Page 76 of Bluffed By the Offense

“Yippee,” I say.

He huffs out an almost laugh.

I am happy about one thing. Marcus Delaney will appear in public with me. And that will mean donors, support, and big names backing the efforts of Porch Light. It means I can keep the windfall in the account and use it to bless families who have been displaced by the spring storm.

“Don’t sound so excited, Car … Cass.”

“What do women usually do when the great Marcus Delaney asks them to fake date?” I ask out of curiosity.

“I have never had a fake girlfriend. I’ve always had real dates.”

“Same,” I say.

“Well, I’ll be the best fake boyfriend you ever had,” he says.

I almost smile. But then I remember … It's him.

Chapter 16

Marcus

She tells enough white lies to ice a wedding cake.

~ Margot Asquith

Declan thrums his thumbs on the steering wheel. The radio’s on and Winona’s in the passenger seat belting out the lines to Levitating by Dua Lipa, pointing to Declan while she sings.

My jaw practically drops to the floor when Declan starts rapping DaBaby’s lines.

He never sings in front of people. I’ve heard him in the shower on the road when we shared a hotel room. It shows what a good woman can do for a man. With Winona, Declan’s himself in ways even the guys and I don’t draw out of him.

I don’t have time to meet a good woman. Instead, I’m fake dating my enemy.

“Way to spitfire,” I say.

“I’m a man of many talents,” Declan says with a smile at me in the rearview.

I smile back. I love seeing him so relaxed and happy. He deserves the best.

We pull up in front of Baker From Another Mother.

Winona turns around to face me. “Thanks for coming along for this. I know it’s way early for cake tasting, but with the season starting …”

“I’m glad to do whatever you two need for the wedding,” I say. “Even though Declan picked the wrong best man.”

Winona laughs. “You’re all the best men in my book.”

She unbuckles and hops out of the passenger seat.

I climb out of the back seat.

“Cass is coming with Daisy and Carli,” Winona says, smiling at me like we’re in on a secret.

She and Declan believe Cass and I buried the hatchet and somehow our attraction grew and overshadowed our chronic repulsion to each other.

Cass.

This will be the first time we’ve been in public together since the gala. Acting the part at a charity event is one thing. Putting on a show in front of our friends is another.