Page 20 of Going All In

“How did you know where to find me?”

“Ally,” he replied. He could’ve gone to Harty, but he did not want to have that conversation. The man would’ve asked way too many questions that Jake didn’t have the answers to. He’d successfully brushed off his friend, but if they went through with this, he’d have to be a convincing liar. Ally was clearly more aware of what was going on between Darcy and her mother, so she was the logical choice. He’d also promised her a favor of her choosing, to be redeemed later.

He would probably regret that, but desperate times and all.

“Of course,” she said, followed by what sounded like remind me to murder her mumbled under her breath.

“Right. So, we can help each other. I look good to management by cleaning up my act and dating a good girl. And you get your mother to back off so you can finish your degree. Win-win.”

“You make it sound so simple when it’s clearly a terrible idea. Who fake dates someone?” she asked, drumming her fingers on her thigh.

“It doesn’t have to be a terrible idea. I’m sure we aren’t the first to try this.”

“But we don’t even like each other. Shouldn’t that be the basis for any relationship?”

Her curiosity was piqued. He could work with that.

“You called me cocky. It’s not a lie. And I never said I didn’t like you.”

“You don’t even know me,” she said.

“We can get to know each other. Well, as much as we need to in order to pull this off. You’re already in my circle of friends because of Ally and Harty, so we have a reason to be around each other. And some say my cockiness is charming.”

“They’re lying,” she deadpanned, and he barked out a laugh.

He enjoyed her dry humor, at least the few glimpses he’d gotten of it. His skin was thick enough to take her taunts. As a hockey player, it had to be or he’d never have survived the chirps from when he was playing in juniors, let alone now.

“Come on, Darcy. It could be fun, and it would solve our issues. Don’t you want to enjoy the semester without worrying who your mother will seat next to you at the dinner table? I mean, does she really do that?”

Darcy groaned. “Yes. She almost brought home a man she found in the frozen food section last week. I mean, shouldn’t I be concerned as to why these men agree to show up to dinner after being accosted by my mother? That doesn’t bode well for their state of mind.”

“She did not,” he said, laughing.

“Yep. And no neighbor or neighbor’s nephew or cousin from out of town has been safe from her.”

“What’s her rush? You’re like what, twenty-three?”

“Just turned twenty-four. My parents have been blissfully married for decades, so she wants that for all her kids. My older brother got married young, and my sister eloped but then had it annulled, much to my mother’s horror. So that leaves me.” She sighed. “Sorry, you don’t need to know all this.”

“I do, since I’m your new fake boyfriend. I’m very good at charming mothers. My mom adores me.”

Darcy rolled her eyes. She did that a lot with him.

“I’m still not agreeing to this.”

“What will it take to convince you?”

“I have no idea. This is insane, you know?”

“Yes. But it could work.”

“You need this for a contract?”

“My agent thinks I need to settle down. Date someone who won’t be a publicity nightmare. Tone down the on and off-ice antics. You fit the bill, and you’ve already told your mom that we’re dating, so it’s perfect.”

“Or it could be a disaster.”

“Come on. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Never say that sentence. You’re just asking for trouble.”

“Don’t you want to help me get out of trouble?”

“There would have to be rules,” she said, and he tried not to grin.

He had her. And he could deal with rules.

Not that he’d been known to follow them before.

---