Forbidden Fake Fiance (Forbidden Small Town Bad Boys #1) Read online

  “Really?” I leaned back as the waitress put my drink on the table. “I don’t ogle.”

  Wyatt laughed. “Yes, you do.”

  “Huh. Well, she’s nice to look at.”

  Wyatt shook his head. “Mom’s right, you’re going to be a horndog forever.”

  “I’m only twenty-six. I think I have some time before I have to settle down. Besides, I don’t see you putting a ring on anyone.” My eyes narrowed as I studied him. “You got something for Allie?”

  He scoffed. “No. She was clear she had no interest in me too.”

  “Ha! You did hit on her.”

  He laughed. “I let her off with a warning going fifteen miles over the speed limit out on the highway. And then I bought her a coffee.”

  “Jeez, if you struck out, there’s no hope for any of us.”

  “I don’t know. She seems to like Mason.”

  I sat back and thought about that. “I don’t get that I-want-to-rip-your-clothes-off vibe from them. I think he’s just a mentor.”

  Wyatt shook his head. “You’re hopeless. Not all relationships start with wanting to get naked. Some grow from mutual interest.”

  I shrugged. “If you say so.”

  We ordered dinner, and I switched to seltzer water since I was on 24-hour duty starting tomorrow.

  “What’s her story, anyway? Do you know?” I asked Wyatt.

  “You’re her neighbor. Don’t you know?”

  I laughed. “She thinks I’m a rogue. She’s got nice stuff though. I think she comes from money.”

  “So maybe she’s a snob.”

  “Snobs don’t teach yoga, do they? I mean, that seems like it would be against yoga rules.”

  Wyatt laughed. “I don’t know, little bro.”

  We had dinner while watching a basketball game on one of the bar’s TVs. Afterward, I headed home and to bed.

  The next day I showed up at the fire station to start my 24-hour shift. The time was spent doing chores and hanging with the guys and one gal working with me. The shift was quiet, with one minor car accident and a rescue of a kid who got stuck in a mine shaft.

  Although we had beds at the station, the car accident happened in the middle of the night, so when I got home, I took a shower and then crashed for a few hours more sleep. When I woke, I considered taking a run, but then I saw Allie at the pool out my window. Yes, I was immature, but I was immature with optimism.

  I put on my swim trunks, the slightly tighter pair used for swimming laps. Most women liked it, but so far, Allie hadn’t shown any signs that she appreciated my assets. With a towel slung over my shoulder, I trotted down to the pool.

  She was sitting on a lounge chair in a snug-fitting tank top like one she often wore in class, and a pair of boy style swim briefs. Her hair was up in a messy bun that always had my fingers itching to release it. The shadow from the umbrella completely covered her. In her lap, she had a binder that looked like it had business paperwork.

  “Why bother coming out to the pool if you’re going to hide from the sun and not appreciate the surroundings?” I said as I tossed my towel on the chair next to her.

  She looked up at me with those dismissive ice blue eyes. “I want the fresh air, not the skin cancer.”

  “There’s sunscreen.”

  She pointed up toward the umbrella. “Sunscreen.”

  I laughed. “Why don’t you like me, Allie?”

  She flinched slightly. “I don’t not like you, Josh. I don’t trust you.”

  “Trust? What do you think I’m going to do?”

  “I just don’t want to fall for whatever agenda you’ve got going.”

  “Agenda.” I put my hands on my hips and looked out over the pool, wondering what the hell she meant. Did she think I was going to trick her into bed? “What you see is what you get. I’m a simple country boy.”

  She smirked like she didn’t believe me.

  “What about you?” I nodded to the large tote with the distinctive Chanel logo. I grew up in a modest family, but the rich and powerful of Southern California hung out in Eden Lake, so I had a sense of expensive accessories. “Running away from mommy and daddy?”

  Her smirk narrowed into a scowl. “No.” But there was something in her eyes that suggested I hit the mark.

  “Come on. You can tell me. You wouldn’t be the first woman in Eden Lake trying to escape the confines of strict parents to let loose and have fun.”

  “I’m sure you’ve helped many debutants let loose. That’s not why I’m here.”

  Why did I even bother? But even as I knew I should cut my losses, I felt compelled to continue to talk to her. “Are you like this with all men?”

  “Why do you care?”

  I shrugged. “You worried Mason won’t like it—”

  “There’s nothing between Mason and me except friendship and mutual interest in fitness.”

  “I like fitness.” I gestured to my body. I was the poster boy, after Mason, for fitness.

  Her eyes scanned my body, and my dick took notice. Shit, maybe it was time to get into the pool.

  “Do you like to hike? There are some great hikes around here with spectacular views of the lake.”

  “Is your pursuit of me an attempt to get what you can’t have or the thrill of the chase?”

  “I’m not as callous as you think, Allie. To be honest, I think I’m just curious about why you have such a negative reaction to me. I do have women friends that I’ve never slept with.” I shrugged, ready to throw in the towel. “I’m going to swim some laps. Enjoy the shade.”

  I dove into the pool, shocking my dick back into place. Why he liked her was beyond me. Perhaps it was time to get out again and find someone to distract me from Allie. It was mid-May, just before the Memorial weekend that kicked off the summer season in Eden Lake. Surely there were some early birds here that were looking for some fun.

  I pushed all of that out of my mind as I did the breaststroke back and forth in the pool. I liked swimming because it worked everything, and the breaststroke in particular because it required regulating the breathing. While we had lots of equipment to help us breathe in the smoke and heat of fires, it was helpful to feel in control over my breath. I suppose that’s why it turned out. I liked yoga too. I didn’t love the pretzel moves, but I did love how it required focused breathing.

  When I was finished with my laps, I got out of the pool and grabbed my towel. Allie was gone. I scanned the area and saw her heading up the stairs to her apartment. She turned back, her cool eyes catching mine. She flinched and turned away, trotting up the rest of the stairs.

  Interesting. Perhaps Ms. Allie Ice Queen wasn’t as immune to me as she acted.

  Saved

  Allie

  I was sure Josh thought I was a bitch. To be honest, when it came to him, I was. I didn’t want to be. At the same time, I needed to keep my distance. I wasn’t lying to him when I said I didn’t want to fall into his seductive web. I wasn’t interested in being another notch on his bedpost. My hands, on the other hand, were curious to know how those sculpted pecs felt. Other parts of my body were equally interested in knowing Josh intimately. And that was the problem.

  When he stood in front of me in those tight swim trunks, every libidinous neuron in my body started firing. That shot up to double time when he said he liked fitness and invited me to check out his body as proof. I shouldn’t have looked, but goodness, I was a woman after all. He was one yummy hard muscle after another. As my gaze moved downward, I noted that he too seemed to like what he saw. I don’t think he was fully erect, and I was dying to find out just how large he was.

  Luckily, he dove into the pool before I embarrassed myself by inviting him to show me all of his Adonis-like body. I watched him as he swam. He was powerful and, at the same time, graceful as he moved through the water. I wondered if he was like that in bed and then chastised myself for the thought. The truth was, I was a bitch to him because of my own uncontrollable thoughts and physical reactions aro
und him, not because of anything he’d done. That wasn’t fair to him, but what else could I do?

  The best course of action was to avoid him, so I packed up my bag and headed up the stairs. About halfway up, I couldn’t help myself. I needed one more look at those powerful back muscles as he swam. I turned, my gaze meeting his as he stood looking up at me while drying off.

  Oh crap. I was caught ogling him. Embarrassed, I quickly turned away and rushed upstairs. I hope he didn’t realize I was watching him. I shook my head. Of course, he did. Josh was extremely intuitive when it came to women. That’s why he was so good with them.

  When I got into my apartment, I saw a message from my mother on my phone, and a whole new problem overtook the one with Josh. What was I thinking to tell her I had a fiancé? I should tell her the truth, but I couldn’t do that either. She’d get all crazy and end up setting me up with Maxwell. So how was I going to fake a fiancé?

  The issue plagued me all day and even in my sleep. Most of the time, I pushed it away because I didn’t want to deal with it. But finally, I came to a point where I knew I needed to figure out what to do.

  Maybe I should take that hike Josh recommended, only by myself. I used my computer to find a route that didn’t look too long or hard but had a view. I figured a spectacular view might put my problem in perspective.

  I put on shorts and a tank top, slathered on sunscreen, tossing the tube in my backpack along with some water. I twisted my hair up and clipped it in place. I didn’t have hiking shoes, so I wore basic sneakers. I drove up to the trailhead and parked my car. Putting the backpack on, I started up the mountain. It was midweek, so my car was the only one there. I’d be alone on the trail, which always made me feel a little uneasy. Luckily, I had my cell phone.

  The day was beautiful. It was clear and crisp. Summer was encroaching on the edge of spring, making the day warm but not hot. I inhaled, taking in the pine-scented air. I liked the beach, but in the mountains, I felt closer to nature. I liked feeling as if I was a part of something bigger and tethered to something significant. At home, life was all about appearances, stuff, and things, and being above everyone else.

  The walk wasn’t too strenuous, although there was one section that required navigating a bunch of rocks that was a little nerve-wracking. It took about an hour, but I finally reached the vista where I could see the lake, the town, and even farther west. It seemed like I should be able to see the ocean, I was so high, and the view was so clear. I sat on a rock to soak it in and to let the beauty fill me, and hopefully bring clarity to my predicament. I should just tell my mother the truth. Or maybe I could say my fiancé was working and couldn’t come. Yes. That’s it.

  I shook my head as I realized I was planning a deception while sitting in the middle of the universe’s magnificence. The truth. I had to tell the truth.

  I sat with that knowledge, hating it, but knowing it was the right thing to do. I sipped my water and took some deep breaths, meditating on what I had to do.

  I pulled out my phone to call my mother, knowing my beautiful surroundings would help me feel calm as I told my mother the truth. I dialed the number, but nothing happened. I looked at the screen. No signal, really? I hadn’t considered there were spots in California that didn’t have cellular service. Then again, maybe this was the universe's way of saying when you’re in the majestic mountains, you’re supposed to be unplugged.

  I put my phone back in my bag and sat for a bit longer. Then with resignation and resolve, I stood to leave. The path either continued on toward a waterfall, or I could return to my car. Deciding I already had a long trek back, I started home. About halfway back, I reached the rocky portion of the walk. I studied the mixture of boulders, and smaller bowling ball sized rocks trying to decide the best path. Going up the section had been challenging enough, but maneuvering down it seemed worse.

  Finally, deciding to work my way along the edge of the path, I started down. I reached a spot in which there was a gap I’d need to jump over. I looked around me to see if there was another option, but unless I wanted to return to the top and try again, I’d need to take the leap. With a deep breath, I extended my right foot and pushed off with my left. The minute I started, I knew it wasn’t going to end well. My left foot slipped, so my right foot didn’t quite reach the next boulder. I knew I was going down. I felt an instant shooting pain in my right foot and hoped I didn’t break it because I still needed to get to my car. How could I do that if I broke my leg?

  As I went down, my arms flailed. I pitched to the side, falling toward the edge of the trail. My shoulder hit, and then everything went black.

  “Oh shit. Allie.”

  My head felt like someone was jackhammering my brain. I tried to open my eyes, but it was like a funhouse; everything was blurry and out of proportion.

  “Allie!”

  I knew that voice. It was directly over me.

  “Allie. Can you tell me what hurts?”

  I worked to make my eyes focus. “Josh?” I tried to get up.

  “Don’t move. Tell me what hurts.” His voice was different. It was more commanding and serious. “Can you feel your fingers?”

  I looked towards my hand and wiggled my fingers. “Yes.” My voice was weak, and all of a sudden, I was scared.

  “How about your toes? Can you feel your legs?”

  Once again, I tried to get up.

  “Allie, don’t move.” His voice was gentler this time. It was calming. “We need to figure out if anything is broken or if you have a neck or spinal injury.”

  “My head hurts.”

  “Okay. Good. Anything else.”

  “Everything.”

  He gave me a reassuring smile. “I’m going to touch you now, okay. I’m just assessing you for injury. Then I’m going to get you to the hospital.”

  I nodded and watched him as he gently moved over my body. I’d often thought about what it would be like for him to touch me. This wasn’t a scenario I’d imagined, though.

  “Look at me, Allie.”

  Again, I tried to focus on his face. His eyes were an amazing blue. Different from mine.

  “Look at my finger.”

  I did as he asked, but it was strangely difficult as there were two of them. “Which one?”

  “This one.” His finger grew larger and came into clearer focus, suggesting he moved it closer to me. “Can you track it? If I move it.”

  His finger moved out of my vision. I tried to follow it, but it was hard.

  He was quiet for a minute.

  “Am I okay?” I asked.

  “I need to get you out of here. I’m calling for help.” He pulled out a phone like magic. “Fuck.”

  “There’s no reception.”

  “Does your back or neck hurt?” I’d never heard his voice so serious before.

  “I feel bruised. My ankle hurts. And my head.”

  “What about your neck or back? Your spine? This is important, Allie. I don’t want to injure you more. I can leave you here and get help, but I’d rather carry you out.”

  I gripped his arm. “Don’t leave me here, Josh. Please.”

  “If your neck or back is injured, I can’t carry you. I’m going to get you out somehow, though, okay, Allie? You can trust me on that.”

  Trust. That word flitted through my brain. Didn’t I tell him I didn’t trust him?

  “Can you move your head? If it hurts, don’t do it, okay? This is important.”

  I turned my head in one direction and then the other. “My head is what hurts, not my neck. And my ankle. I don’t think I’ll be able to wear heels for Liza’s wedding.”

  He smiled. “Wearing heels to Liza’s wedding is the least of your problems right now.”

  “You won’t leave me, will you?”

  It took him a moment to reply. “No. I’m going to carry you out. I think the best for you will be piggyback style instead of a fireman carry. Okay?”

  “Okay. Will you be able to do that? Carry me all the way b
ack?”

  “I’ll do it.”

  First, he made me drink some water, then after some maneuvering that made parts of my body scream in pain, although not my neck or back, I was on Josh’s back. My hands were over his shoulders while he held my legs.

  “Do you do this a lot?” I asked as he started along the trail.

  “Carry injured women out of the woods? More than you might think. Kids and men, too, although usually, I have help and equipment.”

  Oh, that’s right. He was a fireman. “Is this how you save people from fires?”

  “No. Usually, we drag people. The oxygen is lower, so it’s safer.”

  Interesting. I didn’t know much about firefighting. I’d ask, but I felt tired, and I wanted to rest my head.

  “Allie, keep talking to me.”

  “I’m tired.”

  “Why were you up here by yourself?”

  “I lied to my mother. I have to tell her the truth.” I wrapped my hands over his chest, getting a good feel of those firm pecs I always admired in yoga or when he swam. I realized he was shirtless. “They are hard.”

  “What are?”

  “Your pecs.”

  He didn’t say anything, and I thought maybe I’d done something wrong.

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay. What lie did you tell your mother?”

  “That I was engaged.” I rested my chin on my arm, putting my face next to his. He smelled good, like the woods and sunshine.

  “Engaged?”

  “She’s trying to marry me off to Maxwell Lassiter. He’s a successful lawyer.”

  “What’s wrong with Maxwell?” Josh asked, grunting a bit as we moved up a short slope.

  “Boring. Inauthentic. Just like my family. They’re rich, you know. All they care about is money and status and appearances.”

  “Is that why you’re here?”

  I sighed, feeling so tired. I closed my eyes.

  “Allie, keep talking to me.”

  “I’m tired.”

  “I know. But you need to keep talking to me. Did you move here to get away from your family?”

  “Yes. I think I was switched at birth. I’m not like them. I like nature. And wellness. You smell good. Why were you out here?”