Four Day Fling Read online

  Since there was nobody else arriving yet—because we were early as I’d promised—we were completely alone in the outside area.

  “Ready?” I asked Adam.

  “Yep. Are you?”

  “I wasn’t ready five minutes ago. You think that shit changed in the last five minutes?”

  He laughed, pulling me closer into his side. “Come on. If we get through the first hour of being fake boyfriend and girlfriend, we’ve got this. Sixty minutes. We can do it.”

  “Man, you’re so perky. I might have to break up with you.” I shook my head. “You’re totally gonna ruin my hating people persona.”

  “Is that the one you put out with your shirts?”

  “Yes. Embrace it or RIP to our totally real relationship.”

  He pressed his face into the side of my head as we walked into the ballroom.

  I couldn’t lie. It was decorated beautifully. Pearlescent white and baby pink balloons adorned each table, each four-balloon bouquet sprouting from the top of a white and pink flower arrangement.

  If it wasn’t already obvious, the color scheme for the wedding was white and baby pink.

  Long story short, it was perfect. Everything from the napkins to the lights above the bar had been changed.

  It was like a fairytale. Seriously. My sister’s vision was unreal.

  If I had to have a pre-wedding reception party, it’d consist of nachos and dips and Friends With Benefits blaring on the big screen. And me, alone, in my bed, with nobody else.

  I was not my sister.

  Not even close.

  “Poppy! Finally!” My mom came rushing over to us.

  We were barely in the goddamn room.

  “Where have you been? We need you to help set up!”

  I did a double-take. “I told Rosie six. She never told me she needed help, or I’d have been here.”

  “Well, thank goodness you’re finally here. And you’re not alone.” Surprise briefly crossed her face. “Miranda Dunn. Poppy’s mom. And you are?”

  I glanced at Adam. I think he finally “got” why we clashed. And it’d been sixty fucking seconds.

  “Adam. It’s a pleasure, ma’am.” He ignored her offered handshake and, instead, took her hand and kissed her fingers.

  Mom put her hand to her chest. “Handsome and he has manners,” she said to me, then turned back to Adam. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”

  “I’m pretty sure I’d remember if we had.” He shot her a charming grin.

  “Huh,” Mom said. “You are really familiar to me. Maybe I know a family member? What’s your last name?”

  That was an excellent question.

  Adam opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by my father.

  “Adam Winters! As I live and breathe.” Dad grabbed his hand and shook it enthusiastically. “What are you—Poppy? You brought Adam Winters to your sister’s wedding?”

  I was missing something.

  Something big.

  “I, er,” I started.

  “Adam Winters!” Mom clapped her hands. “Of course! I told you I knew your face!”

  Adam grinned.

  I glanced at him. My chest was tight. What was going on? What was I missing?

  “My grandson is going to go crazy. Wait there! Mark!” Dad yelled, spinning in circles. “Mark! Get Rory!”

  “Dad? Why are you yelling?” Rosie asked. “Rory’s here with me. What’s going on?”

  I wanted to know that, too.

  She looked up and saw Adam. “Well, shit.”

  Adam laughed.

  “Rosie! Your language!” Mom scolded her.

  I looked down at my six-year-old nephew who was staring at Adam like he’d just met his hero. You know, how I imagine I’d look if I ever met Channing Tatum.

  Adam crouched down so he was eye-to-eye with Rory. “Hey, buddy. It’s Rory, right?”

  Rory nodded, completely dumbstruck.

  “I’m Adam.” He held out his hand, but Rory was frozen in place. “How you doin’?”

  Rory opened his mouth, but instead of speaking, he burst into tears.

  My mouth opened as I stared at the situation in front of me.

  Seriously.

  What.

  Was.

  Happening?

  “Uhh,” Adam said, standing up. “Sorry?”

  Rosie hugged Rory to her leg and grinned at Adam. “Don’t be. He loves you. Once he’s gotten over the shock, he’ll probably follow you around all weekend.”

  Seriously!

  “I’ll be waiting when he is.” Adam touched my back again with a smile.

  “What’s going on?” Mark said, joining the group and adjusting his tie. “Why is Rory crying? Sam, did you scare him again?”

  Dad chuckled. “No. He just met his hero.”

  Mark looked around the group until his eyes landed on Adam. “Adam Winters! Well, hell. What a pleasure.” They shook hands. “Poppy? You brought Adam Winters?”

  I did the only thing I could.

  I nodded.

  Mark shook his head in disbelief. “Is this our wedding present? Kidding!” He laughed.

  I met Rosie’s eyes. I was going to hyperventilate if somebody didn’t get me out of this situation.

  “Honey, can you take Rory? Now we’re all introduced, I really need Poppy to help me with something,” she said, extracting a now-calm Rory from her right leg.

  “What do you need her help with?” Mom asked, looking between me and her.

  “Something!” She grabbed my arm and dragged me away. Mom’s eyes narrowed as we left the ballroom.

  Oh God.

  She knew.

  She knew I didn’t know.

  I was so, so screwed.

  CHAPTER FIVE – POPPY

  What The Cluck and a Hockey Puck

  “What’s wrong?” Rosie said in a low voice.

  “What is happening?” I breathed, pressing my hands against my stomach. “Why does everyone know who he is?”

  Her lips parted, and she stared at me. “Wait. Are you telling me you don’t know who he is?”

  I rubbed my hand across my forehead. “Jesus, no.”

  “I’m so confused.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend,” I whispered. “We met last weekend, I slept with him, and asked him to come with me to your wedding and he agreed.”

  “What?” Rosie paused, then laughed. “Okay, we’re gonna come back to that, but again: You don’t know who he is?”

  “I have no fucking idea! Oh my God. What’s going on?”

  “Okay, first, you need to calm down.” She grabbed my upper arms and looked me in the eye. “Remember when I was in labor and you talked me through the breathing?”

  I nodded, my breath hitching.

  “Breathe. And breathe. And breathe.” She did that for a few more seconds until my breathing was under control once again. “Okay?”

  “I’m good. Sorry. I panicked.”

  “That is the general reason for a panic attack,” she said. “Adam Winters is a star forward for the Orlando Storms.”

  “I don’t know what that means.”

  She sighed. “He’s a famous as fuck hockey player. He’s both Dad’s and Mark’s favorite player on the team and he’s Rory’s freaking idol. He’s the reason Rory is learning how to play. He wants to be Adam when he’s older. Do you understand that?”

  Oh.

  Oh, shit.

  Yes. I understood that.

  “Oh, fuck,” I whispered. “This just went from bad to worse.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Mom is going to think I did this deliberately to upstage you, and I can’t tell her that I didn’t know who he was!”

  “Ohhhh,” Rosie breathed out. “Oh, shit. Okay, don’t worry. We can handle this. I can talk her down.”

  “How? How do we talk me out of this situation?”

  “I’ll tell her she didn’t give you a choice. You’re seeing him, so you had to bring him, because you c
ouldn’t come alone.”

  “Okay. Jesus. This is a shitshow.”

  “What’s going on?” Mark asked, touching both of our shoulders. “Your mom is about to have a cow in there.”

  Rosie glanced at me.

  “Rosie, no!” I begged.

  “Somebody brought the most famous hockey player in the country to the wedding and didn’t know who he was.” She grinned at him.

  “What?” Mark looked at me, fighting laughter. “Poppy—no. She’s lying.”

  “Ohhh!” I covered my face. “It’s true. Damn it. I slept with him last weekend and asked him to be my date. I had no idea who he was until ten minutes ago.”

  He didn’t even try to hide his laughter.

  “Don’t laugh at me! This is a disaster!”

  “Oh, Pops.” He wrapped me in a hug, and I pouted at my sister. “Only you could do this.”

  “Mom can’t find out,” Rosie said. “And also if she tries to claim that Poppy did it to overshadow the wedding, we have to twist it back on her, okay?”

  Mark released me and gave her a thumb up. “Tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”

  “Keep her away from me,” I muttered. “Where’s the bar?”

  ***

  “Hey,” Adam said, sliding onto the chair next to me. “You hiding from your mom?”

  “As a rule, yes.” I took a big gulp of my wine. “So, this has been fun and not at all awkward.”

  He looked down and chuckled. “Not at all.”

  I sighed and turned my head to meet his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me who you are?”

  “You never asked,” he replied simply. “And for the first time in a long time, I was with someone who didn’t look at me and see what I was.”

  “You knew I didn’t know who you are?”

  “Yeah. That was obvious when we met. Your friend, too. You were the only women in the general area who weren’t trying to get my attention in that bar, and when I approached you, I realized that you really didn’t know who I was.” He paused, twisting his beer bottle around. “Of course, had I have known I’d be coming here and walking into a family of hockey fanatics, I’d have given you the heads up.”

  “And I would have really appreciated that.” I dropped my head and laughed. “Oh, my God. This is insane. I’m sorry you’re here.”

  “I’m not. Your family is great. Your mom’s a little bit of a loose cannon—”

  “A little bit?” I looked at him. “She’s lost her marbles!”

  He laughed, leaning closer. “I’m trying to be nice.”

  “Just say it as it is. You might have noticed that my family tends to say what they think.”

  “I figured that out when your dad told me I’m a fucking amazing player, but I need to stop wasting chances a spider could take.”

  “Oh, God,” I muttered.

  Adam laughed and touched my back. “Don’t worry, Red. He’s right.”

  “Oh, Goddddd,” I muttered again. “I want to die.”

  “There’s no need to be so dramatic. It’s fine. On the bright side, we didn’t have to handle the whole, “How did you two meet?” scenario.”

  “Not yet,” I corrected him. “But the worst is yet to come.”

  “Why?”

  “My grandfather gets here tomorrow. He’s the worst of us all. He has a story for every family function and he’ll talk your ear off.”

  “It’s a good thing I’m a patient listener.” He grinned.

  “It’s too late for me, but you can still leave.” I finished my wine. “My mom is undoubtedly going to say I deliberately brought you as my date to upstage my sister.”

  “Which you couldn’t have possibly done, because you had no idea who I was.”

  “Adam. I can’t tell her that. I lose in every scenario.”

  He looked at me for a minute, then laughed.

  “This isn’t funny.”

  “It’s ridiculous. I have a feeling this weekend might be the most fun I’ve had in ages,” he said.

  “Really? Being in a room where everyone knows who you are is fun to you?”

  “Well, it’s part of my job.”

  “I mean here right now.”

  He turned his entire body until he was facing me and leaned in. “Actually, nobody has recognized me at all. Only your family. For the most part, unless anyone here is a fan, they won’t know who I am.”

  “Like me.”

  He grinned. “Like you, Red.”

  I blushed and pushed hair behind my ear. “I hope so. If too many people fangirl over you, my mom is going to kill me.”

  “Should I set up a table in the corner if it happens? Send people in groups?”

  “No. Pick me up, and we run, just like you promised.”

  “Deal. Where are we running to?”

  “Anywhere that my mother isn’t.” I snorted.

  Rosie slipped into the other chair. “Okay,” she said, leaning over to both of us. “I think I convinced Mom you didn’t do this to upstage me. I heard her mention it to Dad who promptly told her to shut up and jumped in there. Then she got pissed at me for talking to her instead of entertaining my guests.” She gave me a grimace and pinched her fingers. “I’m this close to going Bridezilla on her.”

  “Rosie. Shouldn’t you be entertaining your guests?” Mom appeared out of nowhere and gripped the back of a chair.

  “We were just clearing something up,” Rosie said.

  “Like what?”

  “She’s not sure about one of the cocktails,” I lied. “I told her I’ll do the cocktails tomorrow at lunch, so she doesn’t have to worry.”

  Mom looked at us suspiciously. “Which cocktail was she worried about?”

  Ah, shit.

  “Does it matter? It’s Poppy’s jobs to handle the cocktails,” Rosie said.

  “Thank God,” I muttered.

  “What was that?” Mom shot daggers at me with her eyes.,

  “I coughed.”

  “Hmm.” She scanned us all with one quick flick of her gaze and let go of the chair. “Rosie, Mark’s parents are looking for you. They have a gift for Rory in their room and don’t know what you’d like them to do with it.”

  My sister shot me a look and stood up.

  “It’s also time for the speeches after that. Poppy?”

  “Yes?”

  “Is your speech ready?”

  “What speech? I don’t have a speech. I have to say something at the wedding, but not now.”

  Mom stared at me. “You’re scheduled for a speech tonight.”

  Through gritted teeth, I said, “Then unschedule me.”

  “Are you going to upset your sister by not doing what you should be?”

  I folded my arms and sat back in my chair. She wasn’t going to guilt me into this. Not a chance in hell. Nobody told me about speeches at this party, and I wasn’t going to stand up there and look like an idiot.

  No way.

  Mom sighed. “Fine. No speech. But I expect you to pay full attention.”

  “Mom, this is a wedding, not a math class.”

  She looked like she was going to say something, but instead clicked her tongue and turned to Rosie. “Come on.”

  Rosie wiggled her fingers and followed Mom through the tables.

  I let go of a heavy breath, rested my elbows on the table, then buried my face in my heads. “Fuck me.”

  Adam laughed, rubbing his hand down my back. “Need a drink?”

  I nodded.

  I needed ten.

  ***

  I snatched my sister’s hand before she got wrapped up in another conversation with a guest. “Hey. I wanted to let you know that we’re leaving.”

  She glanced at the dainty watch on her wrist. “You are?”

  “Yeah, three of Mark’s cousins recognized Adam, and in the way only teen boys could, made a fuss. He stole the bartender’s pens, took selfies, and signed napkins. I think it’s probably better if we leave before someone notices he’s getting a lot of
attention.”

  She smirked. “I agree. Okay. We have to meet with the priest in the morning, but you’re ready for the rehearsal dinner, right?”

  “Six-thirty, right here,” I said.

  “Okay.” She hugged me, and I darted out of the ballroom before my mother saw me and tried to stop me.

  Adam was waiting for me. “Did you manage to escape the mothership?”

  I bit back a laugh and nodded. “Like a ninja.”

  “Quick. Let’s go before anyone else recognizes me today.” He grabbed my hand and gave it a tug.

  “Whoa, careful. I can’t run in these heels. And no, that isn’t an invitation for you to haul me off like a caveman.”

  “Take them off, then. I’m on borrowed time. All it takes is one more crazy hockey fan from your family to up and leave that party, and I’m screwed. And if I’m screwed…” He raised one eyebrow.

  I took off my shoes. “Where are we going?” I asked when he dragged me into the elevator and pressed the down button.

  “To the beach. It’s quiet out there.”

  “It’s also quiet in our room.”

  “I know. But if I take you up there right now, it won’t be quiet for long.” He shot me a gaze. “And after what happened earlier, I think we probably need to get to know each other a little more.”

  Well, there was a logic I couldn’t deny. There was no doubt that my mom would start her bombardment of questions the second she had a minute and found us alone. If I had another deer-in-headlights moment like I had tonight, I was done for.

  “That’s a very good idea.”

  The elevator doors pinged open, and luckily for us, the lobby was deserted. Mostly because everyone was still at my sister’s pre-wedding reception, but still. We made our way out to the front of the hotel and down the path that led to the private beach.

  “There’s nobody here,” Adam said as we stepped into the sand. “Did your sister hire out the entire resort or something?”

  “Actually, she did,” I confirmed, shaking my head. “Mark’s family is filthy rich, and mine isn’t exactly poor. Not to mention that Mark himself makes a fuck ton of money.”

  “What does your sister do?”