Page 16 of Good Girl’s Guide to Love (Guide to Love #4)
“I don’t know about boring,” I say. “You did almost have two men fighting over you at a bar.”
She shakes her head. “And if that had happened, that would’ve been the most exciting thing that’s happened to me in, well, ever.”
Ainsley takes a sip of her drink, I’m guessing something with cranberry in it, as she starts looking around the bar.
Which is fine. This gives me a chance to really look at her.
Because if I thought she was beautiful when I ran into her in her scrubs and hair a little messy from a day’s work, she’s radiant tonight.
Her long blonde hair is slightly wavy and draping over both of her shoulders. She’s wearing a thin-strapped sundress—a garment that should be illegal—and sandals that have some lift to them.
Am I having thoughts of those legs and those sandals wrapped around my hips as I fuck her in that dress? Yes. But in my defense, I’m a man, and sundresses were made to drive us fucking crazy.
But I quickly push that thought out of my head. If Ainsley is the good girl she says she is, then she’s definitely out of my league.
She might be too good for me, but I can’t get over how effortlessly beautiful she is. I have a feeling she doesn’t realize how stunning she looks, and I bet you dollars to donuts she doesn’t even try. Her makeup is light, her lipstick is subtle, and her scent is sweet and addicting.
It’s probably a good thing I know this is just for tonight. Because I have a feeling that this good girl would ruin me.
Or worse, I’d ruin her.
My eyes roam off of Ainsley for a second, which is when I see Dr. Dipshit staring at us from the bar, a look of anger covering his punchable face.
“Hey,” I say, leaning in to her. “We’re being watched. I’m going to hold your hand, but it would probably be good if you were looking at me. You know, since you’re my girlfriend and all.”
She nods and does her best to be nonchalant as she turns to face me. I take her hand in mine, threading out fingers through each other’s as I inch in a little closer to her.
“I’m sorry, because I know this is awkward as hell, putting on a show like this, but he can’t take his eyes off us.”
“I don’t understand him,” she says. “We’ve been broken up for three years. We haven’t talked since he moved. And now he’s stalker-staring. I just don’t get why.”
“I do.”
Her look clearly says she doesn’t believe me. “And why is that?”
“Well, for starters, he fumbled you. And he knows it.” I lean in a little closer. You know, for effect. “And I’m going to go out on a limb and say that he can’t stop staring because you’re the most beautiful woman in this bar, and I’m the lucky bastard who gets to hold your hand.”
Ainsley’s jaw drops a little—probably because what I said likely sounded like the biggest line ever. But it can’t be a line when it’s the truth.
“Can I be honest, Linc?”
“Of course.”
“I have no idea how to do this.”
“Do what?”
She takes a big breath before worry floods her face.
“I don’t really date, let alone have fake boyfriends.
I for sure have never done anything like this in front of an ex.
Oh my gosh! Is this now a thing? Do I have to keep this up when we’re at work?
Are you my fake boyfriend forever? Oh gosh… maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
I know she’s worried, but her panic is cute. “Do you always ramble like this when you’re worried?”
“Yes. Rambling when I’m panicked. Speechless when I’m taken off guard.
Worrying when…well…always.” Ainsley takes a sip of her drink, and I notice that she looks over to Dr. Dipshit.
“Maybe we should stop while we’re ahead.
No harm, no foul, and I don’t have to answer questions when I see him at work next week. ”
Well, that’s not going to happen. Actually, that sounds like a fucking terrible idea, if I do say so myself.
“Or, and this is just a suggestion, we double down.”
She raises her eyebrows as her eyes widen. “Double down?”
This is about to be the best or worst idea I’ve ever had. “Exactly. Rub it in his face that his ex-girlfriend is with a professional football player until he storms out in a rage. That way, he won’t even come around you when he sees you at work.”
“What if he still does?”
“I guess then I’ll have to make another visit to Nashville Children’s. Only this time, with flowers in my hand.”
Ainsley doesn’t immediately shut down the idea, which I take for a win.
And I wouldn’t mind going back to the hospital.
I really do enjoy doing visits like that.
And if I can see my temporary fake girlfriend in the process of pissing off a man who can’t take no for an answer? Well, that sounds like a fun day.
“I don’t know,” she says, worry all through her voice. “It seems like a lot could go wrong.”
She wasn’t lying when she said she wasn’t a risk taker. Which means I’m going to need to step up and help her out.
I bring our joined hands to my lips, placing a small kiss to her knuckles. “Or, it could go exactly to plan.”
I stay there for a second, begging her with my eyes to go with my plan. But the way she’s looking at me right now? A little scared, a lot nervous, but all the trust in the world? I’ve never wanted to come through for someone so much in my life.
“Come on, Ainsley. Do something a little scary. And let’s make your ex-boyfriend jealous as fuck.”