Page 41 of Falling for your Fake Boyfriend

Bryan whistled in Alex’s direction, and she waved and rolled her eyes as if she thought his reaction silly, only it was obvious she loved it. I felt a small twinge of relief from the ridiculous mix of emotions I was feeling when Luke’s gaze caught mine and he smiled. It was the kind of smile you exchanged with someone you knew well, someone you shared secrets with, someone who meant something. At least that was how I interpreted it.

Luke was instantly pulled into a group of men that included his father and uncle. They seemed to be discussing something important; however, it was hard to tell because they always looked dour. Alex joined the men, and they all fell over themselves greeting her for a few minutes before she strolled off to join Margaret and her mother. I could almost hear the three women’s conspiratorial whispers across the veranda.

“Why don’t you get yourself something to eat, Isla?” Hazel said. “You might as well at least enjoy the food. Heaven knows the company is terrible.”

I glanced toward the buffet table. The line was still fairly long. Bryan had cut in front of everyone. He plucked olives out of the salad and tossed them in the air to catch in his mouth as he perused the rest of the fare.

“That boy is twenty-eight going on thirteen,” Hazel mused. She also caught that I’d been thrown off by the entrance of the gorgeous couple. They looked nothing short of spectacular together. Darn it. Hazel patted my arm. “She’s pretty, but she’s got nothing on you, dear.”

I smiled at her. “That’s kind of you to say.”

The crash of a plate falling on the floor momentarily grabbed everyone’s attention. Bryan had dropped his plate of food.

“My Bryan is so clumsy,” Hazel quipped.

Everyone turned back to their conversation, and two of the waitstaff ran over to clean up the mess. Bryan stood there frozen to the spot for a second, then his face lifted and his expression made me sit up straighter. The mischief and smile were gone, and his eyes bulged in fear. He reached for this throat and then stumbled away from the table.

“What on earth is he up to?” Hazel muttered.

“Choking,” I blurted. “He’s choking.” Everyone else stood nearby in confusion, not understanding what was happening. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Margaret marching angrily toward Bryan, no doubt ready to scold him for clowning around. I reached Bryan just as he was going into full panic mode. His face was turning red, and he flailed his arms as he desperately tried to get air.

I circled behind him just as his arm swung back. His elbow shot right into my cheek. I sucked in a sharp breath and shook off the painful vibration in my head. I regained my composure and wrapped my arms around him. He struggled against my hold at first and then seemed to realize I was there to help. I rolled my hand into a fist, tucked it under his rib cage and pulled it in hard with my other hand. He was a lot bigger than me, and when he fell forward, my feet lifted off the ground for a second. People had gathered around, and Luke had reached us.

“What can I do?” he asked urgently.

I had no time to give directions. My sisters and I had had emergency first aid training when Aria opened her café. I’d practiced on a dummy, but this was my first live victim. I shook my head, pushed one foot back to get more purchase on the ground and jammed my fist in and up into Bryan’s rib cage. Nothing. I repeated the motion. I heard a cough and a sputter and sighs of relief all around us. Bryan fell to his knees, bent over with his hands on the ground, as he tried to catch his breath.

It started as a small clap somewhere in the distance, and soon everyone was clapping and cheering. Luke walked over and pulled me into his arms for a hug. I could have stood in that embrace for a long time if there hadn’t been dozens of people standing around watching us, including a certain beautiful woman in a slinky dress who didn’t look all that impressed.

Luke leaned back to look at my face, and the look of genuine concern tugged at every one of my heartstrings. “Your cheek. We need to get you some ice.” He took hold of my hand. The smiling onlookers nodded their approval. Some even said things like “well done” and “hero of the day” as Luke led me to the doors. I felt slightly dazed as my boots tapped the floor of the long corridor that led to the kitchen. His grip was firm, protective, and I didn’t want him to ever let go.

Gretchen was at her desk when we walked into the vast kitchen. The caterers had taken over the worktables and stove. They were in the midst of party food production. Gretchen twisted around and lowered her reading glasses. “Lucas?” She hopped up when she saw me behind him. “What happened?” She hurried over to the freezer and pulled out a bin overflowing with ice. She laid out a kitchen towel on the counter, filled it with ice and wrapped the cubes neatly in the cloth.

“Really, I’m sure it’s fine,” I insisted as she handed the ice pack to Luke.

“Sure, it’s fine if you just left a cage match,” Gretchen mused. “I’m going to assume that didn’t happen.” She looked at Luke for an explanation. He was busy trying to find the best placement for the ice.

I winced as the cold, hard pack pressed against my tender cheek. I took over and held it in place. The worry hadn’t left his expression. “Really, it’s just a bruise,” I said. “But thank you.”

“Isla just saved Bryan’s life,” Luke blurted.

Gretchen’s chin dropped. “What? How?” She reached over and patted my unbruised cheek. “See, I knew you were special the second I met you.”

Luke smiled at me. “Yeah, she gets that a lot.” He turned back to Gretchen. “Bryan was choking, and no one noticed or paid attention. Everyone just thought he was being—you know—Bryan. But Isla rushed over to help him. I guess he was swinging his arms in a panic and—” He looked at me for an explanation.

“His elbow got me before I could get a grip on him. I’m just glad I noticed him grab his throat. That’s what alerted me that he was in trouble.”

The kitchen door opened. Hazel shuffled in, a yellow shawl draped around her slightly hunched shoulders and a tissue clutched in her hand. She didn’t say a word but walked right past everyone and headed straight for me. Her thin arms lifted and went around me. I put down the ice pack and wrapped my arms around her.

Hazel sniffled as she dropped her arms. She placed a shaky hand on my good cheek, the way Gretchen had seconds before. I placed my hand over Hazel’s for a moment. Her expression grew sterner. “Now if my daughter-in-law, or, for that matter, my son, so much as frowns at you, I want to know about it. Promise?” Her soft, easy smile returned.

I nodded. “You’ll be the first to know.”

Then Hazel turned to Luke. She pointed at him. “I’ve never known you to be anything but brilliant and caring and intuitive, Lucas Greyson, but it seems to me you’re missing something incredibly important, and she’s standing right in front of you.”

With that, she turned and shuffled out of the kitchen.

“Well,” Gretchen said with her hands on her hips. “I’ve never seen anything like that in all my many years of working in this house.” She lifted the ice. “Here, keep this on the cheek. I’ll make you some of my special vanilla almond tea. Oh, and I made some miniature dark chocolate tarts that I’m dying for you to try. They’re a new recipe, and I need an expert opinion.”

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