Jennifer Snow – Her Holiday Fling (страница 8)

Chase extended a hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“So, Chase, what do you do?” Marvin asked.

Seemed like a safe enough question to answer honestly, so she gave a slight nod at his side. She was almost certain she’d never told Martin much about James. He’d never remember that she’d been dating a dentist most recently.

“I’m a police officer with the LAPD,” Chase was saying at her side.

“Tough gig,” her boss said.

“It can be challenging.” He nodded.

“Well, we’re glad you were able to be here this week.” He shot a glance at Hayley. “We were starting to think Hayley had made you up.” His pointed look spoke volumes and she was relieved that she hadn’t had to deliver her speech about her absent fiancé. Her boss would never have accepted it as the truth.

She gave a tight laugh. “He’s real,” she said, squeezing his arm. “Anyway, it looks like the performance is about to start.” On the stage a man dressed in traditional Hawaiian costume, holding a large coconut in one hand and a pointed stick in the other, had silenced the band and taken the microphone.

“Yes, well, enjoy the show.” With a wave, her boss rejoined Cornelius Thompson and his wife at their table and Hayley let out a sigh of relief.

First round, a success.

* * *

“JUST ONE QUICK drink then we’ll duck out.”

“Chase, don’t worry. After the performance you just gave with my coworkers, one drink with your family is the least I can do,” Hayley said, feeling slightly tipsy from the two strong mai tais she’d already consumed that evening.

The luau had gone flawlessly. Chase had been the ultimate charmer and everyone seemed to like him, even her boss. A few times he’d seemed to know her so well she’d paused to remind herself that they had just met hours before, not six months ago, the way they claimed. His thoughtful, affectionate ways had almost made her believe they were a happy couple, relieving her anxiety about their ability to pull this off, but giving her something else to worry about.

He did know this was all an act, right?

“Oh, believe me, what we went through over there was nothing compared to the Spanish Inquisition we’re going to face over here,” he said, opening the door to the resort bar and showing his hotel room key to the hostess. His sister had texted him twenty minutes before asking where he was and suggesting the resort bar for a drink. He’d yet to tell them about her and that worried Hayley a little.

“They can’t be that bad...right?”

He squeezed her hand and it was only then that she realized he was still holding it. “They aren’t. It’s my sister, Kate, who will want to know every detail. And as I said, she’s been trying to set me up with a bunch of her friends, so she may be a little...annoyed and full of questions.”

“Like what?” Now she was nervous. Her boss had been happy enough to see a living, breathing male next to her.

“Like how we met, our first date...” He scanned the busy bar for his family.

“We didn’t go over those things.” Shit. They’d spent most of the afternoon discussing her. She realized now she knew little about him, except that he was a cop and his kiss could do things to her she’d never thought possible. Probably not enough to win over his family.

“Just let me answer her questions,” he said with a wink.

A thought struck her then. “What about your parents? Won’t they be suspicious? Wouldn’t you have told them about the woman you’ve been dating long enough to bring to your sister’s wedding?”

He turned to her with a sad smile as he nodded. “Yeah, I would have...but they passed away a long time ago—a car fire when I was eighteen.”

Her mouth dropped open. “I’m sorry.”

“I should have mentioned it before now... Oh, there’s the group.”

Hayley turned in the direction he’d nodded. Oh, my freaking God. Had half of Los Angeles been invited to this wedding? Didn’t destination weddings mean just an elaborate elopement? Apparently not for Kate Hartley. Three long tables had been pushed together in the center of the bar to accommodate the group of about thirty people. “They all came for her wedding?” she whispered.

“Let’s just say my sister usually gets her way—all the time actually. People have a hard time saying no to her. Including me, which is why you’re here.” He winked.

That was right, she was his no-strings-attached safety harness to keep him from having to entertain Kate’s single girlfriends. Well, if a bodyguard against these crazy ladies was what he needed, she could certainly do that. She wrapped an arm around his waist, appreciating the feel of his muscular obliques beneath his shirt. God, he was sexy. “Let’s do this,” she said, heading toward the group.

He hesitated, moving slowly. “One more thing—Cooper’s going to know something’s up... So he’s probably going to be sending me those looks you got all evening from Lila, but don’t worry. He won’t say anything.”

“Why not?”

“I’ll kick his ass.”

She didn’t think he was joking. She’d suspected that Chase hadn’t been keen on his baby sister’s choice of fiancé, and now that she knew about their parents not being around, she could understand his protectiveness even more.

A second later far too many eyes landed on them at the sound of Kate’s high pitched “Chase!” as she climbed over the table bench to rush toward them.

“Brace yourself for impact,” Chase muttered as his sister—a six-foot Amazon—barrelled into them, claiming him in a hug.

Hayley quickly sidestepped the embrace.

“Kate, I’d like you to meet Hayley.”

Pulling away from her brother, Kate gave her a quick once over before she frowned.

Great, she hated her already.

“My girlfriend, Hayley,” he said quickly.

“Hi, Kate. It’s nice to meet you,” Hayley said, forcing a smile.

“You, too...” Kate said slowly, shaking her head. Her long dark hair whipped back and forth in a low ponytail. “Sorry, I’m confused... Chase hadn’t mentioned he was dating someone.” Her eyes narrowed slightly at her brother.

Crap. Those dark, piercing, perceptive eyes knew something was up. Hayley scanned the restaurant for the nearest exit, but Chase’s grip tightened around her.

“I didn’t mention it because I...uh...didn’t know how serious things were before.” He pulled her closer and kissed her cheek. “But I thought it was time for all of you to meet.”

Great, Chase—that was his cover-up? Now she was going to look like a heartless bitch when they conveniently broke up after this week.

But to her surprise, Kate’s face lit up. “Finally.” She turned to Hayley with a genuine smile this time. “We were starting to lose hope on this one and he’s kinda tight-lipped about his personal life. Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone. Chase, why don’t you grab drinks?”

Oh, no, he couldn’t just leave her—he was supposed to be the one doing all the talking and explaining. “Um...actually, I’m okay.”

“I’m not,” Kate said. “Go,” she told her brother.

“See what I mean? Bossy,” Chase whispered. “You’ll be fine. I’ll be back in a minute.”

What? No. “Wait.” But he disappeared through the crowd and she was left at the mercy of his sister.

Fifteen minutes later she’d met everyone and remembered no one’s names, but at least she hadn’t had to answer any of the tough questions. The guest list consisted of mostly friends and two of Kate’s former wedding-planning clients. No other family members—aunts or uncles or grandparents—to worry about. Strange, but she’d take her blessings where she could get them. It seemed the four siblings were the crux of their family unit.

And with Chase back at her side, her worry eased. She would be fine as long as she avoided the single ladies plotting her death at the bar. Kate’s college friends and bridesmaids had left the group promptly after her presence as Chase’s girlfriend was announced. The three women whose photos she’d seen on the plane looked rightly annoyed as their competition for wedding sex with Chase that week was canceled.

Sorry, not sorry, ladies.

“So, how did you two meet?” Kate asked.

Her grip tightened on his hand but he gave a reassuring squeeze. “Actually, I put her in jail.”

Hayley’s eyes wide, she swung to face him. Whatever happened to meeting online or speed dating?

Last time she let him answer a question.

“What?” Kate studied her.

Cooper nearly choked on his beer and all the other ears at the table waited for Chase to explain.

Well, he certainly had everyone’s attention.

Hayley shifted from one foot to the other, waiting to hear what type of crime she was capable of.

“Yep.” Chase was nodding. “I arrested her along with a group of other attorneys who were protesting the teardown of the community center on Sixth Avenue.”

Oh, that didn’t sound too bad. She had participated in a peace rally before. Of course she’d been fifteen and dating a pot-smoking beach-surfer bum, and her father had shown up and dragged her away before the police could arrive and hand out fines for loitering in a public place.

Kate seemed thrilled by the meet-cute story. “Oh, my God, Hayley! How awesome are you? I’m big into protesting for good causes.”

“Kate once chained herself to an oak tree in Heritage Park for three days,” Chase said.