smile framed by his neatly trimmed beard.
“I plan to be the perfect gentleman,” this stranger promises.
But my mama taught me better than to get in a car with strangers. Even if they promise me a puppy. Somehow, I get the sense that what Thayden has to offer is much more tempting—and dangerous. I cannot trust him, whether he’s being the charmer or this serious, stripped-down version that tugs at my heartstrings.
He continues, “I promise to be good, even if the means by which I procured this date were less than gentlemanly. I’m sorry about that, by the way. I didn’t think you’d give me the time of day otherwise. And I wanted to spend time with you.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Are you always this smooth?”
“Usually, I’m smoother. But I’m not trying to play games with you, Delilah.”
Why does it have to sound like music when he says my name? Why am I still so disappointed when I think about not kissing him?
“What are you playing at, then? Because I’m getting whiplash.”
He swipes a hand over his face, and the scratchy sound of his short beard under his palm makes my heart thump. Would it be rough or smooth under my palm?
“I need you to understand—”
The ringing of a phone interrupts us, and I’m not sure if I’m madder that the man didn’t silence it for the wedding or the fact that I don’t get to hear whatever he was about to say.
“I’ve got to take this,” he says, looking pained.
“Another one of your dates?” I snap.
His grin turns wry. “It’s my mother. Hello?”
He turns away as I hear the coordinator around the corner, calling the wedding party for photos. It’s a perfect chance to escape from this man who confuses and confounds me. Better to escape from the apex predator, even if I’m the dumb gazelle who secretly wants to invite the lion for lunch.
I’m off as fast as I can move in these heels. Which, given all my years doing pageants, is pretty dang fast.
“Where’s Thayden?” Abby asks as we gather at the front of the church, the photographer directing us.
“He probably crawled back into the hole he crawled out of,” I say. Abby laughs, but I instantly feel guilty. My words are too sharp. Too mean.
“Oh, there he is,” Abby says.
I watch Thayden stride up to Gavin, pulling him close and whispering something in his ear. Gavin’s face tightens in concern, and he pulls Thayden into a hug that he tries to wiggle out of.
Thayden turns to leave the church. Where is he going?! I have half a mind to chase him down, but he catches me staring. With quick steps, he’s before me, placing a quick kiss on my hand. I feel the brush of his lips and the scratch of his beard all the way to the ends of my hair.
I snatch my hand back. “You said no kissing.”
He blinks in surprise, then shakes his head, his smile barely there at all.
“I’m sorry, Delilah. I have to go. Something … came up. Maybe a rain check?”
I want to grab him by the collar and demand he tell me why. Or ask him to take me with him. Anything but let him walk away from me now.
“Never,” is what I say instead.
This man seems to pull out my meanness like someone foolish enough to suck the venom out of a snake bite.
“Well, then, goodbye, Delilah,” Thayden says, his eyes tracking over my face like this is the last time he’s going to see me.
And then, with my heart in my throat, I watch Thayden slip out of the church as though he was never here at all. Once again, instead of the relief I should feel, disappointment falls over my shoulders like a heavy blanket.
“Smile,” the photographer calls, and I pull myself together. If there’s one thing I can do well, it’s fake it.
THE END
Want to follow Delilah and Thayden’s story? Follow Emma on Amazon or sign up for her newsletter to find out when Falling for Your Fake Fiancé is out!
Love Clichés
Falling for Your Best Friend’s Twin
Falling for Your Boss
Falling for Your Fake Fiancé (coming in 2021)
Hometown Heartthrob Series
Marrying Her Dream Groom
Forgiving Her First Love
Loving Her Cowboy
Trusting Her Cowboy Poet
Managing the Rock Star
The Billionaire Surprise Series
The Billionaire Love Match
The Billionaire Benefactor
The Billionaire Land Baron
The Billionaire’s Masquerade Ball
The Billionaire’s Secret Heir
Sandover Island Sweet Romance Series
Sandover Beach Memories
Sandover Beach Week
Sandover Beach Memories
Sandover Beach Christmas
Sandover Beach Series
Secrets Whispered from the Sea
The Lost Light of Summer
A NOTE FROM EMMA
Do you know how terrifying it is to write a book that readers love?
Let me tell you: IT’S TERRIFYING!
Because what comes after success is writing the next book. And the expectations are HIGH. Which means… all the pressure. It’s been so amazing to see the reaction of all the readers to this series, but because of that, I feel like I spent the last month writing this book while breathing into a paper bag.
I hope that this book is everything you wanted, though each story has very different characters, so I’m sure some will speak to you more than others. I am currently halfway through writing Delilah and Thayden’s book, so I can honestly say each of these books bears the mark of the characters within them. I hope you love them ALL in their own way.
As for the age gap… I got some comments from my early readers that it was hard for them. I know that age gaps can be tricky. I started out with Gavin being younger and then his age just kept creeping up… and up… and up. Until he reached MY age.
That just felt RIGHT for him and right for Zoey. I know some people with big age gaps in their relationships, and while it’s not right for everyone, it IS right for some. (As long as it’s legal, people. Keep it legal!)
I’m going to continue this series all the way through Sam’s story, book number five, and hope to release a Christmas novella that’s a spinoff, following a main character who works with Sam.
If you want to keep up with all the new books, here are a few options:
Follow me on Amazon
Sign up for the email list (you’ll get a free book—not romcom, but a contemporary romance)
Join my reader group
I plan to release a book every month or two over the next year, so you’ll want to keep up! I mean… I HOPE you want to keep up. ;)
Thank you so much for reading! If you love this book and the series, I’d love for you to leave a review or tell a friend.
-Emma
THANK YOUS!
A giant thank you to Patty Scott (please check out her books if you haven’t!) for being a fan, a friend, and an early reader/cheerleader.
Thanks also to Marsha, Bernie, Rita, Judy, Donna, Vivian, Teresa, Marie, Lisa, and those of you who also read early but emailed me after I finished putting this together.
Another big thanks to those of you in the reader group who gave me some GREAT material for the Dear Dr. Love letters! Andi, Priscilla, Cheyenne, Marie, Lexi, and Julie! I didn’t use them all, and some might come in future books, but I LOVED your ideas and willingness to share. :)
I HAVE THE BEST READERS. THANK YOU.
About the Author
Emma St. Clair is a USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books. She loves sweet love stories and characters with a lot of sass. Her stories range from rom-com to women’s fiction and all will have humor, heart, and nothing that’s going to make you need to hide your Kindle from the kids. ;)
You can find out more at http://emmastclair.com or join her reader group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/emmastclair/