Page 59 of Forever and Other Lies

“What, don’t you like the dress?” The smile left her pink glossed lips.

“No, it will do. You look fine,” he cleared his throat. What wasn’t fine was the way his body instantly responded to her. His heart had picked up a beat, and his palms grew damp. Had that been his breath catching?

She gave an entirely new meaning to the term ‘little black dress’. It was sexy as hell and yet still managed to be classy. Every man at the gala would be gobsmacked when he walked in with her on his arm. Gobsmacked? Another phrase he never used. This whole fake-dating Jayna was starting to mess with his mind and vocabulary.

The stupid smile returned when he entered Casa Loma’s iconic ballroom. Every head turned in their direction.

“Oh wow,” Jayna exclaimed beside him. “It’s breathtaking.”

The exact word he had used to describe her. She twirled in a slow circle, staring up at the stained-glass dome ceiling of the conservatory, and he couldn’t pull his eyes off her.

“I’ve never been here,” she smiled directly at him and damn if his breath didn’t catch again.

His smile grew. She was right. The 1914 castle was a landmark in Toronto for a reason. This room was particularly beautiful, with the stained-glass ceiling and the marble floor. Suddenly, all the worry and hesitation evaporated. Apparently, she could be classy when she wanted to be. He had so much riding on Jayna not acting like Jayna. Never had he given anyone so much power over his life before. Jayna was the last person he’d ever trust. But tonight, she was different.

Thankfully.

Tonight was important. Not only was Mario Flavia in attendance but so were many other influential investors along with the owner of the large construction firm he worked for. His career was on the line. If Mario didn’t buy his relationship with Jayna, then he could kiss it all goodbye.

Reputation had never been something he’d concerned himself over. If his work was done well, it shouldn’t matter how he spent his days off. He didn’t understand why his marital status should have any bearing on his career. But obviously, it did.

While he didn’t care if people called him a hound dog or a daredevil, he did care about his career. He loved his job. One careless mistake, like dating the wrong girl, could cost him it all. Which found him at the mercy of Jayna Sutton. She would either help him get back in the good graces of his employers or she could sink him completely.

The minute word had gotten around the firm that he was in a committed relationship, he was suddenly being taken seriously. Sure, it bothered him to lie. But it also bothered him that a person’s marital status should have any bearing on their career. Old-fashioned values still prevailed in the modern world. Antiquated as it was, he’d play the game.

He splayed his hand across the small of Jayna’s back, not failing to notice that the dress felt just as silky as it looked. “You owe me. Behave tonight,” he whispered in her ear.

She really did owe him after last weekend. Karaoke! Like, what the hell? His brother was still ribbing him over it. In fact, Ben had videotaped it on his cell phone, uploading the video to all his socials, tagging Derek in them. When he walked into the office Monday morning, two of his co-workers had stood clapping loudly. The karaoke video was streaming on all the monitors. And while he wanted to skin Ben alive, it did help sell his relationship with Jayna.

Mario demanded that he and Jayna sit with him. Jayna made it through the entire dinner without a single snort, her laughter instead soft and magical. She had all the men at the table eating out of her hand. While she outshone every woman in the room, she remained personable enough to avoid being hated.

“I must say, I’m shocked,” Daniel, the CEO of the company, said. “Never thought I’d see the day that you would settle down. You used to swear on your life that you’d remain single.”

“Aren’t I just the luckiest girl ever.” Jayna shot him a sweet smile and reached over, squeezing his hand. “Guess your life is now over.”

He hid the grimace. “No, honey, it’s just beginning.” He could turn on the syrupy sweet as well. He looped his arm across her shoulder and pulled her in close. Her hair smelled like apples. Jayna really couldn’t make up her mind.

Chapter 29

Jayna really couldn’t make up her mind. Was this date heaven or hell? It was truly a heavenly setting, and she was sitting beside the devil himself. So maybe it was purgatory.

She had to admit, fake dating the man she loathed could have been worse. It could have been better, too. Derek was, and apparently, always would be, a total jerk. Although he could turn on the charm when it suited him, it just never suited him very often and never where she was concerned.

It wasn’t that she wanted him to charm her. No way, no how. But would it have killed him to tell her she looked good tonight? This was a killer dress, a splurge from Saks Fifth Avenue when she’d been in New York. It was indeed a showstopper and was supposed to knock his socks off. He’d barely said a word about it. Just a grunt and a frown. The man was an ape. Maybe he didn’t wear socks.

This work gala he’d brought her to was incredible, though. She’d never been to Casa Loma and the 19th century castle did not disappoint. The function was being held in the conservatory, which was simply breathtaking. The dome ceiling was made of stained glass, and it was jaw-dropping. And as the evening wore on, Derek relaxed beside her and became less of an ape.

She could tell that he’d been worried she’d embarrass him or expose him for the fraud he was. But a deal was a deal. She still couldn’t believe he joined her on stage last week.

Mario wasn’t quite as terrifying as Derek had made him out to be. However, he was scrutinizing them. She put in extra effort to charm the man and hold back the normal insults she directed Derek’s way. And as if they’d entered a bizarre new world, the dinner conversation puzzled her.

“Who decorated your house?” Derek leaned close, asking quietly.

She blinked. “My house?”

“Yeah, I like it.”

“You like it?” She repeated his words.

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