She’s fucking gorgeous.Strawberry blonde hair, brilliant green eyes, curves for days.My fingers itch to hold her, a reaction that I’ve never had before in my life.
My angel is wearing a pretty green dress.I frown, wondering where her coat is.It’s cold outside, and she should be wearing more than that swatch of velvet.I’m about to shrug out of my coat and wrap it around her when she stops right in front of me.
“Hi,” she says, squaring her shoulders.“I’m Jem.”
I bite back a smile.Damn, she’s adorable.A tiny pixie who looks like she’s headed into battle.
“Rune.”
She stares at me, clearly trying to work up the courage to say something.
“Can I help you, Jem?”
She nods.“I need a date for this wedding.”
My mouth drops open.Of all the things I thought she might say, that wasn’t even on my list.No one has ever asked me out before, and I’m not sure how to react.
“You’re asking me out?”I blurt out.
She blushes as she nods.“It’s in a few weeks, a month.”
“You don’t have a boyfriend?”
Her smile dims.
If someone hurt her, then maybe I’ll be able to use some of my skills in civilian life after all,I think.
“No, I don’t date.I haven’t…” She trails off, then clears her throat.“I refuse to be the token single friend at another wedding.”
“So don’t go,” I suggest.
What the hell are you doing?I scream at myself.Date her!Marry her!
“That’s not an option.She’s my friend, and besides, I’m the maid of honor.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.So… will you be my date?”
“Why me?”I ask, needing to know why she chose me.
“Well, I need someone no one knows, or they’ll realize that this isn’t real.”
My stomach sinks at her words, and I lean back on my heels.“I’ll, uh, I’ll have to think about it.”
“Oh, okay.”She deflates before my eyes.“Here’s my number.”
I watch as she scribbles her number on a piece of paper and hands it to me.I take it and shove it into my pocket.
“I’ll see you,” she says softly, then turns and heads toward the front of the store.
I watch her walk away and wonder what the hell I’m going to do.I want to help her out, but I want to date her too, and I don’t think I can handle that it would all be fake to her.
I grab the rest of my groceries and head up front, too.There’s no sign of Jem, and I hurry to pay and then go out to my truck.I drive back to my cabin, her phone number burning a hole in my pocket the whole way.
What the hell am I going to do?
THREE