Lucky This Isn't Real: MacBride Brothers Series St. Patrick's Day Fake Fiance Romance by Jamie Knight (digital e reader .TXT) 📕

I was at a table covered with a green linen cloth, and a nicely dressed man was pushing my chair in for me.

“You look deep in thought,” Sean said pleasantly, sitting down beside me.

“Trying to figure out which fork to use,” I fibbed, observing the plethora of silverware lined up around me at this five-star restaurant.

He smiled sheepishly.

“Afraid I can’t help you there. Pity, I could have repaid the kindness and patience you displayed to me back at the church. Are you sure you’re okay?”

I nodded.

“Yep, no injuries but my pride.”

It was a lie, really, all of it. I’d been going to five-star restaurants since I was big enough to see over the table. It was unavoidable due to my father’s business. He was damn near royalty in L.A., where he plied his considerable legal skills for some of Hollywood’s top talent.

I could use an oyster fork with the best of them. I’d also sustained no injuries from my little run-in with Sean, even to my pride.

“Glad to hear it,” Sean said. “That you’re not hurt, I mean. I’m an eejit sometimes, which can be a hazard with my job. Luckily, I’m mostly standing still for that. I seem to be able to manage myself while I’m stationary.”

“What business are you in?”

“I co-own a chain of butcheries back home in Ireland.”

The latent vegetarian in me screamed, but I tamped down my surprise. I wasn’t militant or anything. I just tried to keep my creature intake to fish on occasion.

“Interesting,” was as diplomatically as I could think to put it.

Even his “interesting” industry wasn’t enough to put me off him. Our connection, quick as it had been, was stronger than I could have imagined. I’d never really gone in for the whole insta-love thing, thinking it only existed in fairytales.

This didn’t feel like that exactly. I couldn’t even say what it felt like. I just knew it was powerful, and we would be fools to even try and resist.

I wanted to suggest that we go somewhere else after the rehearsal dinner, just the two of us. Or even that we go back to the hotel where I was staying. I knew what would happen if he said yes to either. We would end up falling into bed with all other concerns falling away.

I could see the entire scene in my head, and it made me smile. I nearly asked him if he was interested. Only my sense of propriety shouting from the dark distance in the back of my head stopped me.

I was never one to hold with conventions, but I didn’t want to be too forward. I really liked Sean. Probably more than I should have but also enough that I didn’t want him to think of me as someone who would jump the bones, or, ummm, boner, of any guy who passed by.

He was a special case, and I wanted to make sure he knew it, even if it meant denying myself pleasure in the short-term.

For the rest of the evening, I managed to keep my panties on and my libido in check enough to actually enjoy the meal and company.

Things were a lot more relaxed than they were when I dined with my father and, while it was far from my first time at such a fancy restaurant, it was the first time I’d really had the chance to enjoy it. Not having to worry about anything I might say or do or what I ate was a nice change.

Suddenly an alarm sound came from Sean’s jacket pocket and it was one of the more dramatic ringtones I’d ever heard. It made me jump a little, but I tried to not let it show.

He pushed away from the table and stood up.

“Excuse me. I’ve got to take this.”

I figured it was a business call, going by the dramatic tone of the ring and the hastiness of his exit, although he still maintained a baseline level of politeness. It hurt to see him go. Like he’d taken a part of me with him.

I couldn’t really explain it. I was usually so independent, not really feeling like I needed anyone, aside from Maggie and my other close girlfriends. But it wasn’t the same need I was feeling for Sean MacBride.

I had to know if he felt the same way. It wasn’t clear what I would say to him, but I had to say something. I couldn’t come right out and make everything explicit, but I could further indicate my interest.

“Hey, stranger,” Maggie said, as she came up and hugged me from behind.

“Hey, babe.”

She lay her chin on my shoulder.

“I’ve hardly gotten to see you.”

“You’ve been busy,” I pointed out. “And I’m the least of your concerns. A lot of people want your attention.”

“Still, that’s no reason for me to neglect my best friend,” Maggie said, taking Sean’s empty seat.

I wasn’t sure she was supposed to do that with the assigned seating and all, but she could really do anything she wanted. It was almost her big day, after all.

“Listen,” she said, “I’ve been thinking. I haven’t really had time for a bachelorette party and would like to have one last single girl’s night out while I have the chance.”

It was nice to hear her say that. I could only assume she meant to include Nicole and Amy as well.

Maggie and I had only met less than a couple years ago after she and her ex, an asshole named Kenny, had broken up. We’d both been looking for an apartment and ended up renting one together.

She explained she hadn’t had many friends growing up. I was never sure if she was shy or had self-esteem issues.

Her dad died when she was young and, when her mom remarried, she’d grown close to her