“It’s a little more involved than that.” I bite my bottom lip. “My mom rented out the Hayhurst mansion for the event.”

Carter frowns. “I thought the reception was at the Jackson Brews Banquet Center?”

“The reception is, but Mom wants everyone to stay in the mansion together for the event—Wednesday through Sunday, I mean. And since she thinks you’re my boyfriend, she wants you to stay too.”

Across the bar, Myla is sitting with two other equally peppy girls. She ignores them as she messes with her phone. When Carter’s phone buzzes, she lifts her gaze to watch him, but he doesn’t even pull it from his pocket. He keeps his attention on me, and his lips curve into a smile. “You’re asking me to stay in some swanky mansion-turned-bed-and-breakfast for four nights while pretending to be your boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

He arches a brow and gives me such a lascivious grin that my insides do the cha-cha. “Where do I sign up?”

My attention returns to Myla. She scowls and types something else on her phone. Carter’s phone buzzes again. Have they been dating and I missed it? I didn’t even realize they were more than acquaintances, but Carter has gotten a bit of a reputation lately, and sleeping with the hot cheer coach falls right in line with the things I’ve heard.

He continues to ignore his phone.

I shake my head. “We won’t be sharing a room or anything. My parents are way too conservative for that. But they want to get to know you, so if you’re supposed to be my boyfriend, they expect you to join us at the mansion. They’ll probably put you in a room with Saanvi’s fiancé or my cousin Trevor or something.”

“Oh.” He rubs a hand over his scruffy beard. “That’s definitely less appealing than four nights with you. Do you know if Trevor likes to cuddle?”

I smack him in the stomach with the back of my hand—and feel the rock-hard evidence of his workouts beneath his shirt. Damn. “We’d have to make it believable.”

He grins. “I think last night proved we’re pretty good at that. I’m not a great liar, but I didn’t find it that hard to pretend you’re my girl.” He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. The simple touch sizzles through me, leaving need in its wake and making me pull away before I can lean into him. “Do you think you can handle it?”

I swallow. “I can. But I think we should set some clear boundaries between us if we’re going to do this. No sex. We only need to be affectionate in front of other people, and we can behave normally in private.”

“Normal as in . . .”

“Platonic. You might be good at the friends-with-benefits thing, but I’m not sure I have it in me.”

“So you did make a decision.”

Only just now. “I guess so.” I wait a beat, trying to decide how much to say, how much to explain. “Do you remember when that guy from your station wanted you to give me his number?”