Page 25 of Misadventures With My Fake Fiancé

“Wow,” she said, eyes glued to the hallway the men had just vacated.

“Yeah, wow.” I pointed to George under her arm to change the topic off of...wow. I wasn't going there. I didn't know what to say if I did. Something like: The twins wanted me to move to France with them, giving up Mike and our fake life together. I wasn't sure which part of the story she'd believe less. “So, the gnome.”

“It's yours, right?” she asked. “Alex had it. He must've gone through your things. I'm so sorry.”

I was a little confused. Tucking my hair behind my ear, I added, “It's not exactly mine. I mean, I don't just lug garden creatures in my suitcase or anything. George belongs to a seven-year-old friend in Montana. He's a little obsessed with it and I'm surprised he parted with it. He must've snuck it into my suitcase when he and his mother drove me to the airport.”

Trish's beautiful brow crinkled in confusion. “Why would he want it to come here?”

I shrugged. “No idea. Kids are a little weird sometimes.”

Trish nodded her head in agreement. She had one of her own and I had no doubt she could relate.

“I'll find out,” I told her.

“I'll give it back to you then before Alex either breaks it or falls in love with it.” She handed it over. “I don't need that heading back to Minnesota with us.”

It was heavy in my hands, the sound of my ring clinking against the ceramic loud in the room.

“Banks and I were going to go out tonight. The weather's no good for much else. From the hand gestures the twins were making about drinking when I saw them earlier, I think they're joining us. How about you and Mike?”

Drinking sounded pretty good. “Oh. Um...sure. Let me talk to him and let you know, okay?”

9

I found Mike in the man cave with the others—he hadn't settled in yet like Jubal and Mr. O—and he abandoned the game for me. The others were so riveted to the set they wouldn't have noticed if I'd walked in the room naked.

“What's that?” Mike pointed at the gnome beneath my arm.

He led me down the hall toward our room, one big hand gentle—hot—on my waist.

“This...is George. He's a stowaway from home.”

He looked at the gnome. “There's a story here.”

“I'm sure. I don't know what it is yet. I'll keep you posted.”

We'd made it as far as the hallway off our bedroom, right next to the laundry, where the twins had waylaid me. He lowered his voice. “Did you talk to your mom?”

“Did you talk to yours?” I countered.

“I told her to downplay it for a bit.”

“You did?” I was surprised. I didn't think he'd do it. He'd been so concerned about her feelings he'd concocted the whole scheme in the first place. Her feelings were important enough to fly me—at short notice and during high season—to Alaska. But maybe it wasn'tallabout protecting his mom anymore.When he'd changed our relationship status, he now had to start worrying about my feelings, too. The fact that he'd considered my words, considered my frustration and had done something about it felt good. Like he cared. That was a start.

“She understood we want to keep it quiet for now. I just think she's thrilled you're here.”

“She is?” He could have said Jubal had adopted a pet moose and I wouldn't have been more surprised. “Mrs. O?”

He propped one shoulder against the wall, ankles crossed. His sheer size blocked most of the light from the recessed can in the ceiling. Casual, but I knew looks could be deceiving. “You don't like my mom, do you?”

“She scares the shit out of me.”

Mike grinned. I melted. Why did the wilds of Alaska make a man look rugged and...virile? Maybe all the fresh air pushed my hormones all out of whack. Man, he was hot. I wouldn't mind doing erotic things with him. That stupid caveman kiss had me all imaginative.

“Sometimes she scares the shit out of me, too.”

“How about my mom? Does she scare you?”

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