Page 5 of On the Line

“Mikki can vouch for me.”

Mikki doesn’t even look up from the glass she’s drying. “He pays his tab. And his mother likes him.”

The woman nods slowly. “Okay. That’s something.”

I hold out my hand. “Liam.”

She looks at it for a second, then slides her hand into mine. “Delaney.”

“Nice to meet you, girlfriend.”

She groans. “This is a terrible idea.”

“Probably.”

“You really don’t have anything better to do?”

“Not a thing.”

Her hand is still in mine, and she doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to take it back. I’m sure not going to be the one to let go.

Then she smiles at me, and it’s as dazzling as a star. “All right, Liam. Let’s see what kind of boyfriend you are.”

Chapter Two

Delaney

I’ve lost my mind. That’s the only explanation for why I’m driving around a lake with a stranger in my passenger seat, feeding him facts about myself so he can convincingly pretend we’ve been together for six weeks.

A very attractive stranger.

His truck is still parked behind Mercury Slice. Mikki promised not to have it towed. I’m not sure when I agreed to any of this. Somewhere around the second margarita, probably.

“Favorite food?” Liam asks.

“Tacos.”

“Good answer.”

“Yours?”

“Steak.”

“Boring.”

He looks personally offended. “Steak isn’t boring.”

“It’s the default favorite food of every manly man.”

He grins. “You think I’m a manly man.”

“Shut up,” I say, my cheeks flushing. “How do you take your coffee?”

“Black.”

I grimace. “Only serial killers drink their coffee black.”

He laughs, and I have to keep my eyes very firmly on the road. Everything about him is distracting. The dark hair, the scruff, the tan forearm resting along the open window. His faded gray T-shirt is doing a lot of work across his shoulders, and it’s hard to remember I met him about forty minutes ago.