Page 47 of Wild Promises

“Are you working today?” I asked her to take my mind off my issues at work.

She poured a cup of coffee. "I've been taking over the sick appointments. I like being able to be there for people, knowing that they can come to us instead of an urgent care center."

She was a good doctor, and she deserved her father's practice. "The potential buyers start visiting this week?"

Tori nodded tightly as she moved around the kitchen, throwing bread in the toaster.

I poured another mug for me, and then grabbed eggs from the fridge. "Why don't I stop by for lunch? We should be seen together. That way, your dad knows about us." I broke the eggs into a bowl and whisked them with a fork.

Relief flooded her eyes. "Good idea."

Had she doubted that I'd follow through with our plan? Did no one take me seriously? My chest tightened. "I'll be the perfect boyfriend."

Tori smiled. "I can't wait to experience that."

I poured the eggs into the pan. Neither of us had time for anything elaborate, but I could whip up some scrambled eggs with cheese. "I haven't had much of a chance to show off my skills."

"I'm happy to be your guinea pig."

"Maybe this will be good for me too. I'll get some boyfriend experience."

Her smile faltered. "Hopefully, your brothers see that you're serious about me and the resort and let you keep your job."

This arrangement was always supposed to be fake. Had she been hoping for something more? "I'll talk to a few realtorstoday, narrow down which one I want to work with. If I can prove to my brothers I'm committed to you and about buying a house, they have to take me seriously."

Tori approached me where I stood next to the stove. She wrapped her arms around my waist, and I swear my heart stopped. I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into my chest. Who knew hugs could feel this good?

When she pulled back, she said, "If your brothers don't see how amazing you are, then they're idiots."

I chuckled without any humor. "They see what I've always wanted everyone to see. I just didn't think it would ever come back to bite me in the ass."

She gave me a pointed look. "I see who you are, and they will too."

It warmed my heart that Tori saw me as someone worthwhile, but I was fairly positive she was the only one. "Operation fake relationship is on for the week. Oh, when I was in the office, I checked the resort calendar. There's a winter ball hosted by my family this Saturday. Would you go as my date? It would be the perfect opportunity to show off."

"I wonder if my parents are going too."

"I don't go to most of those, and if I do, I only make an appearance." I wondered what they would make of me working more in the office, and my email about the lights. What else could I do to show them I was responsible and business minded?

"You shouldn't have to prove yourself to your family."

I gave her a pointed look. "I could say the same to you."

"I let my father down. I made a promise I didn't keep."

"You were young. There's nothing wrong with exploring a little before you figure out what you want." The only difference was that I'd always known I'd wanted to work on my family's resort.

"I have to do this."

"I get that," I said to reassure her. I hated that either of us had to go through this. But if it meant spending more time with her, pretending to be her boyfriend, I was all for it.

We ate quickly, then went our separate ways. I checked in at the office instead of heading immediately outside. It meant I was at work even earlier, despite working late. I made sure to poke my head into Eli's office.

He did a double take when he saw me. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to check in before I go to my first lesson for the day. You get my email?"

Eli's gaze flicked back to his computer screen. "Came in at ten o'clock. Were you really here last night working?"

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