I HAVEN’T BEEN to the Museum of American History in years, but it’s exactly how I remember.
It’s dark inside, and dozens of Christmas trees adorned with white lights sit on the perimeter of all the rooms. Crystal snowflakes hang from the ceiling, and I spot mistletoe in every doorway. For a hospital with a staffing shortage, it seems a little over the top.
I guess that’s why there are four hundred people in dresses and suits mingling around, waiting to spend money.
Lacey holds my hand as we weave through the crowd, stopping to say hello to a handful of coworkers along the way. Some people do a double take when we pass like their eyes are deceiving them, and I chuckle to myself.
I know I look different in a tuxedo than a hat and joggers. I’d probably look twice, too.
“Want a drink?” she asks as we make it to the part of the museum set up with large round tables. We’re sitting with Maggie and Aiden, and I’m sure that’s not a coincidence. “There’s a bar over there.”
“A drink sounds great. What’re you going to have? Beer? Wine?”
“I’m thinking bourbon or whiskey,” she says, and my mouth twists into a smile.
“A recent favorite?” I ask, and there’s a twinkle in her eye.
“You could say that.” She gives my arm a light tug, and we head for the long line of folks waiting for the bar. “They’re going to serve dinner, then Hannaford is going to give a speech. After that, the silent auction will be open for an hour and a half while everyone gets drunk and writes obscenely large checks.”
“My kind of party. Did you tell him what you were donating?”
“Not exactly. I mentioned it was something that would bring in a lot of money for the hospital, but he was leery without seeing the proof.”
“I would be, too. Sounds like a pyramid scheme.”
We inch closer to the bar, and Lacey tosses her hair over her shoulder. I spot a little red mark on her neck, a souvenir from earlier in her room, and I bite back a grin at the sight of it.
I want to leave a dozen more on her body.
“I know the hospital needs funding, but he’s so money hungry. I’m willing to bet he gets a cut of the earnings brought in from tonight. How is that fair? He has his employees working fourteen and fifteen-hour days while he sits up in a nice office and doesn’t get his hands dirty.” She pauses to take a breath and shakes her head. “Shit. Sorry, that was so unprofessional of me. Especially at a work function.”
“No, it wasn’t. Your career is your livelihood, and you’re allowed to not be happy with it from time to time. Hell, some days I really don’t want to be out on the football field.”
“Really? But you love football.”
“I do. I don’t always like it, though, and that’s okay.”
“Huh. That’s a good way to look at it.”
“There was this coach I had when I played in college—he only lasted a year before getting sacked—and I told myself I would never be like him if I decided to pursue a coaching role. He was lazy and mean. Didn’t give a shit about his players and only looked out for himself. It was him, not the team. Your boss sounds a lot like that, and I’m sorry you have to put up with his shit.”
“Nancy? Is that you?”
Lacey looks over her shoulder, and the smile she plasters on her face is the fakest display of emotion I’ve ever seen from her.
“Speak of the devil,” she mumbles under her breath before rolling her shoulders back. “Director Hannaford, hi. Nice to see you this evening.”
A seedy-looking man with a tweed jacket and an obvious toupee approaches us. “I didn’t see your silent auction item on the table,” he says, and I can hear his disappointment. “Did you decide not to donate this year?”
Lacey brightens and looks at me. Her lips tug into the same smile I saw in her bedroom before we got here. It’s a little sly, a little mischievous, and it makes me want to kiss the red lipstick off her mouth.
“I wanted my donation to be a surprise,” she says. “Director Hannaford, this is my boyfriend, Shawn Holmes. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with D.C. sports, but he’s the head coach of the Titans. They’ve had a great season so far, and they have their sights set on the Super Bowl. When he was playing in the league, he won five titles with the Philadelphia Lightning, and he holds the league record for most yards on receptions by a tight end in a single season. Almost fifteen hundred of them, plus one hundred career receiving touchdowns.”
My mouth pops open, and I gape at Lacey. I’ve never heard her say a single football statistic in my life, and the fact that she knows my numbers makes me brim with pride.
She’s been learning the game.
I’d never ask or expect her to be knowledgeable on the sport; it’s not her thing. I know that, and I don’t care if she can’t tell me a single goddamn fact after tonight.
She’s trying, though.
For me.
And, fuck, that’s incredible.
Her director—Hannaford—looks me up and down. He blinks twice and pulls the wired-framed glasses off the end of his hooked nose. “Your boyfriend?” he asks, and Lacey nods like a bobblehead.
“Yeah.” She rests her head on my shoulder and I loop my arm around her waist. There’s something settling about having her in my hold, and when my hand moves to the curve of her ass, I don’t miss how she inches closer to me. “We’ve been dating for a couple of months, and he was kind enough to accompany me this evening. He’s also donating two private one-on-one coaching sessions for the silent auction.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say, and I stick out my hand.
Hannaford nearly drops his drink to reach for me, and he shakes my hand vigorously. “I didn’t know we would have a celebrity in our midst tonight,” he says, and I hate how he uses that word. It makes me feel like a prop for an agenda I’m not a part of. “How wonderful. Oh, this is going to bring in record-breaking contributions, I’m just sure of it. Well done, Nancy. Well done.”
Irritation flickers through me, and I drop his hand from my hold. “Why do you keep calling her that?” I ask.
“Because that’s her name,” he says, and my palm flexes against Lacey’s dress.
“No, it’s not. Her name is Lacey. Lacey Daniels.”
“Sorry, sorry. There are so many names to learn, and I’m bound to slip up,” Hannaford says, and I can’t hear a hint of remorse in his apology. “I’m sure you don’t know everyone’s name on your team.”
“I do, actually. Down to the janitor who cleans the locker rooms after our home games.” I glance at Lacey and smile. “His name is Todd. We drink coffee together on Tuesday mornings, and he likes to give me shit. You’d adore him.”
Her smile matches mine. “I love him already.”
I turn my attention to Hannaford. “Say her name back to me so I know you understand. I want to make sure you have it committed to memory, and there isn’t any confusion.”
“Uh.” Hannaford looks between us, and he’s almost blue in the face. “Lacey. Lacey Daniels.”
“Fantastic. And do you know where she works?” I ask, and I tilt my head to the side. I’m not usually a guy who uses my size to my advantage, but I’m definitely trying to make myself bigger right now. “She’s been there six years, so you should be pretty familiar with her contributions to your hospital.”
He clears his throat and adjusts his tie. “She’s a nurse, isn’t she? Over in pathology.”
“Jesus Christ,” I mumble. “She’s a pediatrician at the office attached to your hospital. Literally right next door. Her patients love her, and it’s a shame someone in a management role hasn’t learned who his employees are.”
Hannaford almost breaks the glass in his hand. “I’ll be better,” he says, and I smile brightly.
“Great.” I gesture toward the bar. “If you’ll excuse us, we’re going to grab a drink.”
“Would you come up and say a few words?” he blurts out. “Just, you know, it would be good for the people attending tonight to see who’s here. It’ll make next year’s event even more enticing.”
It’s hard to not roll my eyes at how desperate this asshole sounds, but I nod anyway. I’m here for Lacey. This whole fake dating thing started because of this moment right here, so I smile and nod.
“Of course,” I say. “I’d be happy to.”
Hannaford scurries away, and Lacey clutches my arm. Her fingers dig into my jacket, and she’s grinning.
“Holy shit Shawn. Did you just tell off my boss?” she asks.
“I didn’t tell him off.” I play with my cufflinks, and my lips twitch. “I reminded him how a leader should act.”
“That was—” Lacey takes a breath and pulls me into a tight hug. She’s warm and soft in my arms, and I bury my face in her hair. “Thank you,” she whispers. “That was so cool.”
“I would do it again, too,” I say, and I squeeze her hip. “Come on. We’re next for drinks.”
We grab two whiskeys and head back to the table. By the time we find our seats, our friends are slipping into their chairs. I want to laugh at the obvious hickey on Maggie’s shoulder and the way Aiden’s tie is crooked, but I keep the jokes to myself.
Almost two years together, and they still can’t keep their hands off each other. I think they’re more in love now than when they first got together.
I shouldn’t make fun of that.
“Why are you smiling?” Maggie asks.
“Shawn told off Hannaford,” Lacey says, and she giggles. I think her drink is already going to her head.
“What? Shawn, what did you say?”
“Nothing he doesn’t already know.” I shrug and pull out Lacey’s chair for her. I wait for her to sit then scoot her forward with a single push. “He sucks, by the way.”
“We know,” Aiden says. He drapes his arm around the back of Maggie’s chair, and I see lipstick on his cheek. “Literally anyone would be better at his job than him.”
“One of you should apply,” I suggest.
“With no experience?” Maggie bursts out laughing. “That’s not how it works.”
“Why not? Wouldn’t kill you to try,” I say, and Lacey pats my thigh.
“The first part of our scheme is working; we convinced Hannaford you’re my boyfriend,” she says. “The man practically thinks you’re a god. Maybe this will fast-track me to the chief physician position.”
“I hope it does. Next up are my parents. They’re going to be a little harder to convince, but I think we’ll be fine.”
Lacey lifts her glass and knocks it against mine. “I’d pretend to be your date anytime.”
“Flirting with me, Daniels?” I ask.
“In your dreams, Holmes,” she says lowly, and she throws back her drink.
“Lace, what happened to your neck?” Maggie asks. She reaches over and touches the red mark I left on her skin. I’ve been looking at it all night, too. “Are you okay?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine. Curling iron.” Lacey sets her napkin in her lap and smiles at her best friend. “Thirty-four years on this earth, and I still manage to burn myself.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing and look away. As I do, I swear I see Aiden glance between us and grin.
“THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING,” Hannaford says into the microphone. “I have a feeling this is going to be a great year of raising funds for the Metro Hospital and all our entities. There’s a special guest with us tonight, and we’re honored he could be here. He’s also graciously donated two highly coveted items to the silent auction. Please welcome Shawn Holmes, head coach of the D.C. Titans.”
The room gives me a standing ovation as I make my way toward the stage, and I blush. I’m used to being on camera, but it’s always where I’m comfortable. On the field. After a game. I’ve spoken at galas and events before, and I haven’t loved the attention on me. But tonight is important; Lacey is involved, and I want to make sure things go right for her.
“Good evening, everyone.” I raise the microphone then shove my hands in my pockets. “I’m Shawn, and I’m thrilled to be here tonight. When I heard there would be a silent auction to help raise money for hospital resources, I was more than happy to donate two one-on-one coaching sessions. They come with a tour of UPS Field, and I’ll make sure you get to meet some of the players, too.”
The crowd breaks into another round of applause and I pause to take a breath, scanning the room for Lacey.
I spot her right away, sitting on the edge of her seat with her hands clasped together and watching me.
Seventy thousand people in a stadium or four hundred people in a museum. It doesn’t matter. I always find her, and I’m happier because of it.
“I hope when you look at the items you can bid on tonight, you see you’re not just bidding on a nice dinner or a weekend at a cabin in Steamboat Springs. You’re bidding to help enrich the lives of the employees at Metro Hospital. You’re bidding on state-of-the-art technology, the first of its kind. You can help make Metro Hospital the number one patient facility in the country. In addition to the silent auction items, I’m personally donating two million dollars.”
The applause grows louder, and everyone is back on their feet. Hannaford nearly falls off the stage, and, as much as I’d like to deck him in the face for being a self-righteous asshole, I give him a smile instead.
“Before you all start spending your money, I want to add one last thing,” I say, and the noise quiets. “There are a lot of people in this room who have done incredible things. I want to take a minute to recognize my girlfriend, Lacey Daniels, who also happens to be my best friend. She’s a pediatrician, and I see how hard she works. Some of her afternoons are so busy, she can’t even stop for lunch. But she shows up every day with a smile on her face, ready to do good and help out the kids in our community. She’s unbelievably smart, and she’s damn near perfect at her job. Thank you for letting me be here tonight with you, sweetheart. I’m so proud of you, and I hope we get to spend every holiday together going forward. You’re the best Christmas present I could ever ask for.”
Lacey grins at me and her hands settle over her heart. Seeing her happy makes me want to do everything in my power to make sure she keeps smiling like that. Fake boyfriend, best friend, or some guy she forgets about in five years, I don’t care. I’m going to make it happen.
I walk down the stairs and head for our table. Aiden whistles and Maggie presses a kiss to my cheek, then I turn my attention to Lacey. I cup her chin in my hand and tilt her head back.
“Hi,” she says, and she wipes her eyes.
“Hi, Lace Face.”
“That was some speech you gave up there.”
“Someone mentioned wanting a yacht. I thought this might be better.”
“You called me sweetheart.”
“I did. Did you absolutely hate it?”
“No.” She touches my cheek and runs her thumb down my jaw. “Not one bit.”
“Look at us making progress.”
“I think we definitely sold our relationship to everyone, and the line to bid on your coaching sessions is forty people long.”
“People with money like to feel like heroes,” I explain. “I have no fucking clue what their donations are going toward, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from being in the sports world, it’s that everyone loves a comeback story. Anything to help Metro Hospital be number one in the country.”
“Hey.” Her touch moves to my hand, and she threads our fingers together. “Two million dollars? Are you kidding me? That is so generous. Is that—can you—”
“Afford it?” I laugh and rest my forehead against hers. “I can afford it fifty times over, sweetheart, then I could still buy you whatever you want.”
Lacey bites her bottom lip, and I want to kiss her there, right on her Cupid’s bow.
I don’t think I’m supposed to want to kiss my friends, even if it’s allowed.
But, fuck, do I want to.
It’s getting harder and harder to stay away from her. Harder and harder to keep my hands to myself and behave in front of our friends. Harder and harder to distinguish what’s real and what’s pretend between us.
“Will you come back to my place after?” Lacey asks, and I squeeze her palm.
“You know the answer to that question, sweetheart.”
