When Rob Mead, the brilliant, handsome, wealthy CEO of AppTech, asked Gina Wilkes to attend a fundraiser as his fake girlfriend, she jumped at the chance. Even if she didn't owe him a favor, networking with Portland's rich and successful might offer an opportunity to increase her client roster when she wraps up this project and returns to her marketing job in Los Angeles.
Then one of Rob's coworkers tells a well-known gossip that the two are engaged. Soon everyone is in on the “secret.”
Now Gina and Rob are on their way to Rob's hometown to set the story straight.
Except Rob is starting to have second thoughts. Fake relationships always work out in the movies. Maybe they can in real life, too. Can he convince Gina to give them a try?
When You Fake Date a Stranger is a sweet romantic comedy that won’t steam your glasses. Perfect for fans of Sariah Wilson, Jenny Proctor, and Kate O’Keeffe, this sparkling romcom features a neurodivergent, cinnamon roll hero, a strong, sassy heroine, and a supporting cast you’ll want to grab a beer with. Plus lots of chemistry, humor, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
A teaser:
Gina:
Sometimes the ability to smooth ruffled feathers is more of a curse than a superpower. When I arrive in the Guilder Café and see the woman berating my favorite barista, I can’t help but step in and mediate. It takes a few minutes to convince the woman that she can’t pay for her books there. “Guilder is a separate business. They just rent space from Powell’s. You’ll need to pay at the front counter in the Green Room. I can show you where it is.”
“I don’t have my coffee yet!” The few strands of hair that have dared to escape her tight bun quiver around her face like Medusa’s snakes.
Joshua, the young man behind the counter lifts a cup. “Here it is. Freshly pulled Americano.” He smiles sickly as he offers the cup.
The woman snatches the beverage from his grasp. “Finally.”
I turn to show her the way to the Green Room, but she shrugs me off. “I know where it is. I come here all the time. Or at least I used to. I’m not sure I’ll be back.” She lifts her chin and stalks away.
“Good riddance,” Joshua mutters. “If she comes here all the time, why’s she trying to buy books in the coffee shop?”
I shake my head. “Who knows.”
“Thanks for the assist, Gina.”
“Sure. Always willing to help a friend.”
He beams. “You want a drink? On the house.”
I have a full afternoon ahead of me, so I’m quick to accept. “Thanks. Chai latte. Iced.”
“You got it.” He winks and spins around to fix my beverage.
I glance at the big clock on the wall—it’s after two and the lunch rush has slowed a bit, but a steady stream of people moves in and out of the room. I can steal a few more minutes to browse before getting back to work. Backing away from the congestion, I run into something large and immovable.
“Careful.”
The single word sends a shiver up my spine. I recognize that voice. The one who got away. I turn slowly, sucking in a deep breath to steady my galloping heart. His faint pine-scented cologne wraps around me like a warm hug. “Well, hello.” Rob Mead looks just as amazing as I remember. Tall, muscular, movie-star handsome.
His green eyes crinkle in a smile that barely quirks his lips. “Nice to see you, Gina. Do you work here? I thought you did PR.” His eyes dart to my nametag-free chest, then back to my eyes.
“I did. Marketing now, for RCM. In Beaverton. I like to come here when I can. My client is just a few blocks away.” The words come out in a gasping, stuttering spurt. I hoped I’d see Rob again, but it never occurred to me we might run into each other here.
“Me, too. I come here every week. With my friend, Em. She had to go.” He points at the entrance, as if I’ll recognize his friend.
“Cool.” Sterling conversation, Gina. Why is talking to this guy making me so nervous? In my job, I chat up people from all walks of life, from the wealthy and powerful to the janitor cleaning up after the glamorous events. None of them make my heart go into overdrive like this. “I love Powell’s.” I snap my mouth shut. Unlike the effortless chat during our drive to Portland last month, today is awkward and stilted.
“So, I have a favor to ask you.” He puts his hands behind his back like a kid with chocolate on his face trying to convince his mother he didn’t break the pudding bowl on the floor.
I give him a narrow-eyed look. He didn’t bother getting my number, but now that we’ve accidentally run into each other he wants a favor? “Don’t you have a PR rep?”
He shifts from side to side, staring at me intently. “Yeah, that’s kind of the problem.”
“Okaaaay, you’re going to have to give me more than that.”
“I need a girlfriend.” The words tumble out of his mouth like an avalanche.
I stare, open mouthed.
“I mean, a fake girlfriend. I have to go to a gala on Friday night, and I need a fake date.”
“A fake date?” I glance around the room. No one appears to be paying any attention to us.
“Gina! Here’s your chai.” Joshua waves the cup at me from behind the counter. His eyes flick to Rob, then lock on like a heat seeking missile. His lips purse in a silent whistle. “Good thing you got this iced, girl.” He licks his index finger and presses it to his hip while making a sizzle sound.
“Thanks.” I take the drink from him, then turn back to Rob pretending my cheeks aren’t flaming. “This seems like the kind of conversation that should be held privately. Would you like to go to my office?”
“No.” Rob puts a hand on my back and urges me out of the café and through the Yellow Room. “I need to get back to work. But if you’re available on Friday evening and don’t mind helping me scare off an amorous co-worker, I’d be obliged.”
“Let me get this straight. You want me to go to a fancy gala and pretend to be your girlfriend because you don’t want to tell your co-worker you aren’t interested?”
He flushes but nods. “She kinda cornered me, and I said I was bringing a date to the thing.”
“You know, you could have just asked me to go. We don’t have to go all romance novelish with the fake dating.”
He stops, his hand falling away as I keep moving. “Good point. Okay, let me try this again. Would you like to go to the OHSU fundraiser with me? As friends. Pretending to be dating.”
As I turn to face him in the middle of the Blue Room aisle, a sad little drip plonks into my belly. Why is he so anxious to make sure I know this isn’t a real date? Does he find me that unattractive? And if he does, do I want to go with him?
Yes, I do. He might not be interested in me, but I am drawn to him in a way I haven’t felt in ages. I want to spend time with him, even if I’m firmly in the friend zone. If I say no, he’ll walk out the door, and I’ll spend the next two months haunting Powell’s at lunch time, hoping to catch sight of him on his weekly visit with his friend, Em.
He was very careful to make sure I knew his friend was female. What’s that all about? Is he in love with her, but afraid to tell her? “What about your friend? You said you meet her here every week. Why not take her?”
“People know we aren’t a couple.” He glances at his smart watch and pulls out his phone. “I’m so sorry, but I have a meeting in a few minutes. Can I get your number? I’ll text the details.”
He’s assuming I’ll go. Did I say yes without realizing it? Probably. Because I want to go. I take his phone and enter my number and name. “There. Call me, and we can hash this out. And you can tell me what to wear.”
“Perfect. Thanks.” And he’s gone.
I’ve been daydreaming about running into Rob Mead since he gave me a ride a month ago. This was nothing like the daydream.
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