Page 7 of All You Need Is Love

“I’ve got work I can do in the meantime.” Tyler fixed his gaze on Marshall. “Unless you want to grab a soda with me.”

Marshall’s mouth went dry. He’d known Tyler for a year or two now, ever since his foundation had hired Marshall and Quinn’s agency to run marketing and PR campaigns for them. And he’d already shown his surprise last night over finding Marshall accompanying Quinn on this trip. “You’re my sister’s mysterious boyfriend? I knew she was dating someone at work, but I didn’t even suspect it was you.”

Thankfully, Quinn had changed the subject, saving Marshall from having to confirm the bald-faced lie, but the guilt still sat in the pit of his stomach, eating away at the lining.

“Um, sure, we could do that.”

“Actually”—Quinn slipped her hand inside Marshall’s—“I need my man to myself for a bit first.”

Before Tyler could respond, she tugged Marshall down the short hallway, past the future nursery where his stuff sat next to an air mattress, and into the guest bedroom where she was staying. Quinn dropped his hand as soon as she shut the door behind them.

“Thanks.” Marshall scratched behind his ear and plopped onto the edge of the queen-sized bed. “I’m a little nervous that your brother might be onto us.”

Quinn waved her hand in the air. “You’re being paranoid.” She squatted down to rummage through her Dolce & Gabbana suitcase on the floor beside the dresser. “He’s probably just wondering how he missed the fact we were dating. But it’s not like he and I spend that much time together. Plus, he’s been a little distracted since last summer when he and Gabrielle got back together.”

“Right.”

Standing, a new outfit in hand, Quinn moved to the side table and checked her phone, which was plugged into a charger. “Speaking of distracted, where were you really this morning?” She turned and crossed her arms. “You’re still committed to this, right? Because if you’re going to play my doting boyfriend, you should actually be around me. Otherwise Tyler is going to get suspicious.”

“Yes, I’m still committed.” He pressed his molars together tight. “So long as you are still committed to recommending me for upper management when we get back.”

Quinn turned again, tapped the home button on her phone, scrolled for a moment. “Yes, of course.”

Something about her voice sounded almost unsure. An anomaly for her. “Quinn?”

She dropped the phone back onto the table and spun on her heel. “What?” Her tone snapped across the room. Then she took in a deep breath before speaking again. “Sorry. This is nerve-racking for me too, you know.”

“Then why do it? Surely your family would have understood you showing up alone.”

When she’d approached him with the idea yesterday afternoon—one hour after her boyfriend Edward had dumped her and three hours before she had to leave for the airport to fly to her family’s reunion—he’d barely had time to think.

But Quinn had known exactly how to get him to agree to her request. Everyone in the office knew he’d been working his tail off for weeks in hopes of securing the open Director of Digital Strategy position, which his coworker Dylan was also vying for. And as the Group Account Director of their boutique firm, Quinn held a huge sway with the company president, Hugh.

The only aspect of the plan that had tripped him up—had almost made him say no immediately—was that he’d have to travel to California.

He made it a point to avoid being in the same state as his father.

But since Walker Beach was hours from Los Angeles, he’d agreed. Still, Marshall had hardly thought through any of Quinn’s outrageous plan, just the end result. He’d had only enough time to swing past his apartment, pack his suitcase, and meet her at their gate at JFK, where they’d waited for about ten minutes before the flight loaded. Then he’d been shoved into a middle seat between a rather robust woman and a mom with her newborn, leaving him little chance to talk through the details with Quinn.

Now, though, they finally had a moment to breathe. Maybe she’d open up to him.

But the way she’d set her lips into a frown didn’t bode well for that hope. “Look, Marshall, I realize that this feels a bit … crazy. But all you need to remember is that we’ve been together for six months, have kept it a secret at work, and that we’re in love and very happy. Let me lead the conversation if it turns to questions about our relationship. Do you think you can do that?”

Not for the first time, he wondered how in the world they were supposed to fool anyone. He’d worked with Quinn for five years now and hardly knew anything about her—except her professional reputation. She’d climbed the corporate ladder of their firm quickly, in large part due to her smarts and workaholic tendencies.

Not unlike him, really.

He sighed, stood. “All right.” Then he headed for the door.

“Marshall.”

Turning, he quirked an eyebrow at Quinn. “Yeah?”

She studied him for a moment, her skin pale against the black ruffled comforter. “Thank you. This … it means a lot.”

“Sure.” He left the guest room and went into his, logged onto his computer, and worked for the next few hours answering emails, including one from Bask Inc., a toiletries company he’d been courting for months. If he landed an account with them, it would be a huge coup for his resume. That combined with Quinn’s recommendation should secure him the director position for sure.

Finally, he hopped in the shower and got dressed just in time to hear a knock. “Come in.”

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