“You what?”
“I wanted to talk to you about it, though,” he said, holding out a hand.
“Seems like it’s a little late for that. You called me honey.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I know, I should have said something sooner. Called you, or something and explained. But I didn’t want to tell her I caught you sleeping in our fishing cabin, and in the moment, I wasn’t sure what else to do. I didn’t really think things through.”
Chagrined, Goldie ducked her head. He did have a point there. He’d been gracious enough not to press charges, and he’d helped her find her way into town. If it hadn’t been for her, he wouldn’t have been put in the situation in the first place.
“How about it?” he asked, resting a hand on the back of the nearby chair. “Want to be my fake girlfriend while you’re in town? At least until either you or I go back home?”
She frowned. “I thought this was your home.”
“Not anymore,” he said. “I’m just visiting.”
If that was the case, she was curious where he was from. She decided not to ask. “I have about a week here in Two Pines,” she said. “And if I get ahold of my aunt, I’d like to stay with her.”
“Works for me,” he said. “Does it work for you?”
Goldie pressed her lips together. This was getting more and more unexpected by the minute. “I’ve never been a fake girlfriend before. What does that even mean?”
“Just spend time with me.” He shrugged. “Act like you like me.”
A thousand things could go wrong, couldn’t they? In the moment, she couldn’t think of anything. She was going to be here for one night. She’d go to this fundraiser with Adrian, find her aunt, and move on with her life. He’d go to wherever he was from, and she would go home. That would be that.
“This feels so weird,” she said.
He chuckled. “It does for me too.”
Goldie bobbed her head, grateful they were on the same page, at least. After a few more seconds, she exhaled. “I can do that,” she said. “You know, be your girlfriend. But I don’t like lies.”
He stepped closer to her, and something inside of her shifted. His closeness made her breath quicken. “Then it won’t be a lie. Goldie Bybanks, will you be my girlfriend for a day? Possibly a week?”
She quirked a brow. “You must really not like this Danica person.”
Adrian laughed. “Danica is fine. She’s just not for me. You, on the other hand. You look absolutely like the kind of woman I want to be my girlfriend for a week.”
“And you look like…”
“Don’t finish that,” he said with a grin. His cheeks held the same pink tinge. He was cute when he blushed.
Goldie’s lips twisted. “Fair enough.” She glanced around the room, finally taking in the log head-and foot-boards, the brown and green plaid curtains, the lampstand hugged by a black bear. In fact, there were bears on everything, in the pictures on the walls, even a stuffed bear sitting on the dresser beside a notepad and pencil. Snuggling, anyone? “Bears?”
“It’s a family joke. Can’t have a last name like Bear without having a little fun with it.”
“Yeah, I can see that. There’s not much you can do with a name like Bybanks.”
“Could be worse,” he said.
“That’s true.”
The agreement hung between them, making things uncomfortable again, at least for her. Girlfriend? How was she supposed to act around him now? He’d said to act as though she liked him, and she supposed she did like him. Still, exhaustion wore on her. She’d been traveling for days, pent up with the uncertainty about meeting Bethany Harold and finding out the story behind her years-long distance from her family. Add to that the frustration of getting lost and the disappointment of Aunt Bethany not being there, and Goldie was downright tired. If she had a date later tonight, she wanted to get some rest.
The reality of that thought settled in. She had a date tonight. A date with Adrian Bear.
CHAPTER SEVEN
ADRIAN MADE HIS WAY TO the door. He could tell he was making Goldie uncomfortable and decided it was best to leave before he stuck his foot any further into his mouth. “The event starts at seven,” he said. “That should give you plenty of time to get ready.”
“Are you sure about this?” She sank onto the edge of the bed. Her hair was so long it touched the bedspread.
He wanted to put her at ease. He had made a bit of a mess of things after his conversation with his mom. It was a good thing Goldie had gone along with the girlfriend suggestion. He’d been worried she’d eat him alive for not discussing it with her first. Danica would have, for sure. “Positive. You’re doing me a favor, remember?”
“The fundraiser sounds fancy.”
“Is that going to be a problem?”
She glanced at her duffle bag with a hint of exhaustion. She did look tired, but she seemed to be smiling through it. “Not if you’re okay with me showing up in jeans.”
Dang it. Black tie. He’d forgotten she’d need something nice to wear. “You don’t have a dress?”
“I wasn’t planning on anything like this,” she said. “I was going to hang out with my aunt, sightsee, and kick back in yoga pants.” She plucked at her leggings and T-shirt. He’d forgotten she was in the same clothes she’d slept in. The same clothes she’d worn the day before.
“I’m sure my mom can help you find something.” The minute he said the words, he regretted them. “Because that wouldn’t be awkward at all.”
Goldie gave off a small laugh, but she stood, reached for her bag’s handle, and lifted it from the bed. “I’m not sure this is going to work. Thanks for the offer, but I’ll just make my way back to town. I’ll just head back to my aunt’s house—maybe she’s back from wherever she went—”
Adrian sidestepped her before she made it to the door. “My mom thinks I’m destined to marry Danica. If you go now, you subject me to a night of pretending I have anything in common with her at all.”
“As opposed to pretending you have something in common with me?” Goldie suggested. Her eyes flashed with amusement.
“That’s just it. I know Danica. I’ve known her my whole life, and I know exactly how much we have in common. You, though. You’re a mystery. You have a life I know nothing about.”
Goldie lowered her bag to the floor with what he hoped was submission. He took in the length of her lashes and the way they made her eyes pop. “You say that like you want to know me.”
“What if I do?” He couldn’t believe he was saying this. What was it about this woman that made him throw logic out the window? What would she say? Would she give him a chance, or call him out for the Crazy he’d been since he’d met her?
“If you really don’t want to be here, I’ll stop insisting,” he said. “If you want, I’ll help you take your bag out to your truck, and we’ll leave it at that. No hard feelings, no harm done.”
She visibly swallowed. He could tell this was taking her some thought, which meant she had to be feeling something like the way he was. He was curious about her. He was interested in her. He’d never felt this way with a woman he’d just met. Love at first sight had always been laughable to him before, and it wasn’t as though he was considering himself in love with her. Nothing like that.