Dashing (Unleashed Romance #2) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,3

us!” She waves me over.

Eli says something to her, and she pushes his shoulder playfully. He’s probably telling her I never cut loose. I’ve never been a big partier. And you won’t find me having an “adventure in Panama” either. I’m rooted here in Summerdale with my job and my family, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have fun in my own way.

And then she’s heading straight for me, and my pulse thrums through my veins.

She looks up at me, a quizzical look on her sweet face. “What’s up?”

“Is Eli going to that party with you?”

She glances back at him. “I don’t know. You think he’d do it?”

Of course he’d do it. He’s all about making a move on a beautiful woman.

She starts moving to the beat. “We are friendly. I see him at the restaurant regularly. He’s the Saturday night entertainment on his acoustic guitar sometimes.”

Yes, the multitalented Eli. He only learned guitar to impress women.

She stills. “Are you okay? You look kinda mad.”

I dip my head toward her ear and lower my voice. “I’ll go with you to the party. I’m looking forward to sticking it to your ex.”

Her eyes light up. “Really?” She throws her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek. Warmth rushes through me. “Thank you! I swear I’ll return the favor somehow.”

I let out a breath, relieved I don’t have to think about Eli touching her. Not that I’m going to make a move. I’m her revenge date. Fiancé. Sweat runs down my spine.

This is all pretend. No commitment necessary.

Wyatt calls out to her.

She holds up a finger for him to wait and beams at me, her plump pouty lips spreading wide. She can’t help having pouty lips. “Thanks again for you know what. We’ll keep it a secret between us.” She winks with a dazzling smile.

My gut tightens, the blood rushing through my veins. I ignore the inconvenient lust. Obviously, it’s been too long for me. I care too much about her to get involved, ultimately hurting her because I can’t give her what she wants, a serious relationship. And Wyatt warned me off for just that reason. Don’t mess with his sister, with the implications being—family tension, losing all the work referrals he sends my way. It’s personal and professional suicide. I’m not screwing things up with him.

I’m just doing her a favor so she can save face in front of her ex. That’s all. It’s a friend thing.

2

Kayla

Here I am with my fake fiancé, la la la. Take that, Rob, you weasel! Adam looks good too. Well, he always looks good—tall, lean with muscle, short brown hair with a scruffy jaw—but he looks especially good today. His white T-shirt shows off his tan, along with the cut of his biceps and corded muscular forearms. This is not a man who sits behind a computer all day. He works those muscles. His faded jeans fit his form deliciously. I’m sure any woman would agree his ass looks fine in those jeans. I’ve spent a decent amount of time admiring his muscular body from the back. Mostly because when I talked to him at Wyatt’s house, Adam would be busy working while I stood behind him, chatting him up. That’s how we became friends.

Just because I admire his booty doesn’t mean I’m crossing the line. I’m not ready for a relationship after getting jilted at the altar. But I feel good when I’m around him, all warm and glowy. Adam is the kind of guy who keeps his word. When he said he’d be at Wyatt’s house at eight a.m. the next day for work, he always showed up right on time. And today he picked me up exactly when he said he would. It means something when a person keeps their word.

“You doing okay?” he asks me for the third time.

We’ve been here for an hour and already made the rounds, talking to everyone. Rob’s not here yet. I can’t leave until he sees me with Adam.

I nod. “Are you okay?”

“Course. Don’t worry about me.”

I know parties aren’t his scene. He’s quiet and reserved, content to be with a small gathering or alone, but he warmed up with me right away. I like to think it’s my friendly personality, but it was most likely sympathy for my devastated state post-altar dumping. At the time I felt compelled to share my woes. Rob and I dated two months, where he showered me with compliments, flowers, cards with mushy stuff written inside, the