Page 5

CHAPTER 5

SCARLETT

M y hands slide over his broad shoulders and down to his upper back. His trapezius muscles flex under my fingers as we move about the dance floor. With my heels on, he’s only three or four inches taller than me, placing my temple level with his mouth. His soft exhale whispers over my skin, causing goose bumps on my flesh. I suppress a shiver, reminding myself this is all for show. Angling my head back, I stare at him. “I just remembered you told me you couldn’t dance.”

“I did?” he asks, and I can’t tell if he’s serious.

“At the restaurant… when we spoke about your lack of an end zone dance.”

His grin is mischievous. “Oh yeah.”

I roll my eyes. “You knew what I was talking about.”

He chuckles softly. “I did.”

“You’re actually a good dancer,” I tell him.

“Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.”

“My mom forced me to take dance lessons until I was twelve.”

“Well, they paid off,” he says, his hand splaying wider on my lower back.

We fall silent, swaying to the music, enjoying the singer’s beautiful voice. My face burns as I sense eyes on us from all directions around the room. No doubt they’re wondering who I am and how Cooper and I met. A small part of me wants to put on a show and really sell this charade. But a larger part of me is enjoying the quiet intimacy of our dance too much to break the spell.

“So,” Cooper says, “are you noticing all the attention we’re garnering?”

“Yep, and I’m trying not to trip over my own feet.”

“That’s funny because I’ve been trying my damnedest not to step on your toes.”

I laugh. “So it’s as awkward for you as it is for me?”

“The people watching us?”

“Yeah.”

“For sure. I’m used to people being interested in watching me on the field, not on the dance floor. But just focus on me. Pretend we’re the only ones here.”

I nod, relaxing into him. “So tell me something about yourself that isn’t common knowledge. Something your girlfriend should know.”

He laughs. “Now you put me on the spot.”

“There must be something you can share.”

“I have a twin sister.”

“For real?”

“Yep. Her name is Cassie.”

“Where does she live?” I ask.

“With me.”

“Oh my God, that might be the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Why?”

“Because it is. You live with your twin sister, and that is freaking adorable. Will I get to meet her?”

“Sure. If you want. She wants to meet you.”

“She knows about me?” I squeal.

“She does. Our arrangement was her idea.”

“I can’t believe you talk to her about such personal stuff.”

“She’s my best friend.”

My eyes flash wider. “This keeps getting better.”

“Do you have any siblings?” he asks.

“No. I’m an only child.”

“So you were spoiled rotten, huh?”

“I guess that depends on what your definition of spoiled is. If you mean my parents gave me the best of everything, then yes, I was. If you’re referring to emotionally, it’s a no.”

“I’m sorry I asked,” he says.

“Don’t apologize. It’s not like they beat me. I suppose I’m luckier than most people. My family has plenty of money, and I never had to worry about food in my belly or a roof over my head.”

“Kids need more than the creature comforts, Scarlett.”

“I agree. Luckily, I had the best grandmother in the world. She loved me enough to make up for my parents’ shortcomings.”

“She’s not with you anymore?”

“No. She passed away two years ago.”

“That sucks,” he says.

I nod. “It really does.”

The music shifts to a more upbeat tempo, but Cooper and I continue swaying slowly, lost in our conversation.

“Tell me about your grandmother,” Cooper says.

I smile, memories flooding back. “Her name was Peggy, and she was the kindest, most generous person I’ve ever known. She taught me how to stand up for myself, to believe in myself, and most importantly, to love unconditionally.”

“She sounds wonderful,” he says, his blue eyes warm with empathy.

“She was. Every summer, I’d spend two weeks at her house. We’d go swimming, have picnics, and stay up late telling stories on the porch. Those were the happiest times of my childhood.”

Cooper pulls me a little closer. “I’m glad you had her in your life.”

“Me too,” I say, slowly pulling away. Our gazes linger for a moment.

“Want to grab a drink?” he asks, his hand resting lightly on my lower back.

I nod. “Sure.”

He grips my hand, weaving us through the crowd. I try to ignore the whispered remarks as we pass. I shouldn’t be surprised that being on Cooper’s arm draws attention.

At the bar, he orders us both drinks, remembering my preference for an espresso martini. As we wait, a middle-aged woman approaches us, her face lighting up with recognition.

“Cooper. It’s so nice to see you here,” the woman gushes, her gaze darting between us. “And who is this lovely young lady?”

Cooper smiles politely. “Mrs. Wilkins, it’s great to see you too. This is my girlfriend, Scarlett.”

I extend my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Wilkins.”

She shakes my hand enthusiastically. “Oh my, Cooper, she’s gorgeous. How long have you two been together?”

I feel Cooper tense slightly beside me, but his voice remains smooth. “We’ve been dating for a couple of months now.”

Mrs. Wilkins beams at us. “Well, you make such a handsome couple. Scarlett, dear, you must tell me how you two met.”

I laugh lightly, placing my hand on Cooper’s arm. “Our friends are in a relationship, and we met through them.”

“Oh, how lovely.” Mrs. Wilkins smiles, clasping her hands to her chest. “Young love is so beautiful to see. You two remind me of my husband and me when we first started dating.”

I smile politely, trying not to show my discomfort at the comparison, which has me feeling like a fraud. Cooper’s arm slides around my waist, pulling me closer to his side.

“That’s very kind of you to say, Mrs. Wilkins,” he replies smoothly. “We’re still getting to know each other, but I consider myself lucky to have Scarlett in my life.”

I lean into him, playing along. “The feeling is mutual.”

Mrs. Wilkins pats Cooper’s arm. “Well, I won't keep you any longer. Enjoy the rest of your evening, dears.”

As she walks away, Cooper and I share a look of relief.

“Who is she?” I ask.

Cooper laughs. “You don’t know?”

I shake my head. “I have no idea.”

“Her father owns the Silverbacks.”

“Oh.” I cover my mouth and laugh. “I’m glad I asked you. At least I’ll know for future reference.”

The bartender slides our drinks across the bar. Cooper hands me my espresso martini, and we clink glasses before taking a sip. The rich coffee flavor mingles with the vodka, providing a much-needed boost after our dance and encounter with Mrs. Wilkins.

“That went well,” Cooper says, his voice low. “Thanks for playing along.”

I smile. “No problem. That’s what I’m here for. I guess we should expect more of that tonight, huh?”

He nods, looking around the room. “Probably. These events are always full of people looking for the latest gossip.”

“Then we’ll have to give them something to talk about,” I say with a wink, surprising myself with my boldness. Not that I’ve ever been shy when it comes to men. But with Cooper it’s different. There’s something about him that makes me hold back.

Cooper raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “Oh yeah? What did you have in mind?”

Before I can respond, we’re interrupted by a flash of light. A photographer stands a few feet away, lowering his camera.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he says with a grin, suggesting he’s not sorry at all. “Mind if I get a few more shots of the happy couple?”

“Sure, no problem.” Cooper sets his glass on the bar behind us. Tightening his arm around my waist, he rests his hand on my hip and plasters on a smile.

Leaning into his side, I tilt my head toward him and smile. The camera flashes a few more times.

“Perfect,” the photographer says. “You two look great together. How about one with a kiss?”

Cooper tenses beside me. We haven’t discussed how far we’d take this charade in public. But before I can overthink, Cooper turns to me, his blue eyes searching mine for permission. I give a subtle nod.

He cups my cheek gently and leans in, pressing his lips to mine in a soft, chaste kiss. It only lasts a moment, but I feel a tingle of electricity buzz through me. When Cooper pulls away, his eyes are slightly wider, as if he felt it too.

The photographer snaps a few more shots, oblivious to the moment we just shared. “Thanks. These are all fantastic.”

As he walks away, neither of us knows what to say. I take a large sip of my martini, needing something to do with my hands.

“Well,” Cooper says, clearing his throat. “That should convince everyone we’re a couple.”

I nod, forcing a laugh. “Definitely.”

He grins, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

We’re saved from further awkwardness by the arrival of Autumn and Rogan.

“There you two are,” Autumn says, her curious gaze darting between us. “We’ve been looking for you.”

“Dancing makes me thirsty, so we stepped away to grab some drinks.”

“And to give the paparazzi a show, apparently,” Rogan adds with a smirk. “That photographer seemed pretty excited about getting shots of you two.”

Cooper shrugs. “Just playing the part.”

“Mrs. Wilkins is already telling everyone about what an adorable couple you are,” Autumn says.

My hand tightens on my glass. “Damn. Word travels fast here, huh?”

Autumn laughs. “You have no idea. Are you two having fun playing lovebirds?”

Cooper and I exchange a quick glance. “It’s been okay so far.”

“Well, you certainly look like you’re having fun,” Autumn says.

I smile. “That’s the goal, right?”

“Right,” Cooper agrees before taking a long swig of his whiskey.

“Anyway,” Rogan interjects. “We came to tell you dinner is about to be served. We should head back over to the table now.”

Cooper gives a quick nod. “Okay.” As we’re following our friends, we get waylaid by no fewer than ten of his teammates who want to say hi. If it wasn’t so overwhelming, it would be comical. We make it an average of three steps before someone else calls Cooper’s name, and he’s barely introduced me to them when I’ve already forgotten their names.

We finally make it to our table, and Griffin and Thor greet us. As soon as I’m seated, I tip back my martini, downing the remainder, and set the glass down with a relieved sigh.

“How are you doing, Scar?” Cooper asks.

“I’m good.”

“You sure? You can tell me if you’re miserable.”

“I’m not. I think I’m getting hangry. I didn’t think it would take this long for us to eat.”

He smiles. “I’m starving too. Couldn’t you hear my stomach growling when we were dancing?”

I laugh. “No, not at all.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Do you know what’s on the schedule for after dinner?”

“Usually there will be some more dancing and some speeches. Sometimes they auction off items, but not tonight. The tickets to this event were $1000 per couple, so that’s how they’re raising the funds for the charity.”

“Jeeeezus. That’s a lot of money.”

“It is, but not for most of the people in this room,” he explains.

I nod, understanding. “Right, I guess for professional athletes and wealthy donors, that’s not a huge sum.”

“Exactly. Plus, it’s for a good cause. The money goes to support youth sports programs in underprivileged areas.”

“That’s wonderful,” I say, genuinely impressed. “It must feel good to be able to give back like this.”

Cooper’s expression softens. “It does. Growing up, sports were everything to me. I can’t imagine not having had those opportunities. If I can help even one kid discover their passion or potential through athletics, it’s worth it.”

His sincerity touches me. There’s clearly more depth to Cooper beneath his good looks and charm. Before I can respond, servers begin bringing out the first course.

The meal passes pleasantly, with humorous conversation flowing between us and our tablemates. I can see why Cooper gets along so well with these guys.

As we finish our dessert, I notice Cooper glancing at his watch. He leans in close, his breath tickling my ear as he whispers, “Want to sneak out of here?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Already? I thought we had to stay for the whole event.”

He grins mischievously. “We’ve made our appearance, danced, and eaten dinner. I’d say we’ve fulfilled our obligations. Besides,” he adds with a wink, “a good boyfriend would make sure to get his girl home at a reasonable hour.”

I let out a soft laugh. “Well, when you put it that way.”

We make our excuses to the others and say our goodbyes. Autumn holds her hand up to her ear and mouths, “Call me.” I nod and blow her a kiss.

As we walk toward the exit, Cooper’s hand finds the small of my back, guiding me through the crowd. The warmth of his touch sends a little zap of happiness through me. It’s nice to be out with a man who knows how to treat a woman.

Stepping out into the cool night air is a welcome relief after being around so many people I don’t know. We pause for a moment, letting our eyes adjust to the darkness.

Cooper turns to me. “How was your first charity event as my fake girlfriend?”

I smile. “It was… interesting. Definitely not how I usually spend my nights.”

“No regrets, though, right?” There’s a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

I shake my head. “No regrets. It was actually fun, in a surreal sort of way.”

He grins, visibly relaxing. “Good. I’m glad you didn’t hate it.”

“Not at all,” I reassure him.

We head toward the valet stand, our steps falling into sync. The click of my heels echoes in the quiet night.

“You know, I think we make a pretty convincing couple,” I say.

Cooper chuckles softly. “I think you’re right. We managed to fool everyone in there.”

“Even ourselves, for a moment,” I say, then immediately regret it. The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Cooper’s expression is unreadable in the dim light. “Yeah,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “It felt pretty natural, didn’t it?”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. We reach the valet stand, and Cooper hands over his ticket. As we wait for his car, an awkward silence falls between us.

Finally, he clears his throat. “Listen, Scarlett... I just want to say thank you. For doing this, I mean. I know it’s not exactly a normal favor to ask of someone.”

I turn to face him, a small smile on my lips. “You’re welcome. And, hey, it’s not like it’s been a hardship. Free dinner, dancing, and arm candy for the evening? I’d say I got the better end of this deal.”

He laughs, the tension easing from his shoulders. “Well, when you put it that way, maybe I should be thanking you more often.”

The valet pulls up with Cooper’s vehicle, a sleek black sports car that probably costs more than my yearly earnings. Cooper opens the passenger door for me, ever the gentleman.

As we settle into our seats, I can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment that the night is ending. It’s been surprisingly enjoyable.

“So,” Cooper says as he pulls out of the parking lot, “same time next week?”

I laugh. “Is there another event already?”

“No, I was joking. But now that I’m thinking about it, I’m not sure. I’ll have to get back to you about what’s on the schedule.”

“No worries. I’m flexible… I mean my schedule is.”

He chuckles. “I knew what you meant.”

Of course he did. Way to point out the obvious.