Fake Dating the Unsuspecting Heiress Read online

  He found her watching him, her brows drawn together in concern, and he flashed her a smile. “Me? I’m great. Stomach of steel over here, babe.”

  She rolled her eyes but she was laughing as she helped Trent by snatching up a basket of fries before it toppled over.

  “Is this all for me?” Colton said to Trent, eyeing the armful of snack food. “You shouldn’t have.”

  “Funny,” Trent said. “I was sent to feed the little demons,” he said, jerking his head toward a picnic table where his three nieces sat waiting patiently.

  “Oh how sweet,” Addison said, her voice all tender and affectionate, like it had been when she’d been working with the kids in the hospital.

  Trent scoffed. “Yeah, they look sweet from here, don’t they? Just wait until you get up close and personal.” He leaned toward Addison as if letting her in on a secret. “They’ll eat you alive.”

  “Said like a true doting uncle,” Addison said. And then she giggled. She giggled. Colton hadn’t even been aware she could make such a lighthearted sound. So far he’d heard her chuckle and there was that one belly laugh, and he’d heard more than his fair share of huffing with reluctant amusement, but this…this was new.

  Not that he was keeping track or anything.

  What kind of guy catalogued his date’s laughter?

  The kind who was being paid to watch her. Of course he was more aware of her than normal. That was all part of his job. And the fact that he wanted to be the one to make her laugh? That he wanted to be the one to hear her laughter and see those smiles?

  That was normal too…right?

  It didn’t mean anything.

  Trent was still standing too close to Addison for Colton’s liking, and his easy smile seemed way too intimate. “You should come join us. The girls would love to meet you.”

  She grinned. “I’d love to meet them, too.”

  Colton took a step closer and wedged himself between them. “Your charges look like they’re going to stage a revolt if you don’t feed them some sugar, Uncle Trent.”

  Trent arched his brows, looking between Colton and Addison with undisguised amusement. “Colton’s right. I’d better go.” He took a couple steps backward, still looking at Addison. “But I’ll see you around, yeah?”

  She nodded. “I’d like that.”

  Colton growled. It was unintentional but both Addison and Trent caught it, and Trent inexplicably burst out laughing. “See you soon, Addison. You kids have fun.”

  When he’d left earshot, Addison turned her face up to him. “He seems nice.”

  Colton didn’t answer. Nice? Sure. He supposed Trent was nice. But he also went through women like they were disposable tissues. A true serial monogamist. Trent had dated just about every available woman in Cyrano and there was no way Colton would let Addison be his next willing victim.

  “Nice, huh?” he said. Much as he’d tried to heed Gina’s advice this evening, he couldn’t stop himself from giving her a flirtatious look as he lowered his voice to a husky drawl. “I think you’re nice.”

  She blinked at him in surprise, her lips parting as he reached out and tucked some hair behind her ear.

  He started to lean down toward her, the rest of the world disappearing around them as he found himself drowning in those dark brown eyes of hers. They were focused on him and filled with a dazed look that did crazy things to his chest.

  “W-what are you doing?” she said.

  He jerked back with a muttered curse. What was he doing? He ran a hand through his hair. He was losing his mind, apparently.

  He was saved from answering by Gina, who appeared at his side with a wide smile and a questioning look. “Hey, big brother. Just the guy I was hoping to see.”

  His sister’s look was a warning. She’d caught that near-kiss and she was calling him out on it. “I was hoping you’d introduce me to your friend.”

  Friend. Right. He had promised her he was just interested in being Addison’s friend, hadn’t he? He took a deep breath. Just friends. Obviously. Anything more would make this assignment way too complicated.

  Gina turned to face Addison. “I know I’ve waited on you at the coffee shop, but I don’t think we’ve properly met.” She thrust her hand out in Addison’s direction. “I’m Colton’s sister, Gina.”

  “Oh.” Addison’s eyes widened. “I didn’t realize you two were brother and sister.”

  Gina’s dark ponytail swooshed as she tilted her head from side to side. “Yeah, well…I don’t like to advertise the fact that I’m related to this guy.”

  Addison looked from Gina to him. “I should have seen it, I guess.”

  It was true. He and Gina shared a lot of similarities, from the dimples to the dark brown hair. They even shared their father’s bright blue eyes, although thankfully that seemed to be the only trait they’d gotten from their loser of a dad.

  Gina looked over her shoulder. “Oh, and here’s my boyfriend.”

  Colton just barely bit back a groan, but apparently his face gave him away because Addison flashed him a questioning look. He gave his head a little shake. He’d explain later the many reasons he found Billy to be not nearly good enough for his little sister. Mainly because the guy reeked of entitled snobbery. With a second home up in the fancypants Redhook district, he was exactly the kind of part-time Cyrano resident who gave tourists a bad name.

  But apparently Gina couldn’t see past the pretty-boy face and the smooth talking. She would though…eventually. He just hoped her heart didn’t get stomped on in the process.

  Billy sidled up beside Gina and wrapped an arm around her waist.

  “Good to meet you, Addison,” Billy said after Gina made the introductions. His gaze narrowed on her, making Addison shift uncomfortably as she shot Colton a sidelong look.

  “You look familiar,” Billy said slowly. “Do I know you from somewhere?”

  Panic hit Colton in the gut and adrenaline coursed through his system. Leave it to Billy to ruin everything.

  He hadn’t yet, but he would if he could place Addison.

  If he outed her as Alexander Reginald’s daughter, then Colton’s ruse would be up. He couldn’t pretend not to know who she was, and she’d…what?

  He didn’t know how she’d react.

  From what her father had said, and what he’d gleaned from her, it was clear that she’d come to Cyrano to escape her father’s fame. If she lost the anonymity she’d been seeking…she might leave.

  It was that thought more than anything that had Colton rushing to intervene.

  “Um,” Addison started.

  “The coffee shop,” he blurted out.

  Gina and Addison looked at him with startled expressions. His interjection may have come out a little louder than he’d intended. He cleared his throat and shifted closer to Addison, as though he could protect her anonymity by proximity alone. “You probably saw her around the coffee shop,” he added in a more normal tone.

  Billy’s brows drew together, his gaze still fixed on Addison, who looked like she wanted to disappear.

  For the first time all evening, she seemed to have lost that sexy confidence, and he watched in frustration as her shoulders hunched and her posture slouched. She looked like she was trying to hide in plain sight.

  “No, that’s not it,” Billy said. “I just got into town today and haven’t stopped by the shop yet.”

  Colton wasn’t about to stand around and wait for Billy to make the connection. He clapped a hand on the other man’s shoulder and shoved him none too gently toward the concession stand behind them. “Come on, let’s get these ladies some drinks.”

  The interruption was enough to distract Billy, and once in line the other man talked his ear off about his plans to jet off to Spain next month with his sister.

  “Uh huh.” He was only half paying attention, his gaze never straying from Addison who was smiling and laughing at whatever it was his sister was saying. Gina had always been one to talk with her hands, and right now s
he was causing a scene as she regaled his date with some story or another.

  Probably something embarrassing about him, if he knew Gina.

  He couldn’t get back to Addison quickly enough, but neither woman seemed to notice them approaching with a carton full of sodas. He got close enough to hear Gina’s voice loud and clear. “Seriously, Addison. I have no idea what you’ve done to my brother, but I’ve never seen him act like this before.”

  Oh no. He stalled, Billy knocking into him from behind as he stumbled to a stop. What was she doing? Gina continued, oblivious to her new audience. “He’s so smitten with you, it’s crazy.”

  His gaze shot to Addison to see how she was handling this news. Terror shot through him that after all his hard work getting close to her, his sister would ruin it all by scaring her off.

  Her cheeks were bright red and he saw her shake her head, but he couldn’t hear whatever it was she said in return.

  “No way,” Gina said. “I know my brother and I’ve never seen him so focused on anyone before. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he’s been looking at you.”

  Colton darted another panicked look in Addison’s direction and watched as she ducked her head in embarrassment. He held his breath as he watched her, waiting to see her recoil. Watching for some sign of revulsion at the thought of him wanting to be more than just friends.

  To his surprise though, she dipped her head…and he caught it. A smile. She didn’t look horrified at the idea at all.

  She looked…well, she looked happy.

  9

  “Your drink, m’lady.” Billy handed Gina a soda with a flourish that made the other woman laugh.

  Addison wasn’t quite able to fake amusement. Something about this Billy guy made her uneasy. Probably the fact that he might recognize her. The way he’d been studying her, like he knew her, like he was trying to place her...

  She shuddered and took a step closer to Colton who’d just arrived at her side.

  “You okay?” he asked, his voice low and quiet in her ear.

  She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself as she nodded. It wouldn’t be unheard of to be recognized. Her father did his best to keep her out of the spotlight, but not even he and his security team could hide her away all the time, and like it or not, there were paparazzi out there who were paid to find out the personal details on people like her father.

  She’d been offered tons of money to divulge some dirt on her parents.

  Her mother had too. Of course, her mother had taken the offer. Her mother might have been selfish but she wasn’t a total monster. She’d kept her dirt to her father and his work, and had avoided all mention of her sickly daughter.

  Still, the threat was always out there. Her ex-boyfriend was the perfect example. He’d seemed harmless enough…but she should have known something was up when a hot, popular guy had asked her out. Even as a teenager she ought to have known better.

  And now?

  She snuck a peek at Colton as Billy and Gina filled the silence. He was looking at her, too, his eyes darkened with something she couldn’t quite name. It was an intensity she was slowly getting used to, though it still made her heart flutter with nervous excitement.

  He was looking at her now like he could see right through her; like he could see inside of her.

  Run away. Vanessa’s warning came back to her but she found herself pushing the words away.

  This wasn’t her ex, and he wasn’t some reporter looking for a story. He wasn’t some money-hungry social climber, either. He was Colton Parker. And he was…her friend?

  His lips curved up in an unbearably sexy grin. “What are you thinking?”

  She shrugged, the heat in her cheeks annoying but not painful. She’d been caught staring. “Just…that I’m glad I met you.”

  His brows arched up and neither of them broke eye contact when Gina announced that she and Billy were going to go check out the rides.

  They were alone again when Colton responded. “I knew it. I’m growing on you, aren’t I?”

  She laughed. “Yeah. Something like that.”

  He puffed out his chest, making her laugh that much harder. “All the ladies fall for me eventually, Addie.” He sniffed and let out a satisfied sigh. “Yup. It was just a matter of time.”

  “You’re ridiculous,” she said with a grin.

  His answering smile made her heart beat faster. Gina’s words were still echoing in her ears. A new sort of warmth was burrowing into her chest, making her heart swell and her ribcage feel too tight.

  He liked her. She didn’t know exactly why, but she was tired of being suspicious. There was no need to be. He’d asked out Addison Macks. A single new woman in town.

  And he liked her.

  Joy exploded through her so quickly she had to duck her head to hide her beaming smile.

  He didn’t let her go that easily. With one finger under her chin, he tilted her face up, his eyes crinkled up with amusement and affection as he studied her. “That is some smile you’ve got there, Ms. Macks.”

  She bit her lip, still grinning like a fool.

  “Don’t hide it,” he said.

  Oh mercy, his voice was like gravel and it sent sparks across her skin. The silence between them stretched and she found herself holding her breath. Waiting. Before, when he’d leaned in, she’d been so sure he was going to kiss her.

  He hadn’t.

  But he’d wanted to, she was almost sure of it. And Gina’s pep talk had only made her that much more certain. She might not be able to understand what a guy like him saw in a girl like her, but she was tired of questioning it.

  She was ready to act.

  Ready to live.

  That was what she was doing here in Cyrano, right? Learning how to get out in the world, on her own?

  “What now?” His voice was so low and gravelly, she shivered in response. For a crazy moment she thought he’d been reading her mind. What came next? For her…for them?

  Her lips parted as she struggled for air. Suddenly the sights and sounds around them felt overwhelming, the heady joy of being here with him so intoxicating she felt lightheaded from it.

  She watched in fascination as his lips quirked up on one side and she was once again a recipient of the sexiest grin known to man.

  “What do you think?” he said. “Do you want to check out the music at the performance tent or try our luck at bingo with all the old biddies?”

  She blinked as his words registered. “Oh, um…” She licked her lips as she tore her gaze from his and looked around them at the happy couples and families who were passing by them, utterly unaware that the world had been flipped upside down over here where Addison was standing. Her attention was drawn to the rides at the other end of the fair. “Do you want to check out the Ferris wheel?”

  She looked over just in time to catch it—a wince. Or maybe it was more of a twitch. There and gone so fast she almost missed it. But she’d seen the reflex just like she caught a hint of…something in his eyes before he looked away.

  “There’s probably a line,” he said.

  It was official. Colton Parker might have been a player, and he was definitely a flirt…but he was a terrible liar. “You think so?” she said, amusement making her lips twitch as she fought a smile.

  He gave a small shrug. “Plus, I’m sure you’ve heard how shoddy the rides are at local fairs like this.”

  “Uh huh.”

  His eyes met hers at her sarcastic tone. “What? It’s true.”

  She pressed her lips together to smother a laugh. “Colton?”

  He shifted. “Yeah?”

  “Are you afraid of a Ferris wheel?”

  He blinked quickly before letting out a psshhh sound of disgust. “What? Of course not.”

  He was. She would bet her life on it. She hadn’t been lying when she’d told him about her weekly poker game with her father and his friends. If there was one thing she could spot, it was a tell. And Colton Parker was full of te
lls.

  He arched his brows in the face of her obvious amusement. “I’m just worried about your safety.”

  “I see,” she said mildly.

  He drew his brows down in a glower. “I’m not afraid.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’m not.”

  She bit her lip to hold in a laugh. Did he hear how childish he sounded? His tone was defensive and boyish and…cute. Surprisingly adorable, really. “Fine, you’re not afraid,” she agreed.

  He eyed her with suspicion but dropped the defensiveness by a few notches. “I’m just looking out for you, that’s all.”

  She couldn’t help the laugh that escaped. “See? There you go being a regular Prince Charming again.”

  He gave her a teasing, lopsided grin. “I thought I told you, I’m no Prince Charming.”

  “That’s too bad,” she said. “Because I’m kind of in the market for one.”

  The moment the words slipped out she gasped. That wasn’t what she’d meant! It was too late to call back the words, and he’d definitely heard. Judging by his smirk, he’d gotten the wrong impression.

  Heat shot up into her face and she closed her eyes in horror. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “Why, Ms. Mack…” His voice was a low, sexy drawl. “Are you coming on to me?”

  She squeezed her eyes shut even tighter but an embarrassed laugh escaped. “That came out all wrong.”

  “I don’t know,” he said. “It sounded right to me.”

  She opened her eyes at the teasing in his voice and found herself looking into blue eyes lit with laughter and…something else. Tenderness. Affection. Something so sweet it made her insides turn to goo. “I didn’t mean to—”

  “Flirt?” he finished. His smile grew along with her blush. “Don’t say that, Addie. You’ll wound my ego.”

  She let out a snort of amusement. “Something tells me it’ll recover.”

  He laughed and for a second she found herself sharing a silly grin with him.

  “I really didn’t mean it like that,” she said.

  He gave his head a little shake as if coming back to his senses, and his teasing sounded just a little forced. “So you’re telling me that wasn’t a come on?”