” He shakes his head with
a quick laugh. “Like it was all a clever, adult excuse for getting together for a little girl talk.”
“I plead the fifth.” Oh my God, how much had he heard? I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to
remember everything we’d discussed, not realizing that our words were being overheard. I blame it
on his margaritas.
He gets my attention with gentle pressure from his hand. “Not that I minded you all in there. It was
interesting, especially the discussion on penis size.” I can see his tongue tucked in his cheek from
here.
I press my lips together, trying not to laugh. A blush rises on my cheeks, and I just know they are
bright pink like the color of cotton candy. I can’t hold it in, I burst out laughing and cover my mouth
with my hand. “I—uh … Our conversations do tend to devolve pretty quickly sometimes.”
He lets out a low whistle. “You can say that again. Because, damn. When I heard—I think it was
Piper?—spell out C-O-C-K, I had to go into the back to hide from you all. I was just dying back
there.”
That’s all it takes for me to absolutely lose it. I choke with laughter as my chest heaves. Shawn
lets go of my hand and pulls open a compartment in the center console, passing me a small bottle of
water.
“You are a Boy Scout, aren’t you?”
“I’ll always be prepared for you, girlfriend.” He winks at me and my insides melt, all warm and
gooey. I’m enjoying this conversation, we’re getting along just fine, and now I wonder—would he
talk to me like this if he wasn’t studying up on me for our weekend? Is this all part of the fake
boyfriend deal, or is he genuinely interested in the things he’s been asking me about?
CHAPTER 6
 SHAWN

One time, way back in high school, I’d been seated close enough to Madison that when she turned her
head, the scent of fresh raspberries and cream floated right over to me, and I’d had a fleeting thought
to nuzzle my face in her hair. She’d never even looked my way—I was just a quiet guy with a guitar
back then.
That same fruity scent floats across the cab of the truck to me, invading my senses and driving me
half-insane with lust. Only about an hour more of being trapped in here with her. She’s damned
intoxicating.
Fuck. I’m supposed to be her fake boyfriend, who most certainly isn’t supposed to be having
these thoughts about my former best friend’s girl. Yet, she’s here and I’m here and my head is full of
indecent thoughts of things I’d like to do with her, to her. The first of my Madison discoveries would
be finding out if the scent of raspberries and cream is just in her hair or if she smells like that
everywhere. I want to run my lips over her skin, use my tongue, taste every inch of her. Visions of her
spread out on a bed assault me from all sides—that gloriously long, curly hair fanned out over a
pillow; miles of perfect, pale, creamy skin; dangerous curves; the scent of her overwhelming me. I
wouldn’t be able to do anything else at that point but claim her, drive myself into her tight, wet heat
over and over until I’m enveloped by the madness. All I’d see, feel, and hear would be her. Because
this girl? She’s so much more than I remember, and I can’t wait until I know every last piece of her.
I blow out a breath and mentally slap myself. We’ve barely started the weekend and this is how
it’s going? I have a raging hard-on just listening to her talk and laugh. How the hell am I going to be
her fake boyfriend—touch her, hug her, pretend to love her—and then be able to rein myself in when
we are alone? This game we’re playing may prove to be more dangerous than either of us anticipates.
I’m terrified I’m going to do something wrong because just the touch of her hand and the smile she
offers me have my insides all twisted up like a pretzel—contorted and curled in on itself—and it’s
like nothing I’ve felt in my whole life.
“Shawn? Did you hear me?”
I glance over at her, the bottle of water still in her hands. I keep both of my hands on the wheel,
and I drum my thumbs to the beat of the music. I’m not sure I can handle taking her hand again right
now. “Sorry, I got lost in the music for a second. What’d you ask me?”
Her brow quirks, and she eyes me carefully, like she’s wondering what the heck I was thinking
about just then, but there’s no way I’m telling her. “I said, speaking of the girl talk you caught wind of,
I’d have thought you’d heard it all, working in a bar like you do.”
“Pfft. Are you kidding? It’s quiet in there most of the time. It’s not like a college bar. We cater to
a more calm, peaceful crowd.” I steal a peek and find her body gently moving to the music. I groan
internally and shift around in my seat in an attempt to alleviate the situation in my jeans, but it doesn’t
help. “You all were entertaining, though. You can come back any time.”
“Careful what you wish for. It’s my turn to choose the location of the next book club meeting.” She
turns a bit in her seat. “So, speaking of, why did you decide to work as a bartender? I mean, that’s
supposed to be the side gig, right?” I glance at her, and she shrugs. “Just trying to get to know my
boyfriend. This is like a two-hour speed date to a fully-developed relationship.”
I snort. “Yeah. Well, first and foremost, the bar manager gig came with the apartment. I actually
wrangle the schedule and am responsible for keeping the place running smoothly in addition to the
shifts I work. And well, I guess I like listening to people talk about their problems. Sometimes it’s
easier than thinking about my own.”
She doesn’t say anything to that, just nods like she’s taking me all in. I get the sudden idea that
maybe this is a girl who gets me. I don’t fully understand why, but I feel like she does. Her tongue
darts out to wet her lower lip, and she clears her throat. “I think we should talk about our
‘relationship’ for a little bit.”
My gaze flicks to her and then back to the road. “Oh, right. You mean some information about how
we met and all. But, I mean, who is really going to ask us anything? Who’ll be there that I’d even
know?”
She purses her lips, suddenly looking uncomfortable. “Well, obviously my parents and my older
brother will have questions. Those are the big ones, but it’s my cousin’s wedding, so there will be
plenty of curious—"
“Nosy,” I grit out. I hate how when she thinks about these people watching her, her whole body
tenses up and her eyes go wide, like a deer in headlights.
“Right. There will be plenty of nosy extended family members and old friends there.”
What I really need to know is how far she wants me to take this ruse. I mean, am I supposed to
hold her hand and kiss her cheek or am I making out with her on the dance floor? My jeans tighten
uncomfortably again at the thought. Get your mind off of her sweet body and kissable lips, Shawn. I
inhale, filling my lungs, and then let the air out steadily to calm myself. “Okay, so I guess we should
figure this out. We originally met in high school. But how’d we come to be together?”
Her face pales and her lips part as she thinks about it. “Oh, um.”
I know she’s thinking about the fact that I’m her ex’s best friend … or I was, anyway. Perhaps not
the ideal situation we’re putting ourselves in, but it is what it is. “They’re going to ask, Madison. We
can just say we met again through my brother and Sophia. Because that’s the closest thing to the truth,
right?”
“Well, I guess that’s what they say about lying, right? Keep it as close to the actual truth as you
can and you are less likely to get tripped up in your lie.”
“Exactly. So, how familiar do you want me to be with you?”
Her jaw clamps shut and her teeth grind together as she peers over at me, a blush stealing over her
cheeks before it deepens into a full-on fiery red. It only makes her prettier, but I’m sure she doesn’t
realize that. “Pretty familiar, I guess? Is that okay?”
“Madi, it’s fine. This is what I’m here for this weekend, right? You don’t have to be nervous with
me. You can say stuff like, ‘Shawn, treat me like we are intimate with each other,’ and I won’t blink
an eye.” I clear my throat. “And here’s another good question: are we just dating or are we living
together?”
She chews on her lip and glances at me before dropping her head and staring at her hands in her
lap. “Well, my parents will think it’s odd if I hadn’t told them I was dating anyone and all of a sudden
I’m living with you, so just dating for now.” From the corner of my eye, I notice her hands begin to
fidget and twist together in her lap. I’m not even sure she realizes she’s doing it.
“How long have we been dating?” My gaze slides back up to her face, taking in the little worry
lines etched in her forehead and the way she keeps biting her lip. My need to make sure she’s not
freaking out is rising steadily as I watch her. The last thing I want is to do all of this and then have her
panic and make us turn around. We can get through this weekend for her. We can.
“I feel like it should be long enough that we’re …” She looks over at me, those green eyes pinned
on my blue ones. Blinking rapidly, her breath hitches as she opens her mouth to speak. “That we’re
—”
My voice rasps up and out of my throat, low and gravelly. “That we’re in love?”
I can see her chest jerking with her intake of breath. “Um, yeah. So, how long does that take?”
“Maybe four or five months?”
She nods. “Okay. So, let’s say four months.”
We fall silent for a few minutes. Finally, I can’t stand it any longer. I prop my elbow against the
door, resting my head on my hand as I steal another look at her and then back at the road. “So, um.
How do I ask this? Uh, have we …?” My eyebrows wiggle suggestively, trying to put her more at
ease with the question.
She covers her mouth before a small giggle works its way from her and she grins, ducking her
head between her shoulders. “Yes. I think we’ve definitely done that.”
I groan, purposely sending her a naughty wink. “Thank goodness because I can’t imagine the case
of blue balls I’d have if we hadn’t after four months.”
She swats at my arm with a giggle, her face flaming red again. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
“And I can’t believe you and your friends talked for a full fifteen minutes in my place of work
about ‘peen,’ as Hadleigh so delicately put it.”
Madison snorts with laughter. She bends at the waist, her hands covering her face, shoulders
shaking, and I think this may be the best I’ve ever felt.
And it’s fake. This is fake. I keep needing to remind myself of it because every time I look at her, I
just want to pull her into my arms, bury my face in her sweet-smelling hair, and never let go.
It’s going to be an interesting weekend, that is for damn sure.
CHAPTER 7
 MADISON

When we arrive at the huge bed-and-breakfast where the wedding is taking place, all I can do is sigh.
It’s the perfect countryside backdrop for photos and a beautiful reception. The church where the
ceremony will take place is just around the corner; we passed it on the way in and made a note of it
since we’ll be right back there tomorrow afternoon.
Overall, it’s a fantastic venue, and I know this girl’s parents must be spending a literal fortune on
this wedding. My cousin, Chuck, even seemed excited when he’d told me all about their plans a few
months back. I hadn’t thought men got excited about weddings, but there you have it.
What must it be like to prepare to get married—to tie yourself to someone else in front of all of
your friends and family? I can’t even imagine the case of nerves I’ll have on my wedding day. It
makes no sense to worry about it because I’m not sure it’ll ever happen. No sense in working myself
up over it, right?
I take a deep breath. Besides, I’m already worked up plenty, thanks to Shawn. He’d incited me
into a super-flustered state with all of his questions. You’d think it would be the question about
whether or not we’ve already had sex that would have done me in, but it wasn’t. It was actually the
question about whether or not we were in love that made my stomach flutter and my blood race. I
guess I’m just a hopeless romantic at heart because I do want to believe that’ll happen for me
someday. I want to be in love.
I should put all of this conjecture about my future right out of my head for the time being though.
Right now, the only thing I need to do is get through this weekend without looking pathetic. But
thinking about faking being in love with Shawn? Well, that had about done me in. He makes my mind
twirl around thinking dumb things it really shouldn’t—wanting things it can’t have. I don’t know how
I’m going to handle this. I’d been hoping that with him by my side, I could pull it off, but I’m also
plenty aware of finding myself more and more attracted to him. Not a fake attraction, either. The man
is just too damn sexy for words.
When I finally blink my eyes, I snap back to reality. Shawn stands there, head cocked to the side,
watching me, as he holds the handle of my roller bag out to me. He’s already got his bag slung over
his shoulder, guitar in his other hand, ready to go.
 Like a fool, I’d been standing there, imagining what those big hands would feel like gripping the
bare skin of my hips. How they’d feel cupping my breasts …
Oh God, Madison. What the hell are you doing?
I shiver in the cold air and take my bag from him. We don’t hesitate any longer before we head
inside. I’m glad I brought my heavy coat and gloves, even if they’ll make my outfit for the wedding
look ridiculous. Shawn holds the door for me, and I walk past him into the foyer. I stop short when we
get in there and see a sweet-looking older lady waiting for us at the check-in desk. Uh-oh. I kind of
forgot about this part. The hotel room … I’ll have to share it with Shawn to keep up the pretense of
him being my boyfriend.
I tug on the arm of his thick coat. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”
He throws an apologetic grin at the lady behind the desk that has her tittering where she stands,
and waving her hand. “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
He spins around to face me, and I sidle up close to him, hiking up on my toes so I can keep my
voice low. “I didn’t know what to say when my cousin asked me about room accommodations.”
Shawn tucks his head down next to mine, his warm breath right at my ear, his lips grazing my
earlobe and making me tingle in places I shouldn’t. “Whatever is fine. We’ll figure it out.” His face
nuzzles against my neck for about two seconds longer than I would have thought was appropriate.
When he shifts his body, he leans in and touches his forehead to mine. “Come on, babe. Let’s get
checked in.” His eyes lock on mine, a certain twinkle in them making me sure he’s doing this for the
lady’s benefit, but it sets my insides to dancing just the same. He puts an arm around me, his hand at
the small of my back, and guides me back over to her.
I give her a tentative smile. “Sorry. I’m Madison Green. We’re here for the Graves wedding.”
With a warm smile, she chirps, “Yes, sweetie, I have a room set aside for you.” She coughs
delicately. “I’d say I’m sorry it’s a double bed and not a queen or king,” she covers her mouth for a
second, looking up at Shawn, “but I don’t think I’d mind, if I were you.” At that, the woman giggles
behind her hand like it’s her job.
Shawn coughs to cover a laugh. “I’m sure we’ll be fine in any room you have for us. Thank you.”
“The room is already paid for, so you’re all set.” She reaches behind her to snag a key off the
wall and a small basket from the counter behind her. “Here we are. Here’s your key. Sorry we’re old-
fashioned here, and this is a little thank you from the bride and groom.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Shawn graciously takes the key from her, and I accept the basket.
“You kids have fun now.” She giggles again and looks Shawn up and down. Again. “Number
eight. Second floor, the room at the end of the hall on the right.”
Shawn and I exchange a grin and head for the stairs. Once we’ve made our way to the second
floor, we take one look at each other and can’t contain ourselves any longer. We chuckle all the way
to the end of the hall.
“Wow. You weren’t kidding about making all the ladies jealous, were you?” I cover my mouth to
try to stop more laughter from rippling from me. “My abs are sore from laughing so much.”
He winks at me as he slides the key into the lock and lets us in. “Well, then I’m feeling pretty
secure in my new job right now.”
“Which job is that? The fake boyfriend?”
“Nope. Personal ab trainer.”
Mm. He can be my personal ab trainer any day of the week. I snicker, “Right. Well, just remember
it’s the other job I’m more interested in you excelling at.”
“Don’t worry. I excel at just about everything I do.”
I don’t doubt him for a second. I glance over my shoulder and catch his smirk as I walk into the
small room, but my legs practically buckle as my gaze shifts back around and lands on the tiniest bed
I’ve ever seen.
Behind me, Shawn coughs then sputters, “That’s supposed to be a bed for two people?” He edges
in behind me with our bags, setting them down. He straightens before turning to shut the door behind
us with a soft click. It may as well have been a clap of thunder. My head whips around at the sound of
it, my chest tightening.
Shawn’s gaze bounces from me to the bed and back again. His voice is husky when he speaks
again. “I guess that’s why the lady at check-in was so amused. That kind of bed requires a lot of
spooning.” A rough chuckle tumbles out of him.
“Or snuggling,” I whisper. Then louder, “Um. You can have the bed. I dragged you here.” My teeth
tug my lower lip into my mouth.
“Yeah, that’s not happening.”
My eyes flick to his. “But—”
He shakes his head. “Nope. There are only two ways this goes and neither one involves you
sleeping on the floor.” He crosses his arms in front of him, a stance I take to mean that I’m not
supposed to argue. It also shows off his muscular forearms, complete with veins popping.
I’m only human. Yep, I’m totally looking.
I blink once, then again while I stare at his arms, trying to make sense of what he’s just said. “So, I
sleep in the bed, or …?”
His brow goes up, and his deep blue eyes bore into mine.
“Oh. Oh.” I swallow hard, my throat suddenly feeling very thick, like all my words will get stuck
there if I try to say more. I don’t think an hour has gone by since starting this road trip where Shawn
hasn’t made me blush one way or another. My palms dampen with sweat at the thought.
He husks out, “I’ll take the floor, like I’ve always intended, Madison. It’s not a big deal.”
“Okay.” I glance down at my feet. Breathe, Madison. “I’m just going to hang up my dress and put
some things into drawers. I’m not a fan of living out of a suitcase.”
“Right. I’ll get my suit and other things out, too. Then what do you say we go find dinner?”
I look back up to see him studying me, head tilted to the side.
CHAPTER 8
 SHAWN

“Sure, I guess so.”

You’d think I’d asked her if she wanted to play Go Fish or something, so lackluster was her
answer. My gaze wanders over her tense features, and I wonder if I should have kept my mouth shut
about the whole bed situation. Sure, I’d be willing to sleep in the bed with her—the thought had come
out of nowhere, really—and I couldn’t handle her arguing over which one of us was taking the floor.
In the end, I guess it had worked, as she’d immediately accepted the bed when I’d implied her other
choice was sharing it, and that she wouldn’t be taking the floor in this lifetime or any other.
The idea of us sharing a bed is suddenly all I can think of. The thought wasn’t even there until
we’d gotten up here. When I initially offered to come with her this weekend, I’d always assumed I’d
be on the floor or a pull-out sofa or something. But I guess all these thoughts make sense because I’ve
been having trouble reminding myself that this is all supposed to be one big fake out. I really need to
get my runaway thoughts under control before I do something to make this situation any more difficult.
Madison pulls a long, dark-purple dress and a pair of black heels from her bag and walks over to
the closet, where she makes quick work of hanging the dress up and tucking the shoes below. She
whirls around, crossing back over to her bag, clearly on a mission. “I’m just going to put some things
in the drawers on the left, here, if you want to take the ones on the right?”
I nod. “Sounds good. May as well get comfortable. It’s just you, me, and this teeny-tiny room for
the next two nights.”
She freezes in her tracks, her face blanching. “Oh God, Shawn, what have we gotten ourselves
into?” She shakes her hands in front of her for a second before letting out a huff and turning back to
her bag to finish unpacking. Uh-oh. I guess I shouldn’t have joked about it. But—what else can we
do?
“Just laugh. We’re fine. Seriously.” I pick up my bag and dump the entirety of its contents—a
couple of T-shirts, some underwear, and socks—into a drawer, slam it shut, and hold my hand out to
her. “Ready?”
It’s not until I catch the funny look on her face that I realize her hands are still full of clothing—a
couple of sets of lacy bras and panties, to be exact. I see the moment awareness hits her that I’ve seen
them. She clutches them to her chest, a fresh wash of color starting at her neck. It’s almost as if I can
see it travel from there, past her jawline, and over her cheekbones. My eyes widen, and I point at her
lingerie. “Oh,” I rasp. “You aren’t quite done yet, huh?”
“Sorry, I’ve always been a little meticulous with packing and unpacking. I see you aren’t.” She
stifles a laugh as she looks to the drawer I’d just put my things in. The material of one of my boxer
briefs sticks out at the top.
I run my hands through my hair, pulling on it, gripping it hard. “I’ll just—” I turn a circle in the
small room, looking for somewhere to go, but there’s really nowhere but the bed. “I’ll just sit, uh,
over here and wait for you.” I ease myself down onto the bed and brace my forearms on my thighs, my
stare aimed between my feet. Smooth. Totally smooth, Shawn.
In my peripheral vision, I see her turn to the set of drawers again and slide her pretty little
underthings inside. Fuck me. I can’t unsee those. Now I have the mental imagery of what she’d look
like wearing those dancing around in my lust-fogged head and I’m not sure there is any way to erase it
or stop the sweet torment.
My mind had instantly brimmed with indecent thoughts the moment my eyes landed on the lingerie.
She’d held a light-pink lace bra and lacy black panties with a cute little pink bow that matched the bra
in one hand, as well as a lacy red-and-hot-pink set with flowers on it in the other. I don’t want to
know what she was thinking in that moment because I’m fairly certain I looked like one of those
cartoon characters with their eyes bugging out, drool dribbling down my chin.
I blow a weighted sigh from my mouth. When I dare glance Madison’s way again, she’s standing
there staring at me with those bold-green eyes. Staggered by her beauty, I look away before want of
her cuts off the flow of oxygen to my brain. “Ready?”
“Yep.”

We maneuver through the lobby area of the bed-and-breakfast, successfully dodging all other wedding
guests in our escape. I flip on the heater as I accelerate down the road toward the steakhouse we’d
passed on our way in. It’s the only other option besides eating at the bed-and-breakfast itself, and I
didn’t think it’d be wise to stick around there if we didn’t have to. We’ll have a full day tomorrow of
the fake boyfriend/girlfriend thing, and I’d say that’s going to be plenty, based on Madison’s furrowed
brow.
Fifteen minutes later, I usher her into the quaint family-run restaurant. There are only a dozen
tables, and the place is empty except for an elderly couple who appear to be enjoying their desserts
immensely. They wave at us as we come in, which amuses me, but definitely gives me a good vibe, so
I wave back. There are several reasons why I like small-town living, and the friendliness of people is
high on my list.
 The hostess smiles as she watches me help Madison with her coat, and then shrug out of mine. “A
table for two, please?”
“Of course.” She gathers menus and cutlery rolled in cloth napkins. She points behind us.
“There’s a coat rack, if you’d like. You can follow me when you’re ready.” We shuffle our coats onto
the rack and as we turn to follow her, Madison’s hand slides into mine.
When my eyes meet hers, a ghost of a smile passes over her lips, and she murmurs, “Practicing.”
I nod without saying anything. The feel of her small hand in my larger one sends sparks of
yearning rushing through me.
A while later, our meals are delivered—a steak and potato for me, chicken fingers and french
fries for Madison. This girl cracks me up. “You can have anything on the menu and you get chicken
fingers like a little kid. Talk to me about that.”
She stares at me in mock-offense. “Um, excuse me, but chicken fingers are delicious. And even
better with a good, sweet, honey mustard and a side of crispy fries.” She takes a big bite, chewing
slowly as she gazes at me. She moans softly deep in her throat … and then winks as she slides her
tongue over her lower lip to catch some sauce.
Well, damn. A flicker of flames race down my spine. I never knew chicken fingers could be sexy.
I shake my head, smiling to myself as I take a bite of my steak. One minute she’s an anxiety-ridden
mess, the next she’s actually flirting with me. ‘Practice,’ she’d said. Apparently, my dick didn’t get
that last part of the memo because I’m rock hard and suddenly very glad for the tablecloth hiding the
bulge in my jeans.
I concentrate on eating for a minute while I try to think of something else to talk about that we
hadn’t covered on our earlier road trip.
“So, Chase. Do you still talk to him?”
The color drains from her face, all traces of the pretty pink brought on by her flirting completely
gone.
I seriously want to kick myself right in the ass, and I would if I thought I could manage it.
“Um, no. Not since I ended things with him. There’s not really a reason for us to talk. I don’t need
to be anywhere near someone who would do something like that to me.” She sucks her lower lip into
her mouth, and her gaze casts down to the food remaining on her plate, but she doesn’t make any move
to eat it.
I reach across the table to where her hand rests next to her plate, covering it with mine. “I’m sorry
I brought him up. I’ve made you uncomfortable.”
Her head jerks up. “I’m fine.” She pulls her hand from under mine.
“You’re not.”
She won’t even look at me. Man, oh man, that was a screw up. Yes, I brought up Chase. I’m an
idiot. But now I really need to know what else he’d done, because I know what he’d done to me.
“Madison. Why’d you break up?”
 Her nose is red, and when she glances back up, I see the distress all over her face. “He cheated
on me with our neighbor.”
“Oh. You’re sure?” It doesn’t seem like an odd question until I see the look on her face.
She huffs, “Yes, I’m sure.” Her gaze meets mine and it’s wounded, so terribly full of hurt. “I
caught them in bed together.”
“Like, literally caught them?” I sit up straight in my chair, hands clenching in my lap.
“Yes, my boyfriend was in the bed we shared buck naked with the girl who lived next door.”
Angry, wet eyes flicker at me. “He barely stopped fucking her when I walked in, and I swear they
finished after I walked out.” She swallows. “It was the most painful, humiliating thing I’ve ever
experienced.”
Fucking Chase. Asshole. Idiot. So incredibly stupid. The devastation on her face has me wanting
to pummel his. The adrenaline storms through my veins. I have the urge to go back in time.
Demolish anyone who would hurt her.
Defend her against the man who didn’t deserve her.
Protect her tender heart.
How he could do that to Madison when she is easily the brightest, sweetest, most beautiful
woman I’ve ever known, I don’t know. I don’t understand it at all.
CHAPTER 9
 MADISON

My eyes flick to his, assuming he’ll show some sort of embarrassment about cheating on his own
girlfriend, but I see absolutely nothing in his expression except concern for me.
In fact, he looks angry. Real, intense waves of frustration and outrage flood the space between us.
“Forget him. Just fucking forget him, Madison. He’s not worth it. Not another minute of your time.”
His voice—a low growl—hits me in the gut, spreads through me in heated waves, and leaves me
breathless.
This is the weirdest turn of events ever. He’s not defending his friend at all. If I were a betting
woman, I’d put all my money on Shawn tracking Chase down later tonight and knocking him out. He’s
pissed.
I shift uncomfortably in my chair as I look at his anger-ridden face. “Are you not friends
anymore?” When he doesn’t answer, I try again. “Shawn, did something happen between the two of
you? Because it sounds like you want nothing to do with him, and maybe it has to do with more than
just me.”
I watch his throat work a hard swallow. His gaze meets mine across the table. “We grew apart.”
Shawn gets quiet. “Even when you all started dating, I was beginning to realize he wasn’t the same
guy I knew before he went off to college. He’s different now. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Catching my lower lip between my teeth, I consider what he’s said and decide to not push him
further tonight. This time it’s me who reaches across the table and takes his hand. I skim my thumb
over the back of it just like he’d done to mine earlier. His gaze is glued to our connected hands, and
he presses his firm lips together for several seconds before he looks up and into my eyes.
“We don’t have to talk about it anymore right now. For both our sakes.” I squeeze his hand,
tentatively at first, and then he squeezes mine. Softly I say, “Forget it. Forget him.” My knee nudges
his under the table, and he nudges mine right back. “Tell me what you think about your brother’s
upcoming wedding to Sophia?”
He chuckles, a smile finally hitting his lips and reaching his eyes. He bobs his head up and down.
“Well, this question would put me in the danger zone if I didn’t like her and didn’t think they were
right for each other, but luckily, I dig Sophia. Always have. She’s an amazing woman.”
 “She is for sure. I thought it was safe to ask just based on watching you guys talk last night. I
mean, I only just met her at the beginning of the school year, but we’ve become fast friends. She and
Quinn are kind of like my moms at school. They’re good people.”
His lips twitch. “I could have guessed that. Sophia has always been a caretaker. Anyway, Heath
and Sophia—well, they should have always been together. If our family hadn’t moved here in the
middle of high school, I’m pretty sure they’d never have broken up in the first place.”
“Oh, wow. I didn’t know they’d been that serious back then. I sure heard how quickly they got
back together when she moved up here, though. Do you think he wishes things had been different?”
I’m glad I’ve hit on a topic that seems to make Shawn more comfortable. Of course, it wasn’t me
who’d brought up Chase in the first place, but it’s obvious he hadn’t expected me to tell him what a
disgusting, rutting bastard his former best friend had been.
Just then, the waitress comes over with a dessert menu. I quickly put my hands up, palms out. “Oh
no, I’m stuffed. Besides, I have to get into a dress tomorrow.”
Shawn snorts, his brows drawing together sharply. “Right. Because a blackberry crumble tonight
is going to make you not fit into your dress.” He glances at the waitress, who smiles at his confusion.
“I’ll take your blackberry crumble, please.” He raises his brows at me. “You sure you don’t want
anything?”
I shake my head with a last wistful look at the menu. “No, I’m good. Could I just get some coffee,
please?”
“Sure thing, honey.” She winks back at Shawn, and heads back to the kitchen with our order.
My eyes widen comically. “Do you ever not get flirted with?”
“Nope. I can’t help it. Must be my charm and sparkling wit.” He barks out his laughter.
“Oh my God, stop. Okay, back to my question. Do you think Heath would rather he and Sophia
had never split up?”
“Oh, hell no. Things had to happen the way they did, or he wouldn’t have Ava—they wouldn’t
have Ava.”
“Good point. Sophia is a sucker for that kid, too. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.” I smile with a
sigh. “I think it’s so sweet the way she calls her ‘Fia.’ Little kids say the cutest things.”
“They do. Before Heath had Ava, I never wanted to be around little kids at all, but I’ll be damned
if having a niece hasn’t cracked open the hard shell around my heart. She’s a handful, but she’s ours.”
The waitress returns to our table, setting my coffee in front of me, and Shawn’s dessert in front of
him. “I put two spoons there, just in case you want to share.” She lays the check on the table. “Let me
know if you need anything else.”
My hand darts out to take the check, but Shawn is faster. “Uh-uh. This is on me.” He shifts to the
side, pulls his wallet out of his pocket, and sets a card down on top.
I open my mouth, but shut it immediately at the look on his face. “Okay. Thank you.” I put
sweetener and cream in my coffee and give it a good stir while I watch Shawn take a spoonful of the
blackberry crumble. He makes sure to scoop up some of the vanilla ice cream, too. My gaze follows
that damn spoon right through those masculine lips and into his waiting mouth.
“Mm. So good. Too bad you didn’t want any.” He gives me a little grin and takes another bite. His
knee nudges mine under the table again.
I sip my coffee and try to ignore him so I can control the frantic rate of my heart beating in my
chest. Every bite he takes is like a little show just for me. And, oh God, I’m watching. The way his
mouth moves, his tongue swirling and licking that ice cream, the sounds he’s making deep in his chest,
it’s like a shot straight to my core causing my panties to dampen as he seduces me with his freaking
dessert.
And here’s the thing—I’m pretty sure he’s doing it on purpose. Almost like he’s hoping I’ll
respond to him by jumping over the table and landing right in his lap.
I blink and realize he’s smiling at me, a spoon held in my direction full of blackberries and ice
cream. “Want a bite?”
From the amusement in his eyes, I just know he’s following every path my thoughts have taken.
Oh, hell. I bite down on my lip to try to stop the furious rush of blood from infusing my cheeks with
color again. No such luck. The heat hits my face, my skin so hot I feel like I have a raging sunburn.
Shawn’s grin grows broader as he studies my face. Wiggling the spoon back and forth a little bit, he
extends his arm further in my direction.
And then, my mouth drops open.
Slowly.
Reluctantly.
Desperately.
My fingers grip the edge of my seat like a lifeline as I lean forward, and Shawn places the first
taste of his blackberry crumble into my mouth. I relish the juxtaposition of the warm crumble and the
cold ice cream and close my eyes to savor the sweet burst of berries and the smooth vanilla. My poor
mouth thinks it’s died and gone to heaven.
“More?”
Upon hearing his question, my eyes pop back open, and I nibble on my lip, not ready to give in
yet.
He eats more of the dessert while he waits for me to answer. That spoon in his mouth … was in
my mouth … and has just been back in his again. Do I want more? Do I notice that the other spoon just
sits there on the table, completely unused? Do I ever.
“Yes.” My answer comes out part sigh, part whimper. A smirk ticks up at the side of his mouth,
and he holds the dessert-laden spoon out to me again. At this point, I have no idea whether I want the
tasty crumble or just the spoon that was in his mouth. A heady feeling rolls through me, and my mind
turns as mushy as the blackberries on the spoon.
“Shawn?”
 “Hmm?”
“Are we practicing?”
“You’d better believe it, pretty girl.” His tongue darts out to wet his lips, and my eyes are drawn
to every move he makes. My heart ricochets through my body and lands with a thud back in my chest,
pounding wildly.
The waitress returns to the table, having already run the card. I have no idea when she’d even
picked it up in the first place—that’s how thrown I am right now. I feel all out of sorts—hot, bothered,
and all those other fun adjectives that describe a person when their needs, wants, and desires dangle
right in front of them, just slightly out of reach.
I want Shawn. I don’t care about what I know he’s done. I just want him. Right now. This minute.
Mine.
CHAPTER 10
 MADISON

Back at the bed-and-breakfast, we dash to the door, the night icy cold. Upon entering, a few pairs of
eyes land on us. Oh, no. Cousins. Old friends. My family.
Out of nowhere, Shawn’s strong arm wraps around me, and his fingers find my waist through my
coat, gripping tightly, and he tugs me into his side. “Sure is cold out there,” he announces to the room
before leaning in and brushing his lips over my temple.
My chest jerks, breath hitching. I’m on the verge of panic when Shawn’s fingers squeeze my side,
and finally I smile and wave at everyone, albeit awkwardly. “Hi, everyone. We just got back from
dinner. It’s freezing out there.”
Most people nod politely, wave, or smile and go back to whatever they were doing when we
blew in. Of course, I knew my parents wouldn’t do the same. They both edge closer to us, with my
brother, James, right behind them.
“Shawn, this is my family. Mom, Dad, James, meet Shawn.” My dad extends a hand and Shawn
shakes it, then does the same with my brother.
“Very nice to meet you all.” He nods at my mom with a grin. “Ma’am. I see where Madison gets
her beautiful hair from.”
Mom thaws toward Shawn pretty quickly, if I do say so myself, as she giggles a bit. “Oh, you’re
too kind.”
He winks with a grin. “I just call them like I see them.”
“Madison, we didn’t know you were bringing anyone until Chuck mentioned it when we got
here.” Mom’s question is directed at me, but she hasn’t taken her eyes off of Shawn.
Think fast, Madison. What is the lie closest to the truth? “Oh, um—”
“We weren’t sure I could make it until last night.” Shawn smiles sheepishly at her, coming to my
rescue.
Dad nods, eyeing both of us. “How did you two meet?”
I do a terrible job of hiding the shuddering breath I let out through pursed lips. “Through some
friends I work with.”
The whole time all of this has been happening, I’ve been shaking like an absolute leaf at his side.
Is it the cold we just came in from? Hearing him talk to my parents like it’s no big deal? Maybe a bit
of both. Whatever it is, I can’t seem to get it under control, and I know Shawn can feel it from the
pressure of his hand at my waist.
“We’re a little tired, so we are just going to kick back with some TV or something and try to get
some rest.” Shawn looks down at me. “Didn’t you say something about wanting to relax and watch
some Friends reruns, Madi?”
James speaks up. “She’s a Friends nut. It’s ridiculous, man. I assume you’ve been dating long
enough to know that?” He watches Shawn carefully.
“For sure. It’s always a toss-up between that and one of those singing competition shows, if there
are any on.”
My brother knows this to be true, so a small smile spreads across his face. How Shawn knew that
I love to watch any of that stuff must have been a lucky guess.
I finally clear my throat, feeling like I should say something else. “I’m really exhausted from the
last day of school and the drive up. We’ll see you guys before the wedding, okay?” I cringe, knowing
I purposefully didn’t say how far before the wedding we’d see them. The less interaction the better,
as far as I’m concerned.
With that, we head up to our room. Shawn keeps his arm around me the whole way, and the
tremors running through my body have yet to abate.
He lets us in and helps me out of my coat before seeing to himself. After hanging them on the
hooks behind the door, he crosses the room until he’s right in front of me. The air between us crackles
with energy. His nearness does nothing to halt the trembling in my body, and I wrap my arms around
my middle, trying to get it to stop, but it doesn’t seem to help.
Stepping even closer to me, he reaches out and grasps my upper arms with his steady hands and
leans in until we are nose to nose. “What are we going to do with you, Butterfly?”
Awareness spins between us as we stand in each other’s space, breathing in each other’s air. In a
blink, I suddenly find myself hauled against his hard chest. He holds me, arms strong and unyielding.
At the top of my head, I feel his lips in my hair. Those lips. That’s what started this whole mess in my
head at dinner.
And did I imagine it, or has he given me a nickname? The only nickname anyone has ever used for
me before is Madi. It’s like he finds endless ways to set me off balance, and it comes so naturally to
him he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.
I revel in the feel of his arms around me and the gentle caress of his hands as they move over my
back in an effort to comfort me.
With a shake of my head, I mumble against his chest without daring to look up into his eyes. “I
don’t know. I was so nervous about what they were going to say. I didn’t tell anyone you were coming
with me, except, of course, my cousin because he needed to know, but oh my God, I think I just
surprised the hell out of them, and I don’t know what exactly they thought of it, and holy shit, I’m a
rambling mess. I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. And here you were, so nice to me, and so good with my
family, and I’m just one huge disaster.” My chest heaves, and I wrench out of his arms, putting a hand
over my mouth, horrified at everything that’s spilled out of it. “I’m sorry.”
“Madison,” Shawn growls, “would you please stop apologizing? It’s okay if you are nervous. It’s
not like we thought this would be a walk in the park. I figured it would get a little interesting.”
“I-I don’t know. I think maybe this weekend I’ve helped myself to a huge serving of weddings
make me crazy, with a steaming side of family obligations are the worst?” I try to smile, posing that
last bit as a question, but my lips wobble and my face falls. And I can’t even tell him that the other
part of it is him and the way he’d just swooped in and taken care of things when I couldn’t handle it.
He works his jaw back and forth. “Okay.” He eyes me carefully. “So, why don’t we do exactly
what we told them we were going to do?”
My mind goes blank. “What was that again?” My eyes shoot straight to the bed.
He takes my upper arms in his hands again, ducking his head down to my level. “Friends. We’ll
watch some good old Ross and Rachel. My favorite episode is the one where they get married in
Vegas.”
A sharp, watery laugh bubbles out of me. “That was a good one. They were so drunk they did
some super dumb stuff.”
He nods. “Right. So, you go get ready for bed, and I’ll find reruns. Or I’ll pull up episodes on my
phone to stream. Something. I’ll figure it out.” He leans in, brushing my cheek with his lips and, little
does he know, sends a smooth river of want flowing right through me.
Crap. In and out. In and out. Deep breaths. He can’t realize what he’s doing to me. I back away
from him and turn to the dresser, grabbing my sleep shorts and an old T-shirt before I scurry into the
bathroom and away from his prying eyes.
I take several minutes to myself, washing the makeup from my face, brushing my teeth, and
changing into my pajamas. I hadn’t really thought about this part—the hours we’d spend in the same
room sleeping. This won’t be awkward at all.
Does he snore? I cringe.
Oh my God, do I? I cringe harder.
Does he like to sleep in a warm room or a cooler one?
Blankets on or off?
One pillow or two?
My eyes bug out. What does he sleep in?
I flap my hand in front of my face in an effort to cool myself down. Okay, going through everything
like this in my head is not helping, especially not the part about what he’ll wear to sleep in. And the
unknown of this whole situation is just scary because of that—it’s unknown. So. Good pep talk,
Madison. You’ve just freaked yourself out even more.
I open the door to the bathroom, expecting to find Shawn still in his jeans and shirt from earlier,
but he’s not. Oh no, he’s not. While I was otherwise occupied, he’d gone ahead and changed, too—
into a pair of pajama bottoms and … that’s it. Just pajama bottoms. He’s lying back on the pillows on
the bed, all kinds of smooth skin and muscular torso greeting my eyes, his bare feet are crossed at the
ankle as he watches the TV. The episode has him so engrossed he doesn’t even glance my way, so I
take a few seconds to study him further.
He chuckles at something onscreen and that simple act has my eyes glued to his abs where his
muscles move with his laughter, taunting me as they flex and ripple. Oh, how I want to walk over
there and just run my fingers over all the ridges of his washboard stomach. It’s so incredibly unfair
that he looks this good.
A quick glance at what he’s focused on tells me that he did, indeed, find Friends for me. At least
I’ll have some sort of a distraction from his ridiculously perfect torso.
With a big gulp of air, I step out of the bathroom, and his head swivels toward me. His mouth
parts, and he scrambles to sit up. “Sorry. I just—well, there’s really nowhere to sit in here.”
“Stay. We’re just watching TV, right? That’s what you said. There’s room.” No problem. We’ll
just sit on that teeny, tiny, little bed together. I walk over to the small closet in the corner and find a
couple of extra pillows. I try to focus on what I’m doing as I approach the bed—not his hard pecs or
strong shoulders or bulging arms—and arrange the extra pillows on the side that’s free.
I use the term “side” loosely. I don’t think this bed is more than five feet across—somewhere
between what a twin and a double should be—and Shawn takes up almost two-thirds of it. I see why,
though. The bed frame is obviously an antique and not sized like modern furniture. It’s gorgeous but
man, what a surprise to unsuspecting travelers. Come to think of it, maybe that’s why I was put in this
room in the first place. They thought I’d be coming alone until the very last minute.
Solo.
Party of one.
Lonely girl.
Well, I guess I showed them, but now the laugh is on me. While I fluff the pillows, Shawn rises
from the bed and crosses to the bathroom. When the door shuts behind him, my whole being sags
down onto the mattress. Holy. Crap. Again—what have I gotten myself into? All of a sudden, this
feels like a very adult slumber party, and I’m not so sure I can handle it.
As soon as I grab my phone, which I haven’t checked all afternoon, I see a group text that was
started a few hours ago. When I open it, I’m greeted with the many antics of my girlfriends.

Sophia: Hey, girl. Just checking in to make sure you and Romeo got there okay.
Quinn: Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?
Piper: We all saw that coming, right?
Hadleigh: Who’s coming? Was it good?
 Oh my God, Hadleigh. I stifle a laugh, glancing up at the bathroom door. Still shut. Okay,
continuing right along …

Piper: And we saw that one coming, too.

Zoey: Wait, wait, I need to catch up. What did I miss? Who is Romeo?
Hadleigh: Shawn.
Sophia: Well, I have to admit, he does look a bit like his brother.
Quinn: *groan*
Piper: You all do realize Romeo and Juliet died at the end of that story, right?
Quinn: Well, shoot.

I decide to put them out of their misery. I tap out a quick message to them, knowing this will likely
set off another chain of messages.

Me: Hey, chicas. Yes, we’re here. We were at dinner.

Me: We’ve just been busy getting reacquainted.
Sophia: Good for you. How’s it going? *wink wink*
Me: It’s going. You all understand this is fake, right?
Hadleigh: You’re faking it? Oh girl, you should never do that.
Piper: She means the relationship is fake.
Piper: Do you think you can pull it off?
Quinn: How’s Shawn handling it?
Hadleigh: Right, well, I don’t think I’d find it hard to pretend to be into Shawn.
Zoey: She’s doing what?? I’m lost again.
Zoey: These group messages are so confusing.
Me: Shawn is pretending to be in a relationship with me at this wedding.
Me: So people stop asking why I’m single.
Me: And he’s handling it better than I am at the moment.
Zoey: Ooh.
Sophia: Is that really all that’s going on?

The toilet flushes and water runs at the sink. I’m pretty sure Shawn is on his way back out, so I
hurry to finish.

Me: Maybe. I don’t know. That’s part of the problem.

Me: Gotta go. You all can keep gabbing if you want. I’ll catch up later.
 I set my phone on the bedside table, facedown. Shawn definitely doesn’t need to see any of that.
Odds are good that they will keep talking, and the messages will keep flashing on my screen,
especially after my last comment.
I’ve just slid under the covers on my designated side of the bed when the door opens, and Shawn
comes out. Another episode of Friends has just started, and Shawn goes from standing still to playing
air guitar to the theme music in no time flat.
He’s so into it I try not to laugh, but it’s so adorable I can’t help myself. I cover my mouth while I
look on at him wildly strumming and moving fingers on the strings of his air guitar. I’m glad an actual
guitar isn’t hiding his body, because I’m rather enjoying the view as he really gets into it, my eyes
roving over him. As he gets closer and closer to the bed, the temperature in the room seems to rise,
and I can’t help watching every little move he makes. His pajama bottoms are slung way low, treating
me to a decadent view of the V-shaped ridges of muscle that dip down below his waistband. I don’t
ever recall being this close to a man who looks anywhere near like this. He’s close to god-like. A
guitar god. My fingers itch to reach out and touch all that taut, smooth skin, find out what it would be
like to have the hard planes of his body pressed up against the softness of mine.
I’d like to lick him. Yes, I would. I’d run my tongue—
“Madison?”
I blink and Shawn’s at the edge of the bed, looking down at me, his brow furrowed. Oh my God.
Way to get a little carried away. I only hope what I was thinking isn’t indelibly written all over my
face.
“You okay? It was like you thought I was funny and then not so much. Did I do something wrong?”
With a quick shake of my head, my response bursts from me. “No, no. My mind is just running
amok an awful lot lately.”
His head tips to the side, intense blue eyes studying me. “Okay, Butterfly. Just don’t fly too far
away from me just yet. I don’t think I can handle making it through this wedding tomorrow without
you.”
He climbs into the bed next to me, adjusting himself against the pillows. I look over at him,
pressing my lips together. “Me neither, Shawn.” I find my lip between my teeth again as I watch him
get settled. “I don’t think I’d be able to get through it without you either, I mean. Thank you again for
coming with me—for helping me through this.”
“Well, don’t thank me yet. But I hope I can be the man you need me to be tomorrow.”
My breath hitches. Why do I get the feeling that he really could be the man I need? And not only
that, but maybe the man I want.
For now, though, fake boyfriend.
One thing at a time.
I shove my thoughts aside and sink back against the pillows, content for the moment just to be here
with him, feeling his heat next to me, and listen to the happy sound of his laughter as we watch the TV
program together. I shut my eyes and let myself drift.
CHAPTER 11
 SHAWN

Madison has slumped lower and lower onto her pillows as we watch the show. I’m pretty sure she’s
asleep, or almost there, and now I don’t really know what to do because if I try to get out of this
hokey little bed, I know I’ll wake her up. She looks so damned peaceful, I can’t bring myself to do it.
She mumbles a little bit and rolls inward on the bed toward my body. It’s relatively cold in the
room, and like a heat-seeking missile, she instinctively keeps scooting closer and closer to me.
Carefully, I slide down further in the bed just as she edges even closer. I leave the TV flickering
as it plays another episode, but go ahead and turn out the bedside light. She sighs in her sleep and
nuzzles her cheek against my arm. She’s pretty damn cute. So innocent looking and so pretty as her
wild curls spill everywhere around us on the pillows.
I grimace as I think back to our conversation at the restaurant about how she’d discovered Chase’s
cheating. It had sounded like her discovery of him with the neighbor had come as a great shock to her.
And then the look on her face when she mentioned that Chase had just kept right on fucking the other
girl … well, I want to find him and make him hurt. As far as I can tell, Chase has lost all sense of
morality.
And after hearing why she’d ended things with him, I’m now one thousand percent sure she has no
idea that time with the neighbor wasn’t the first time he’d cheated on her. She doesn’t know. I
swallow carefully, trying not to get myself all worked up.
I don’t know what happened to make him like this, but I could tell he’d come back from college a
completely different person. I’m curious what Madison saw in him and why she’d ever dated him in
the first place, but I’m guessing I probably don’t want to know. Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint
exactly why we like the people we do. And I can’t fault her because before he changed, he’d been a
decent guy. Perhaps she’d been blinded by the image of the guy she remembered from high school.
He’d been cool.
This new version of him is not.
I’d found that out the hard way.
“Shawn! Over here!” Chase waves to me from the far end of the bar, where he’s set up camp,
surrounded by a bunch of women. As I approach, I can tell they are pretty well blitzed, and Chase
is having the time of his life with so many women.
Before I get to them, I snag the bartender’s attention and order a beer. Once it’s in hand, I join
the group. The very, very drunk group. I can’t help but wonder how long they’ve been at it, they
weave on their feet as I watch. “Hey, Chase. How’s it going?”
He spreads his arm out, encompassing his harem. He slurs, “Looks like it’s pretty good. Want
in on this action?”
I shake my head as a few of the ladies turn to me expectantly. “Nah, man, that’s okay. They’re
all yours.”
“What, don’t you have fun anymore since Dana?”
“Let’s not talk about Dana, okay?”
My heart is still good and sore over the way she hadn’t believed me when I told her I hadn’t
cheated. She refused to listen to a word I’d had to say, wouldn’t even explain where she’d gotten
the idea from.
“You can totally get her back, you know. It’s not like you actually cheated on her.”
“Excuse me? What makes you say that?” Now he has my full attention.
He stumbles a bit before he laughs right into my face. “That was me. I cheated on Madison,
and she found that chick’s bracelet wedged in the seat of my fucking truck.”
“What the hell did you just say?” The blood in my veins starts a slow simmer and a ringing
fills my ears.
He tips his beer up, taking a long swallow before wiping his lips with the back of his hand.
“She found the bracelet and at first, you know, I just tried to just play it off like you’d borrowed
my truck and screwed Dana in there and she left her bracelet behind somehow.” He cackles. “But
that Madison, I tell ya, she pays attention to details. The bracelet had a big L on one of the little
charms.” He holds his forefinger and thumb out in the shape of an L, looks at it, laughs, and puts
the L to his forehead, like the loser he is. “That’s why I had to tell her you cheated on Dana with
some other chick.”
“You fucking did what?” I close my eyes for a second. Flashing lights and explosions burst
behind my eyelids. I shake my head and open my eyes back up to stare daggers at him.
He chortles. “I never figured out why you didn’t just tell Dana it wasn’t you. You could have
thrown it right back at me. It was me. I fucked that girl Laurie in my truck. That’s why Madison
found her bracelet there.”
Without a second thought, my hand fists and my arm explodes into action, meeting my best
friend’s face with a loud crack and ending our friendship for good.
I blow out a breath heavy with memories. Dana hadn’t told me anything. I’d had no clue where she’d
gotten the idea that I’d cheated, and she wouldn’t elaborate. She’d broken things off with me
immediately. I’d been miserable. Heartbroken. Just sick. And the hell of it was, I’d been close to
proposing to her. I’d thought we would build a life together. I’d loved that girl. So. Fucking. Much.
It still stings that Dana hadn’t trusted me enough to know I’d never have cheated on her—but she
wouldn’t listen to me, wouldn’t let me try to sort through the whole mess with her.
Losing her hurts to this day. I rub one hand over my heart and squeeze my eyes shut. Fuck. I
remember the shock on her face when I’d gone to tell her about Chase’s confession—when she
realized she’d been wrong. She’d apologized, but at that point, the damage to our relationship was
done. She didn’t trust me then. I don’t trust her now. Funny how that works.
Madison shifts again in her sleep, and my mind jumps back to earlier at dinner. She’d seemed
surprised to find out Chase and I aren’t on speaking terms. But fuck, there’d been no way I was
comfortable continuing on with our friendship after finding out that he’d lied to Madison and pinned
the scarlet C—C for Cheater—right on my chest. And the problem is now that I know she has no idea
about all of that, what do I do with the information? I feel like she deserves to know, but will it only
be more painful for her?
How do I tell her that Chase cheated on her more than once? That she’d been dating the ultimate in
complete douchebags?
And fuck me, does she think I cheated on Dana? I guess I should have thought about that more
when Chase told me what he’d done, but the honest truth is I didn’t think I’d be speaking to Madison
again, much less going away to a wedding weekend with her. I hadn’t expected to be in the same
space as her ever again, much less the same bed. The idea that Madison might think I’m a cheating
fuck just like Chase gives me a moment of panic.
But wait. She wouldn’t be here with me if she thought that’s what happened. Right?
In her sleep, Madison moans, a deep throaty sound that has my eyes flickering open and glancing
down at her. Damn. I wonder what she’s dreaming about. Is it him she still dreams of?
Oh, well. At least one of us is getting some rest. I’m not sure sleep is in the cards for me tonight.
The more I think about it, the more I know I’ll have to tell her about Chase. But how? Maybe once we
get through this weekend, I can broach the topic with her. She doesn’t need to deal with this on top of
everything else.
Her arm flops over my chest, and she huddles closer to me. I can’t help myself. I pull my arm out
from between us and put it around her, gathering her closer to me. Sweet girl. Her head shifts to my
chest, her raspberry and cream scent surrounding me.
A wave of protectiveness rushes over me. No one will hurt this woman like Chase did ever again.
I shake my head. Never.
In her sleep, she clings to me, her body so soft and warm. I shudder, a wave of lust smacking into
me. Her sweet breasts are soft against my side, only the thin layer of her T-shirt between us. Then she
does me in further, throwing a leg over mine and snuggling in even closer. A soft sigh leaves her body
as she relaxes even more deeply into me in her sleep.
Restraint and pure control fight an internal battle with fiery, desperate, hopeless desire. I want her
in a way she’s definitely not prepared for. I want this weekend to be more than fake.
And yet, she’s lying here next to me, oblivious to the surge of heat pounding its way through me.
She’s completely relaxed for the first time since I saw her at the bar last night with her friends.
It seems like that was a lifetime ago. I’ve gone from wanting to help her to wanting her for my
own all in a single day, and I don’t know how to come to terms with that.
I should not be lying here in the bed with her—I should be on the floor, being a good fake
boyfriend—but I can’t bear to move away from her, to leave her. She feels too fucking good here in
my arms.
I’m in so deep with this girl already, the waves of longing continuously crash over my head,
threatening to send me under. I hunger for her like I’m a starving man and she’s a beautiful buffet. And
there’s no doubt in my mind that I’m already a goner.
I’m lost in her.
CHAPTER 12
 MADISON

My cheek is mashed up against something warm and smooth. I inhale, and the scent is distinctly
masculine, all woods and smoke and night. A flow of warmth snakes its way from my belly down
lower. I’m slipping, sliding, craving more of the feeling. The throbbing between my legs becomes
more insistent, and I try to press my legs together. I can’t, though, as there’s something rock-solid in
the way. Instead, I press myself against the hardness, hoping to soothe some of the ache I’m feeling.
In my sleep-fogged state, I seek out more of that sensation, anything to assuage the building
pressure at the juncture of my thighs. It feels so good, so right, I let out a breathy little moan.
That’s when I realize this isn’t a dream. I’m rubbing up against Shawn’s muscular thigh like I’m in
heat. Like I’m some sort of oversexed floozy.
Oh. God. I blink, my pulse racing. Lying there quietly, I try to calm myself. I don’t dare look up to
see if he’s awake because if he is, I just won’t be able to handle it. Even worse, my breasts feel heavy
and tingly, my panties are damp, and my lady bits are still humming, fully aware of the nearness of his
very hot, very hard body.
I have no idea why he’s still in the bed. I guess we fell asleep watching the TV, which is still on.
Please, oh please, let him think I’m asleep. Or better, let him still be asleep and be none the wiser.
Finally, I get up the courage to roll over, away from all the manly muscle, scent, and warmth. I
make a little noise like I’m sighing in my sleep and settle in, my back to him.
Looking at the small clock on the bedside table, I see it’s five in the morning. Too early to get up,
but now I’m too keyed up for sleep. This is going to be the longest day of all the long days there ever
were. This is worse than last-day-of-school long. The absolute worst.
After several more minutes, I manage to finally slow the overwrought state of my pounding heart.
It’s okay. Nothing to see here, folks. I’m just a woman, in bed with a man, and haven’t gotten laid in a
long, long time.
“It’s okay, Madison. You were asleep.” His gruff voice sends me spinning. He grunts and the
mattress dips as he shifts his big body. He rasps, “That was the cuddling you were talking about
yesterday, right? So, let’s try the spooning.” He plants his hand at my waist and scooches closer,
wrapping his body around mine. His sleep-laden voice rumbles out again, “Practicing.”
 I work a hard swallow. “I’m never sleeping again.”
A rough chuckle sounds from behind me, but after another minute, his breathing evens out, and it’s
obvious he’s gone right the hell back to sleep.
There’s no way I’m sleeping, but I close my eyes and my mind wanders off, thinking about
everything we’d talked about yesterday. Shawn has been so kind, so helpful, and such a damn good
sport dealing with all of my worries for what’s to come this weekend. It’s all so unlike the image
that’s built in my head of him, the one where he’d shocked me completely by cheating on his
girlfriend.
Something feels wrong. So wrong. But I can’t pinpoint it.

When Chase pulls up in my driveway, I hurry out the door, a bag in my hand and a skip in my step.
I give him a quick wave and a grin before circling his truck. Snatching the door open, I pull myself
into the cab, and flounce onto the seat before leaning over to touch my lips to his.
“Hey, babe. You ready to roll out to the theater?”
I nod eagerly. “What’s playing tonight?” Chase and I have plans to go to a quaint little drive-
in movie theater on the outskirts of town. I’m excited because one, I really love going to the
movies, and two, I’m really starting to feel like he may be “the one.” He’s kind and attentive and
oh so handsome. There’s something about his chocolate-brown eyes that just make me melt when
he looks at me.
“I think it’s the same Godzilla flick as last time. Is that okay?”
“Sure. I don’t care what it is so long as I’m with you.” I give him a soft smile and scoot back to
get more comfortable.
“Oh, shoot. I think I’m sitting on something.” I shift to the side when I realize something is
wedged in the seat. I poke around behind me for a second before my fingers wrap around
something metallic and circular. “Chase? What’s this?” I hold up a silver bangle with some
charms on it. They make a tinkling sound as I examine it, holding it this way and that. It’s really
pretty. There’s a charm with a little flower, one with a Scorpio symbol, and then a final one with an
L imprinted on it. I frown, my brows furrowing together.
“What’s what, baby? What’d you find?” He grips the back of my neck in his hand and his
mouth descends on mine in a hard kiss before he angles back and hits the accelerator, taking us off
down the road.
“This.” I hold the bangle up so he can see it while he drives. “Where’d this come from?”
He clears his throat, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. “It’s not yours?” He glances at
it, then returns his attention back to the road.
I’m completely distracted by the jewelry in my hand. “No, it’s not.”
 He looks confused. “Huh.” Then he snaps his fingers. “You know, Shawn borrowed my truck
last week for a date. He was driving up to the mountains and didn’t want to take that crappy old
sedan of his.” He nods. “Yeah, I bet that’s it.” He tosses me a nonchalant smile and shrugs his
shoulders.
“But Chase. There’s an L on one of these little charms. Shawn is still dating Dana, isn’t he?”
“Well …” He presses his lips together and holds his hands up for a quick second before
returning them to the wheel. “He gets around quite a bit, I guess. I saw him with some other chick
last week. Maybe it’s her.” Chase smirks playfully. “That dog.”
He’s laughing it off like it’s something guys just do, and I’m sick to my stomach. Dana and I
have chatted quite a bit the times we’ve been out together. She’d told me a week ago that she
thought Shawn was going to propose soon. How could he do this to her? What the hell kind of guy
does that? Fuming, I make my decision.
I’ve got to tell her that he cheated. If it was me, I’d want to know.

Surprisingly, I guess I managed to finally fall back to sleep. Taking a quick inventory of myself, I
realize Shawn’s hand still rests on my waist. My heart pounds, and I’m amazed at how quickly every
part of my body awakens. I do my best not to disturb him and carefully reach an arm toward the
bedside table to grab for my phone. I must have completely knocked out again because all of a
sudden, it’s past nine, and my stomach is rumbling like the motor of a monster truck.
A smirk tips onto my lips when I see the exchange of chatter that had gone on after I put my phone
down last night.

Piper: I guess you have all weekend to figure it out.

Hadleigh: Allllll weekend. With Shawn. Wow.
Sophia: Stop thinking impure thoughts about my soon-to-be brother-in-law.
Quinn: I mean … can you blame her?
Zoey: Who are we blaming for what, again?

And it went on and on for several hours just like that. I stifle a giggle, glancing down through the
comments again before I respond.

Me: I think I may have a very real crush on my very fake boyfriend.
Me: Discuss.

It’s not long before the messages begin to ping in like speeding bullets.
Sophia: Oh, girl. I knew that would happen, especially since you already told me you had a little
crush on him before.
Zoey: Whaaa????
Me: Yeah. Back in high school. And maybe even again when I first started dating Chase.
Hadleigh: Naughty girl.
Me: It’s bad. So bad.
Quinn: Well, practice makes perfect. Maybe he’ll realize what a catch you are after pretending all
weekend.
Piper: Good grief you all get up early when you’re on vacation.

This time, I can’t stop the giggles.

Behind me, Shawn props up on his elbow. “What’s so funny?” He leans in, his face right in the
crook between my shoulder and neck, and I pull the phone to my chest.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
“Lemme see.” He holds out his hand in front of me, wiggling his fingers.
I shake my head. “No. Nope. No can do.”
He puts his hand on my waist again, tickling me with his strong fingers and sending those same
tingly feelings as before through my whole body.
And I want his hands on me, but I just can’t. I lurch from the bed, fleeing to the safety of the
bathroom.
I take care of business, brush my teeth, splash water on my face, and examine my expression in the
mirror. My eyes are bright, cheeks are pink, and a smile tugs at the corners of my lips. Today’s the
day. I get to spend the whole day with Shawn in front of other people, and we’re going to … lie.
Well, that puts a damper on things. With a sniff, I rejoin Shawn. He eyes me from where he’s still
lying in the bed, tangled up in the bedsheets.
And there it is again—the jolt of lust is so strong it makes me dizzy. I blow out a deep breath.
Shawn rises from the bed, his hair so sexily sleep-rumpled it makes me want to scream. Or maybe
it’s just that I wish he would make me scream. He passes me on the way to the bathroom, and it’s all I
can do to keep myself from reaching out and swatting his bottom.
Maybe if I have some breakfast I’ll get my head screwed on straight. I pick up a little bed-and-
breakfast pamphlet from the desk and thumb through it until I find a section on dining services. Thank
goodness. They serve breakfast until ten, and they do room service.
I pick up the hotel phone and dial the front desk.
“Good morning. This is Jeannie at the front desk speaking. How may I help you?”
I think it’s the lady who’d checked us in. Her voice is just as chipper at nine in the morning as it
was yesterday afternoon. “Hi, Jeannie, this is Madison Green in room eight. I was hoping we’d still
be able to order breakfast.”
 “Oh hi, honey. Did you enjoy your room last night?” she titters, not waiting for my answer.
“You’re calling just in time. What can I get you?”
I glance over the menu, not having any idea what Shawn will want. “Um, can I get an order of the
waffles with blackberry syrup, three scrambled eggs, and two sides of bacon?”
Hopefully, that’ll be enough. I know my brother eats enough to feed a horse.
“Of course, dear. We’ll send it up as soon as it’s done. Enjoy!” The phone clicks in my ear, and I
set it down with a sigh, looking around the room.
As I’m contemplating whether to shower now or later, Shawn reappears, hair slightly calmer now.
He’s still missing a shirt, which I’m rather enjoying now that I’m not so surprised by the sight of his
bare chest, muscles and all.
Shawn points at the phone. “Did I hear you order breakfast?”
“Yeah, I hope I ordered something you’ll eat. I got waffles, eggs, and bacon.”
“I’ll eat whatever, but that sounds great.” He watches me carefully as storm clouds cross my face.
I breathe out an exasperated sigh. “Ah, shit.”
“What?”
“I forgot to ask for coffee.” I pout first, then groan.
He shoots me a look of disbelief. “How could you?” Then he immediately wrinkles his nose and
laughs at my startled face. “No joking around until after the coffee. Got it. It’s no problem. I saw they
have some down in the lobby. I’ll just go grab us a couple cups. How’s that sound?”
A slow smile spreads across my face. “That’d be great, actually. Thank you.”
“No problem.” He pulls a T-shirt over his head, yanking it into place over his torso.
The peep show is officially over. Damn.
CHAPTER 13
 SHAWN

After we shared breakfast, we’d taken turns in the shower, both of us throwing on jeans, T-shirts, and
hoodies. At first, Madison suggested we stay in the room all day, but I’d convinced her we should go
for a walk to get some fresh air rather than stay cooped up here. I know she’s scared to have to put on
an act any longer than we absolutely have to.
“Are you ready for your first official outing as my fake girlfriend?” I raise my brows at her.
“Um, yeah, I guess so. What are we doing?”
I hand her coat to her and toss mine on. “You’ll see. Come on.”
She hesitates, eyeing me warily.
“Trust me. Shawn Mitchell knows how to be the very best fake boyfriend.” I take her coat out of
her hands and hold it up for her.
When she slips her arms in, she whirls around. “Sorry. I’ve had a little trouble with the T word
for a while now.”
My head bobs. “Trust? Yeah, understandable. But no more referring to ex-boyfriends on our first
date.” I wink at her.
A quick giggle escapes her. “Yeah, okay.”

Outside, we pull on knit hats and gloves. The temperature hovers right around freezing, warmer than
it’s been in days. I take her hand in mine, and we follow a path that runs around the back of the house
and down toward a wooded area. We walk in silence for a while until we hear a bubbling stream up
ahead of us.
“It’s so gorgeous out here, even in the middle of winter.” Madison smiles happily and takes a
deep breath of the crisp air as she looks around.
“Then I guess it’s a good thing I brought you here. You fit right in.” She doesn’t know I mean it,
but I really do. She’s the epitome of natural beauty. This girl—so gorgeous, I could cry.
She swats at my shoulder with her gloved hand, shaking her head like I’m crazy.
 Really, she’s the crazy one if she can’t see what I see. “Want to sit down there for a few minutes?”
“Sure.” With our gloved hands still interlaced, we sit on the wooden bench nestled near the
stream. “Oh! It’s cold.” She giggles, scrunching her nose up in this adorable way she has. “Look how
the ice is forming at the edge of the stream. How long do you suppose before the stream freezes
over?”
“I, uh, I’m not really sure.” I let go of her hand and put an arm around her, pulling her closer to my
heat. I’d have done it anyway, just to be closer to her, but I’ve also caught sight of someone
approaching. Her brother. I lean my head in, nose drifting along her jawline until it reaches just
behind her ear. My heart skips a couple of beats when she melts into me. Her reaction to my touch is
so swift and so real, I feel terrible when I whisper near her ear, “It’s game time.”
Her body stiffens. My lips graze her ear, “It’s your brother. You’re fine. Just pretend. How would
you act, cozied up next to your boyfriend to stay warm?”
She angles her body toward mine, slipping her arms around my torso. “Mm, I’m cold.” She
nuzzles her face against my neck at the same time she throws her legs over mine so she’s practically
sitting in my lap. I wrap my arms around her, ready for a test of our fake relationship.
From behind us, there’s an obvious clearing of a throat. We both cautiously lift our heads and look
up at the person intruding on our “date.”
“Oh hey, James.” Madison smiles at him, and then shivers. “It’s cold out here, but we couldn’t
resist this scenery. Isn’t it so beautiful?”
“Yeah. It’s nice. I tried to get Emily to come out with me, but she fussed about how cold it is.”
I chuckle. “That’s kind of why I didn’t tell Madison where we were going until it was done.”
James cocks his head to the side and gives me a quick nod, pointing directly at me. “Smart man.”
He coughs then directs his stare at Madison. “Mom and Dad were hoping to see you guys at breakfast,
you know.”
James’s eyes coolly assess her. Shit, shit, shit. Does he know something is up? I guess we just
have to really lay it on thick. I take a deep breath, hoping Madison doesn’t mind. I pull her impossibly
closer to me, take her hand and place it on my chest, holding it there.
Madison gives her brother a cheeky grin and quips, “Yeah, we ended up ordering room service.
We had a late night.”
A line creases the middle of his forehead. “I thought you were going back to your room to watch
TV.”
I try to hold it back, the laugh deep in my belly, but it’s working its way up, vibrating in my chest.
I know Madison feels it where her hand rests on me. Suddenly, she kisses my cheek, the roughness of
my scruff probably scratchy against her lips. I have a fleeting, curious thought as to whether she likes
it.
She glances up at her brother. “We were sort of watching, yeah.” She presses her lips together,
then smiles big at him, trying not to laugh.
 He holds up his hands toward Madi. “Whoa, okay. Nope. No, ma’am. No overshares, please.” He
jerks his thumb over his shoulder toward the building. “I’m going to see if I can convince Emily to go
for a drive.”
“Okay, we’ll see you at the church later, then.” She waves as James turns to go.
I lift a hand, and give him an apologetic smile for his sister’s antics. “See you, man.”
James glances back. “Yeah. Definitely. I’d like a chance to talk with you for a few minutes at
some point.” He chuckles. “If you can detach yourself from my sister the octopus, that is.”
Madison sputters, “Hey, now. Be nice.” She shakes her head at him and snuggles in even closer to
me.
Hell, yes. I just wish we didn’t have these big damn coats on.
“Hey, I call ’em like I see ’em. You’re the one with the arms and legs everywhere.” He backs
away, chuckling to himself before he spins on his heel and walks away. “Later, lovebirds.”
I tuck my head in near her ear again, and touch my lips to the spot just under her earlobe. An achy
river of pleasure races through me, just as she says, “Is he still looking?”
Oh, right. She thinks I’m still acting.
CHAPTER 14
 SHAWN

Back in the hotel room later that afternoon, we take our time getting ready for the wedding. I’d ducked
into the bathroom first to get ready so Madison could take her time and not have to worry about me.
She’s been in there for quite some time. I glance at the time on my phone and chuckle to myself.
Yep, a long, long time. I hope she’s not nervous and, unbeknownst to me, having some sort of mini-
breakdown in there.
While I wait, I pluck out a few simple notes on my guitar, something I’ve had stuck in my head.
Eventually, I’ll put words to it, but for now, I just lose myself in the melody, humming along with the
rhythmic strumming. This has always been my release, the best way I know of to clear the clutter from
my mind and feed my soul. Fingers flying now, I can feel the song in every part of me—I just don’t
know what it’s saying. It’ll come to me. For now, I just play.
I’m so immersed in what I’m doing that I hadn’t heard Madison emerge from the bathroom. When
I realize she’s there, I falter for just a beat. She sways to the music I’m creating, eyes shut, a blissful
look on her face. Gorgeous. The girl is fucking gorgeous, and it takes everything in me to keep playing
instead of throwing my guitar aside and hauling her into my arms.
Okay, so maybe I’d gently set my guitar aside instead, but either way, the thought is there—I want
her in my arms. For the next several hours, I’ll have that chance as the fake boyfriend. I lower my
head as I shake it in dismay as I continue to play. She’ll be with me for sure but I’ll have to show her,
somehow, that this isn’t an act. And that, right there, is the crux of the problem. What started as
pretend now feels very, very real.
She’s an absolute vision in a long, floor-sweeping dark-purple dress. Her hair floats around her
shoulders, curls rioting everywhere. There’s some glittery stuff on her eyelids that’s subtle but really
pretty, and those bow-shaped lips of hers are slicked with something glossy that has my head
spinning. I pause, my hand covering the strings, bringing the music to an end. My throat is thick, and I
work hard to swallow past everything her presence has me feeling.
Her eyes flick open and pin on me. A soft smile tips the corners of her lips. “Why’d you stop?
That was beautiful.”
“I got distracted.” My teeth clamp down on my lip, and my gaze follows a path from her head to
her toes and back.
“This old thing?” She grasps the material at the sides of the dress and does a cute little curtsy,
nerves and excitement billowing from her. I can feel the ripples of it from here.
Suddenly, I have to be closer to her. I haul my guitar strap over my head and rise from the bed all
in one swift motion. I hesitate for a second before I set the guitar in the corner and spin on my heel to
find she hasn’t budged an inch. Slowly, I take measured steps over to her, one hand going to my tie,
my fingers working at the knot there to stop myself from reaching out to touch her. “That color really
suits you, you know?”
“Does it?”
“Mm-hmm. Purple and green. It complements your eyes. They’re flashing like the brightest
jewels.”
“Shawn …” Her gaze casts down, eyelashes fluttering against the tops of her cheeks. Color rises
swiftly on them, a rosy fire.
I point at the antique mirror above the dresser. “What? I tell the truth. Have a look for yourself.”
She stands there, her eyes still silently questioning me. I gently guide her over there so she can look at
her reflection—to see what I see.
“Oh, um … my dress. I came out to get some help.” She reaches behind her in an attempt to gather
the two sides of the material where it’s gaped open in the back, a million little buttons needing
attention.
I feel like I’ve been hit square in the chest. My heart stops for a full count of three while my eyes
focus on her bare back—the delicate curve of her spine and what I know would be the softest skin if I
were to reach out and stroke my fingers over it. When my heart kicks back into gear, it takes off as if
it’s beating just for her—pounding, thumping, thrumming—and I press my hand over it, willing it to
calm.
Temptation reaches out and grabs me around the throat, and I struggle not to give in right then and
there. Impatient need staggers me, adding to my predicament when my cock stirs.
“Shawn?”
I glance up, our gazes meeting and locking in the reflection of the mirror. My chest rises as I
inhale deeply, trying to steady myself and regain control. “Yeah.” I press my lips together. “I can help
you with this.”
My fingers fumble at first but then become sure as they work the first few buttons. Fuck me, this is
like a slow seduction in reverse. I’d like to be undoing these evil things, revealing more and more of
her to me. Every time I look up into the mirror and see the image of the two of us looking back at me,
a spark ignites in my chest and scatters through my body. The idea that she and I are about to play at
this relationship for several hours sends even more blood rushing to parts of my body that have no
business getting involved.
“How’s it going back there?” Her voice is whispery soft as she glances at me over her shoulder,
her eyes cast down.
“I’ve about got it. Just another few to go. Sorry, these are really, really tiny.”
“And you have some big hands.”
I cough, practically strangling on her quiet insinuation. “Mm, yeah. I do.” I wait another beat or
two before murmuring, “So, remind me again how I should be with you in front of everyone.” My
voice is husky and low. “I mean, I know we said intimate, but I don’t want anything I do to surprise
you.”
Her eyes are a raging green sea of uncertainty. “Can you be more specific? What kinds of things
are you thinking about?”
“Well, I know I’m okay to hold your hand. So, other things like, should I rest my hand on the small
of your back?”
“I … um …”
I rush on. “You see, you’re a bit flustered, off balance, and that’s exactly what I want to avoid if I
were to do any of these things in front of other people.” I pause, staring into her eyes. “It should feel
natural, whatever we do, and I don’t want to overstep and make you uncomfortable and have it show
up on your face. It would ruin the illusion we are trying to create.”
She nods. “I understand. Tell me what else you’re thinking of, and I’ll stop you if I think it’s a bad
idea. Is that okay?”
I wet my lower lip, and her gaze follows my every movement in the mirror.
“Okay. What if I do something like this?” I press a soft kiss to her temple, my lips lingering. I
whisper a confession. “I get caught up in the romance of weddings sometimes.”
Being this near to her is the worst torture. “If I’m standing behind you, like I am now, can I rest my
hands on your hips? Like this?” My palms smooth over the curve of her hips before they settle there.
“And should I kiss your neck? Like this?” My lips find the heated, raspberry-scented skin just at the
juncture of her neck and shoulder, testing her. I glance up at her reflection from under my lashes to
discover her head has dropped back a bit, angled to the side to give me better access. And her
breathing, it’s erratic at best, her chest rising and falling in starts and spurts.
I turn her to face me, gathering her in my arms. “And, when we dance, should I hold you close like
this? Will you rest your head on my chest?”
The nod of agreement is barely perceptible, but it’s there, so I continue. I swallow carefully, and
tip her head up to me. My lips find the column of her neck, breathing her in, before I murmur in her
ear, “Should I feed you cake from my fork like I fed you dessert last night?”
She moans so softly I almost don’t hear it. That one tiny sound, so small, tells me everything. It
sends a white-hot strike straight down my spine, tightening my balls and hardening my dick.
Never one to make any assumptions, I breathe a final question right next to the shell of her ear,
“Should I whisk you away from the reception early? Make people think we’re so hot for each other
we can’t keep our hands to ourselves?” My nose nudges along her jaw, my breath feathering over her
neck. “Is this how you want me to be with you tonight?”
CHAPTER 15
 MADISON

I want to shout, “Yes! Yes, I’ll do anything with you. Put your hands on me, kiss me, love me, make
me yours.”
A shallow breath shudders from between my lips as I look up at him. I’m straight up putty in his
hands, soft and pliable, ready to be molded into whatever he wants me to be. My whole body is flying
at his touch, my heart thunders, and I’m so, so lost in the ocean of his blue eyes. He stares right back
into mine, as if he’s getting a little lost, too. Those big hands cup my hips; gentle fingers press into my
skin through the fabric of my dress. I have half a mind to just say forget the wedding and stay right
here with him all night.
“Yes. Yes, to everything you just said and did.” Because I want to feel all of that again.
But, that’s not why we’re here, and I’m reminded of that as soon as he steps away from me,
leaving me feeling cold and unsure. He runs his hand over his clean-shaven cheek, eyeing me
carefully. “Okay, then. Ready to partake in the biggest game of make believe you’ve ever played?”
I breathe carefully. Right. This is all a game to him. An easy favor between friends—I’m not
someone he’d choose to be with otherwise. It’s rather unnerving how he could touch me like he just
did and not mean it—he made me believe it just now. For a few moments, reality had been suspended,
and I’d allowed myself to feel what it would be like to be his.
Embarrassment over nearly getting swept away in our little fantasy world brings bright pink color
to my cheeks. Standing there trying not to betray my thoughts, I allow my gaze to roam over him. I am
such a sucker for a man in a suit and tie, and oh my, Shawn wears his so well. I catch the corner of my
lower lip between my teeth. Staring. Aching. Wanting. My response to this man is off any chart I’ve
ever encountered. This could be a very good thing for our purposes today—but possibly very bad for
my heart.
Ready or not, here we go.

My palms sweat as we enter the church, but it doesn’t have as much to do with the eyes on us as it has
to do with being here with Shawn. My mind is still stuck on the way he’d whispered those delicious
questions in my ear, the way he’d touched me.
I stumble going up the last stair into the church. Shawn’s muscled arm loops around my waist,
catching me before I fall. He steadies me with a hand on either side of my waist.
“Thank you.”
“No problem.” He leans in close. “Are you nervous?”
“A little … and just generally awkward in heels.”
He chuckles. “You don’t seem awkward in them to me at all. You look fantastic.”
“Thanks, boyfriend.” I paint a cheeky grin on my face and lift onto my toes to press a quick kiss to
his cheek, only to have his cologne infiltrate my senses. I’m dizzy from the scent of him curling
through my head.
He murmurs quietly, his lips near my temple, “I wasn’t saying that for any reason other than it’s
the absolute truth. You’re stunning.”
I peek up at him, trying to brush off the effect he has on me. “Thank you.” We walk down the aisle
behind an usher and slide into the pew he gestures at to await the ceremony.
Shawn scoots in next to me as close as he can and drapes an arm around me. The heavy thudding
of my heart from sitting this close to him quickly changes to something else entirely when I notice
people looking in our direction. Some of my relatives and old friends have spotted our entrance. I’d
usually be a basket case by now, but I find I’m drawing confidence from Shawn’s presence. He’s
completely natural, comfortable playing the part he’s been assigned. In fact, he’s so good at it, I’m
having trouble reconciling the man who is so kind and so good with me with the cheater I know him to
be.
Maybe, just maybe we can pull this off. If only everyone would just stop looking over here. I
make eye contact with my mom and dad, who are being seated two pews in front of us. Shawn and I
both give them a little wave. I turn to look at Shawn, surprised he’d bother, and find that he’s turned
my way at the exact same time. He leans in and nuzzles his nose with mine, a slow grin creeping over
his face. “You’ve got this,” he murmurs, his words just for me. I glance back at my parents and stifle a
giggle at both of their reactions—Mom with a few fingers pressed to her lips, hiding a smile, and Dad
with his mouth hanging open and eyes practically bugging out.
I mumble. “Jeez. I guess I’m really surprising them right now.”
“Don’t worry about it. Let them think what they want,” Shawn rasps, his face in my hair, arm
drawing me even closer to him, loaning me his strength.
But if I let them think what they want, what do I do when this weekend is over, and I go back to
being just another single lady? What will everyone think when he disappears? Ugh. Why hadn’t I
considered this little piece of the puzzle before? Crap.
I try to put it out of my head. This weekend was only ever supposed to be that. Just one weekend.
One fake-out. A means to an end. A way for me to hide my lonely existence from everyone who thinks
my single status is somehow their business. I squeeze my eyes shut and try to breathe normally.
Soft music begins to play, distracting me, and we watch as the wedding processional begins.
Chuck and his groomsmen have appeared at the front of the church, and one by one, each bridesmaid
glides down the aisle in the most gorgeous rose-colored dresses I’ve ever seen. The cutest little
flower girl and ring bearer skip their way down the aisle, and their antics are so sweet, I hope for the
bride’s sake someone is getting them on video so she can watch later.
Shawn’s attention seems to be split. He has one eye on everyone going down the aisle and the
other on me. I hope it’s not showing on my face, how all of this is making me feel, because I’m so in
my head my mind is wandering to all sorts of places it has no right to go.
We rise at the cue from the music change, and I wistfully watch as Chuck’s beautiful bride walks
past us down the aisle on her father’s arm.
I seriously have a love/hate relationship with weddings. I love to see people happy, but hate that
it feels like it will never be me. My breath hitches and tears form in my eyes, blurring my vision.
Stupid Chase. I’d thought it was going to be him. I was such an idiot to think he’d want me forever. If
he cheated on me once, though, he’d do it again, so there’s no way I was going to stick around for that.
In fact, I’m proud that I didn’t because there was a part of me that wanted to stay in the relationship
just to have someone to call my own.
Somehow sensing my shift in mood, Shawn gathers me close.
Now, Shawn? Everything about him that I’ve learned this weekend confuses me. It seems like he’s
not who I thought he was. Maybe it’s naive of me to think so. Maybe I just want it to be true because
of the way I feel when I’m with him. The way his protective arm winds around me, the way his hand
on my waist sends little sparks through my whole body, it makes my heart wish for things it probably
shouldn’t.
I lean into Shawn as the new husband and wife rush up the aisle, hand in hand, matching grins on
their faces. That. That’s what I want. Right there.
Our turn to leave the church comes quickly, and Shawn presses a sweet kiss to my temple, just
like he’d mentioned he would. Softly, he says, “Come on, let’s go show everyone what a good fake
boyfriend you have.”
Right. Let’s keep hammering that reminder into my head since I seem to keep forgetting. This is all
fake. This isn’t real. Oh my God, what a royally awful mess I’ve made for myself.
I know now—I have real feelings for my fake boyfriend.
Crap.

Back in the car, I turn my phone back on to find there are a ton of messages in the group text from this
morning.
Hadleigh: Tell us more about last night with lover boy.
Piper: Had, don’t do that to her. It’s fake, remember?
Hadleigh: Madi, girl, you know I’m joking, right?
Zoey: I just hope she’s enjoying herself and not getting too stressed out over it.
Quinn: Hmm. Do you know our friend?
Zoey: Well, I do, but I just hope she’s having fun with it.
Sophia: We may not have heard from Madi since this morning, but Heath heard from Shawn.

That piques my interest. I bite my lip and steal a look across the truck’s cab at him. Should I ask?
Ah, I can’t. At least, I can’t ask him.

Me: You guys have heard from Shawn?

Sophia: There she is! And yes. He texted Heath right before you went to the wedding. Said you
looked gorgeous.
Sophia: He also mentioned you all had just “chilled” in the room last night.
Quinn: Is that what they are calling it these days?
Hadleigh: Quinn! That’s my line.

I suppress a smile. I love that we can all talk like this. It’s been a long time since I had girlfriends.
There were a few other people I’d hang out with, but no one I counted on nearly as much as I’ve come
to rely on these women. We’re so much more than coworkers now that the job is almost an
afterthought.
Shawn side-eyes me with a careful smile. “Chatting with someone?”
“Yeah, sorry. Just the girls.”
He laughs. “‘The girls’? No wonder you look like you’re about to burst out laughing any second
now.”
“What can I say? They’re pretty funny.”
“It’s nice you’ve got that tribe thing going on. I remember it took you and Dana a bit to warm up to
each other, but once you did, it was good for both of you.” He winces.
“Things kind of got fucked up with that whole situation, though, huh?”
“Yeah,” I murmur. “Pretty messed up.” I shrug, trying to act like it doesn’t matter to me that his
cheating resulted in the loss of my new friend. After I’d told her what he’d done, that was pretty much
the nail in the coffin. I think she felt it was too difficult to continue on with our friendship after that.
“It’s okay. I’ve found my people.”
I’m surprised he doesn’t have anything more to say about Dana. My fingers grip my phone tightly,
not wanting to dwell on it at the moment, but I know I should speak to him about why he cheated on
her at some point. Especially if I want to know if he really has changed and become a better person—
if he could be someone I can trust. I’ve already told him I have issues with that, so …

Me: We really did just hang out. In fact, I fell asleep while we were watching TV.
Zoey: I guess that means you are at least comfortable with him?
Me: Yes, we’re fine with each other. He’s been very convincing so far as my boyfriend. We’re on our
way back to the B&B for the reception now, actually.
Piper: Oh, fun. Are you going to dance with him? I’m so curious how you all strategized all of this.
Sophia: Of course she is. It’s got to look real.
Me: Right. Real.
Sophia: Madi, you okay?

I can’t leave them hanging. With a sigh, my thumbs fly over the keyboard of my phone, tapping out
a reply.

Me: Yeah. I’m just really confused about a few things still. Shawn is different than I thought he’d be,
and it doesn’t make much sense.
Me: It’s nothing. Reception time. Gotta go.

With a huff, I power down my phone and place it back in my clutch. Shawn parks the truck, gets
out, and jogs around to my side to assist me, my dress a tangle of flowing fabric around my legs.
“Ready for this, beautiful?” His grin makes everything feel right again, so I do what I can to shove
all thoughts of cheating boyfriends aside.
There’s one great thing about boyfriends of the fake variety—there’s no relationship for them to
cheat on, so there’s no chance at getting hurt. That’s what I keep telling myself, anyway.
CHAPTER 16
 SHAWN

“Are you ready to get back down to the reception?” One glance at Madison and I know her head isn’t
in a good place right now. Now that we’ve dropped off our coats, there’s really no reason to stay up
here when we are due back downstairs for the rest of the wedding festivities.
She meets my eyes, takes a deep breath and stands with a nod.
“Are you okay? Hungry, maybe?”
A hint of a smile crosses her face. “I guess they’ll be feeding us, right?”
“Yep. And there will be flowers and music and dancing.”
“And cake.”
“And cake, for sure. Come on.” I hold my hands out to her and when she takes them, I draw her in,
hugging her body to mine. The tremors that run through her just prove that I was correct in my
thinking. She’s nervous as hell.
Time to turn on my charm, then, and hopefully make her forget about everything for a little bit.
As for my “girlfriend,” I’m more than proud to be escorting Madison. I wouldn’t want to be with
anyone else. I’d go anywhere with her, fake or not. I place my hand on the small of her back as we
walk side by side down the stairs to the main foyer, where we are ushered toward the main dining
area for the reception.
She looks up at me as we enter the big room, a slight panic in her eyes. My fingers slide over,
grasping her hip and giving it a squeeze. “You’re fine.” I reach with my free hand and cup her cheek
in my palm. “Let’s find out where they have us sitting.”
The tables we maneuver ourselves through are set with fancy china and sweetly-scented floral
arrangements. Candles flicker on each, giving the entire room a soft, romantic feel. I see Madison’s
brother waving at us, lift a hand to him, and nod my head.
“I’m pretty sure we’re seated with your parents and brother. What’s his girlfriend’s name again?”
Her voice so low I almost don’t hear it, she murmurs, “Emily.”
“Right. Emily.”
She blows out a sharp breath and a nervous laugh comes out with it. “I’m really fucking nervous.”
I chuckle, not remembering the last time I’ve heard Madison swear. “You must be. You just said
the F word.”
Her mouth opens and closes for a few seconds, and then she giggles behind her hand. “I did,
didn’t I?” Her shoulders move up to her ears for a second and her cheeks pink up.
So pretty.
I nod, bringing my face down to hers, my lips just shy of kissing her. “I’m your boyfriend. Just
pretend.”
Her eyes flick to mine. “Practice over?”
“This is the real thing. Game on.” With that, I gently nudge her in the direction we need to go.
Her parents smile up at us from their seats. “Well, have a seat, you two. I feel like we’ve barely
seen you.” Her dad’s smile is genuine but curious, and there’s something in his eyes that tell me he’s a
little wary.
Madison’s mouth opens then closes, and she glances at me for help.
I rub my hand up and down her back in an attempt to relax her, then gesture to her that she should
sit. I pull out a chair and help her into it before I address her parents, “She’s been exhausted from that
last week of school. You know how it is, Mrs. Green.” I nod at her with a smile as I sit down.
Madison had mentioned how her mom used to teach, too, but recently retired.
Mrs. Green’s eyes light up, but before she can say anything, James butts in, “Right. That’s why
she’s tired.”
His laughter has Madison shaking free of her nerves. “James,” she shoots him a warning look,
“unless you want me to start talking about you and Emily in front of our parents, I’d suggest you stop
right there.”
James throws his hands out in front of him, amusement clear on his face. “Fair enough.”
From beside him, Emily smacks his arm lightly. “You are so bad.”
He grabs her chin and plants a loud smacking kiss on her lips. “And you love it.”
My gaze finds Mr. Green’s again. “We really were just resting. We took a walk earlier, and I
played my guitar some while I was waiting for Madi to get ready.”
“If everyone is happy, that’s all we care about.” He takes his wife’s hand and looks pointedly at
me, as well as at his own son.
“Right. Happy and safe.” I nod. “Your daughter is both of those things with me. Don’t give it
another thought.” I lean in and kiss her cheek.
Madison’s mom places a hand over her heart, her head tilting as she watches. “I’m just so glad
you’ve finally found someone, Madison. You’ve been dating a while?”
Her family looks on as I press another kiss to her cheek. “The best months of my life.” I know
Madison thinks what I do and say is for show, but I mean what I say. If she was with me, she’d always
be happy and she’d always be cared for.
At close range, I can practically feel Madison’s heart rate pick up, and when I draw away, I take
her hand in mine. A string quartet is playing music, and I bob my head toward the dance floor. “Will
you dance with me?”
Her mom nudges her when she doesn’t respond right away. “You’d better take advantage of this. I
heard that after dinner the string quartet goes away and they are bringing in a DJ. We’ll be doing the
Chicken Dance by the end of the night.”
A grin forms on Madison’s face as she huffs out a laugh. “Good call.” And it’s like a switch has
flipped. “Let’s dance.”
We make our way to the dance floor and as the music softly plays, we quickly get carried away by
it, swaying together as one. Madison moves like a dream in my arms. As much as she’d claimed to be
awkward in her heels and dress, she’s totally not. Her body was made for dancing. She doesn’t just
hear the music, she feels it. She moves with it, gets a little lost in it. Every damn thing about her is
enticing as hell to me.
Our bodies are pressed close, maybe a little too close for dancing in public, but I won’t deny her
and can’t dismiss the riot of sensation barreling through me. Every inch of her is molded to every inch
of me, and she’s driving me half out of my mind. If this dancing is an act, she deserves an Academy
Award. The way her body reacts to mine seems very much like the real thing. I can feel her heartbeat
fluttering madly against my chest and mine pounds out an identical rhythm right back.
“Madison,” I breathe out, as her head tips back to look at me. “You feel so good in my arms.” My
lips skim over her forehead, and I tuck my head down into her hair near her ear. “You’re too perfect,
and I don’t know why you decided to do this with me, but I’m glad you did.”
“Do you think they’re buying it?”
Ice-cold realization dumps over my head. “Um. Yeah, I think so.” Fuck, fuck, fuck. Here I am
dancing with her, my body heating, wanting her, and she’s thinking I’m playing a part still.
She wraps her arms around my neck for a particularly slow song and presses her breasts flush
with my chest. My hands slide over her curves, down, down, dangerously close to her sweet ass, in
an attempt to show her I’m not playing. She makes a little sound deep in the back of her throat and her
lower half rubs against mine, and all at once, a feeling of possession rushes through me. My hard-on
comes out of nowhere, pressing insistently against her stomach.
Well, if she thought I was playing before, I guess the truth is out now. The feel of her … oh, God.
In response to my thoughts, more blood rushes south of my belt. Fucking hell.
“Shawn?” Her lips part as she takes in the strain on my face.
I bite my lip, raking my teeth over it as I lower my face to hers. There’s a distinct question on her
face, but I’m so completely riveted, absolutely engrossed by the wet slick of her plump lips, I don’t
know how to answer her. I want to taste her mouth—need to devour those lips. The sweet scent of her
surrounds me, our bodies so heated that each time she moves, a fresh burst of it infiltrates my senses.
My lips hover just over hers, and I swallow roughly. Never have I wanted something so much—to
feel her lips on mine, to taste them, stroke inside her mouth, claiming it with my tongue. Never.
“Madison.” Her name rasps up and out of me, and with regret, I drag my mouth away from its
intended target on a groan.
CHAPTER 17
 MADISON

We’d discussed a lot of things in the last twenty-four hours, but we definitely hadn’t talked about that
kind of dancing or whether or not he should kiss me on the lips. The last half hour on the dance floor
had felt like an out-of-body experience—the hard lines of his body pressed up against mine, like
some sort of bizarre symbiotic relationship was happening right there for everyone to see. If you
removed either of us from the other, we’d surely not survive.
Shawn has lit a fire inside of me that I’m not sure how to put out. The evidence of it is in full view
of everyone at the reception. I don’t think there’s any way anyone doubts we’re together at this point.
The problem is, he’s done such a good job of helping me fake it that I don’t want to fake it anymore.
The way he was dancing with me, well, I must admit, I’d thought it was something more, that
we’d been going way above and beyond what was necessary to fool everyone. He’d taken me right to
the edge of desire, and I’d wanted him to kiss me some kind of bad—I huff out a breath—and then
he’d pulled away, like it was a mistake. That almost-kiss was all I’d thought about all the way through
each ridiculously long dinner course. An hour later, my breasts still feel heavy and my core still
throbs every time I think about the hot brand of his erection against my belly.
He’d been hard for me. No faking happening there.
As we finish up our main course, my parents get up to join the festivities on the dance floor, James
and Emily disappear, and I’m left alone with Shawn for the first time since we’d reluctantly left the
dance floor when the salad course had been served.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous now, but it’s for a whole different reason. Unfortunately for
me, I’ve been falling for our act from the very beginning. I’m having such a hard time identifying the
line between reality and fantasy because we’ve both stuck our toes right over the line and wiped it
away. Here goes nothing.
I lean closer to Shawn and carefully put my hand on his muscular thigh. Brazen? Maybe. But how
else am I supposed to get my point across? “I really liked dancing with you earlier.”
He glances down at my hand on his leg, and to my surprise, he covers it with his own before our
heads raise at the same time, gazes meeting and holding. I stare into that deep blue abyss, looking for
some sign that he’s with me—that this isn’t all for show. My eyes beg him to see into me, down into
my heart that is crying out to him to confess he has some sort of real feelings for me buried inside of
him somewhere beneath all the faking and pretense. Please, Shawn. Please.
My breath hitches as he moves his head next to mine, his lips drifting close to my ear.
“Don’t freak out, but we have a problem. Come with me.” Shawn stands quickly, pulling me up
next to him. One hand to my back, he guides me briskly out of the reception to the foyer.
His body is rigid beside me as we walk, and I still have no idea what is happening, but I can tell
he’s upset. I stop abruptly, whirling around. Shawn doesn’t even know anyone here except my family,
unless …
Oh, hell.
Chase strides toward us at a fast clip, his expression turbulent. I take two steps back, right into
Shawn, who catches me as I stumble. He holds me against him with an arm looped around me, my
back to his front. I moan and say through my teeth, “I forgot he used to be friends with my cousin. I
didn’t know they were still close.” My stomach churns with sickness, bile rising until it hits the back
of my throat. This is one thing I wasn’t anticipating, a wallop out of left field.
Shawn is strong and steady behind me, his arm a band of protection against whatever bullshit
Chase is about to spew.
Before Chase can get close enough to hear, Shawn leans down and whispers in my ear, “Just stay
calm. We’ll get through this. You still want to keep up with our charade?”
Well, what else am I supposed to do at this point? I jerk my head in affirmation because no way
will everything Shawn has done for me this weekend go to waste. I really don’t give two shits if
Chase is upset by seeing us together. We’re doing nothing wrong.
I can’t keep the grimace off my face as Chase stops in front of us, my mood immediately souring
further when I realize he’s tanked. Well, that will definitely help matters.
Shawn’s deep voice cuts through the air. “Chase. Good to see you, man. Enjoying the wedding?”
“I just got here. I wasn’t going to come, but then a few people messaged me asking about the two
of you and I figured I’d come see what they were talking about for myself.”
I take a deep breath, studying him carefully. I’m confused why he’d care enough to show up.
“What I do is none of your concern, Chase. I could have been here with anyone, and you’d still have
no say in it. I’m not your girlfriend—I’m none of your business anymore.”
He throws his head back, manic laughter spilling out. “The two of you together, though. That’s
something.” He levels his stare on Shawn. “I assume you’ve told her?”
Shawn’s hold on me tightens imperceptibly. “Actually, Chase, no, I haven’t.”
“Told me what?” My brows pinch together.
“I haven’t told her, but I do think it’s about time she knew.” His fingers press into my stomach, and
I feel his body curl around me in protection. “Why don’t you tell her? It might clear up some of her
confusion.”
I glance up, craning my neck to look back at Shawn, and I’m sure my face looks just miserable.
Oh my God, what are they talking about? I’m terrified to know, but I’m also eager to find out.
Especially if— Wait. Shawn knows I’m confused about something? Um. I bite my lip and square my
shoulders. “Tell me. Tell me whatever it is. It couldn’t possibly be worse than what you’ve already
done.”
Chase shakes his head, laughing again. “That damn bracelet you found in my truck that one time? It
belonged to a girl named Laurie.”
My body stiffens, and I shrug out of Shawn’s arms so I can turn around and look directly into his
eyes. My tongue darts out to wet my lips. “The girl you cheated on Dana with?” My head spins. I
can’t see where this is going at all.
His face a mask, Shawn slowly shakes his head no. “I’m no cheater, Madison.”
It must be fairly comical to Chase when the light bulb finally flashes on above my head. I turn
shakily toward him. “You-you were already cheating on me? Before the girl next door?” My breath
heaves out of me as I struggle to maintain my composure.
People walk in and out of the reception hall on their way to the bathroom or back to their rooms,
not realizing the chaos raging through my mind.
“I think you should leave now, Chase.” Shawn’s voice sounds gritty and dangerous, definitely the
hint of a threat behind his words.
“Fuck that. I’ve checked in for the night. I guess I’ll see your act around.”
I stiffen at his choice of words. If only he knew how close to the truth he is. “I hope I never see
you again. You’re the worst, Chase. I hate you.” It sounded so much stronger in my head, but my voice
shakes as I say the words.
With that, Chase takes off down a hallway, presumably to his room. Hopefully, he’ll stay there the
rest of the night.
“Madison.” Shawn murmurs into my hair. “Can I take you back to our room?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“What do you want to do? Help me out here, Madi. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“Dance. I want to dance with you. Take me away from all of this.” I swallow past the huge lump
of tears clogged in my throat. “I want to go back to earlier when we were having fun.”
His lips land on my jaw. And I feel his answer there before he even speaks. “Yes. Of course I
can.”
Shawn keeps a protective arm around me and leads me back into the reception. No one is the
wiser about the shit show that just went down outside.
“Hey. Let up on your lip.”
“Hm?” I glance up at Shawn, not understanding.
He takes my chin firmly in his hand, swiping his thumb over my bottom lip, gently loosening the
hold that my teeth have on it. It throbs where I’d been biting down, and I shut my eyes, embarrassed.
“It’s okay, Butterfly. I’ve got you.” He leads me to the dance floor, just as I’d requested. The DJ
has joined the party, but since most people are still enjoying their cake, he’s been playing a few slow
songs.
There’s no better feeling than Shawn’s powerful arms around me, I feel safe in his embrace. As
soon as we begin to dance, I relax, the anger cooling in my blood from the confrontation with Chase.
Shawn drags in a deep breath. “Are you okay?” His hands slide up and down my back, and I bury
my face against his chest.
“I don’t want to talk about it right now.”
“Okay.”
I tilt my head back, gathering up my courage. “Why’d you stop yourself from kissing me earlier,
Shawn?”
He lowers his face close to mine. “I thought it would complicate things.”
“It might.” I pause, shutting my eyes for a moment. “But what if I want you to?”
When my eyes flicker open, he nudges my nose with his. “That depends.” He dusts his lips past
mine, sending sparks shooting through my veins. Oh my God, if he doesn’t kiss me, I’m going to die.
“On what?” I swallow and wait again.
“I don’t want to kiss you unless we really mean it. I don’t want to kiss you and call it fake. I
haven’t been pretending for a while, and it would kill me to find out it wasn’t real for you.”
Shock floods my system. He … he doesn’t want to fake it anymore? I search his eyes for the truth.
The explanation I find there is this—he wants me as much as I want him.
“Kiss me, Shawn. Kiss me and decide if I mean it. I promise you’ll find out how I really feel if
you do. Just kiss me.”
He stares into my eyes, intensity the likes of which I’ve never experienced before burning there.
And just when I think it’s never going to happen, his mouth covers mine. Softly at first, then more
firmly, his lips begin to move. He slides his tongue across my lips, parting them, and soon our tongues
dance together to a rhythm all their own right there on the dance floor. He takes me to new heights
with his passionate kisses as my body melts against his. Each stroke of his tongue is wicked and
wonderful, a possession of not just my mouth, but my mind and soul. We’re still in the middle of this
wedding, but in my mind, we are up on a cloud, floating somewhere, and I never want this moment to
end.
When we finally come up for air, I become aware of many pairs of eyes looking in our direction,
as we’ve continued to cling together, even though the Chicken Dance has started around us.
I cover my mouth and laugh. Shawn grabs my hand. “Time for our planned escape, girlfriend.”
CHAPTER 18
 SHAWN

We stumble at the door to our room, lips all over each other, hands groping. I’ve been dying to taste
her luscious mouth, and now that I have, I don’t think I can slow down, and I’ll be fucked if she’s
going to let me, anyway. A wave of lust slams into me as she lifts up on her toes again and wraps her
hands around the back of my neck, dragging me down for another kiss. She’s insatiable. And I’m one
lucky fucker. I’d meant what I said—if she didn’t mean it, I didn’t want to kiss her. I’d been trying to
protect myself and her. But holy hell, it may not have been necessary at all. I think we may have been
on the same wavelength this whole time, neither wanting to step over the line or admit to our growing
attraction for each other. And now? We’re like a powder keg ready to blow.
“Ah. Damn old key.”
“Let me try.” Madison takes it from me, and I take a deep breath, trying to stop my heart from
beating so hard behind my rib cage. “There.” The key clicks into the lock and turns, and she pushes
the door open, drawing me in behind her.
I kick the door shut, whip my suit coat off at the same time she kicks out of her heels, and I haul
her to me. Our hands are immediately everywhere again. Her breasts, my cock, asses, just
everywhere. My fingers hook through the straps of her dress and tug them down. The top of her dress
comes down far enough—even with all those buttons still done up at the back—to reveal perfect
breasts in a lacy strapless bra. My mouth waters at the sight of her, and blood rushes from everywhere
in my body straight down to my dick. I can’t figure out for a moment how this could possibly be
happening, how we have gone from zero to sixty in two-point-two seconds … except this is Madison,
a girl I’ve known for years and have always liked and admired. And just maybe, this is happening
because we are finally waking up to what we could have if we give us a chance.
She reaches for me, eager for my touch. I gather her to me, pull one bra cup down, and claim her
nipple with my mouth. My tongue laves the already taut and needy bud, and Madison makes little
sounds in the back of her throat that drive me crazy as her feverish hands clutch at my dress shirt. I
suck hard, the taste of her skin so sweet, and her reaction spurs me on. I cup her other breast in my
palm before freeing it from her bra as well. An animalistic sound reverberates through my chest as I
swoop in for the second nipple, wanting to ensure she’s taken care of in every way. I lick, suck, and
adore her breasts until she’s writhing in my arms, begging me for more.
“Please, Shawn.” She hesitates, her eyes moving over what I know must be a storm of desire on
my face.
I yank my tie loose and pull it over my head, quickly unbutton my shirt, and discard it. My
undershirt goes flying as I whip it off. Shoes and socks? Off. I stand there, panting in front of her,
hands on my hips. She’s the most beautiful vision, this woman, breasts jutting out from her bra, dress
half off, barefoot, and I can’t stand it anymore. “Please, what, Madi?”
I reach behind her, unhooking her bra and letting it fall to the floor. “What do you want?”
“You.”
I smile, lust swirling in my eyes. “I want you, too, but be more specific for me.”
“I-I want your hands on me.”
I step forward, my chest rising and falling visibly with each breath. “Where?”
She groans. “You’re going to make me say it?”
I nod. “Where?”
“Everywhere, Shawn. I want you to touch me everywhere.”
“Turn around, then. You’re still half-trapped in this dress.”
She spins so her back is facing me, and I slowly begin to undo all of those little fuckers that I’d
just done up a few hours ago. Finally. We’re finally moving in the right direction. With each one I
undo, I kiss her somewhere different—her shoulder, the nape of her neck, her spine, the outer curve of
her breast, the top of her ass cheek.
When I finally free her of the dress, she spins around again, right back into my arms. Her fingers
roam over every inch of my bare skin that she can find, skimming over ridges of ab muscle, brushing
over my pecs, then coming back to flick her thumbs over my nipples. A deep growl sounds in my
chest when she presses her naked torso to mine, and she feels so damn good I could come in my pants.
But I won’t. I want this to be everything it should be for her. I back her up to our tiny bed and
encourage her to scoot backward onto it. I watch her turn and crawl to the head of the bed, and I just
about have a seizure. She’s wearing these cheeky little lace panties, and when I say cheeky, I mean
most of her ass cheeks are not inside of them. They are hands down the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. I
quickly free myself from my dress pants, the buckle clanking to the floor, which draws her attention.
She studies me with a pair of eyes that are so full of want and need that I wonder how long she’s
had these feelings for me. Has it been hours? A day? More? Her face flushes pink when my eyes meet
hers; she’s so pretty I could cry. The mattress dips as I scramble onto it after her, unable to wait a
second longer before I touch her again. I kneel over her, shift her so she’s lying flat on her back, and
cage her on the bed with my body. I kiss her soft stomach and she squirms. I suck her nipples again
and she writhes. And when I shift backward, my lips ghosting over her hips, she throws her head
back. With a kiss stamped right at the juncture of her thighs, she moans long and low. My vision
tunnels until all that exists is me and her. I slide the panties over her ass and drag them down her
creamy, pale legs. I want my mouth on her. Right. Fucking. Now.
Between her legs, her pink flesh glistens, bare except for a thin landing strip of curls. My hands
each palm an ass cheek as I lift her to me, dipping my tongue straight into her core. She’s aroused,
absolutely drenched. I lick, suck, and swirl my tongue, savoring every last bit of her.
Madison’s head thrashes around on the pillow as she clutches the sheets below her. “Oh, God.
Shawn. Oh, God. I can’t—”
I groan, the desperation in her words driving me, and plunge my tongue inside her heat again. My
voice is raspy when I say, “I want to goddamn devour you. Do you want me to stop?” I tilt my head to
the side, waiting for her answer. Kissing her inner thigh, I scrape over it lightly with my stubble, and
then lick the abraded skin.
Her head shakes back and forth as I push one finger inside of her, hooking it upward, rubbing the
front wall of ridged flesh. “No!” She draws in another quick breath, chest jerking with it. “No, don’t
stop.”
The feel of my hands and mouth on her—of our bodies giving in—it’s everything. My mouth
descends on her again, flicking over her clit. I add a second finger, pumping slowly in and out, stoking
the fire inside of her. She begins to tremble, her legs quaking on either side of my head.
“Oh my God. Shawn. I’ve never—I’ve never—” I glance up to see her hair is a wild mess on the
pillow circling her head like a halo. Angel.
I smile against her pussy, knowing she’s about to tip right over the edge for me. “Come on my
tongue, sweetheart. You taste so good. I knew you’d be amazing.”
And with that, her muscles all tighten up and she cries out, her body completely out of her control
as the waves of pleasure flow through her. Her inner muscles clamp down on my fingers over and
over again. I’ve got to admit, it’s pretty damn sexy watching her go off the deep end like that, knowing
I did that to her. She’s bathed in absolute bliss, her body languid and incapable of any significant
movement.
Madison blinks and looks down between her legs where I’m still lying.
She covers her face with her hands for a count of three, then attempts to prop herself up on her
elbows. I keep eye contact as I lean in and place my lips right over the hood of her sex, sucking and
flicking at her clit with my tongue. She was already flushed from her orgasm, but a deep red stains her
cheeks as she watches me. I slide my fingers through her folds, her arousal coating them.
“Did you mean what you said?”
I remove my mouth from her long enough to murmur, “I mean everything I say, but what are you
referring to, Butterfly?” My tongue darts out to lick her again.
Her head drops back. “I can’t think when you’re doing that.”
I chuckle against her naked center and she twitches hard. “Was it maybe about the way you taste?”
I bring my fingers to my mouth and suck them clean.
She presses her lips together and nods. Her eyes widen as I crawl between her legs, lower my
body to hers, and cup the back of her head with my hand. My fingers thread through the mass of curls,
and I lean in to brush a kiss over her lips. My intent was to slow us down and give us a breather, but
at the first touch of her swollen lips, I can’t hold back, my mouth slanting over hers.
Our tongues duel, and she gasps.
“Do you taste yourself on my tongue? So sweet. So perfect.”
She moans her answer and locks her legs around my waist, rubbing her wetness against my
erection through my boxer briefs.
We explore each other’s mouths, kiss after intoxicating kiss, all while my hard-on rages, ready to
burst through the fabric encasing it. I’d been in complete control just a few minutes ago, so focused on
giving her pleasure that I’d been able to ignore my insistent dick begging me to be inside of her. Then
she started grinding against me. Game. Fucking. Over.
My hands roam over her body, and I plant a kiss on her chin. “Give me just a second.” I push up
and scramble for my duffel bag to retrieve the condoms that I’d packed.
“Boy Scout.” She laughs. “Did you know something I didn’t about what would happen this
weekend?”
My lips tease into a smirk. “I always have some. It’s really just a habit to throw them in at this
point. Those Boy Scouts are not stupid.” My eyes flick to hers. “For once, they’re actually going to
get used.”
“They?”
I run the pad of my thumb over my lip as I look at her naked body spread out before me.
“Definitely.”
That pink steals over her cheeks again. I wonder if there will ever be a time when I don’t make
her blush. Without waiting another second, I hook my fingers in the waistband of my boxer briefs,
shove them down over my ass, and allow my cock to finally spring free. I glance up at Madison, who
is no longer looking into my eyes, but straight at my groin.
The heat emanating from her focus blows across the room, almost suffocating me, and makes me
roll the condom on faster than I’ve ever done before. In a flash, I’m back between her legs, my cock
achingly close to heaven.
My lips find hers again, tongues stroke, hearts race, bodies strain to be ever closer to each other.
I may go out of my mind if I’m not inside her soon. Between us, I reach my hand down, stroking
my fingers through her arousal again, playing with her sweet pussy, making sure she’s ready for me.
“Shawn. I need you. I need this. Please …” Her words are punctuated by gasps and low moans.
I stare into her eyes, and the need in them chokes me up. In response, I enter her in one smooth
stroke, filling her completely. I duck my head down next to her ear to whisper, “Madison, I hope
you’re ready for this. Because I intend to love your body all night long.”
Her breath stutters out, chest heaving. “You’re so—”
CHAPTER 19
 MADISON

Holy shit. “Big. Oh my God.” I can’t even draw a full breath as I try to adjust to the sensation of
being so incredibly full.
Stifling a laugh, Shawn withdraws and eases back inside me before he takes my head between his
hands and nuzzles my nose with his. “Are you okay?”
“I think so,” I gasp as he strokes into me again. “Oh my God. I mean, yes.” Uneven breaths flutter
across my lips as I become accustomed to his size and the pace he is setting.
He thrusts into me, powerful and sure, owning every piece of me. I arch my back, wanton, needing
to feel him everywhere, and it seems to spur him on. Just when I think I can’t possibly handle any
more, he reaches between us, and rubs the flat of his fingers over my clit, circling, gliding, caressing.
My moans turn into strangled, needy cries.
“Shawn. Shawn. You’re going to make me come.” The release coils in my belly so tightly I feel
like I’m about to black out. All I see is him. All I feel is him. All I want is him. My heart aches with
the realization, and I hope he feels even a fraction of what I do.
A wash of tingles spreads from my extremities inward, all leading to my pulsing core as the
orgasm sweeps over me. I see stars—brilliant, bright flashes behind my eyelids. Shawn raises his
upper body from me and kneels between my legs, fingers still working their magic, cock still sliding
in and out of me, though at a slower pace, as if his goal is to prolong my pleasure.
When I open my eyes, he’s looking down at me in wonder.
He speaks in a ragged whisper. “That was the most breathtakingly beautiful thing I’ve witnessed
in my entire life.”
Feelings pour freely from his musician’s soul, his words winding their way around my heart and
squeezing tightly. “So beautiful, Butterfly.”
He lowers himself back to me, hooks each of my legs over his arms, spreading them wide. He
lavishes my mouth with drugging kisses, kisses that touch me so deeply on an emotional level, I only
want more of them, of him. I can’t concentrate. With his tongue in my mouth and his cock stroking
deep inside of me, something unlocks and I give myself over to him, trusting him fully with my body.
Shawn has made me want him. And I want him shamelessly.
 He pants above me, low, guttural groans ripping from him. Sheer ecstasy, that’s all I feel, and it’s
matched in his expression. My name tumbles from his lips as he finds his release. Naked emotion
swims freely in his eyes when he stares down into mine.
“Madison, what have you done to me?”
He’s so raw in this moment, completely swept away with me, I can’t handle it. My trembling hand
cups his stubbled cheek, and I shake my head. “I don’t know, Shawn.” I take a deep, shuddery breath.
“But whatever I did to you, you’ve done to me, too.”

I awaken an hour before dawn, wrapped up in Shawn’s embrace, secure within the steel bands of his
arms. He’d loved me so well, I’d slipped into slumber thinking only of him and how he’d made me
feel. A secret smile spreads across my face as I recall how we’d managed to have sex on just about
every available surface of our tiny hotel room, including one final time in the shower before we fell
into the bed, fully satiated. I let out a sleepy sigh as I shift around, trying to get comfortable. My
muscles are sore in that delicious whoa, haven’t used those in a while way. Shawn had taken me,
made me his in every way I could have hoped for. I relish the soreness in my limbs and the abrasions
all over my skin from his stubble-coated jaw. If I have any question as to where his lips had been last
night, all I have to do is look at the road map left on my body. Not wanting to wake Shawn, I stifle a
giggle at my naughty musings.
I’m in a fairly blissed-out state thinking about Shawn until I wind the clock back further and my
mind starts processing the last twelve hours. It hits me like a ton of bricks what a tangled mess last
night was. Chase showing up? I hadn’t expected that. It honestly never crossed my mind that he’d be
invited to the wedding. Stupid of me to be caught off guard? Yeah, maybe. But no more stupid than it
had been for Chase to think he had any right to speak to me, much less to be upset by seeing me with
Shawn. That bastard had strolled right up to me as if anything he had to say would matter to me—
which it didn’t—until he admitted that he’d cheated on me with that Laurie girl.
I won’t lie. It’d stung quite a bit hearing it straight from Chase’s mouth. But the fact that Shawn
had had my back, both literally and figuratively, helped a great deal in lessening the blow I may have
felt otherwise.
Thank goodness he’d been with me and I hadn’t come alone. I can only imagine what a different
path my weekend would have taken if that had been the case. Without Shawn lending me his strength,
it’s entirely possible I’d still be crying over everything.
Fortunately for me, that’s not how it had gone down, and the pain I’d felt at Chase’s admission had
fallen away completely in Shawn’s arms on the dance floor. The fake portion of our relationship had
come to an abrupt end when I’d asked him point blank if he’d kiss me. I can’t say how long it would
have taken me and Shawn to admit our feelings for each other if things had gone differently. Maybe
days. Maybe weeks? Maybe never.
I shift, thoughts of Chase with yet another girl making my stomach roil, and reposition my head on
Shawn’s chest. I breathe in his scent, trying to pull my thoughts away from the chaos of last night and
back to what we’d discovered in each other instead. It’s like a dream—a very hot, very sexy dream. I
press a kiss to his chest, his flesh warm against my lips, and snuggle against his side.
I’ve never been a fan of thinking everything happens for a reason, but in this case, I’m grateful.
Maybe it always should have been me and Shawn together.
“You awake?” Shawn lightly trails a path up and down my arm with his fingertips. Even all the
little things he does make me feel good.
I nod. “Yes. I woke up and couldn’t stop thinking about everything that happened earlier.” I pause,
swallowing hard. “With Chase, I mean.”
A rumbling sound reverberates through Shawn’s chest. “He just isn’t the same guy I knew in high
school. I don’t know what he did or who he came into contact with when he went away to college, but
I wish I understood it because it cost me a good friend.”
“And I was just dumb enough to hook up with him at the wrong time.” I bow my head, chin to my
chest.
“Maybe so.” He gently squeezes me to him and presses a kiss to my forehead. “The ‘wrong time’
part, not the ‘dumb’ part.” He chuckles awkwardly. “Sorry. It’s really not funny.”
I lift my head and give him a quick grin. “I love that you make the hardest situations seem so much
easier, like it’s no big deal. I feel like I can do anything with you by my side.”
“And I’m glad you see yourself for the wonderful, strong woman you are when you’re with me. A
man should be able to do that for his woman.”
His sweet words make me feel warm and happy inside. “You’re a good man. You should write a
song about that.”
“Maybe someday,” he murmurs, lips drifting into my hair.
We lie there quietly for a few minutes, but I just can’t let it go yet. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course. Ask me anything.”
“I can’t make sense of people who cheat. What makes anyone think that’s okay to do to someone
else? I feel gross knowing that he was having sex with other women behind my back.”
Shawn grumbles, “He’s disgusting. You shouldn’t think about it anymore.”
“I just—”
“No.” He cuts me off with a wave of his hand through the air above us. “You want to know why
he was so mad when he saw us? He knows he let the best woman ever slip through his fingers, and
it’s all his fucking fault.”
I bite my lip and glance up at his tense face. “You’re right. It is. And, um …” I sit up, drawing the
sheet up to my chest. I owe Shawn an apology for assuming he was a cheater. I feel the sting signaling
the approach of tears in my nose, my eyes fill, and I cover my face. I can’t believe all the
ramifications of what I’d done are only just occurring to me.
Shawn’s quick to sit up. “What’s this? Hey, hey, hey.” He hushes me and tugs me onto his lap.
I can’t speak, my throat is so clogged with remorse. Not only had Shawn not cheated, but I’d
meddled in his relationship with Dana for nothing. Nothing. If I’d known the truth …
I hiccup my way through a good bout of tears before I can say anything. My words come out
watery with plenty of stutters. “I-I kept trying to figure ou-out how someone like you would d-do that
to Dana. H-how could he? How c-could Ch-Chase just let you take the heat for it?” I sniffle and
sputter. “He’s such an ass.” I cringe, knowing I will eventually need to tell him the full reason why
I’m so deeply affected by this.
“You can say that again. He is an ass. He needed to hide from you what he’d done. He panicked, I
guess.” Shawn shrugs, tightening his hold on me.
“And y-you got caught up in the m-middle of it.” Oh, I’m going straight to hell. Tell him. Guilt
crashes over me.
“I did, indeed. Dana and I, both. But you know, it was really odd. She wouldn’t listen to a word I
said, just kept repeating that she knew I’d fucked some girl in Chase’s truck.”
My face screws up as I try to recall every detail of what I knew.
“Remember that concert you didn’t go to because you were sick? That’s when it happened. He
was with some girl in his truck, and she must have lost a bracelet in the process. Then I guess you
found it?”
I stiffen and nod. Yep, I’d found it all right. I’d also been an idiot and assumed my boyfriend
told me the truth, even though I couldn’t reconcile what he told me about Shawn. I look down at my
hands, which are twisting furiously together in my lap. My stomach is sick with regret. Oh God, oh
God, I totally broke them up by telling her he’d been the one to fool around. I’m officially the
worst person ever.
I don’t know what to do. Should I tell him? Will he be upset that I was the one who’d blabbed to
Dana? Will it destroy everything we’ve just found in each other?
“And I imagine Chase fed you the line that it was me who’d cheated on Dana instead of admitting
what he’d done. Do I have that right?”
Shawn’s phone vibrates next to us on the bedside table. He reaches over, without waiting for my
response. I wait while he looks at the message. I have to tell him.
I’m going to throw up. Oh, God. I hurriedly whisper, “I’ll be right back,” and climb out of the
bed, hand over my mouth, and make a beeline for the bathroom.
Inside, I drop to my knees in front of the toilet not a moment too soon. The tile floor is ice cold,
but I don’t even care. I wretch up the contents of my stomach as it churns and purges over and over
again.
“Madi?” A light knock sounds on the other side of the door. “You okay, baby?”
I can’t answer, I’m too busy silently sobbing into my hands, tears streaking down my cheeks.
 “That was Heath. He and Sophia are worried about the weather forecast for today. It looks like
this snowstorm has the potential to be really nasty, and they’re concerned we’d get trapped here.”
There’s silence for a few seconds on the other side of the door, and my mind scrambles to figure out
what to do.
CHAPTER 20
 SHAWN

I don’t know what’s going on in the bathroom, but I decide to give Madison a few minutes.
The worry had bled right out of Heath’s text message. Anyone who has lived in the New England
area for any length of time knows the potential for how crazy a nor’easter can get, and this one is
ramping up to be a doozy. I throw my clothes haphazardly into my bag, both off the floor and from my
drawer. When I’m done, I set that and my guitar on the bed. Everything I’d brought with me, with the
exception of my toiletries which are in the bathroom with Madison, is packed and ready for us to roll
out.
I tap on the door again. “Madison? Baby, we’ve got to get on the road.”
The door unlocks with a click and swings open. Madi gestures with one hand that I can come in.
She finishes brushing her teeth, and whirls toward me, panic in her eyes. “We’ve got to go?”
I nod. “Yeah. Unless you want to get stuck here with me.” There’s something in her eyes, in the
pallor of her skin. Something’s not right. My brow furrows as I study her further. Her face is drawn,
chin wobbling a bit. I think she’s been crying, and she’s desperately trying to hide it from me. This
can’t be good. I run my hands through my hair and exhale in a whoosh that comes out half-chuckle.
“Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad—to be stuck here together, I mean.” I poke her in the side, trying to
make her laugh.
Instead of the reaction I expect, she rushes around the room, gathering up her things. She’s
panicked, flustered, a bona fide hot mess. I give myself a quick shake, unsure what to do to help her.
Two minutes later, we’re both dressed and take one last look around the room to make sure we’re
leaving nothing behind, and then we are out the door.

I hazard a look at Madi and don’t like the intense expression I see on her face. It’s as if she’s
worrying herself to death over something. We’ve only been on the road about ten minutes, in which
time she hasn’t looked at me once but continues to shoot off texts to her parents and brother. The
silence between us is like a huge empty cavern. Echoes of last night bounce between us. I don’t think
I’d said anything to upset her. She’d been asking about cheaters and Chase, and I just don’t get why
she’s freaking out. She knows now that I never cheated. I tug on my hair with my free hand, working
my head side to side.
Seeing my former best friend last night had been quite the surprise, but the honest truth is that I’m
so far over it, so far past his douchebaggery, that it hadn’t really affected me. Of course, I hadn’t been
blindsided by anything he’d said the way Madi had been. I should have told her. Shit. Maybe that’s
what this is all about.
I grip the wheel tightly, peeking over at Madison out of the corner of my eye as snow starts to
swirl around us. It’s not bad out yet, but it could go from nothing to insanity pretty fast.
I clear my throat, swallowing the lump lodged there. When I look over at her again, her focus is
out the side window.
“Butterfly, would you look at me, please?”
She sniffles and turns to me, and the sadness in her eyes is like a knife in my chest. Fucking hell.
She’s not just having a minor freak-out, she’s well and truly upset.
Her voice is soft, no more than a whisper. “You should keep your eyes on the road. It looks like
it’s going to be a rough ride.” Her tongue darts out to wet her lips.
“Okay, but would you talk to me, please? Are you not feeling well?” I grimace as I stare out the
windshield, snow coming at us like we’re flying through space.
“I’m fine.”
Oh, boy. That’s exactly what I didn’t want to hear, the dreaded “I’m fine.” I work my jaw back
and forth before finally biting the bullet. “Madi, I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you that Chase had
cheated on you with that girl. I see now that I should have. I don’t owe him a goddamn thing, and you
—” My voice hitches. “You mean a lot to me.”
She sniffles again, and out of the corner of my eye, I see a tear slip down the side of her face. I
want so badly to reach out to her, to stop the goddamn truck and haul her into my arms, make sure she
knows I mean what I say and I’m sorry. My chest tightens. The soft sounds of her distress threaten to
send me over the edge.
“Baby, I’m so sorry.”
We drive in silence for another several minutes. I want to mull over what else could possibly be
wrong, but frankly, I can’t concentrate well because the storm has hit hard, and I can barely see ten
feet in front of the truck. Snow coats the road, and my knuckles are white with how hard I grip the
wheel. If I could just find somewhere to stop, anywhere safe, I’d do it. Unfortunately, the only place
I’d seen had been a gas station, and it hadn’t seemed like as much of an emergency at the time.
Another glance at Madison tells me she at least understands our current predicament. Her back
has gone ramrod straight and her fingers grip the edge of her seat. I’m suddenly very aware that I hate
that she’s afraid. I don’t care what happens to me, so long as I get her out of this.
And just like that, like I brought it on with my thoughts, we hit black ice. My heart clenches as the
tires of the truck spin without getting any traction. I’ve lived in New England for a long time. I know
what to do and what not to do in situations like this, and yet, nothing seems to help as we skid and
finally slide off the road into a ditch. The storm continues to rage around us, uncaring.
Once the vehicle is at a dead stop, I whip my head in Madison’s direction. Her eyes are pinched
closed, her face a mask of terror. She’s frozen in place. Anxious to get to her, I unbuckle myself and
flip the center console up and back out of the way, sending my wallet, hat, and gloves that had been
sitting on it flying into the back seat. I slide across the bench seat to her. “Madi, baby, are you okay?”
The tone in my voice is full of panic, which kind of pisses me off because normally I handle shit like
this better. But—I draw three deep breaths in to calm myself—she’s scared, and I’d do anything to
wipe that look off of her face.
Her lashes flutter as she opens her eyes and glances carefully out the window and windshield,
hands still clamped on the seat. “I’m okay.” Her frightened eyes lock with mine. “Are we off the road,
or …?” She pauses, nibbling on her lip. Conditions outside the truck are approaching whiteout—we
can’t see jack.
“Yeah. We slid right off. I’m really sorry.” My hand skims over her hip, and I reach for her
buckle, unclipping it and tossing it away from her. I tug her into my arms, the feel of her body against
mine, her heartbeat, her scent—everything about her—it’s pretty much my undoing. I close my eyes
and let myself feel her here with me, to hell with everything else right now.
Her voice is muffled against my chest. “Can we get back on the road, do you think?”
I slowly shake my head. “I kind of doubt it, but when I get out, I’ll look before I do anything else.”
Her fingers sink into my upper arm through my coat. “Shawn, what are you talking about?” She
tilts her head back to look at me, brow furrowed with worry.
“I might have to go for help. There was a gas station about a mile back.”
“Oh, no you’re not. No way. We have cell phones. Let’s try to get help to come to us first.”
I chuckle into her hair as I hold her close again. “What? You’d be worried about me?”
From the anguish on her face when she pushes away from me, I realize that was a mistake. Wrong
thing to say. And I don’t even know why.
“Of course I would.” She bites her lip and looks down.
“I was teasing you.” I cup her cheek in my palm, sliding my thumb under her eye where a tear has
just broken free. Oh, boy. I think between whatever was already upsetting her and the fact that we’re
now stranded in the middle of a snowstorm, she’s a little overwrought. I’ve got to do something to get
her mind off of things. She needs a purpose of some sort, something to occupy her mind.
“I tell you what, do you think you’d be able to crawl over the seat into the back? There’s a box
stowed under the seat with emergency supplies. There should be a blanket or two under there as well.
If you can get that stuff out, I’ll work on getting help.
Once I’ve spoken to 911 dispatch and have given them our location, I pull up the thread of text
messages with my brother.
Me: Hey. So much for leaving early. We ended up in a ditch. I wanted to make sure more than just the
dispatcher had our location. Sending it now.

My brother and I are on a family cell phone plan, so I pull up his info and send him my location.

Heath: Ah, shit. I wish we could have warned you all sooner. That storm is moving faster than
anyone anticipated. I texted as soon as Sophia told me it looked like it was going to be bad. You guys
okay?
Me: Yes, we’re okay so far. Engine’s still running, so we have heat.
Me: You know me, I’ve got blankets and stuff in the back and we’ll hope someone can get to us. I’ll
check in every thirty minutes or so.
Heath: Okay. Be safe, brother.

From the backseat, Madison gasps and then mumbles, “You are like a Boy Scout.” She hands me a
couple of blankets along with the box of supplies before she begins to climb back into the front seat.
I smile at her when she finally hikes her long limbs over the back of the seat and settles. “Yeah,
kinda.” I pop open the box and dig around. There are a bunch of medical supplies on top, but at the
very bottom is my stash of hand and foot warmers. They’re the kind that you open the package and
shake to activate, which starts some sort of chemical reaction that creates warmth. They stay that way
for hours, so I figure we’ll get them out now, as they take a few minutes to heat up. If we’re here so
long that we run out of gas and the truck shuts off, at least we’ll have a way to stay a little warm. For
a while, anyway. I keep my thoughts from Madison, not wanting to worry her.
I open and shake five of these things, one right after another, all while Madison looks on, her
brow pinched. I toss them up on the dash while they warm up.
“What exactly are those?”
“They’re what will keep you toasty warm until someone can get to us.”
She frowns. “Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“And you?”
I send her a tight smile and shake my head. “I’ll show you what we’ll do in a sec.”
She pouts, almost scowling, and even though we’re in quite the predicament, my eyes are drawn
to her full lips and then up to her beautiful green eyes—she’s so damn pretty. I lean over and touch my
lips to hers.
“Hey, we’ll be okay.”
Her eyes bore into mine, and I know she’s thinking about more than just the snowstorm raging
outside. “You think so?”
I nod. “Yeah, for sure.” I want to taste her sweet lips again, but my good senses override the urge.
“Here—” I grab two of the warmers and shove one in each of her boots. Her eyes follow my
movements as I grab another two and put them into her hands. “Put these in your pockets.”
Her eyes flick to mine. “But there’s only one left for you.”
I shake my head. “Nope.” I lean over and unzip her coat, putting the final warmer under her
hoodie, against her stomach, holding it there when she starts to swat my hands away.
She shakes her head vehemently. “No, Shawn. We’ll share. I don’t want them all.”
“Shh. Here, come here.” I grab her around the waist with one hand on either side, pick her up, and
turn her so she can straddle my lap. I unzip my coat, and she gets the idea right away, pressing her
warmer-heated abdomen to mine. “There, see? Sharing just like you wanted. And I can stick my hands
into your pockets with yours.”
Madison nods as my hands wrap around hers, and she leans against my chest, tucking her face
against my neck. “Yeah, okay.”
“We’re going to be just fine.” I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince—her or me—but I hope
like hell I’m right.
We huddle together like that for a few minutes in silence, and have just relaxed, both of us lost in
our own thoughts when a sharp voice from my phone says, “You okay still? We’ve got emergency
vehicles coming in your direction, and they’ll check out the situation and then give you a ride to
safety. There’s a little bed-and-breakfast about ten miles from where you are. Someone will take you
there.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Madison stifles a groan.
“Pardon?”
“Sorry, ma’am. We were just having a minor chuckle. That’s where we were staying this
weekend.”
“Oh. Well, extended stay, then. I’m just glad you are okay. Stay warm. They’ll be there shortly.
I’m going to let you go so you don’t drain your phone battery, just in case.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“You’re welcome.”
I turn off my phone and Madison breathes a huge sigh of relief against my chest.
“We’re okay. We’re going to be safe and sound soon, and when we get back to that teeny-tiny
room together, we can talk about whatever else is upsetting you.”
Her body tenses again. “Okay.”
CHAPTER 21
 MADISON

To our surprise, fire, police, and rescue had shown up within an hour. It’d been slow-going, with
plenty of slipping and sliding on the road, but we’d made it back to the bed-and-breakfast. That was
an experience I don’t ever want to relive. The only good part had been that I was with Shawn, and he
made me feel safe, like nothing bad would ever happen to me if he was there.
It’s a feeling that I cherish; something I haven’t felt after being taken advantage of by Chase and
going it alone for so long. I couldn’t bear to open myself up to anyone else because I hadn’t ever
wanted to feel that level of betrayal again—the level of hurt that had sent me into the worst tailspin of
my life.
And without really realizing it, Shawn has slowly, carefully crawled right under my skin and
snuck his way into my heart, giving me all those things I’d been missing for so long. I’ve craved the
security and support having a true partner provides. A true partner.
Someone who is loyal and committed.
Someone who puts the needs of the other person first.
Someone who gets me.
Someone like Shawn.
I take a deep breath and blink as the officer who’d driven us back to safety waves at us through
his windshield. We stand at the door with our bags and Shawn’s guitar, watching as he reverses his
patrol car so he can get back on the road. We wave as he finally takes off, then Shawn pulls me to him
and kisses my cheek. “Let’s get on in there. No need to be rescued from becoming popsicles on the
side of the road only to do it right in front of a perfectly warm building.” He holds the door open for
me and I slide past him, my bag clutched to my chest, pulling my roller bag behind me.
The nice lady at the front desk rounds the corner as we are stomping our feet on the large mat at
the door and shaking off snow. She comes to us with her arms outstretched giving me a hug first and
then Shawn. “Oh, no! I guess you all had some trouble out there.” She shivers. “You need to get
warmed up.”
I huff out a strained laugh. “You could say that again. We didn’t make it very far.”
“Nor’easters are unpredictable. Not to worry, though, we have rooms open.” She gestures to the
keys on the wall and takes a few extra seconds to pat Shawn’s arm. “And, of course, the rest of your
stay will be discounted. We’ll keep the kitchen open, assuming we don’t lose power. There’s a ton of
food left from the reception, too, that’s just sitting in our refrigerator because the bride’s parents
haven’t been able to leave yet. They’ve already said they don’t mind if people go ahead and eat it up
while we’re all stuck here.”
“All of us?”
“Well, yes. Very few people left in time.” She tilts her head to the right, studying me. “Pretty much
everyone is still here, except one other couple who managed to leave early enough.” Her eyes roam
over me. “In fact, I’m guessing that it must have been your mom and dad. Your mom has pretty hair
like yours, right? And your dad has those same green eyes.”
Shawn smiles and nods as he tucks a strand of my unruly curls behind my ear. “Yep. That’d be
them.”
She wrinkles her nose. “I thought so. You all are cute together, by the way.” She walks back
around the counter and pulls a key down off the wall. “Same room okay?”
“Yes, ma’am, that’d be great. We really enjoyed it.” Shawn chuckles and nods.
“Well, here’s to a day or so more of making memories, then.” She winks at him, and I cover my
giggle with a cough.

Back in our room, we settle in, me taking my time as I carefully tuck my clothes back into drawers
while Shawn stuffs his haphazardly into the ones on the other side. He sits on the bed and mumbles,
“I’m just going to shoot a quick text to Heath.”
“Good idea.” I pull my phone out of my pocket and send a couple of quick texts to my parents and
James to let them know what happened. With that accomplished, I take my time unpacking, and slowly
but surely, everything that happened this morning begins to catch up with me. I spin around to face
Shawn, and my chest heaves as all the emotions I’d held back in the truck flow through me—panic
and fear at the very top of the list, along with the overwhelming need to tell him exactly how I feel
about him.
My voice is quiet as I finally find my words. “Shawn, I was so scared.”
He sets his phone aside and stands. He studies my face and the way my body is shaking. “I told
you we’d be okay.” He runs the palms of his hands up and down over my arms. “Did you think the
Boy Scout wouldn’t keep you safe?” He tries for a little bit of levity, but I can’t crack a grin.
I go to open my mouth again and my face crumples.
“Madison?” Shawn’s voice is gruff. “Talk to me.”
“I-I care about you. And I was scared to death I wouldn’t get the chance to tell you.” And there’s
so much more I need to tell you, and I’m terrified that it’s going to mess all of this up. I can’t say it.
I can’t bear to know if it will come between us.
He draws me into his arms and holds me against the wall of his muscular chest. “This weekend
has been completely unexpected for me. Everything that’s happened between us—I think it’s been a
lot for both of us to take in—and it’s been so fast. Do you feel like you want to slow things down?”
He clears his throat, his voice rough. “Because we could do that. I don’t think either of us intended to
come into this weekend faking a relationship and walk out of it as lovers.” He runs his hand gently
over the back of my head and down over my curly hair, the softest caress. “We can put the brakes on
… or pretend like nothing ever happened at all. It’s up to you,” he rasps.
I press my lips together and slowly shake my head, my throat thick with emotion. “No. I don’t
want to pretend anymore. I’m done faking it.” My fingers grasp at the hem of his T-shirt, edging it up. I
run one palm over the dips and planes of muscle. “No more.” I wipe a frustrated hand under my eye,
emotion riding high. “I don’t want to slow down or pause or stop. I don’t want to forget. I want to feel
every touch of your hand, every stroke of your tongue. I want to spin out of control with you like
we’re back on that black ice.” With both hands, I draw the shirt up higher until he takes over, yanking
it off on his own.
I peel my hoodie and T-shirt off at the same time. My breath shudders out of me as I drop my jeans
as well and step out of them. I’m never this bold. But, Shawn? He makes me feel like I can do
anything. He makes me bold.
His eyes are on me as I reach behind my back to unclasp my bra. I allow it to fall from my arms
onto the floor. I hook my thumbs in my panties and push them down. The heat in his eyes travels a
scorching path over my body. My legs feel weak at the giddy thrill of standing naked before Shawn,
and it sends liquid desire through my whole body, pooling between my legs. I never knew I could
want someone so much. I never knew it could feel so right. I never knew I could need like this.
My gaze falls to his full lips as I wait for him to say something—anything—so I know we are on
the same page. As I watch him, he pops the button on his jeans. His teeth bite down on his full lower
lip and rake slowly over it while he continues to follow every curve of my body with his eyes.
I take a deep breath, reach out, and work his zipper inch by painstaking inch. Shawn’s stomach
tightens in awareness at my proximity. I slide my fingers around the waistband of his jeans to the back
and then dip them down over his taut ass. I take his jeans and boxer briefs off all at once. As my
hands travel down over his legs, I kneel in front of him.
Shawn’s whole body tenses when he realizes what I’m doing. I take him in my hand, his skin so
soft over the steel of his erection. He sucks in a breath as I stroke him. I want to make him feel good,
like I’d felt last night when he put his mouth on me. The memory of it sends flutters through me, every
cell of my body humming a song just for him. I wrap my lips around his head and suck while still
pumping with my hand.
“Ah, fuck, Madi,” he groans.
With a smile, I release him from my mouth and change gears. I take my time licking and kissing up
and down his length, swirling my tongue to the underside before I take him back into the warm
wetness of my mouth.
When I suck him deep, his hands dart into my hair, holding the back of my head. He moans, the
sound a vibration deep within his chest. “Madison.” His voice is pure grit as his hands guide me to
the pace he prefers. “Your sweet mouth. Jesus.”
His thrusts are careful at first, but the longer my mouth is on his cock, the more I can tell his
control is dangling by a very thin thread.
That’s because of me. I’m doing that to him. Need surges, spiraling deep inside of me. I love that
my mouth, my tongue, are capable of bringing this man to his knees.
I’ve never even liked oral sex before, but somehow this feels different. With him, it’s different. I
want to do this. His pleasure rockets through me and becomes mine.
CHAPTER 22
 SHAWN

Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck. With every stroke of my dick into her insanely wet and warm mouth, it just
feels better and better. Watching her on her knees before me, her plump lips wrapped around me,
well, that’s got to be the best goddamn thing ever. Her pale breasts, with their dusky pink nipples,
swing a bit as I thrust into her mouth. Her tongue is so wild on me, I’m about to see stars. Planets. The
whole fucking universe.
And then she does it. She reaches for my balls with her free hand, and when she cups me, I know
we’re about to arrive at the point of no return. My body tightens, jerking to attention at the fresh
onslaught of electricity streaking through me. “Wait, baby. Wait.” I tug gently on her hair, and she
glances up, her lips breaking their seal around me with a pop. She gives me a smile that is part sweet,
but then she massages my balls, giving me a sly look. Little minx. Sweet but one hundred percent
fucking naughty. She knows what she’s doing is making me crazy. I wrap my fingers around her upper
arms. “Come here.”
She stands while I breathe deeply and steadily with my eyes shut in a bid to gain back control.
“You’re killing me.”
“It was bad?” My eyes flick open in time to see her face fall.
I give my head a quick shake and a tortured chuckle works itself from me. “Fuck no. The best I’ve
ever had.” I pull her to me, kissing those naughty lips that have tipped up into a grin. “So fucking
good, Butterfly.” I cup her cheeks in my hands and capture her lips with mine, our mouths immediately
slanting, giving each other better access. As we take the kiss deeper, the idea that her tongue has just
been on my cock is almost enough to make me blow right on the spot. I drag her nakedness flush to my
body, my aching erection trapped between us.
I lift her, and her legs lock around my hips. My fingers grip her lush ass cheeks, and I groan out
my pleasure at the feel of her in my hands, then press her back to the wall. I drop hurried kisses over
her breasts, all while she grinds against me. Her back arches, seeking out that perfect angle, the
friction she needs.
I spin to the bed with her, laying her down in the center. She whimpers and squeezes her legs
together, as if she’s trying to soothe the building pressure deep inside. She reaches for me, but I shake
my head.
“Nope. My turn.” I raise a brow at her and tilt my head to the side. And, if her mouth on me
wasn’t enough to do it, I know for sure she’s the one for me when she gazes into my eyes, draws her
legs up, and drops her knees open wide. Just. For. Me.
Her pussy is so goddamn wet, it sends a jolt of lust straight down my spine. My cock aches to be
inside of her.
I run my hands from her knees up the insides of her legs, her soft skin so tantalizing, I bend at the
waist and run my nose along one of those long legs until I get to the juncture of her thigh. My tongue
darts out, and I lick along the tendon, toward the aroused flesh of her sex. I stop just shy of it, move to
the other side and do the same.
At this point, she’s writhing on the bed, moaning.
“Please, Shawn.”
“Please what, Butterfly?”
She throws her head back. “Touch me.” Her breasts bounce as she pants.
I drop a kiss to her knee. “Here?”
“Ah. No.”
I kiss her belly. “How about there?” My warm breath cascades over her center as I angle my head
down.
“No.” She locks gazes with me. “Your mouth. On me now.”
“Ah. All you had to do was ask.” My tongue swipes over her clit before traveling over every inch
of her sensitive flesh.
“Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.”
“Madi?” I lift my head, my fingers replacing my tongue, sliding through her arousal. “I need to be
inside of you. Right. The fuck. Now.” I can only describe what just came out of my mouth as a growl.
I swipe a condom out of my bag, roll it on, and with no pretense whatsoever, slide deep inside her.
Her muscles clamp down on me, and I pause, waiting for her body to adjust.
I kiss her softly at first, let my lips wander over her, finding all of her secret places—that little
spot behind her ear that makes her sigh, the place at the hollow of her throat that makes her moan and
squirm beneath me.
And then she rocks against me, takes me deeper, and blows my mind. I kiss her with urgency. With
possession. Like she’s mine and I’m hers and this is forever.
I want this woman. I want to know her intimately—all her joys, all her secrets, all her fears. In
her eyes, I see what could be a future, and that simultaneously makes me happy and freaks me the fuck
out. Are we ready for that? It’s only been one whole damn weekend, and she already has me. I’m
locked up, key thrown away.
At that thought, I thrust harder, pound into her sweet body, and swallow her cries of ecstasy. I
claim her as mine with every stroke, with every beat of my heart. And then I’m spinning out, just like
she’d asked. We’re out of control, and I don’t ever want to stop. I growl in satisfaction as I tip her
hips up just right. She arches her back in response, her whole body coiled tight, and then she breaks,
her hips rolling over and over, waves of sinful pleasure cascading over her. The release is long and
drawn out, her muscles spasm, and, holy fuck, it feels like she’s milking my cock. I explode, her name
a choked roar from my lips.
I fall onto her, hold her tight, and breathe her in. Mine. She sighs softly beneath me.
“You make me feel so good, Shawn.”
I kiss her nose. “Always my goal. Be right back.” I climb out of the bed and head for the bathroom
to clean up. When I come back out, she smiles softly at me, lifting the covers and inviting me back in
with her. There’s a hint of something else in her eyes, a kind of wistfulness, a worry of some sort.
Whatever it is, I hope she’ll share it with me when she’s ready. Until then, I’ll hold her close to me,
and maybe that will be enough to ease her mind.
Lying together, tangled in the sheets, I let my thoughts drift. How’d we go from friends to fakers to
lovers in the blink of an eye? How is it possible that I’ve fallen like this? So hard, so fast, so
completely. I’d say it was the freaking stellar sex because she’s amazing, but I’ve had good sex
before. It was nothing like this. I’m no idiot. I’m pretty sure it’s like this because I’ve gone and gotten
my damn heart involved.
“Shawn?”
I shift my head, my voice low next to her ear. “Yeah, baby?”
“Would you play something on your guitar for me?”
My brow creases, not knowing where the sudden request came from. Her eyes plead with me, and
I can’t deny her, so I unwrap myself to fetch the guitar, bringing it back to the bed. I plant myself on
the edge next to her. My fingers do their own thing, picking out chords and notes, sometimes
strumming other times plucking at the strings, until I settle into the music and let it take me away. The
melody I’d been playing around with yesterday comes to me, and I play that for her. I’m humming
along as bits and pieces of lyrics skate around in my mind, but even more than that, it’s a feeling for
the song that is coming to me out of nowhere, winding right around my heart.
Madison sits up in the bed and scoots behind me, a leg on either side of mine. She sets her hands
at my waist and lays her cheek against my back. She hums along as she picks up on the tune.
After a while, I stop and set the guitar aside. She whispers at my back, “And to think this will
eventually be a song I’ll be able to sing with you. Shawn, you’re so incredibly talented. You know
that, right?”
I shrug, trying to brush off the compliment. Music has always come naturally to me.
“No, really. You’re very good. Where do you get ideas for your songs?”
“Mostly from stories people tell me.”
She nods against my back. “Not from the financial advisor gig, huh?”
“Nope.”
 “Shawn, I hope I’m not overstepping here, but—” She pauses to adjust her position and sit at my
side. “I think you should go for it. Screw the degree. Do what makes you happy. Do what makes your
heart sing.”
That same muscle in my chest expands and pumps harder at her words. I rasp, “You think I
could?”
“I know you could. Maybe it’s time for you to take a leap. I used to listen to you when you were
just a kid and knew then you had all this talent just waiting to be discovered.” Her palm glides over
my back, and she presses a kiss to my bicep before resting her cheek there. She sighs, “I had such a
crush.” The minute the words leave her lips, she tenses next to me.
I don’t think she meant to tell me that. “Um, excuse me, what did you just say, Butterfly?”
“Oh. Well …”
“You had a crush on me?”
CHAPTER 23
 MADISON

I can’t believe I just freaking told him that. I tilt my head up to look directly into those soulful blue
eyes. His expression is one of surprise and … delight? “Um. So. Yeah, maybe I did. You were one of
those unattainable guys who I put up on a pedestal. Shawn Mitchell. So handsome with that chiseled
face, those stunning baby blues, and the way you played your guitar … Oh my God, you were the star
of all my teenage fantasies.”
He shakes his head, a bewildered look on his face. “Why didn’t you ever say anything? You never
even approached me. Never looked my way, as far as I knew.”
I squirm next to him as he puts an arm around me, tugging me close. “I was just a silly girl who
didn’t know how to talk to guys. I wanted to get to know you so badly, but I didn’t know how to talk
to you. We didn’t know each other. You never even noticed me.”
Shawn startles me with a deep, rumbling laugh. “Are you kidding? I noticed you. I didn’t think I
had a shot because every time we were in the same room you wouldn’t even look at me.”
I raise a careful hand to my temple, rubbing my fingers around in a circle. “You’re kidding,
right?”
“Nope.” He laughs again.
“Well, crap. I’ve never told anyone I felt that way. I just stewed, obsessed with the way you
played that guitar with those big hands of yours and wished in my bed at night that you’d play me.”
He purses his lips for a second. “So, you liked me, but then we went off to college without ever
mentioning it. And then you were with Chase.”
I groan. “Don’t remind me. I feel so stupid right now. I was just so timid around guys.” I shake my
head. “And then along came Chase, and I’d thought he was so great, and he treated me well at first. I
thought he was what I wanted. I thought the timing was perfect. Both of us had graduated, and I’d
thought things were heading in a particular direction. I’d started to see a future with him. Maybe that’s
why he cheated—maybe he sensed what I wanted and he wasn’t ready to settle down.”
Shawn’s guttural tone hits me deep. “No. Don’t you ever think that. He cheated because he’s an
asshole. No other reason.”
I swallow hard. “Maybe he knew he wasn’t the one for me and did it to push me away.”
 “Maybe. Either way, you’re better off.” He presses a kiss to the side of my head, his fingers
curling around the back of my neck, threading in the curls of my hair. A heavy sigh leaves him. “And
then there was Dana, too.”
“Yeah.” My hearts squeezes so tightly in my chest, I have to ask. “You loved her?”
“I did.” His gruff voice is filled with what I know is pain—pain he carries around—he tries to
hide it, but I know it’s there. And it’s my fault.
I’m barely able to control my internal freak-out as I sit there by his side. My heart is pinging
around in my chest, nervous and unsure how to do it, but I know that I have to tell Shawn I’m the
person who was instrumental in his breakup with Dana. I can’t carry this burden, can’t hide this secret
from him forever.
I want whatever this is between us to work so badly, but I’m terrified that once I tell him, we’ll be
over. I work a swallow past the lump in my throat. “Do you ever get to the point where you just don’t
know what to do? Which way to go, what to say because you know certain things could change your
whole life? And if you make a mistake …” My voice trails off as the rest of my thoughts get caught in
the knot in my chest.
I’ve got to tell him. Even if it turns out to be the biggest mistake and biggest regret of my life.
A knock sounds at the door, interrupting my thoughts. Shawn and I frown at each other, not sure
who it would be. He pulls on his pants while I gather my clothing and scurry into the bathroom.
I hear voices through the door. My heart pounds a chaotic beat when I realize who it is. Chase. As
if I’m not freaking out enough right now. I can’t imagine what he wants, and I’m unable to hear
distinctly what he’s saying.
“Madison?” Shawn’s voice raises so I can hear him.
“Just a sec!” I call out, my throat feeling like I’ve swallowed a bunch of sandpaper. What the
heck?
I take a quick look in the mirror. Chase is going to take one look at the color on my face and know
what I’ve been up to. Ugh. Just what I need. Or hey, maybe this isn’t a bad thing? Maybe he’ll go the
hell away and get out of my life.
The wild riot of curls around my head can only be called sex hair, of that I’m certain. I pat it
cautiously, then try to fix it with a bit of water. The frizz factor at the back is out of control from
where my head had thrashed around on the pillow. I give my reflection a secret smile as warmth
floods my body and flashes come at me. Shawn going down on me, licking me with gusto, like I was
his favorite flavor of ice cream. Shawn kissing me like he worships me. Shawn driving into me with
that big cock of his. I blow out a deep breath. I don’t want to think about Chase. I just want to stay in
this bubble with Shawn as long as I can, and Chase’s presence threatens all of that.
I come to the sudden realization that it’s time for me to own my life and my choices, both past and
present. I tug my clothes into place and venture back into the room.
Chase leans against the side of the doorway, entry blocked by Shawn’s big body.
 When Chase catches sight of me, his brows raise. “Hey, I was wondering if I could talk to you for
a few minutes.”
I nod. Be strong, Madison. “Sure. Want to go down to the lobby, or …?”
Shawn eyes me warily. “Do you want me to come with you?”
I pat his chest. I want to scream, Yes! Please help me deal with this jackass! I settle for, “You
know what, I’m okay. I can handle this.” And I’ll just have to hope that I really am able to.
Shawn pulls me in front of him and looks directly into my eyes. The tenderness I see there nearly
makes me unravel. I blink a few times. “I’m fine.”
“I’ll be right here if you need me.”

Down in the lobby, Chase and I sit in a couple of chairs off in the corner. I lean back, crossing my
arms over my chest as his eyes wander over me. Just sitting here with him, knowing how he’s hurt me
in the past, knowing he’s hurt Shawn, too, makes a disgusted shiver roll right through me.
I straighten my back and watch him carefully. He came to me. I’m not speaking first. A strength I
didn’t know I possessed rushes through me from head to toe. I arch one brow at him.
He chuckles. “I could always tell when you were mad just by the movements of your eyebrows.
Look, I’m sorry. I heard you guys ended up back here because of the storm, and I was kind of glad for
it because I wanted the chance to apologize to you.”
My jaw works back and forth. “What exactly are you sorry for?”
He looks down at his hands before looking back up. I see the steel in his eyes before he responds,
so I’m not surprised when he asks, “Are you really with him?”
I take a deep breath. Am I with Shawn? All signs point, undeniably to yes. Twenty-four hours ago,
it would have been a lie, but not now. “Yes, we’re together.”
He shakes his head, chuckling again. Why does him laughing make me want to slap that cocky
smile off of his face? “Does he know you told Dana a flat-out lie? Maybe if you haven’t, it’s him I
should be having a conversation with.”
My blood runs cold in my veins. I can’t believe he’s doing this. How did we go from an apology
to accusations and threats? I know the answer—his intent was never to apologize. For whatever
reason, he’s trying to make me miserable, and Shawn, too. My tongue darts out to lick my lips, and I
try to swallow, but find I can’t. “It’s not a lie if I thought it was the truth, Chase.”
He snickers and points at me, his finger jabbing in my direction. “But you didn’t answer the
question. Does. He. Know?” He leans toward me, and the stench of alcohol on his breath wafts in my
direction. “Does he know you were the one to snitch about it to Dana? You were the one who made
her question him. You were the one who made her leave.”
I know this. I know every last word he’s said is true, except I’ll hold my ground on this part—I
didn’t lie. I didn’t know that my boyfriend was making up stories to cover his own ass. Why would I
have ever thought that of someone who was supposedly in love with me?
But then doubt creeps in and that little voice in my head laughs at me. Yeah, but you’re lying by
omission now, Madison. You’re getting in deeper and deeper with Shawn. What if Chase is right?
What if that’s how Shawn will see this?
Oh my God, even Chase, who doesn’t possess a moral compass, thinks what I’m doing is wrong.
My expression must betray all of my misgivings about the situation because he smirks and cocks
his head to the side.
“He’s not going to want you anymore when he finds out.”
CHAPTER 24
 SHAWN

It’s been too long. I have no idea what Chase wanted to say to her, but I feel like she’s been down
there way too goddamn long with him. Fuck this. I’ll go in search of coffee and make sure she’s okay
before I come back up.
When I spot them in the corner of the lobby, it appears they’re just talking. That’s unless you know
Madison pretty well, which, amazingly enough after one long weekend with her, I do. I fucking know
her, and I know that whatever he’s saying is bothering her. Her body is absolutely stiff. Whatever he’s
been saying to her can’t be good.
At the same time I reach them, James comes around the corner. He gives me a quick smile, and
then there’s an awkward exchange of looks between Madison and her brother, and then her brother
and Chase. I feel the what the fuck are you doing with my sister vibes rolling right off of him, aimed
right at Chase.
James huffs and turns his back on Chase, instead opting to focus on his sister. He squats down next
to her chair and puts a hand to her shoulder. “You’re okay? I’m not going to lie, my heart jumped up
into my throat when you sent me that text.”
Madison chews on her lip as she studies her brother’s worried face and she nods her head
quickly, wanting to alleviate his fears. “Yes. Shawn took good care of me. We just took a little trip
into a ditch. He gave me all the heated warmer thingies while we were waiting and everything.”
James stands up again and holds out a hand to me, which I shake gladly. “Good man. Thanks for
taking care of her.”
Chase mumbles something under his breath that sounds like yeah, if good means fucking your
best friend’s girl.
I exhale carefully and my eyes flick to Chase. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
Madison’s hand grips mine hard.
James gives him a cold glare, telling me that it was very clear to all three of us what he’d said.
Eyes still pinned on Chase, James asks, “Madi, is there a reason why you’re talking to this asshole?”
Her mouth opens and closes a few times. “I, um—"
Chase interrupts, directing a question my way. “So, you’re really with her now?”
 All eyes focus on him as he watches me intently for my answer.
“I thought we already discussed this last night. Yes. I’m with Madison. But I’m not sure why you
are so damn concerned about it or talking about her as if she’s still yours.”
“You don’t think I’d ask questions when I show up to find my ex and my former best friend
together? Just seems a little odd to me. Like maybe something was going on the whole time she and I
were together.”
Madison scoffs at him. “You are so full of shit, Chase.”
He’s about to respond when I hold out my hand for him to stop. “I think that’s about enough. You
cheated on her multiple times. You lied about it. You have no further say in her life. Stop trying to
upset her. We all know you are just trying to get a rise out of her.”
James turns slowly to Chase as my words sink in. “The fuck? It was more than once?” His eyes,
green just like his sister’s, glitter with anger, that fiery jade color blazing hot.
Madison rises from her seat and lets go of my hand. I think she’s reached her breaking point,
seeming increasingly uncomfortable. “I’m done with this conversation. James, I’ll see you later.” She
blinks a few times, lashes fluttering as her focus lands on me. “I’m going to find something to eat.”
She turns to walk away without another word for Chase.
We watch her walk away, and then James lets loose on Chase. “You aren’t to have any further
contact with my sister.”
“Whatever.” He shakes his head and laughs.
James’s face turns bright red at the brush-off at the same time my anger boils and spills over.
My words are low and gritty. “Leave her the fuck alone, man. I’m warning you.”
Chase stands, rolls his eyes, and, just as Madison’s about to turn the corner, shouts, “He’s not
going to want you when you tell him!”
Now, just what the hell is that all about? I shove Chase hard and he stumbles backward and goes
down hard on his ass.
I spin on my heel, and follow Madison out of the room. I hear James’s confusion as I walk away.
“What the actual fuck is going on here?”
CHAPTER 25
 MADISON

I’m shaken. The entire conversation with Chase had been a shitstorm of epic proportions. I hadn’t
known what to expect, and I’d actually thought we may be on the right track when he’d started with an
apology. The truth is he’s not sorry and doesn’t even understand what he should be sorry for, which is
just baffling. Then he’d all but blurted out that I’m hiding something from Shawn. But … I am.
Oh God, I’m a horrible person.
My feet keep right on going until I hit the far side of the room where the reception had taken place
last night. To my surprise, the cake table is still set up. And even better—I think there just might be
leftover cake. There are about twenty take-out boxes stacked in piles. When I take a peek inside one
and my suspicions are confirmed, I let out a ragged sigh of thanks to the cake gods. Or the wedding
gods. Or whoever left all this cake here for me when I needed it most. Next to the boxes is a pile of
forks and a piece of paper, on which someone has scrawled, Please eat the cake!
Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you.
I pull a chair right up to the serving table, flip open one of the boxes, and take a deep breath,
inhaling the decadent scent of the cake. Nothing like eating your feelings. The only problem is, I
don’t know if there is enough cake to make me forget what just went down.
For a couple of beats, I shove everything to the back of my mind and just concentrate on moving
the treat from the box to my mouth. The luscious cake and sweet, sugary frosting would normally have
me doing a happy dance, but instead it just makes me sad. Why can’t anything ever go my way?
Here I thought maybe everything was finally going to work out for me. Shawn and I have this
fantastic chemistry, we talk about anything and everything, and I’ve never had someone anticipate my
needs the way he does. I’ve never had anyone understand me and be okay with who I am. I glance
around the room, memories of the first time we’d kissed washing over me. My eyes drift over to the
exact spot where we’d finally admitted with our lips that things were changing between us, and then
later that night we admitted it with our whole bodies, too. Hell, with our souls.
My heart sinks. Are things going to change between us again when I tell him what I’d done?
I shovel another bite into my mouth just as I hear footsteps behind me. I’ve just been busted
eating cake like it’s my job. Awesome. I swivel around to see Shawn standing a few feet from me.
 I can’t even say anything, my mouth is so full of cake. I cover my mouth with my fingers.
“Caught ya.” He smirks at me, then grabs a chair from behind him and slides it right next to mine.
“Do you have another fork?”
I nod my head, still chewing, and his blue eyes watch me with amusement as my fingers fumble on
the table for another fork.
He accepts it from me and, eyeing the cake, plunges the fork in, picking up a huge chunk.
My mouth finally empty, I glance up to find him watching me. It’s now or never. “Shawn, I—”
He aims the fork right into my open mouth, surprising the hell out of me, and effectively stopping
my confession.
He pats my leg. “Listen. Whatever it is, you don’t have to tell me. I don’t want to know. I’m pretty
used to Chase being full of shit at this point.” He scoops up some more cake and fills his mouth.
Now we’re both incapable of speech, so we just stare at each other.
Over and over again in my mind and with my eyes, I tell him I’m so sorry.

After we gorge ourselves on cake and bring an emergency stash back to the room with us, it really
sinks in that we’ll be stuck here for a while longer. We sit on the bed together, backs against the
headboard, watching the snow fly past the window.
“This storm is insane. How long do you think we’ll be stuck here? Because now that I know
Chase is roaming around, I don’t want to leave the room. I don’t even want to think about him. He
makes me feel sick.”
“You don’t have to. You don’t have to talk to anyone you don’t want to or say or do anything you
don’t want to do.” He reaches over and squeezes my thigh with his big hand, then leaves it there. The
warmth of both his hand and his words leave me strangely contemplative.
I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Is it weird that I kind of love being stuck here? Nothing to
do. Nowhere to go.” I sneak a look at him out of the corner of my eye and watch his lips curve into a
smile.
“Nah. Not if you’re with the right person.”
“Shawn, are you the right person?”
“For you, you mean? And you for me?”
I turn my head toward him and stare into the deep blue of his eyes, my green ones begging him to
say yes.
“Maybe. I may need to do a lot more research before I can say for sure.” He turns to look at me
with an exasperated sigh, giving me a quick wink.
A giggle slides from my lips. “Research? Like what?”
“Well, first—do you have plans to eat the rest of that cake tonight? Yes or no?”
 I bob my head with a grin. “Um, yes.”
“Good answer.” He squeezes my thigh, his hand still warm against my leg. He doesn’t realize it,
but he sends a pulse of desire through me every time he touches me like that. He nods his head, purses
his full lips, and squints his eyes like he’s considering what to ask next. “Which side of the bed do
you sleep on? Do you have an actual preference?”
I suck in some air. “Honest answer?”
“Of course.”
“Then, it’s whichever side is closest to the bathroom.” I wrinkle my nose. “I get up at least twice
a night to pee.”
His fingers depress into the skin of my thigh before he says, “Um, that was a definite overshare,
miss.” He chuckles. “Um, let’s see. Do you have a birthmark?”
I nod slowly. “I do.” Wait until he finds out what it looks like. I stifle a laugh. “I’ll let you look
for it sometime.”
“Oh, is that how we’re going to play this game?” Without warning, he attacks me with mad
tickles. He kneels between my legs and lifts the hem of my sleep shirt, peeking under it. “I don’t see
it.”
I shriek with laughter as he sticks his whole head under my shirt and blows raspberries across my
stomach at the same time his fingers continue their merciless assault of my ribs. “Oh my God, oh my
God, stop, I’m going to wet myself!”
He chuckles, head still under my shirt. His lips trail just under my breasts before he lifts his head
enough to flick my nipple with his tongue. He pops out from under my shirt with another question for
me. “I know we’re going to eat cake later, but do you prefer sweet or salty?” He grazes my lips with
his before his tongue sweeps inside my mouth. He kisses me slowly, taking his time before he breaks
the kiss and edges back to look into my eyes. In a deep rumbling voice, he says, “I definitely prefer
sweet.” His mouth lowers to my neck, where he places a hot, open-mouthed kiss. He licks at my skin
and sends a shimmering, startling mass of tingles through my body.
“I like salty. You may need to go find me some pretzels later.” He lifts his head and I hold his
cheeks with my hands. My thumbs skim over his stubble-covered jaw. I drop a feather-soft kiss there,
loving the coarseness against my lips. I sigh contentedly as my mouth travels to his earlobe. I suck on
it before gently biting down.
He groans. “I could do that for you. I’ll do anything if you keep doing that thing with your tongue.”
I feel a shudder roll through him, and never have I felt like this before—like I actually know what
I’m doing. I’m busy using my tongue to tease him when he suddenly shifts his head toward me and
whispers in my ear, “Madi, what’s your favorite place to be kissed?”
CHAPTER 26
 SHAWN

I carefully roll over in the tiny bed, taking Madison with me, so that I’m on my back and she sits
astride me. Her gorgeous hair cascades around her face, and I gather it in one hand behind her head.
“Well?”
Madison’s face flushes cherry red as she slicks her tongue over her lips. She swats at my chest.
“Don’t embarrass me.”
I’ve never seen anything so beautiful as this woman’s face when the first blush of longing hits her
cheeks. I know she’s got something particular in mind and just doesn’t want to articulate it.
“Baby, it’s just you and me, and these are important things to know.” With my hand still fisted
around her hair, I bring her face down to mine and touch my lips to hers. “Maybe it’s here.” I brush
my lips over her cheek. “Or here.” Slide down to her neck, nuzzling, before I put my mouth on her soft
skin. “Maybe here.” I look back into her eyes. “No? Am I even close?”
She gives a little shake of her head.
“No, huh? Hmm …” All at once, I grab her by the waist and pull her up to straddle my face.
Her swift intake of breath followed by a little moan tells me I’m probably moving in the right
direction.
I grip her hip with one hand while my other hand reaches between her legs, pulling the fabric of
her sleep shorts to the side. I fully expect to find her panties as another barrier, only she’s not wearing
any. My eyes widen. Oh my, fucking hell yes. Madison’s bare under these little shorts, and I’m struck
dumb. I rein in my scattered thoughts and waste no time putting my mouth on her. The strangled sounds
she immediately makes gives me my answer. My butterfly likes to be kissed between her legs. Who
am I to argue with her?
I suck on her clit, lick and kiss her pink flesh as her hips rock. She’s cautious at first, but I can
definitely tell when she gives herself over to me.
She begs me with every swivel of her hips.
She begs me with every moan.
She begs me with the hot desire flashing in her eyes.
And when the release unfurls and lashes through her body, I see in her eyes what I’ve wanted
since the second we started talking at the bar—she’s mine.
Curled up next to me a while later, our little game over, she whispers quietly, “Shawn? Is what
we’re doing real?”
My head dips, my breath a whisper near her ear. “Madison, the first time my lips met yours, we
were real to me. When I touched you, you were mine. I’m a possessive guy. When I’m with a woman,
she knows how I feel. I don’t play games. Can’t you see how I feel about you, Madison? Don’t you
know?”
My phone rings on the bedside table. I snatch it up and see my brother’s ugly mug on the screen.
“It’s Heath.”
“Take it. I can go into the bathroom or something if you want some privacy.” She sits up and
unplugs her phone from the charger.
A growl wrests from my throat. “Woman.” I drop my phone on the bed, grab her by the waist with
one arm, and pull her back to my chest. I kiss her neck. “I thought I was clear. You aren’t just any
person to me. I don’t want you to go anywhere.”
She’s quiet for a second. “Okay. You’d better call him back, then. I’ll just have a chat with my
girls while you’re talking.” She wiggles a bit, getting comfortable. She tucks her sweet ass against
me, and I have the fleeting thought that I just may have found my heaven.
With a smile on my lips, I call Heath back. “Hey, brother.”
“Well, hey. How are the weary travelers?”
“We’re good. Just resting a lot today. Gorging ourselves on leftover wedding cake. Pretty much
just chilling together in the room.”
“Is that what they call it these days? Chilling?”
I chuckle. “I’m pretty sure, yes.”
“So, it’s going well, I take it?”
“Well, Madison and I are fine. I didn’t get a chance to tell you about Chase being here.” I feel
Madi stiffen against me. I lean over and drop a kiss behind her ear and she relaxes again.
“Oh. Well, I’m sure that’s been a boatload of fun.”
“Yeah, we’re good. My truck is probably snowed under, but other than that, I think we’ll be fine.
How’s everyone at home?”
“Just stuck in the house. Ava’s been keeping us busy all weekend. It’s been a real chore to explain
why we can’t go out in this kind of snow.”
I chuckle. “Oh, I can imagine. Well, tell her when Uncle Shawn gets home that if there’s still
snow, he’ll take her out to play.”
“All right, man, but you’re asking for it.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because every time we take her out, she never wants to come back inside.”
“Uncle Shawn can handle it.”
 Madison rolls over and gives me a look. “It’s a little weird to hear you call yourself ‘Uncle
Shawn’ in the third person.”
Heath guffaws in my ear. “I’ve always liked that girl. Tell her I’m looking forward to seeing both
of you when you all get home.”
“Will do. We’ll let you know when we are able to head out.”
In the background, I hear a scrambling noise, some shuffling around, and then a pint-size voice
shouts in my ear, “Hi, Uncle Shawn!”
I pull the phone from my head with a laugh. “Hi, Ava. How’s the best niece ever?”
“I’m terrific!” She shouts again in my ear so loudly that Madison hears her.
She covers her mouth as she laughs, but somehow Ava still manages to hear her.
“Who’s that, Uncle Shawn? You bring a friend with you?”
“I sure did.” I pull Madison close to me again. “Her name is Madison.”
Madison and I both hear her exclamation of excitement on the other end of the line. “Oh boy, I get
an auntie! Auntie Madi!” Before I can say anything else or tell her she’s wrong, she squeals, “Uncle
Shawn, can Auntie Madi come play with me, too?”
Without any prompting, Madison leans toward the phone. “Yes, Ava, I’ll come see you soon.”
“Great!” We hear a big thump and then a muttered curse from Heath.
“Whatever you all just told her, she got excited, threw my phone in the air, and took off running.”
I laugh and Madison giggle-snorts next to me. She calls over her shoulder so he can hear, “Sorry,
Heath!”
Another rough chuckle escapes me. “Gotta go. Talk later.”
“Sounds good. Later.”
CHAPTER 27
 MADISON

While Shawn had been talking to Heath, there’d been a lively conversation going on in the group text
message. I scan back over everything now that he’s off the phone and resting quietly beside me.

Sophia: OMG, you’re killing us. We know you guys slid off the road in the storm, but that’s about it.
Zoey: Isn’t the last time we heard from her right before the reception?
Quinn: Yeah, but Shawn texted Heath about the accident. Scroll up—Sophia was talking about it
earlier.
Piper: Madison, I can’t even believe that you’ve kept us hanging all this time.
Hadleigh: Where’s all the juicy gossip? I need details.

I stifle a laugh and tap out a message that it sounds like there is much anticipation over.

Me: Please believe me when I say this whole weekend has been one massive whirlwind.
Zoey: There she is! And I’m not late to the party this time!
Quinn: Ooh, this sounds interesting.
Me: Obviously, you all know there has been one hell of a snowstorm.
Sophia: Oh yeah. It’s nasty out there.
Me: But there has also been an ex-boyfriend.
Hadleigh: Uh-oh.
Me: And there has been a former best friend.
Me: But also dinner and dancing …
Me: Getting to know Shawn a lot better …
Hadleigh: Get to the good stuff.
Zoey: Wait, are the BFF and the ex-BF the same person?
Me: Bingo. Chase.
Sophia: Nooo. Say it isn’t so.
Me: Oh, yes. It’s been quite the wild ride.
Hadleigh: How about the fun kind of ride?
Piper: Start small, Had. Did you kiss him?
Zoey: Who, Chase or Shawn?
Sophia: SHAWN. Definitely Shawn.
Sophia: Right, Madi?
Me: I wouldn’t kiss Chase if you paid me.

I take a deep, fortifying breath and forge on, done with all the secrets.

Me: It actually came out that Chase cheated on me more than once. It’s a whole story, but essentially,
I went into this weekend believing that Shawn had cheated on Dana, but the real truth is that it was a
lie Chase made up to cover up the fact that he’d cheated on me.
Piper: We’re going to need the long version of that story at some point. It sounds like a real whopper.
Quinn: What an asshole!
Zoey: He sounds like a real slimeball.
Hadleigh: Okay, we’ve established that he’s gross and you’re done with him.
Hadleigh: But you skipped over whether or not you and Shawn played tonsil-hockey.
Hadleigh: Or maybe you’re already to the horizontal mambo.
Piper: Maybe they’ve decided to just be friends.
Me: We definitely aren’t just friends.
Sophia: Atta girl.
Me: But he doesn’t know I’m the one who talked to Dana, warning her about his cheating.
Sophia: Uh-oh.
Quinn: But to be clear, he didn’t cheat.
Zoey: What a mess.
Me: No, he didn’t. And I didn’t lie. I only told the truth as I knew it.
Me: I’m still hoping it works out. I have to tell him, but I’m still trying to figure out how.
Hadleigh: If not, at least you got to get with that at least once.
Zoey: OMG, Had, what are we going to do with you?
Me: Sophia, don’t say anything to Heath. I need to work this out for myself first.
Sophia: I’d never. Listen, we want the best for both of you. I’ll keep quiet.
Hadleigh: Okay, enough talk with us. You’ve got a man in your bed.
Hadleigh: Go let him tickle your fancy.
Me: Pretty sure I already did that.

At least my friends can make me laugh even when shit could be seconds from hitting the fan. I
giggle and power down my phone.
 Shawn pokes me in the side. “What’s going on? What’s funny?”
“Oh, nothing. They just make a lot of assumptions about what goes on when you get stranded
somewhere with a guy.”
“Are they wrong?” He rolls me back toward him, his hand finding my breast and giving it a
squeeze.
“Oh, um, not really. That’s why I’m laughing.”
CHAPTER 28
 SHAWN

“So, you … told your friends that we’ve …” I wiggle my eyebrows at her from where I lie next to her
on my side.
She glances over at me with a sly smile. “Well, not in so many words.”
I chuckle. “What does that even mean?”
“I told them we aren’t just friends. They are doing rather nicely at drawing their own conclusions
from that, complete with some of Hadleigh’s sex euphemisms, which is what had me laughing.”
“I see.” I clear my throat. “So, when you guys are together, is it, like, no holds barred, or what?
You all just discuss anything and everything?”
“Pretty much.” She rolls toward me. “What are you worried about?”
“I don’t really know.” I give her a scared face. “Should I be worried?”
She licks her lower lip, her eyes flicking over my features like she’s trying to figure out if there is
a way to see right inside me. “No. You have nothing to worry about at all. Do you not share things
with your friends?”
I scratch my head. “I mean, I do to a certain degree. It’s a little awkward as an adult when your
best friend is your brother, though, you know? I really haven’t bothered forming too many other close
relationships.” I let that hang in the air, not saying that my experience with Chase soured me on the
idea of having many real friends outside of my family. I’m sure she knows well enough what my
hesitation would be. “I trust my brother and that’s about it.”
“Oh. Right. I understand.” She reaches over and brushes her hand through my hair. “So, what’s
Shawn’s big secret, then? Something you’ve never told anyone else. Got one of those?” She gives me
a broad smile and blushes. “This is payback for your epically embarrassing ‘where do you like to be
kissed’ question.”
I throw my head back, laughing. “Well, finding out the answer was the best part of my day.”
She blushes and swats at me, shaking her head.
We’re both quiet for a few seconds as I let myself think about her question. My jaw works back
and forth. I don’t ever want to be anything but honest with her. “Um. Well, I guess it would be that I’m
a bit jealous of Heath and Sophia and what they have.” I roll to my back so I don’t have to look
directly at her. “I thought maybe I’d have that with Dana. I actually assumed I’d be married by now. I
thought—” My voice hitches and I just stop. She doesn’t need to hear all of this.
Madison sits up on the bed, facing me. She has a wild look in her eyes like she’s about three
seconds from a major breakdown. She clears her throat, tucks her chin to her chest, and lowers her
eyes. Her lashes flutter over her cheeks. It almost seems like she’s trying not to cry. “I have to tell you
something.”
I scramble to a seated position, facing her. I reach out and tuck my knuckle under her chin, guiding
her face up so she’ll look at me. “I’m sorry. I upset you with the Dana talk. That was rude of me. I
shouldn’t have brought her up.”
She shakes her head almost violently. “No.” She swallows visibly. “Don’t you see? It’s me who
should be apologizing to you. Me. It was me, Shawn.”
I reach for her head, clasping it between my hands. She stares at me, and her green eyes are liquid
pools of regret. “I don’t understand. What was you?”
“I told her. I-I told Dana.”
For a count of five, I’m quiet, processing the information she’s just laid at my feet. Unable to think
straight, my eyes search hers as everything we’ve been doing this weekend crashes down around us.
Tears begin to spill from her eyes as she starts from the beginning. “Chase told me it was you
fooling around in his truck. I should have kept my nose out of it. Instead, when I discovered the
bracelet and he told me it hadn’t been Dana with you, I went all girl-code on the situation and I felt I
had to tell her what Chase had told me.” She grimaces, wiping her face with one hand. “He made it
seem like it’s just something you did all the time.” She scoffs, “I didn’t know what to think of that
because the idea of the boy I’d had a crush on—the man I was coming to know better—behaving in
that way didn’t jibe with what he was saying you’d done.” She stops, her breathing erratic. “But I
knew I couldn’t not tell her.” She covers her face with her hands and mumbles through her fingers,
“Because how would I feel if it was me? And then to find out that it was me all this time? Oh, Shawn,
I’m so sorry. I messed everything up.”
My head explodes with the realization that if Dana had allowed me to talk things through with her,
we probably could have figured out the tangled web that Chase had woven us into. Oh my God,
everything was fucked up because of Chase’s lies. I have the urge to hunt him down and really lay
into him.
My mind stumbles over itself with what-ifs—what if Dana and I had continued on with our
relationship, no interference from Chase’s cheating? What if I’d asked her to marry me, like I’d
planned to? Hell, would we be married right now? Would we have had children already? All the
possibilities slam me in the gut, and my mouth clamps shut.
I take a deep breath and blow it out through my nose. Madison looks more miserable now than she
had last night when Chase admitted the truth to her. I stand up and pace the room, then stop and close
my eyes for a few seconds. My fingers thread through my hair, gripping the strands tightly in
frustration. I mumble, “I need to be alone for a few minutes. Wrap my head around this.” Without a
backward glance, I pull on clothes and shoes, grab the key, and take off. Chase had better not fucking
be wherever I end up, because I will knock his damn lights out.

Down in the lobby, I text my brother to tell him the revelation I’ve just had. Not ten seconds has
passed when the phone lights up with his incoming call.
“What the hell, man?” His voice is gruff and irritated on my behalf.
“I know. It’s like everyone had different pieces to the puzzle, and it just all fell into place.”
“Chase. I never did like that fucker. And you say he’s been holding it over Madi’s head that she is
the one who told Dana you were cheating on her?”
“Yeah, he said something like I wouldn’t want her anymore if I knew. Which is so not true.”
“Dana is pretty far in the past. It doesn’t really matter who told her what. She chose not to listen
to you. Wouldn’t even let you explain. She didn’t trust you enough. Which is dumb. You never gave
her any reason not to.”
“I didn’t.” I let out a big sigh. “I think Dana and I were good together most of the time, but I also
know we had our issues. Looking back, maybe we’d have worked out … but more than likely not.”
“Well, I hope you all can sort through this. Madison is a sweet girl.”
“Yeah. Me too. I’m going to go back up and talk to her now. Night, man. Thanks for always being
there.”
“Right back at ya. Talk soon.”
I disconnect the call and slip my phone in my back pocket as I dash back up the stairs.
It’s not Madison’s fault. I don’t believe that at all. She didn’t even know it was Chase who had
cheated until last night. But I bet she’s been beating herself up about it since the second she found out.
It explains the chaotic swings of emotion from her since the run-in with Chase. The way she’d
reacted to what Chase said. I feel terrible for her. The words he’d thrown at her for no other reason
than to hurt her—"he won’t want you if he knows.” What a prick.
The other truth hits me right in the chest, too. If none of this had ever happened, I wouldn’t be here
with Madison right now. I wouldn’t be falling for her because we probably would have never had the
chance.
In a sudden burst, I jog down the hall and throw open the door, needing to hold her in my arms and
tell her everything is going to be just fine.
But she’s not here … and all of her things are gone. The room closes in on me, strangely empty
and cold.
CHAPTER 29
 MADISON

I hurriedly dash down the hallway with my bags. I’d thrown everything into them, hoping I wasn’t
leaving anything behind. The honest truth is I’m unable to bear seeing that wounded look in Shawn’s
eyes again. The way he’d yanked on his hair like he was going out of his mind is like a knife slowly
twisting in my chest. And then he’d bolted from the room, leaving the knife plunged deep. It’d hurt
like hell. I really hope James responds to my text soon because I don’t know where else to go.
I sigh with relief when my phone buzzes in my hand.

James: We’re in room 16. Second floor.

James: But what the hell is going on?

I don’t bother to respond; I just keep hustling down the hallway. I rap my knuckles sharply on their
door.
James swings the door open, takes one look at my face, and waves me inside.
I hastily enter, yanking my roller bag behind me, and come to an abrupt halt when I see Emily
sitting on the bed. I drop my other bag to the floor and cover my face with my hands. “I’m so sorry
you guys. I-I’ll go see if there is another room I can stay in.” My eyes drift shut, and I cover my face
with both hands. I don’t want to interrupt their weekend together.
This is so damn embarrassing.
“Madi, tell me what’s happened. Is it Chase? Because if that dick is bothering you again …”
Slowly, I lower my hands, looking back and forth between them, not sure if Emily wants to be
subjected to my mess.
Emily rises from the bed. “I can totally go get coffee or something.” She swallows and holds her
hands out. “But can I give you a hug before I go? You look like you need one.”
I blink as my eyes fill. She doesn’t wait and rushes forward to wrap her arms around me. “Oh,
Madison. I’m so sorry for whatever has upset you.” She squeezes me tightly before easing away.
“Please don’t feel like you have to leave. I don’t want to put you out. I don’t mind if you stay.
Unless you’re uncomfortable.” I heave out a sigh as I turn to look at my brother again. “James, you’re
not going to believe what I’ve done.”

Over the course of the next twenty minutes, I tell them every last detail—from my schoolgirl crush on
Shawn to telling him that I’d ruined his relationship with Dana and everything in between—including
this weekend’s fake relationship that had become very real, very fast. And all the while, my phone has
been lighting up in my pocket with call after call, message after message.
James grunts. “Chase had better hope I don’t see him before we leave. I will totally break his
face.”
Emily winces at James’s words, but doesn’t say anything. She’s been more than kind this whole
time. I’ll have to remember to tell James how much I like her.
I shake my head. “No, don’t do that. Chase is nothing. I don’t even want to think about him. I don’t
want anything more to do with him ever again.”
“And Shawn? What are you going to do there?”
I get up to pace, hands on my hips. My gaze flickers over to my brother and his girlfriend and then
down to the floor again. I wet my lips before I take a deep breath and let everything out. “He’s
literally the man of my dreams. But now I don’t know if he can possibly feel the same way toward me
as he did. Or like Chase said, if he’ll even want me anymore.”

Later, wrapped up in blankets on the floor of my brother’s hotel room, I cautiously thumb open my
phone. Ten missed calls and a fuck-ton of messages. My hand shakes as I hold the phone in the
darkness of the room, trying to figure out what to do. Will it hurt less if I just delete the messages
without reading them? Breaths shudder in and out of me as I stare, unseeing, at the phone screen. I
can’t do that. I won’t do that to Shawn. He deserves better. He deserves everything.
I swallow back the emotional lump in my throat and open the messages.

Shawn: Butterfly, please come back. I didn’t want you to go. I didn’t mean for you to think that.
Shawn: I was just trying to wrap my head around everything.
Shawn: I think we should talk. Please answer your phone.
Shawn: Madi?

I see from the timestamp that a few minutes had gone by while he waited for me to respond. When
I hadn’t, he’d finally broken down and continued.
Shawn: I don’t want to have this conversation via text.
Shawn: I’m not mad. This wasn’t even your fault.
Shawn: Please just come back so we can talk.

I wipe the tears from my cheeks, trying to figure out what to say and find the courage to type it out
and send it.

Me: I think we need some time to figure out how we feel and to decide whether we pushed things into
overdrive this weekend because of the circumstances.
Me: And I’m scared to really look inside myself and find this wasn’t real.
Me: Or maybe I’m more afraid that it was and I’ve messed it all up.

As I lie there on the floor, it hits me that Shawn is so goddamn nice—not at all the cheater I’d
believed, not the asshole who’d do something like that to his girlfriend—and he’s likely pissed off,
but doesn’t want to say so.
And I knew the truth. I’d kept it from him. He’d told me how he thought he’d be married to Dana
and have babies with her by now. I’d taken that from him—his wife and a family. He’s jealous of his
brother because Heath has everything I’d ripped away from him. I’d single-handedly destroyed all of
his dreams for his future with my big fat mouth. Uncontrollable guilt rushes through me,
overwhelming, making my head pound. I grip it with my hands, rocking myself and silently crying. No
matter what he says about not being mad, I can’t forgive myself. And I sure as hell don’t deserve him.
I see the little jumping dots of a response being drafted, and I begin to panic.

Me: No. Please don’t say anything right now.

The dots stop jumping.

And the odd thing is, I can’t decide whether I’m glad he adhered to my wishes or if I’m sad that he
didn’t ignore it and just say what he wanted to say. I set my phone aside after turning it off and curl up
on my side. Sleep doesn’t come for several long hours after that.
CHAPTER 30
 MADISON

Several days later, I drop into a chair at the coffee shop for our book club meeting, grateful when I
see someone has already ordered for me. Five pairs of curious eyes immediately pin on me. Everyone
sits forward in their chairs. I take a quick sip of my toffee latte before I allow my eyes to roam over
my tribe. I wonder what they think of all this.
Piper bites her lip, and then asks, “Well, how did it go?”
“I’ve been dying not knowing how everything went after our last round of text messages.”
Hadleigh grins at me with wide eyes, and Zoey nods her head in agreement.
“Did the whole fake boyfriend thing work?” Quinn asks. “I was afraid you’d get tripped up
somewhere along the way.”
My eyes flit over to Sophia who is looking down at her hands. She briefly glances at me and gives
a little shake of her head. She’s told them nothing. I send her a small smile of thanks.
I take a deep breath. “One thing at time. It was … a weekend of revelations.”
Hadleigh pouts. “You have to give us more than that.”
“In short, we pulled it off. I ended up telling my brother what we’d been up to, though. Because I
did finally tell Shawn that I was the one who’d told Dana that he’d cheated.”
Piper’s nose wrinkled. “When he hadn’t.”
“No. And then I took off and caught a ride home with James and Emily.”
Zoey looks confused at first until Quinn leans over and whispers, “Her brother and his girlfriend.”
“Oh no. So, you all didn’t come back home together?” Zoey sits back, her arms folded across her
chest. “That’s awful.”
I slowly shake my head and take another sip of my coffee, not disagreeing with her at all.
“Hey, you girls gab for a few minutes. I want to talk to Madison alone.” Sophia stands and holds
her hand out to me.
My stomach does flip-flops. One thing I hadn’t considered at all was how this may affect my
relationship with Sophia. Out of all the women, I’m closest with her and Quinn, and she has the added
tie of being Shawn’s soon-to-be sister-in-law. I swallow hard as I follow her down the hallway. We
stop across from the restrooms when we are out of earshot.
 She eyes me warily, one perfect brow arched. “You seem miserable.” She hesitates for a second
before continuing. “He’s miserable, too, you know. And he doesn’t understand why you left. He’s
scared you don’t trust him, the same way Dana didn’t.”
“I broke them up, Sophia. I feel awful. He would never have been with me if I hadn’t done that.
The guilt is tearing me up. I lied to her.”
Sophia scoffs, “No. Don’t do that. You were telling the truth as you knew it. You were trying to
protect her.”
“But does he see that? Does he understand I wasn’t trying to hurt him? I was trying to save her
from … God, that sounds so stupid. I meant well.” I rub my face in frustration. “I’m sure Dana won’t
see it the same way.”
“She and Shawn have been over for a long time. And frankly, based on conversations he and I
have had this week, it was her lack of trust in him that made him not fight for her. It’s in the past.
Things happen for a reason, Madison. You can’t blame yourself for trying to help. Chase is the
asshole here, not you. He’s a cheat and a liar—and now everyone knows it.”
I nod, knowing in my heart she’s right.
“But, Madi? No man is miserable like this over a woman unless he really cares for her. You
should hold on tight to a man like that.” She reaches out to pat my arm and gives me a soft smile. “It’s
been interesting to see him like this. I’ve never known him to be this affected by anything before. He’s
been playing his guitar like mad.”
I catch a teardrop with the back of my finger before it falls. “I love it when he plays.” My heart
swells with hope.
“You should skip out on the rest of our book talk and go see him. We’re going to the bar after this
for karaoke, so we can catch up with you later.”
I frown, my brows hiking together in confusion. “Karaoke? Do you mean at his bar? Since when is
there karaoke at that bar?”
She shrugs. “Since he got back from the wedding. He set up a little stage and everything.”
I’m flabbergasted. “Really? A stage? Wow.”
“Something you all talked about got to him. And Madi, that man’s eyes are full of unicorns and
rainbows every time he talks about you.” She smirks. “That’s what Ava told him, anyway.”
A small smile creeps across my lips. “He’s talking about me?”
“Yeah. He’s been a little broody and a whole lot depressed, but he’s been talking to me and Heath
both. More his brother than me, but I’ve still gotten an earful.” She tilts her head to the side. “Go see
him.”
I draw in a breath and it shudders out. I look at her and don’t see anything but genuine concern in
her gaze.
“Go.” She steps forward and gives me a quick hug before turning me around by the shoulders and
walking me forward. She picks up my purse as we pass our table and hands it to me before shoving
me gently toward the door.
From behind me, I hear a sudden scrambling. I look back at my friends to see them out of their
seats cheering me on. A few of them clapping excitedly, others standing there with their hands clasped
together. I hear a chorus of “Good luck, Madi!” as I press my lips together and try not to cry,
wondering what I ever did to deserve such good friends.
CHAPTER 31
 SHAWN

That’s weird. I thought I’d heard a knock a few minutes ago, but I ignored it as no one ever comes up
here. I hurry to the door, twist the knob, and find the last person I expected to see on the other side,
but the only person I wanted. Madison. I suck in a quick breath, knocked off balance by her
appearance.
She stands there looking a little unsure but more beautiful than ever. She’s all bundled up in a
heavy navy-blue coat and a matching blue hat with a little pom-pom on the top. “What are you doing
here, Madi?”
She blinks twice as if she’s stunned that I’m here in front of her, and then finally shakes herself,
blinking once more. She closes the distance between us and looks up at me with fiery green eyes that I
know are going to be my undoing.
I need her so damn bad. I haven’t slept, haven’t eaten, hell, I’ve hardly breathed since she left. I
was hurt when she’d taken off without saying anything to me. But at the same time, I’d understood. I
get her, and I knew she’d been feeling incredible guilt over the whole situation as it unraveled.
“I came to tell to you—”
“We’ll talk later.” My hands dive into her hair, fingers threading through the curly locks as I
cradle her head. She gasps, and I take that moment to lower my mouth to hers. Our bodies collide, and
she clutches at the back of my T-shirt and moves closer. I groan, helping her quickly out of her coat
and whipping off her hat before I pull her inside and slam the door behind us. I lift her up into my
arms and her legs automatically wrap around my hips like they were always meant to be there. We
moan in unison at the contact. Electric sparks shoot through me at the feel of her pressed against me,
making my dick harder than steel in no time flat.
My mouth finds hers again and our tongues dance together in a rhythm only we know and
understand. It could be minutes or hours that our lips are fused, touching, tasting, loving each other—I
have no idea. With every desperate swipe of our tongues, the temperature in my apartment shoots
further through the motherfucking roof.
I don’t know how either of us ever entertained the notion that this was fake. All I know in this
moment is I am hers and she is mine, and I need to be buried inside her right now.
 I walk us forward, turning into the kitchen where I set her down on the counter. Our hands move
fast as we scramble to divest each other of all clothing. I peel her shirt off, then mine, and we come
back together in another scorching-hot, open-mouthed kiss. Behind her back, I undo her bra clasp, and
she shrugs out of it quickly, letting it drop to the floor. Her taut nipples call out to me, begging for my
mouth. “You’re so fucking sexy I can’t stand it.” I suck on her nipples, working each into a stiff peak
as I pop the button on her jeans and drag the zipper down. I slide my hands under the waistband in
back, and my dick twitches as I cup her ass cheeks before helping her shimmy out of her jeans and
panties at the same time. She toes off her shoes, peels off her socks, and kicks her jeans and panties
the rest of the way off while I shove my jeans and boxer briefs down and step out of them.
For a second, I stare at this gorgeous woman sitting naked on my counter, and she stares right back
at me with molten desire stark in her eyes. I can’t even process that a week ago we weren’t much
more than acquaintances. In so little time, she’s come to be everything to me. Her breath becomes
shallow as she watches me, and I know my restraint is a thing of the past. I tug her to the very edge of
the counter and push her legs open. She leans back against the cabinet, watching me with so much
hunger in her eyes that it spurs me on. I rasp, “I missed you so damn much, baby.”
I bend down to bring my mouth to her aroused pink flesh and growl in satisfaction as her hands
hold my head right where she wants me. Everything about her—her scent, her taste, the sounds she
makes—sends blood rushing straight to my cock. Her body bucks as her fingers entwine in my hair
and then hold tight. I flick my tongue over her clit, sucking on it until she’s moaning and squirming.
“Shawn. Oh, God. I missed you, too. I love your mouth on me.”
“I love the way you taste. So damn sweet.” I feel her body tighten, legs shaking, as energy coils in
her belly. I look up at her, knowing I’m about to watch her fall over the edge. Her lips part, her eyes
become unfocused, and then she’s moaning and rocking against my mouth. I continue to lick, suck, and
nip at her sensitive skin until she relaxes against me, her body giving one final shudder.
I watch as she comes back to herself, still panting from the force of her orgasm. I lean in and kiss
her hungrily before I ease back to look into her eyes. “Are you on the pill?” My question falls
raggedly from my lips. I want this woman, no barriers between us. I want to feel her.
She nods, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “I am.” She takes my cock in her hand, strokes it,
and then guides it through the folds of her wetness.
“Thank fuck because my dick needs to be in your hot pussy in the next five seconds.” With that, I
pull her off the counter and into my arms, spin around, and pin her against the wall. Her body wraps
around mine, and I thrust hard into her in one satisfying stroke.
“Oh, God.” She claws at my shoulders.
I hold myself still and bring her lush lips to mine, kissing her slowly with all the passion I feel for
her. I groan and pull back a fraction to look at her. I whisper against her lips, “You feel so good,
Madi.”
I almost lose my mind when she tilts her hips, taking me deeper. “I need to feel you. Please—”
 “Whatever you need, baby.” My fingers dig into her ass cheeks as I hold on tightly and piston into
her tight, wet heat.
It feels so good to be with her bare like this; I’m ready to fucking blow already. Madison is so
damn sexy, and I don’t even think she realizes it. Her body moves perfectly with mine, so in sync it’s
impossible to think we aren’t meant to be. My pelvis grinds against her as I thrust faster, hitting her in
just the right spot, and she explodes like a volcano. She cries out, her face the picture of rapture as
her body melts into mine, shaking, so vibrant and alive. I can’t hold back any longer and growl,
“Madison,” next to her ear as I come deep inside her.
Our chests rise and fall against each other, and my lips graze over the soft skin along her jaw
before I touch my lips to hers. My mouth curves into a grin, and I feel her smiling back at me. “Hi,
Butterfly.”
A small chuckle falls from her lips. “Hi, Shawn.” Her legs drop from around my waist as I pull
out of her. “I, um, I’ve never done that before.” She leans against the wall and bites her lip, her
eyelashes fluttering at me.
My forehead creases and my mind whirs a mile a minute, wondering if she’s okay. I’m still feeling
a little out of it, my brain is waiting for the blood to return to it so I can think straight. “Me neither.
But that’s what I want our relationship to be. Built on trust.”
She reaches out to cup my cheek. “You know the past has made it hard for me to trust. But not with
you. I hope that’s a good sign.” She smiles and blows out a quick breath. “Can I use your bathroom?”
My eyes flick to hers. “Sorry. Yeah, of course.” I run one hand over my jaw and point in the
direction of the bathroom with the other. “It’s right through there.”
While she’s in there, I’m gripped with sudden worry. Maybe I shouldn’t have jumped on her
before we’d had a chance to talk. But, damn, I’d needed her in a way I have never experienced
before. The pull was so strong I had to have her right then. She hadn’t argued either, she’d been right
there with me, every kiss, every touch. It’d been some of the best sex I’ve ever had. Make-up sex.
Never had it before, but if it’s like that every time, I’ll pick a fight every once in a while just to be
able to kiss Madison and bring her back to her senses.
And it is Madison I want to be kissing. Now I just have to show her, talk things through, make sure
she’s with me in this because I don’t think I could ever go back to being just friends with her. She’s
the one I want to call my own. I want to spend every day with her, living and laughing, and every night
wrapped up in her arms, loving her in the way she deserves. I don’t ever want her to feel alone again
—because she has me.
At the sound of soft footsteps on the carpet, I glance up, my gaze traveling over Madison’s naked
body. I blow out a breath. “Madison, I think we should probably talk.” A rough chuckle rips from me.
“But I’m easily distracted when you’re naked.” I swoop down, picking up her T-shirt and underwear.
Her nose wrinkles as she takes them from me, a furious blush cresting her cheeks. “Ditto. At least
put some pants on.”
 “You got it.” I pull on my boxer briefs and jeans while she steps into her panties and pulls the T-
shirt over her head.
I hold a hand out to her, and we walk together into the living room where I sit on the couch. My
heart clangs around in my chest, and I pray I can say everything I need to, everything that’s been
running through my head since she left.
She lets go of my hand and is about to sit down on the couch way too far away from me when the
words fall from my lips, unbidden. “No. Sit here with me.” I need to touch her, need to feel her, don’t
want to be apart from her anymore. “Right here.” I grab her hand and pull her into my arms, seating
her sideways across my lap.
She’s tense at first, but then our eyes meet and she softens. She rests her head against my chest. “Is
everything really okay between us?”
“I want it to be. Do you?”
“More than anything.” She heaves a great sigh, the weight of the world seemingly on her
shoulders. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know—I believed what Chase told me. I should have known better.
There had been a few other times that I was not sure if he was telling me the truth about where he’d
been.”
My lips graze her forehead. “He had us both fooled. I don’t know if I ever really knew him at all,
and that’s a tough thing to realize.” I pause. “Look, I don’t want you getting upset again over the whole
Chase and Dana situation. I don’t want you to think for a second even that anything you did because of
his lies could come between us. It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know.”
“How?” She looks at me with tears shimmering in her eyes. “How are you able to handle this so
well? Why aren’t you upset with me for believing that of you?”
“Well, it’s in the past. I don’t dwell on the past. Never have. But as for you believing it of me? I
don’t think that if you really, truly thought that of me you’d have let me come with you in the first
place. I think somewhere down deep, you knew.”
Her lips curve into a smile. “You know, you may be right. Because I kept asking myself what the
hell I was doing and kept thinking, well, he’s obviously changed because this isn’t someone who
could do that. So, I think the answer was ticking around in my head this whole time. Tigers don’t
change their stripes. I don’t know why all the pieces didn’t connect in my head, especially after I
witnessed Chase cheating with my own two eyes.” She swallows, and I feel it against my chest. “I
was really hoping you weren’t going to let me down either, because I started falling for you on the
ride to the wedding before we ever had a chance to be fake anythings to each other.”
“Madison. Look at me.” I tuck my finger under her chin, lifting her face to mine. “I won’t let you
down. Ever.” I slant my mouth over hers, and we lose ourselves in the kiss. When we finally pull
apart, I know I have to make sure she knows how I feel. I don’t want there to ever be a question.
“Baby, while you were falling for me, I was busy falling for you, too.” I search her eyes and see
nothing but trust there, and that’s when it finally hits me—my heart has found its home.
A while later, we get ready to head downstairs. Music floats up through the floor, and I chuckle, my
brows raised. “Sounds like they’ve already got the karaoke going. I bet your girls are already here.
Sophia mentioned they’d be by tonight after your book club.”
“Yep, they probably are. Oh my God, my hair is out of control. They’re going to wonder what the
hell happened to me.”
“Wait, did you skip out on getting together with them to come see me?”
“Sort of. I showed up. They saw I was a miserable mess, and Sophia pulled me aside and made
me spill my guts.”
“Go figure. She’s going to be gloating about this one for a while, I can feel it.”
“Do you really care?”
“No. Come to think of it, maybe I should buy her a really nice Christmas gift this year.”
Madison laughs. “I guess so, because she’s probably just given both of us the best gift ever.” She
pulls her hair on top of her head, winds it around her hand, and secures it on top with a few pins.
I lean in close, touching my lips to the soft skin just behind her ear. As I pull away, I notice
something that I never have before. “Shut. The fuck. Up.”
Madison’s head twists back to look at me. My stunned expression must say it all because she
starts giggling. “Um, did you find my birthmark?”
I blink a few times, my mouth opening and closing. “I’ve been calling you ‘Butterfly’ for over a
week, and you never told me your birthmark is shaped like a damn butterfly?”
She presses her lips together, and I can tell she’s trying not to laugh.
“Go ahead. I know you want to.”
Laughter, bright and beautiful bubbles from her lips. “Oh my God, the look on your face was just
priceless. I’m so glad I didn’t say anything.”
She grins, and I tug her to me, kissing her soundly on the mouth.
CHAPTER 32
 MADISON

“Oh, wow, Shawn. This is so fun.” I squeeze his hand, and when he looks down at me, his blue eyes
are alight with a happiness I’m sure comes from what I see in front of me. People sit around the small
stage area at the corner of the bar. The raised area had been home to extra chairs and tables until now.
With those removed, everyone seems to be having the time of their lives singing along—mostly off-
key—to the music pumping out the speakers.
“I couldn’t help but make this happen when I came back. Every time we talked about what I’d
been doing with my life and how I wasn’t entirely happy, it was in the back of my head that maybe,
just maybe, I’d come home and clear this area out, get the stage fixed up. I ordered some good quality
karaoke equipment while we were stuck in the hotel room. And then, I also figured we could have an
open-mic night once a week. Let anyone with a little talent have their moment in the spotlight.”
Everything in me tells me this has made him so happy. And I hope more than anything, based on
our earlier conversation, I can make him happy, too. “We should just have you sing or play—or both.”
He chuckles and sends me the sweetest smile. “Is that right?”
“But make it something you wrote. Anything you play is amazing.” I swear, I feel giddy every time
he looks at me, and yes, I’d listen to just about anything as long as it’s Shawn playing. I’d adored
listening to him play when I was just a girl, and absolutely nothing has changed. I still want to sink
into the comfort of his raspy voice and listen to the strumming of his fingers on his guitar.
“Would you want me to write a song for you sometime?”
My cheeks warm at the thought, and I can practically feel my eyes twinkle at him. I’m such a
goner. “I wouldn’t mind.”
“Would you sing it with me?” He slicks his tongue over his lower lip and smiles at the goofy look
on my face.
I nod. “Maybe. Maybe you should write it about us.”
He leans close and whispers near my ear, “Maybe I already did.”
I swallow and look at him, eyes wide. “You—”
He winks at me, and walks up on the stage. “Would anyone mind a little live music?” His question
is met with whoops of excitement and clapping. “Okay then, give me just a couple of seconds.”
 I slip over to my girls and sit with them. Sophia eyes me carefully. “Everything okay?”
A soft smile on my lips, I glance at her, and then at Had, Piper, Quinn, and Zoey, too. “Yes. I think
everything is going to be just fine.”
Quinn whistles low. “Oh, boy. Somebody has it bad.”
Piper ducks her head with a giggle. “Being stranded with your fake boyfriend worked nicely?”
“There’s nothing fake about the way his eyes are burning right into her.” Zoey nods toward the
stage.
She didn’t need to tell me, I could feel Shawn’s eyes on me. I inhale and let out a happy sigh. “I
think I’m in love with him.”
Hadleigh’s eyes go wide. “Wow. That was fast. I totally thought you all were just fucking.”
Coke spews out of Piper’s mouth and dribbles down her chin, and at that, we all break into
giggles. I shake my head with a grin, as my eyes search out Shawn’s again. “Nope. It’s so much more
than that.”
Shawn sits down on a stool onstage and takes a minute to tune his guitar. After making a few
minor adjustments, the soothing sound of his playing begins to fill the room. It’s the same tune he’d
been playing while we were away together, only now the sound is fuller, and he’s more confident in
it. He’s been practicing, and he hums along at first, which is enough to melt my panties. I’m content
just to sit back and listen to him like this all night.
He pauses for a second, putting his hand over the strings, and clears his throat before speaking.
“This is going to be a little rough, and it’s not quite done, but I thought maybe there was someone out
there who needed to hear it.”
Sophia catches my eye from across the table and winks, and then I’m further distracted for a
moment by Zoey asking her if Heath plays, too.
When the first notes of Shawn’s deep voice whisper out into the mic, I sit up and take notice, my
lips parting involuntarily as my eyes seek out his again.
He’s put words to what he’d been working on during our trip, and from the first line, my heart
gives a little lurch and skips, missing a beat or maybe three. Oh, man, does he have a way with
words. He has half the audience fully swooning already. The song is so very clearly about us, the
lyrics are so beautiful. Oh God, he’s singing about how I’m wound around his heart, how he can’t live
without me now because his heart has found its home.
As I listen, a miniature storm builds inside of me, making it hard to breathe or think. All I can do
is feel the way he loves me through his song.
When it comes to an end, I stare at him, hearing the clapping around me when he stops. All the
sound in the room seems like it’s been sucked into a tunnel, and I’m standing on the outside, straining
to hear. My chest clenches tight as tears slip down my cheeks unchecked at the simple sweetness of
his lyrics.
Without a thought as to what I’m doing, I get up from my seat and weave my way through the
chairs and stand in front of him at the edge of the stage. Behind me, I hear the rumble of curiosity
move through the crowd, but I pay it no mind. The only person I’m interested in is right in front of me.
In a flash, Shawn has set his guitar down on the chair behind him and steps off the stage. He
sweeps me up in his arms and holds me tightly for a second before his mouth finds mine for a soul-
stealing kiss. I faintly hear catcalls somewhere in the back of my mind, but I’m far too distracted by
the movement of Shawn’s lips on mine, his heart pounding against my chest.
When we finally break the kiss, he holds my head between his big hands and swipes his thumbs
along my cheekbones. It’s like we’re still in our own little world. I have eyes for no one but him.
“That was beautiful, Shawn.” My hand presses to my chest where my heart continues to flutter.
“I hope you understood what I was trying to tell you.”
I give a little nod, but I can’t help but want him to say the words. This feels like one of those
moments when every single thing I’ve ever wanted has the potential to be realized—or crushed. Did I
understand him? I think I did. I think he wants us to be real. I think he wants there to be an us. I think
he wants me to be the place where his heart lives. Forever.
Before I can even open my mouth, he leans in, his forehead touching mine. His raspy voice winds
its way right around my heart when he stares into my eyes and murmurs, “I’m lost in you—so
hopelessly in love with you, Madison.”
Happy tears well in my eyes again. “I think my heart is going to hop right out of my chest and take
the leap into your hands.”
“You’re not still pretending, are you?”
I shake my head. “If you feel about me the same way I feel about you, I never want us to have to
pretend again. I love you, too, Shawn. So much.”
“Madi, you never have to worry ever again. Everything I feel for you is completely real. No more
fake boyfriends. Just me.” He gives me a sweet smile, making my heart melt. “If you’ll have me, that
is.”
I bite my lip as my eyes flicker up to his, connecting with his gaze. I don’t know if he knows just
how lost I am to him, too. “You’ll always have something to write a song about because I’m bound to
give you plenty of material.”
“Funny how love does that.”
Hope surges through me as the reality of what he feels for me finally reaches all the tender parts
of my heart. He loves me.
Shawn reaches out, cups my cheek, and strokes his fingertips over the newly discovered
birthmark. “So, you’ve helped me realize how I can be happy. Tell me what dream can I help you
chase, Butterfly.”
“You.” My voice hitches. “Just you. You’re my dream, Shawn.”
His gaze softens as he gathers me in his arms and feathers a kiss over my lips. “Baby, I have no
problem making that one come true.”
EPILOGUE
 HADLEIGH

I’ve got to hand it to Sophia. Her idea to head on over to Shawn’s bar after book club had been a
good one. I feel the need to cut loose and have some fun. Shawn has finally gotten karaoke equipment,
and it sure is drawing a crowd. Maybe I’ll have to get up there and give it a go later.
Speaking of Shawn, his new relationship with Madison has been the talk of the night, especially
after Madison ditched our book club to go after her man. Most people wouldn’t have thought when
they took off together to that wedding last weekend that they’d come back a couple, but I had an
inkling right from the start. And man, she’d walked downstairs hand in hand with him, rocking that
freshly-fucked vibe. Good for them. They seem really, really happy together.
Someday I’ll find that, but for now, I’ve been busy dodging Ed. He definitely isn’t who I’d thought
he was when we’d first started dating. He’s really attractive and had seemed nice at first, but the
minute we started dating, he’d dropped the good-guy facade he shows everyone at school and had
become a total jerk—a jerk who doesn’t seem to mind holding something very private over my head.
Ugh.
The singing and clapping in the bar fades away as my eyes zero in on a tall, dark-haired guy
standing off to the side of the stage who I’ve never seen before. Who is that? Mr. Yummy, that’s who.
Strong arms cross over the broad expanse of his chest as he leans against the wall and watches a
long-legged blonde scamper up onto the stage. She waves pleadingly for Mr. Yummy to join her, but
he just chuckles and shakes his head.
I follow their silent conversation as she shows him some really impressive puppy dog eyes,
complete with a pout, and he mouths the words, “no way in hell” in response.
Obviously, he has no interest in singing with her onstage, but what I really want to know is if they
are together. When she begins to sing—badly and off-key—he smiles indulgently at her before he
allows his gaze to sweep out over the room.
When he catches me staring at him, he seems a little surprised and a whole lot curious. He tilts his
head to the side, and his brows raise ever so slightly.
My tongue darts out to wet my lower lip as we continue to stare at each other. I. Can’t. Look.
Away. A low-level hum begins to move through my body, and I feel a little light-headed.
 Zoey nudges my arm. “Hey, you want to go get another drink?”
I regretfully drag my gaze from Mr. Yummy and find my friend staring at me quizzically. “Um,
yeah, sure.” I glance back to find his eyes still on me. With a quick intake of breath, I turn away and
follow Zoey to the bar.
Upon returning to where our group has gathered, I scan the room for him, but find he’s not leaning
against the wall anymore. My gaze drifts around the room until I finally spot him.
Much to my dismay, tall, dark, and drool-worthy is walking toward the door with the pretty
blonde. He pushes the door open for her and smiles at something she says as he lets her precede him
outside. I can’t help but frown inwardly. Damn. What I wouldn’t give to spend my time with a guy
like that, instead of the jerks I’m accustomed to.
He follows the blonde out the door, but just as the door is about to close, he glances back in my
direction. Our gazes connect again, and my lips part involuntarily. I’m left staring when the door shuts
behind him.
Who the hell is Mr. Yummy? I wish I knew because I’d sure like to take a bite out of him ...
 SNEAK PEEK

FIGHT FOR YOU

CHAPTER 1: HADLEIGH

I am nervous as hell. Right before winter break, our assistant principal, Miles Steele called me into
his office to let me know I’d been selected to mentor a student teacher for the next eight weeks. I
know it’s considered an honor of sorts to be chosen, but I can’t help but feel a smidge grumpy about
it. Eight weeks seems like an entire lifetime to have someone in my classroom. It’s like my second
home, and now I have to worry about someone else infiltrating my space. And I’m expected to just
turn my classes over to this person? That scares the shit out of me. I’ve finally gotten into the groove
after four and a half years, and now it feels like the rug is being pulled out from under me.
My friend and coworker, Zoey, and I have met for one final hurrah at our favorite coffee shop
before we head back to work tomorrow. As we get seated with our drinks, I ask, “How is it that time
moves so slowly while we’re working, but so incredibly fast during break? I don’t know about you,
but I’m not ready to go back tomorrow.”
Zoey takes a careful sip of her steaming hot caramel macchiato. “Ugh. I don’t know. I do miss
seeing everyone, though.”
My friend is definitely a people person and thrives on interacting with others. If someone says the
phrase get together, you can bet she’ll be there. She’ll undoubtedly be late because she’s so damn
busy with her work as a guidance counselor and everything that comes with that, but she’ll be there. In
my opinion, she runs herself ragged by always focusing on others and putting everyone else first. So
yeah, that means she’s constantly a smidge behind. At this point, it’s like her calling card. I’m used to
filling her in on everything that she’s missed.
I skim my finger absentmindedly around the rim of my teacup. “I’m not ready to go back and
definitely not ready for whoever this guy I have to work side by side with for the next few months is.”
Zoey grimaces as she observes my fidgeting. She tucks a stray hair behind her ear, and her gaze
settles on my face again. “I tried to get more information about him out of Miles for you, but he didn’t
share much else.”
 Dammit. Usually, it’s handy to have a friend in the main office. As a guidance counselor, Zoey
hears all sorts of things before the rest of us do. She’s my go-to for all the good gossip, but
apparently, this time she’s in the dark just as much as I am.
“Here, look.” I hold out my phone for her. “Check out this e-mail I got yesterday. What vibe do
you get from him?”

From: Sawyer Rivers <srivers@roxfordcc.edu>

To: Hadleigh Beckett <hbeckett@middlesex.k12.ma.us>
Date: Sunday, January 2 12:24 PM (1 day ago)
Subject: Meeting

Ms. Beckett,
I hope this e-mail finds you well. I was told to contact you about my student teaching placement in
your classroom this semester. I’d like to set up a meeting before my first day, if possible.
Sincerely,
Sawyer Rivers

Zoey wrinkles her nose as she reads. “He’s polite, I guess.”

“You can say that again. He sounds … almost uptight. How should I respond?” My brows draw
together while my thumbs twitch anxiously over the phone keyboard as I debate what to type.
“You should answer politely right back …?” She ducks her head and covers her mouth with her
hand, giggling.
“Right. Okay, here goes nothing.” My lower lip is wedged between my teeth as I work through
what I feel like is an appropriate response from a mentor to a mentee.

From: Hadleigh Beckett <hbeckett@middlesex.k12.ma.us>

To: Sawyer Rivers <srivers@roxfordcc.edu>
Date: Monday, January 3 2:26 PM
Subject: Re: Meeting

Hello, Sawyer. Would you be able to drop by after school hours tomorrow, Jan 4? Around 3:30?
Hadleigh Beckett
“There. Done. Polite and straightforward.” I roll my head around, stretching out my neck as she eyes
me carefully. “I’m worried I’m not ready to deal with someone else, Zoey. I’m still kind of a baby
teacher myself.”
“They wouldn’t have given you a student teacher unless they were confident you could handle it.
Since when are you anything but confident?”
I roll my eyes at her. “You know half of that is for show. I’m a good actress. I have insecurities
just like anyone else, and this is one of them. How do I teach someone else when I’m still learning the
job myself?”
“You’ll be fine. You always are. Shake it off, girl. Shake it off.”
Just as she finishes her comment—thus putting Taylor Swift in my head—my phone pings with an
incoming e-mail. Zoey’s gaze shoots to mine. “Is that him already?”
I look down at my phone and give an unladylike snort. “Yep. Well, he’s responsive, if nothing
else. Maybe this bodes well.” I blow out a quick breath and open up the new e-mail.

From: Sawyer Rivers <srivers@roxfordcc.edu>

To: Hadleigh Beckett <hbeckett@middlesex.k12.ma.us>
Date: Monday, January 3 2:28 PM
Subject: Re: Re: Meeting

Ms. Beckett,
Thanks for your response. Could you tell me where I should park?
Sincerely,
Sawyer Rivers

My brow wrinkles in thought. “Maybe he’s just older than I first assumed. It’ll probably be some
retiree working on starting his second career.”
“Could be, for sure. You know, Cal Jennings from the math department did that. He had a whole
other career in the Army before he retired and went back to school to get his teaching license.”
I shrug, giving up on guessing. “I suppose I’ll find out tomorrow afternoon, huh?”
“Yep. This time tomorrow you’ll know exactly who you’re dealing with.” She narrows her gaze at
me and pats my knee. “Breathe, Had. It’ll be fine.”
I nod. “Right. It’ll all be fine. Tomorrow I’ll know who this Sawyer person is.” As I shoot off
another quick response, I wonder what I can do to prepare myself. The answer is nothing, really. Ugh.
A bubble bath to calm me down, maybe? Take a nap with my kitten? I’m typically a very go, go, go
personality; it’s great for getting things done but not so good for calming my nerves. I tuck my phone
back in my purse and give Zoey my attention again.

Order Fight for You today!

Also, check out this novella: Meant for Each Other
ALSO BY AMANDA BAILEY
CHANGE OF HEART SERIES

PREQUEL: Meant for Each Other

BOOK 1: The End of Me
BOOK 2: I’ll Wait for You
BOOK 3: Make You Mine
BOOK 4: Stay with Me
BOOK 5: It Was Always You
SPIN-OFF: Steal My Breath
DARE TO DREAM SERIES

BOOK 1: Tempt Me
BOOK 2: Adore Me
BOOK 3: Kiss Me
BOOK 4: Tease Me
BOOK 5: Love Me
SPIN-OFF: Dare Me
ALSO BY AMANDA BAILEY
FLIRTING WITH FOREVER SERIES

BOOK 1: Lost in You

BOOK 2: Fight for You
 DEAR READER

Confession: I was nervous as hell to start another new series. Thinking back, I had the exact same
feeling when I started the Dare to Dream series … and that turned out okay, so I pushed forward. As I
wrote and got really invested in Shawn and Madison’s story, I came to really love them, but I also
knew that this book was a little different than others I’ve written. The timeline was tight and I had to
think about how to incorporate the other characters in the series in a way that made sense …
especially since Shawn and Madison were away on their own for ninety percent of the book. I was
scared it wasn’t going to work. In the end, I think it may be one of my favorite books I’ve written. I
hope you enjoyed Shawn and Madison the way I have.

If I haven’t said it often enough, I am so appreciative of those of you who are following me on this
writing journey and loving my characters right along with me.

Do you know the best way to let me know you are loving what you are reading? Reviews. Yep!
Whether it’s on Amazon, BookBub, Goodreads, or elsewhere, reviews count.

So, if you want more of what I’m writing, share with me what you love about the books!

Find me on these platforms if you want to review:

Amazon
Goodreads
BookBub

Until next time,

XO Amanda XO
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To Rebecca Kimmel, imagine my surprise when the book I’m most worried about EVER is the one
you say is one of the best. I guess I need to get uncomfortable more often.

To Krista Dapkey, bahahaha Mr. Yummy. BTW, I think all of us have a Hadleigh. Fun stuff.

To Diana TC, everyone is love, love, loving these covers. I’m so excited to show all of them off!

To KB, Madison, James Madison …

And, to my family, always and forever, you guys rock. XOXO

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Bailey lives in Virginia in her dream home in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. She enjoys staying home with her two children
and husband, watching movies and reality TV, and reading books. She writes what she loves to read—steamy, dreamy romance with a
little angst thrown in on the side.

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