threw up her hands. “Because this mystery woman doesn’t exist. Admit it, you aren’t dating anyone.”
Gavin opened his mouth, but Schuyler held up a finger. “At least not anyone serious.”
“Oh, it’s serious. It’s also none of your business.”
“Tell me something about her. One thing, Gavin.”
“She has blue eyes,” he answered without hesitation then added, “And fiery red hair.”
“A ginger.” Schuyler rubbed her hands together. “I need more details.”
Gavin shook his head. “You said one thing. I gave you two.”
“Where did you meet? Why didn’t you bring her? How long have you been dating?”
“Schuyler, stop.”
“I can’t,” she admitted with a laugh. “I need a new project now that Maddie’s wedding is over. You’re it.”
“I’m not,” Gavin insisted, running a hand through his thick hair.
He looked so uncomfortable and unaccustomedly vulnerable that Christine’s heart stuttered. Tonight was the first time she’d seen this side of Gavin. He seemed almost human...not so picture-perfect, and it made her like him all the more. Which was dangerous, because she already liked him way more than was wise.
Without thinking, she took a step forward, away from her spot behind the fake plant. Gavin glanced up for one instant, and he looked so darn happy to see her. She wanted that look in his eyes to last. So instead of retreating, as her brain instructed, she moved toward them.
Schuyler glanced over her shoulder. “Hey, Christine. Are you having fun?”
Christine swallowed against the ball of nerves stuck in her throat. “It was a beautiful wedding, and Maddie and Zach look really happy. You did an amazing job with the planning.”
“Thanks.” Schuyler’s smile was so genuine, Christine almost let the conversation end there. She was an honest person who valued her job and the relationships she’d forged with each of the Fortunados. But dancing with Gavin had been like eating a bite of cake after dieting for years. One taste wasn’t nearly enough. She wanted the whole piece. “Please don’t be upset with Gavin,” she said, working hard to ensure her voice didn’t waver.
Schuyler frowned. “Do you mean our argument out here?” She laughed softly. “Don’t worry. It’s a friendly brother and sister thing. I have to convince him to give up the name of the woman—”
“I asked him not to say anything.” Christine wrapped an arm around Gavin’s waist and leaned in close. “I wasn’t sure if your dad would approve of us.” She glanced up at Gavin and smiled. He was staring at her like she’d just sprouted a second head. Not exactly catching on to her plan, which made sense because she didn’t actually have one.
“Wait.” Schuyler gasped, her gaze ricocheting between the two of them. “What?”
Christine looked at Schuyler once more. “I hope you can understand...we wanted to keep things private. It was never my intention to deceive you, but—”
“Are you saying that you’re Gavin’s ghost girlfriend?”
“I know it probably comes as a surprise.”
“Understatement of the century,” Schuyler muttered. “You can’t expect me to believe—”
“It doesn’t matter what you believe.” Gavin looped an arm around Christine, dropping a kiss on the top of her head that she felt all the way to her toes. “Christine isn’t a ghost, but think about how you were giving me the third degree. I didn’t want her to have to deal with that, not when I wasn’t here to protect her.”
Christine resisted the urge to whimper. Maybe it was the wine, but the thought of Gavin protecting her made funny things happen to her insides.
Schuyler’s mouth dropped open. She stared at them for several long seconds. Christine tried to act normal and not like she might spontaneously combust at any moment. She rested her head against Gavin’s chest, and as great as dancing with him had been, this took things to a new level. Without having to concentrate on the steps, she could enjoy his warmth and the feel of his rock-solid muscle. Not to mention the way he smelled, a mix of expensive cologne and soap. Would it be weird if she reached up on tiptoe, buried her face against his neck and just sniffed? Yeah, definitely weird.
She waited for Schuyler to call them out on the lie. No way would anyone, let alone Gavin’s perceptive sister, believe that they were a couple.
“Well...okay, then,” Schuyler said slowly. “I’ll admit I’m at a loss for words.”
“Thank heavens for small favors,” Gavin muttered.
“I still can’t believe... I mean how long have you two been an item?”
“A while,” Gavin said before Christine could answer. A good thing, too, because the reality of what she’d done was suddenly crashing over her.
“Don’t tell your dad,” she blurted, earning a frown from Schuyler and a gentle squeeze from Gavin.
“He loves you like you’re part of the family,” Schuyler told her. “You know that.”
“He loves me working for the family,” Christine clarified. “This is different.”
“Gavin, tell her she has nothing to worry about from Dad or Mom.”
“I have already, but you still need to honor Christine’s feelings.” He lifted a hand to Christine’s chin, tipping it up until she was forced to meet his green eyes. This close she could see the gold flecks around the edges. She half expected to see anger or frustration for what she’d done, but he looked totally relaxed.
That made one of them.
“Christine makes the rules,” he murmured and before she could react to that novel concept, he brushed his lips over hers.
The kiss started innocently enough. She had the mental wherewithal to register that his mouth was both soft and firm. He tasted of mint gum and whiskey, a combination that had her senses reeling.
She felt him begin to pull away and some small, brave, underused part of her rebelled at the thought. She wound her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, sensation skittering down her spine when their tongues mingled. A low moan erupted from her...or did the sound come from Gavin? The sound jolted her out of her lust-filled stupor and she jerked back. She’d had a couple glasses of wine, but not enough to excuse her basically mauling this man in front of his sister.
“I guess you guys are the real thing,” Schuyler said with a laugh. “No one can fake that kind of chemistry.”
“Right,” Gavin murmured.
Christine kept her gaze on Schuyler. She had no idea what Gavin was thinking at the moment and was almost afraid to find out.
Schuyler wagged a finger at her brother. “Take care, big brother.
