Page 4 of Fake Hearts and Kisses

The women in my life are hard. Fast. It’s boxed dye in various shades of red or deep black. It’s heavy eyeliner and skin covered in harsh tattoos. Not that there is something wrong with pink hair and sexy tattoos wrapped around delicate arms and legs, but seeing Daisy was like breathing in fresh summer air.

She didn’t even notice me sitting there watching her every move. Her eyes slid over me like I was completely invisible and didn’t stop. Even when I felt myself willing her to look at me, she never saw me. Although I’ve learned to blend into crowds, women notice when I’m around. But not Daisy. She headed directly for the romance section, grabbed a book with such determination that I knew she had it all planned out, checked out, then left. There was barely enough time to shove my papers in my briefcase before she was out the door.

Briefcase.Who’d have thought I would ever carry a fucking briefcase?

“You need a date for the Conner Gathering,” Trish says. “Have you asked Darren?”

“Darren?” Daisy shakes her head. “Seriously?”

My thoughts exactly. I do not know who Darren is, but judging by the way Daisy says it, I’d bet he’s fucking completely inept or good enough for her.

Yeah, Blake, because you are such a prize.

“Darren doesn’t exactly elicit feelings of lust in women,” Daisy says. “He’s an accountant.”

“He’s kind of cute.” Trish wrinkles her nose. “And he’s got money.”

“The money is good to impress my mother and father, but the looks?” Daisy sinks into her chair and looks up at the ceiling. “Why can’t a hot guy with lots of money just fall into my lap?”

That’s it. This is so fucking perfect. It’s like fate has finally smiled down at me. For the first time in my shit life, I’ve just been given a lovely gift. Except, I can’t have her. She’s too perfect. Too sweet.

Don’t think Blake. Just take this opportunity presented. Go to her and take this weekend alone with her. You knowdamn well you’d love to spend a weekend with her, so take it or leave her the fuck alone. This is all you get.

I rise from my seat, my limbs feeling jittery from the insane amount of coffee I’ve had and the excitement rushing through my veins. I’ve waited for months for a chance to approach her, and she’s right here asking for me. Trish’s eyes widen as I stop right next to Daisy. I pull out the empty chair and slide in, resting my arms on the little table. The sleeves of my t-shirt pull up, showing off the tattoos weaving around my biceps and down my forearms. I’ve been told several times that I’m gorgeous, so I know exactly the effect I have on women. Not that I’m vain. Not really. What I am is a realist. While looks can get you many things in life, they can also be carved away. So instead of relying on looks in life, I’ve relied on my mind. A keen mind gets you further than a handsome face.

Daisy’s eyes slide from the tattoos on my arms up to my face. Her mouth opens slightly when she looks into my eyes. Up so close, I can see she has little freckles on her cheeks and sprinkled over her nose. Her eyes are green but trimmed in gold. Whatever perfume she wears has subtle notes of roses and musk. She’s fucking mouth-watering.

I let a slow smile spread over my lips. “I’ll go with you.”

Her brows furrow. She looks genuinely confused. Like she hasn’t just spent the last thirty minutes complaining about this fucking family event. Why they keep referring to it as the Conner Gathering, I have no clue, but I’ll go. I’d go anywhere and do anything if it meant I had Daisy to myself. Even if it is just for the weekend. “I’ll be your date for your family gathering.”

Trish makes a sound in her throat. I glance at her to make sure she’s not choking like she sounds and look back at Daisy. Her mouth opens, then closes.

“How do you know about the Conner Gathering?” Trish says for her.

Again, what the fuck? Why the title? I don’t bother looking at Trish. I keep my eyes trained on Daisy’s mouth. Her lips are like a perfect heart. A full, perfect, pink plump heart. I wonder if they’d be as soft as they look if I ran my tongue over them. How they would feel wrapped around my cock. If she could take me deep until I hit the back of her throat.

Focus, Blake. Focus.

I watch as her eyes fall back to my mouth. “You’ve been talking about it since you walked in.”

Daisy glances at the table where I had been sitting. So she has noticed me over in the corner. Good. She looks at my arms again and then at my eyes. “You were listening?”

I shrug and lean back in the chair. Her eyes automatically go to my chest, then back up to my jaw. I haven’t bothered shaving for a few days, so there is some growth. The way her eyes slide over me makes me glad I didn’t. She obviously likes the stubble. I’m pretty sure she likes everything she sees. I grin. “You haven’t exactly been using your inside voice.”

Her cheeks flush. God, she’s so fucking sweet. I smile at her apologetically, like it’s my fault for hearing and not hers for talking too loudly.

“And how do we know you won’t just haul her off and murder her?” Trish asks. She’s logical. I like that. It’s good Daisy has friends that want to protect her. The woman with the stupid name is smart not to trust me.

“You don’t.” I peel my eyes off Daisy and look at her friend. “There are cameras here that show my face. They show me approaching you. Me speaking to you.” I wave to the barista. “And Cindy knows my name and where I work, so if you go missing, I’ll be easy to find.”

“Why?” Daisy asks. “Why would you even volunteer to go?”

I lean back in the seat and cross my arms. “You need a date to make everyone envious and impress your family, right?”

She nods slightly.

“And I wouldn’t mind going to…” I check Trish for reassurance even though I know already. “A mountain lodge?”

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