Page 65 of Faking It with the Firefighter

“Just don’t slash any tires this time.” His smile was a quick flash, and then he was closing my door and circling around to get behind the wheel. We drove into town and parked down the street from the restaurant, and Rex got to my door before I could open it for myself. He took my hand like it was the most natural thing in the world, and we walked to the rehearsal dinner as a cool autumn breeze fluttered the end of my dress.

Determined not to make a scene, I painted a smile on my face and made myself pleasant for the evening. We entered a private room at the restaurant, which had been decorated in sage and rust orange, just like the arbor we’d set up earlier. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were dressed to the nines, and three videographers set up half a dozen cameras to capture every angle. Big, soft lighting glowed on Donny and Blair as they held court from the head of the table.

Rex squeezed my hand. “This the type of thing you want for your wedding?”

I shot him a glance. “Who said I’m getting married again?”

He shrugged. “A man can dream.”

A thrill went through me. Was he for real?

“Rex, honey!” Rex’s mother seemed to jump out of the crowd and wedged herself between us, a nearly empty glass ofchampagne in hand. “There you are. I haven’t seen you all week.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. I’ve been tied up,” he replied.

“A little pomade wouldn’t hurt, dear.” She smoothed his hair away from his face, and he let her.

“Hi, Mrs. Montgomery,” I said, making my presence known.

“Mom, you remember Gabe’s sister, Abigail.”

Mrs. Montgomery sent me a tight-lipped smile. “Of course I do, but I don’t remember you telling me the two of you were together.”

“Really? I could’ve sworn I mentioned it,” Rex said, then shared a somewhat panicked look with me.

“Maybe you did. I have been a little distracted with Donny getting married,” she admitted. “Finallyone of my sons is doing the right thing.” Mrs. Montgomery gave me a once-over. “You clean up very well, dear.”

I frowned. Thatsoundedlike a compliment, but?—

“Mom!” Blair’s voice blared in the room as she swooped in and wrapped her arm around her mother-in-law-to-be. “You have to come meet my brand deal manager, Dennis. He’s single and handsome.”

Mrs. Montgomery’s cheeks turned pink. “Oh, Blair, I’m not looking for my happily ever after. I’m only interested in yours this weekend.”

“And I love you for it.” Blair mimed a kiss at Mrs. Montgomery as if the two were thick as thieves. I felt a pang of envy.

“Isn’t she just perfect?” Mrs. Montgomery asked Rex and me. “It’s like I said, I don’t care which one of my sons you marry as long as you’re my daughter-in-law!”

“Aw, stop!” Blair played coy but was lapping it all up. Andnow my pang of envy turned into full-fledged jealousy. Would Mrs. Montgomery ever say the same about me? No, of course not. She knew I was Gabe’s little sister, which I’m sure meant she knew I was the town’s troublemaking real estate agent. I needed to walk away but didn’t want to be rude, so I faked a call.

“So sorry, I have to get this. It’s one of my buyers,” I said and headed in the opposite direction and outside for some fresh air.

I was out there for less than five seconds when I heard Rex behind me.

“Are you still on your call?”

I glanced at my locked phone. “No.”

“I think my mom’s had too much champagne already.”

“Well, she’s getting Blair Hollins as a daughter-in-law, so what’s not to celebrate?”

Rex put his arm around my defensively tense shoulders. “Don’t let it get to you. My mom’s like Blair. She can be shallow and only care about how things look. But I have to agree with her on one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“You really do clean up nice,” he said, and I laughed. He put an arm around me, and I nuzzled into him. “Let’s go back inside.”

We sat down and accepted glasses of champagne. Blair had a makeup artist at her elbow, blotting the bit of shine between her brows as one of the photographers set up for the perfect shot. And then another perfect shot. And another.

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