Curiosity tinted Kaitlyn’s expression, even as she nodded. "Operation Get-Pictures-of-Dates-1-Through-50-in-Four-Hours-or-Less ready to commence. Let’s go."
"That was the quickest date ever,"Kaitlyn commented half an hour later as she stretched her arms and legs, massaging well-used muscles. "Do you think we got enough pictures?"
“Definitely.”
They’d jumped golf clubs first into the arduous task of securing photos to fool Cynthia. After paying for supplies, they asked other visitors to take pictures, and even played a few holes in between. They posed in action shots and simple ones, in sweet poses and playful hugs. Now they were preparing to move to the next destination.
That was, until giggles sounded from down the course.
Kaitlyn froze, her chest seizing in recognition. Surely, she could not be this unlucky. She pivoted slowly, froze at the sight of six laughing women who had just stepped onto the green. "Oh no."
Drake peered past her. "What's wrong?"
"This is not good. Really, really not good." She ducked behind her would-be boyfriend, peeked out. The women were playing the first hole, and had yet to notice them. Once they did… disaster.
"Are you okay?"
"How will we get past them?” she hissed. “This is going to destroy everything!"
"What? Who are they?" He moved closer.
"No!" She grabbed his arm. Corded muscle rippled under her hands, and for a second all thoughts of Cynthia and discovery and the ruse disappeared. Drake grasped her shoulders like a true boyfriend would, eliciting the inescapable urge to delve closer. She licked cotton dry lips, glanced at his strong ones. His gaze was fathomless.
A breakout of feminine laughter, louder and closer, loosened the sensual hold. "The women," she whispered. "I know them. They visit the shop, and they know I don’t have a boyfriend."
“They probably won't even notice me." His eyes slanted towards the women. "If they do, we can just say I'm a visiting friend.”
"That's not how small towns work." With his warrior good looks, Drake Alexander would attract attention at the annual Greek God barbeque on Mt. Olympus. "They'll ask questions, make comments and then ask more questions. Then when my cousin comes, they'll make a point to visit, and the ruse will be up. I can't have six women trying to hit on my supposed boyfriend!"
A ghost of a smile lit his lips. "You think they'll hit on me?"
She responded automatically, "Of course, they'll hit on you. Any women in her right mind–" She stopped abruptly.
And he smiled like a cat who found a full fish tank and a fork. "Any women in her right mind…" he prompted.
She glared. "Any woman in her right mind would not finish that sentence."
The man had the gall to laugh. She grimaced, then stiffened as the women moved one hole closer. "This is a nightmare. If they see you, they're going to stay to chat. And if they stay to chat, they'll ask questions I don't have answers for. And if they ask questions I don’t have answers for, they’ll discover the truth. We need to get out of here before your acting career as my boyfriend comes to an abrupt end."
Drake instantly sobered, straightening to his full height. "Is there a way to reach the exit without passing them?"
"There's only one way out. We'll have to somehow pass them without being seen." She rubbed her forehead. "I don't think it's possible."
"Or get them to pass us," he said slowly.
"That won't work. They couldn't possibly miss seeing us." There were far too many of them. "There's no way out of this."
"We'll see about that."
Before she could interpret the cryptic reply, he swooped down…
And kissed her.
Chapter 6
Cynthia who?
Pure bliss. Drake’s lips were magic, as he brushed them against hers. He wrapped his arms around her back, his touch casting tingles on sensitized skin. She opened her mouth to sigh, and he pressed closer, touching tender lips. She could do nothing but accept the sensual pleasure.