Here Goes Nothing

My flight is delayed and my luggage is the last to come around on the baggage carousel.

Figures, right?

To top it all off, GPS has me making two wrong turns on my way to New Albany, where I’m supposed to see my new home for the first time and meet my new “girlfriend.”

Shit, I hope she’s pretty.

Why did I want to be surprised?

I should’ve demanded a picture.

By the time I reach the house and am driving up the long driveway, I’m nervous as hell. Not about the house. It comes into view and it looks really nice. I didn’t really expect anything less.

Jock’s rented red Ferrari is out front, and I see there’s a dark green older model Saturn there, as well.

That means she’s here, my freaking fake girlfriend for the season.

Thank God, she’s not outside. I’m not ready to see her just yet.

Fuck!

There’s no backing out now, though.

I sit in the car for a few minutes, watching the darkness fall. These are my last few minutes as a man not living a lie. Let me savor them.

The recessed lighting lining the long stone driveway flickers to life as the sky turns to black. The big red brick colonial and the surrounding lush greenery are soon illuminated in a cool white LED glow.

All in all, I like this place. It’s private and stately without being too much.

“The team chose well,” I murmur as I finally exit my car.

Now I need to go inside and see how well they did with my supposed significant other. Although, good or bad, I know she was ultimately Jock’s decision.

Let’s go see if he deserves that raise…or to have his ass fired.

When I step into the large foyer, I find no one there to greet me.

Guess they didn’t hear me pull up.

But I sure hear them, a low hum of hushed chatter is coming from the living room that’s up ahead and off to my right.

I hear them, but there’s a wall in the way, meaning I can’t see them. Nor can they see me.

Before I make my presence known, I decide I should check if I look all right. There’s an ornately framed mirror on the wall so I turn to it. For some reason, it’s important to me that I make a good first impression. I guess because this girl and I will be spending a lot of time together. It’d be nice to start off on the right foot.

We better, seeing as we’ll be freaking living together starting tomorrow.

Sighing, I look in the mirror.

Hmm, not too bad for a guy who just flew across the country.

I’m a little disheveled from the flight, my dark blond hair is tousled, but my clothes aren’t a wreck or anything.

Speaking of which, I’m glad I’m not wearing anything fancy, just dark jeans and a light blue T-shirt. I wouldn’t want it to seem like I’m trying too hard.

Just then, Jock, who must hear me sighing and shuffling about, calls out, “Tettersaw, is that you? If so, get in here.”

“Who else would it be?” I murmur as I turn away from the mirror and round the corner to the living room, plastering on my best fake smile.

I see Eden right away, especially since she jumps up from the sofa, and my smile turns genuine.

Wow. Jock is so getting a raise. This girl is stunning.

She’s younger than me, probably in her early twenties. And fuck, is she ever pretty. Like really fucking pretty. She has long wavy auburn hair, a face cute enough to be on a magazine cover, and a super-sexy body.

Her tight stomach is peeking out from under the hem of the crop top she’s wearing. And don’t even get me started on the way her jeans hug her slender hips.

But what really ties me up and leaves me twisted in the best kind of way is how I feel when our eyes meet.

Instantly, it’s like I know her.

I remind myself that I don’t, though.

No, not yet.

But I want to.

There’s an inexplicable connection, the kind you sometimes feel with someone even though there’s no good explanation for it.

I have to say it’s a little disarming, but only for a beat.

What soothes me is that I think she feels the connection too.

I mean, hell, she’s not turning away.

She’s smiling.

Her eyes look green, but I need to get closer to be sure.

So I take two steps forward, never breaking our connection. She appears pleased with me too, but I also catch something else in her gaze—a hint of desperation.

That immediately calls to my protective nature.

I’m here for you, baby, I try to convey with my eyes.

I add in a soft smile to let her know this is all going to turn out okay. This nutty arrangement will work. I know it. I didn’t feel it before, but I do now.

But just when I think this fake girlfriend thing may turn out to be the best idea ever, Eden looks away sharply, like maybe this is too much too soon.

That, of course, shatters whatever magic was brewing.

Our connection ends and we’re back to reality.

Jock, looking smug at having just observed that we clearly don’t hate each other, stands now as well.

He beckons me closer, then touches Eden’s arm, urging her to look up again.

Once I’m right there in front of her, our gazes meet once more.

But she’s shut down, having put on a mask.

The raw emotions sparking between us have been doused.

Eden stretches out her hand and says woodenly, “Hi. You must be Graham.” She laughs nervously. “Nice to meet you. I’m Eden.”

I smile kindly, trying to put her back at ease as I take her hand and shake it gently.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Eden.”

And is it ever.