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CHAPTER THIRTY

EASTON

I arrived late on purpose. I’d make it up to Gary later for sending him in without me, but I needed to make a statement with my entrance.

I could’ve scared her into leaving Gary alone just by showing up, but I couldn’t guarantee that would last very long.

She might have thought she could just wait until Gary was alone to hurt him, like last time. No, I had a better plan in mind.

Apparently, I arrived just in time. Gary’s arm was being squeezed by a blonde-haired bimbo in a dress that almost showed off her tits for the whole restaurant to see.

Well, what little patrons were at the restaurant right now.

A quick glance around showed the restaurant was mostly empty except for the party in the corner.

Ignoring that, I went straight for Gary. I pulled him out of his sister’s claws, tucking him under my arm and placing a kiss on his forehead when he looked up at me in shock.

“Hey, sweetheart. Sorry I’m late.”

He gaped at me for a minute until his sister’s voice drew him out of his shock. “Gary? Who is that?”

Blinking rapidly, it took him a minute to get himself together before he could answer her. Probably should’ve warned him. He wasn’t playing a good fake boyfriend by acting so shell-shocked.

He finally pulled himself together, clearing his throat, before turning back to his sister and an older couple who came to join us. The woman looked like an older version of the bimbo, and the man looked like an aged version of Gary with a terrible fashion sense. Who wore elbow pads anymore?

“Uh, sorry. Mom, Dad, Brienna, this is my boyfriend. Easton.”

I offered his dad a hand, even though I really didn’t want to. Good manners were annoying. “Easton Warner. Nice to meet you.”

Gary might not recognize my name, but his sister did.

She sucked in a sharp breath, eyes wide as dinner plates, and I saw the transformation out of the corner of my eye when she went from petulant bitch ready to chew her brother out to a flirty shark with money signs in her eyes.

Even with her brother tucked against me, she thought she had a chance.

I was going to seriously enjoy proving her wrong.

Gary’s parents didn't recognize me, though they were smart enough to see an expensive suit and act polite. When the sister started to titter, they took their cues from her.

“Easton Warner? Of the Warner group?” the sister queried while batting her eyelashes. When I dipped my chin, she bit her lip and practically vibrated with excitement. “That’s– I mean– It’s so nice to meet you!”

The parents snapped to attention once the sister clued them in, welcoming me and shaking my hand again. When I glanced down at Gary, he was staring at them like they’d all grown three heads. I bit back a snort. He really wasn’t like anyone in his family.

“Apologies for running late. I had a meeting with my father.”

Lies. I was having a drink with my brother, so I didn't come to this looking for blood.

I told him my plan, and he agreed it was a great way to cause some chaos without doing anything illegal.

Then I spent thirty minutes getting grilled about my relationship with Gary until I finally managed to get out of there. Jayden was a jackass sometimes.

“Mrs. Nelson?” a disheveled chef in a stained white jacket stood nearby, his bulldog expression pulled taut in a placid smile. “The food is ready to be served. You said someone was coming to help?”

“Oh, of course. I–” She froze, and I saw her sneak a glance at Gary before giving the chef a plastic smile. “Just one moment, please.”

Angel cleared his throat. He was in the seat by my hip, and he flashed me a look that said that Gary was supposed to be the help. I gave him a micro nod before cupping Gary’s cheek. His wide brown eyes locked on mine, and his cheeks turned dusky pink at the affectionate touch.

“Sorry I missed date night the other day, sweetheart. I had a meeting. Come sit with me. I’ll make it up to you.”

His fingers gently touched my wrist and for a second, he looked like he was going to swoon before he kicked into high gear and started acting like a loving boyfriend.

“I’m not mad at you, but I won’t say no to a make up date.”

Tucking his arm in mine, I moved to herd him away from his ‘family’, but his sister cut us off before we could get a few feet away.

“Wait! You should sit at my table. It’s where all my party guests are sitting.”

A quick glance showed the table was already full. The only empty chairs were obviously designated for the birthday girl or had coats over them. Probably for the parents. They never intended to let Gary join them. Assholes.

“Doesn’t look like there’s enough room. That’s okay, though.

We’ll just take an empty table.” I led Gary to the table next to our friends, pulling out his chair like a polite boyfriend.

When I took my own seat, I enjoyed watching his sister flounder for a while before sulking back to her seat with a pout.

When I subtly tugged at the collar of the stupid suit I borrowed from Jayden, Gary leaned forward, his voice barely above a whisper. “You look like you’re about to break out in hives. I told you that you didn’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not. I like you the way you are.”

I tipped my head toward the party table. “She would’ve sneered and kept screwing with you if I showed up in my normal clothes. Look at her now.”

Gary glanced over his shoulder and when his sister noticed him, her pout morphed into a dirty look. Someone wasn’t happy.

Gary turned back around with a frown. “Not sure it’s having the effect you want. She glares at me like that all the time. But it’s too late to turn back now, I guess.”

He couldn’t see what I could see, but I wasn’t going to argue with him here.

Instead, I played the doting boyfriend, kissing his hand and holding it over the table, ordering him expensive wine, and making him blush every few minutes.

At least that part was fun. The rest of it, I could throw out the window.

Gary was right. This suit made me feel like I was going to break out in hives.

After dinner, the group spread out a little. I think it was to give Gary’s sister an excuse to get closer to me, but that was fine. I wanted her to want what she couldn’t have. It’d make this game easier.

At one point, I let Gary walk away from me to talk with our friends.

It gave him time to calm down. He was practically vibrating with anxiety.

And it gave the sister a chance to approach me without him.

She sauntered up with a sway in her hips, her face practically predatory.

I sipped at the god awful wine and forced a small smile when she approached.

“Having a good birthday?”

“I am now,” she breathed, batting her eyelashes. It took serious work to keep my expression neutral. She looked like she had something stuck in her eye.

“That’s good. Gary hasn’t told me much about his family. Are you two close?”

It was a test, and she failed immediately. “Gary is such a good brother. He loves to spoil me. He always has. When we were younger, he wouldn’t hesitate to give up something of his if he thought I might want it. He loves me like that.”

That was a fucking blatant hint. And damn, she moved fast. I thought we’d have to dance around it for a while.

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“So many things,” she purred, trailing her hand down her chest to draw attention to her cleavage. If I threw up on her, would it have the same effect?

“He even backed out when someone I liked asked him out in high school because he knew how I felt about the guy. I tried telling him he didn't have to, but he insisted.”

My grip on my wine glass was too tight listening to her lies, and it shattered, spilling wine and glass shards all over the floor. Gary rushed over immediately, completely disregarding the mess as he grabbed my hand and checked it for cuts.

“Are you okay?”

The smile I gave him was genuine. Fake relationship or not, he cared more about me than spilled wine or our cover story.

“Let me see,” his sister demanded, hip checking Gary out of the way. She didn’t have a chance to grab my hand because I reached for him instead, pulling him against my side.

“Don’t slip, sweetheart,” I murmured, pulling him farther away from the mess. A server hurried over, grimacing as she took a berating from the parents for shoddy glassware. I made a mental note to give her a heavy tip before we left.

The sister looked a little shell-shocked that I’d gone to Gary first instead of letting her touch me. Whoops. That went against the plan. I was supposed to make her feel like she had a shot.

Clearing my throat, I gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I don’t know my own strength. I spend most mornings in the gym.”

It drew her focus to my body, which gave me a chance to check on Gary.

He looked confused on why I was talking to his sister like that and a little wary.

Which made me feel like a dick. I really should’ve told him the plan first. This happened before, where someone acted like they wanted him only to go after his sister.

If he could just hang on another hour or so, it’d all make sense.