Page 4 of Justus
Hiseyes dance with amusement. The bastard is enjoying this. “Why would you want tospend a week with strangers?”
“You’renot a stranger.” He gives me a smile I’m sure earns him a few extra bucks atthe club. Good thing I’m immune. Kind of.
Ican’t deny he’s attractive. Sexy. Fine, he’s fucking gorgeous, but he’s a dog.Still, if I paid him to keep his mouth shut and play along, I think he could doit. It’s when we’re out of my family’s presence that he’ll drive me insanetrying to get in my pants, for no other reason than being able to say he did.I’m strong willed though, so I could handle him.
“Therewouldn’t be any sex involved. You realize that, right?”
“It’sreally cute you think so, Sweets. There’s no way you can spend an entire weekwith this.” He runs his hand down his chest. “And not rip my clothes off in afrenzy of frantic lust.”
Iturn to Ayda and Zoe, who wear identical smiles. “You really think this is theguy I should take home to meet my family?”
“Doyou have a better idea?” Ayda asks.
“Tellyour mom the truth?” Zoe suggests. “Or say you broke up?”
Myshoulders droop. “I want her to know I’m okay.”
Justus’ssearching gaze is unnerving. I would have bet this guy had the depth of anArizona puddle, but right now it feels like he can see straight through me toall my secrets.
Hissmile falls away and he looks me in the eye. “Look, all bullshit aside, I’ll gowith you. I’ll pretend to be the perfect gentleman for a week. I get away fromthe club for a vacation and you don’t have to disappoint your mom.”
Afterconsidering it for a few minutes, I reply, “I’ll give you a thousand bucks,plus pay for everything while we’re there. It can be a…business arrangement.”
“Whateverblows your skirt up, Sweets.”
Hegrins at my glare. “Don’t call me sweets. And you have to take this seriously.No chasing after strange vagina while you’re with me.”
“Relax,I won’t chase any vagina but yours.”
Aydaand Zoe burst into laughter and I groan, lying back and covering my eyes withmy arm. “I’m going to regret this.”
“Justone thing,” he adds. “I don’t fly, so we have to drive.”
“Shelives over fifteen hours away!”
Heshrugs, that insufferable smirk stamped on his face again. “No worries. I havehours of music on my phone and an awesome singing voice.”
* * * *
Ican’t believe I’m doing this. I’m going to spend a week with Justus, the manwho drives me crazy on a good day and makes me want to kick him in the nuts therest of the time. I’ve been accused of being a bit…wild in the past, but thishas to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever attempted. I just want Mom to know I’mokay. It’s bad enough she has to worry about Doug, my twenty-eight year old brotherwho lives in her basement and won’t take care of himself.
Idon’t understand it. We’re complete opposites. I worked my ass off in school,graduated a year early, went to college and had my degree as a Physical TherapyAssistant just after my nineteenth birthday. He seems satisfied playing videogames all day.
Thedoctors have given Mom six months to a year to live. I wanted to take a leaveof abscence from work and stay with her, but she wouldn’t hear of it. Shethreatened to go into a hospice center if I tried. So, I took some time off tovisit her. I’m hoping I can talk her into letting me stay and take care of her.
Justusinsists we take his car, so he’s picking me up. My suitcase is packed andwaiting by the front door when he arrives, a wide smile on his face. “Ready, Sweets?”
Rollingmy eyes, I resist the urge to argue with the nickname for the hundredth time.He’s too stubborn to listen. He grabs my suitcase when I reach for it and bows,gesturing toward the door.
It’sgoing to be a long week.
“So,”Justus says, merging with traffic on the highway. “Since we’re now deeply inlove, we should probably get our story straight. In case your mom asksquestions. Plus, it’s a damn shame you don’t know anything about me.”
He’sprobably right. “Fine,” I sigh. “Mom thinks we’ve been dating for about ninemonths.”
“Howdid we meet?”
“Shenever asked.”
