Page 46 of It Started at the Lake

Sitting on the stump next to him, I ask, “Going out or staying in?”

“This”—he waves his hand in front of him—“is more my speed.”

Mine too. “I like going out every now and then. It’s fun to be around a bunch of friends, letting loose, and not worrying about anything. But most of the time, I prefer to stay in watching a movie, journaling, doing a puzzle, or painting my nails. It’s why I told Evs I couldn’t go tonight.”

He gasps in fake shock. “So you weren’t working? You lied to your best friend?”

I wag a finger. “No, I did not lie to her. I did some brainstorming.” For all of ten minutes.

“Are you okay working with my mom?”

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t be?”

He holds his hands up defensively. “That’s not what I meant.”

“What did you mean?”

“Sometimes lines get blurred between family and working. What if in a few weeks you’re annoyed you can’t get a break from your boss?”

He brings up a valid point. One I haven't thought of. But this house is massive. If I need time away from Becca, surely I can find it. “I appreciate you looking out for me. If that does happen, I’ll give you a code word and you can rescue me.”

He chuckles. “What’s the code word?”

His laugh is deep and rich, just like melted fondue on my tongue. I shiver as the sound once again settles into my soul.

“Hmm.” I tap my chin as I ponder different ideas. The word needs to be something I don’t say often, but not so crazy that if I say it, Becca doesn’t think I’m psychotic and fires me. “Wheaties?”

“Wheaties?” He laughs. “Like the breakfast of champions?”

I shrug. “Yeah.”

“You think you’ll be able to randomly bring up Wheaties in a conversation?”

“I’m a marketing manager. Pretty sure I can come up with something.”

He holds his hand out to me. “Deal.”

I slide my palm into his and shake it. The hard part is letting go. It’s like holding a hot stone. I’m all nice and toasty. Add the musk of Bennett and his strong hand enveloping mine, and before I can stop myself I say, “Besides checking off items from my bucket list, I also need relationship advice from you. If you’ll do that, I’ll pretend to date you.”

No way I said that. Stuff a sock in your mouth, Mils! You’re insane and asking for trouble.

“I don’t know how much help I’ll be in the relationship department, but yes, I’ll do what I can. You’re amazing, Mils. Thank you!” Bennett pulls me into a quick hug. I don’t have time to process how I feel or the enormity of what I’ve just done.

“Yeah. Sure.” Stretching my arms out wide, I fake a massive yawn. “Can we work the details out later? I’m tired and I need to hit the hay before I turn into a pumpkin.”

“Paddleboarding tomorrow morning? We can talk without anyone listening in.”

“Sounds like a date.”

“Our first.”

“Our first fake date,” I say, more as a reminder to myself than anything.

I must focus on what I’m getting out of this arrangement and not my lust for Bennett.

Heaven help me.

CHAPTER 21

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