Finding Hayes: A Small Town, Marriage of Convenience Romance (Magnolia Falls Series Book 5)

“Tell me why you insisted that we come to this horrible event?” I asked for the third time since we’d arrived at Lenny and Kimber’s house.

“I need to scope out the competition, Woody. I’ve got to throw the event of the century and put these two in their place. I want to make my man proud.” She waggled her brows playfully as we huddled in the corner. It had been like this for the last week. We’d been seen everywhere together, per River’s encouragement.

And I was sick and tired of socializing.

But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look forward to spending my days with Savannah. When I wasn’t at the firehouse, I was with her at the farmhouse. I feigned irritation and acted like it was a big inconvenience, but nothing about it bothered me.

She leaned closer to me as if she were sharing some CIA high-level secret. “Kimber thinks hiring a few servers and passing out champagne flutes makes her a top-notch hostess? Look around. Everyone is bored out of their minds. Our party is going to be the talk of the town. This is a total snoozefest.”

I barked out a laugh. “Can we be done with the parties after tonight?”

“You never did like people-ing, did you?” she asked, and my eyes scanned down her cream-colored dress that hugged her curves perfectly. Ever since I’d walked in on her naked in my bathroom, I’d thought of nothing else.

I’d fucked my fist too many times to count.

This whole fake relationship was messing with my head. I probably needed to go out and get laid, and that sure as hell wasn’t going to happen now. It would be a while until this façade was over.

“No. Enough is enough. How long do we have to stay?” I asked.

Savannah paused when a man in a white coat walked our way and offered us an appetizer. This party was a joke. They’d hired staff and put on this fancy event, and they could have just used the money they’d spent on throwing this party to buy the things they wanted for the firehouse. This was all to impress Cap.

Lenny was playing the game, and I hated to admit that he was damn good at it.

“Thank you,” Savannah said, as she reached for one of the little snacks on the tray, and I grabbed a few, popping one into my mouth. She took a bite and then quirked a brow. “I love me some pigs in a blanket, but we can do better than this. Also, River said that everyone is talking about us. Apparently, we’re the most adorable couple ever. But I think I need to give you a different nickname. Woody is juvenile. We need to amp things up.”

“Amp things up? We’ve been out every single night that I haven’t been at the firehouse. How much more amping do we need to do? Don’t some couples just stay home and relax together?” I whispered against her ear.

“Awww… that’s sweet, you big baby. Once we’re married, we can play up our home life. But right now, it’s game time. You need to suck it up, and I need a catchy nickname for the man who managed to steal my heart.”

“What are you going to call me, Shortcake?” I smirked because she was taking this whole thing far too seriously.

No one in Magnolia Falls gave a shit if she got the inheritance on false pretenses. Everyone in town loved Savannah Abbott.

I looked up to see Kimber and Lenny walking our way, and I silently groaned.

“Hayes! Savannah!” Kimber was too much on a good day, but throw in a champagne flute and the woman gave annoying a new name. “I’m glad you could make it to this very special soiree.”

They were so pretentious, and it bugged the shit out of me.

“Oh, yes. I can’t keep this one home. He loves to take his girl out on the town,” Savannah said, flicking her thumb over her shoulder at me before pressing her ass against my groin as I wrapped my arms around her on instinct. She startled a bit, and I was guessing she felt my dick spring to life, but that’s what happens when you press your perfectly round ass there.

I tightened my grip, my forearm pressed against her chest as I locked her in and chuckled against her ear. She paid me back by wiggling her ass to mess with me.

I nipped at her ear before looking up to see Kimber and Lenny gaping at us.

“I sure do like taking my woman out, but I also like getting her home.” I kissed her neck because we’d really been putting on a show lately.

Over the last week, I’d kissed her neck. Her hair. Her cheeks. Her hands.

Never her lips. That appeared to be off-limits. Though I hadn’t actually tried, it was my instinct telling me it was too far.

“Kimber tells me you two are throwing some sort of Valentine’s party for the firehouse. It’s not a fundraiser? Seems sort of silly to host for no purpose.”

Before I could speak, Savannah was already answering. “Parties shouldn’t have any purpose other than to have a good time. We just want to celebrate with our fire family and not invite the whole town over just to beg them for money.”

She was messing with them, and I fucking loved it.

“Well, you’d be surprised how generous locals are when it comes to their firefighters. That’s why we step up our game the way that we do, you know? The finest champagne served in real crystal flutes. My secret is that I spare no expense, and I spend a lot of time putting on these events, making sure the servers are dressed to the nines and the food is pristine. I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into, Savvy.”

“Well, pigs in a blanket are a personal favorite of mine, but no one has ever called them pristine,” Savannah said, her voice all tease. I took a sip of my champagne to stop from laughing just as she glanced over at me. “We’ve got big plans for our party. Isn’t that right, Lover?”

Lover. It was definitely a step up from Woody. Although, the way my dick was straining against the zipper of my jeans, Woody seemed more fitting at the moment.

“Yes, baby. I’m looking forward to it,” I said, and Lenny stared at me like I had three heads.

“I’ve never seen you like this,” the asshole said.

“Like what?” I narrowed my gaze.

“So… not dick-ish.” Lenny took a sip of his champagne.

Savannah turned in my arms with a wicked grin on her face. “See, I told you. Love works miracles. It can even make the biggest dick softer.”

I thrust forward. “I don’t know about that.”

Her head fell back in laughter, and Kimber grumbled about something, but we totally ignored them as they stalked away.

“That was brilliant. Hell, even I’m smitten with us. We could win a freaking Academy Award,” she whispered, her hands wrapped around my neck.

My eyes zoned in on her lips, and I wanted to lean down and claim that sweet mouth of hers.

“Hey there, lovebirds,” John Cook said, and we both startled.

“Hey, Cap.” I extended a hand as Savannah turned around to face him, and my arms came around her waist, my chin resting on top of her head.

“Hi, John. I haven’t seen you in forever,” Savannah said, leaning forward and giving him a big hug. I hadn’t realized they knew one another as more than acquaintances.

“It’s great to see you, sweetheart. So, you’re the one putting this smile on Rambo’s face, huh? He’s been a little less grumpy lately.”

“I try,” she said with a laugh. “He makes it easy.”

Wow. We were so convincing, even I was buying our bullshit.

“How is Clara?” Savannah asked.

“She’s doing great. She’s here, and she’ll be thrilled to see you. Let me go find her, and I’ll bring her over. She still talks about you all the time. I swear that winter you spent with her was one of her favorites.”

I didn’t remember Savannah spending a winter with Clara Cook.

“I didn’t realize your captain was Clara Cook’s husband,” she said, after he’d walked away.

“How do you know Clara?”

“She loves to cross-country ski. Remember that little stint where I wanted to be an Olympian, and I decided cross-country skiing was my best chance to get there?”

I just stared at her. “I faintly remember your interest in cross-country skiing, but I didn’t realize it was all that serious.”

“That’s because you had just started dating that heathen, Kate. You were all sexed up and distracted, and I was out there chasing my Olympic dreams.”

“Sophomore year? I was hardly sexed up.”

“Well, it was the first time we’d dealt with a third wheel in our relationship, so we didn’t spend every waking minute together.”

“You were never a third wheel,” I said, pushing the hair away from her face.

“Oh, I know. I was referring to Kate. She was definitely the third wheel.”

A loud laugh escaped my mouth. Damn, she was funny. “Are you claiming I wasn’t present, Shortcake? Because from what I remember, you started dating that boy-band-wannabe, Scotty, shortly after I met Kate, and you were suddenly busy all the time.”

“First off, that’s incorrect. You lost your virginity and your mind all at the same time. And all over that snake of a woman.”

“For the record, I lost my virginity to Carol Parker when I was fourteen. You know that. Kate was just my first serious relationship.”

“Po-tate-o, Po-tot-o. I don’t count Carol Parker because she was older, and that lasted all of thirty seconds,” she said over her laughter.

“Shots fucking fired. I’ll have you know my first time was not like most hormonal teenage boys. I went three rounds and stayed in control. I remember bragging about it to you, but you were completely uninterested.”

“Yeah. I was fourteen. I didn’t even know what you were talking about at the time. Anyway… this is all to say that Clara and I skied together for weeks, and she thought I had real talent.”

Beebs came walking over, looking sheepish. “So, this is your girl, huh? You let me act like a jackass when you knew exactly who she was?”

“Eh, don’t be so hard on yourself. You might be responsible for all of this starting up, because when you mentioned Sav was in town, I went straight to Whiskey Falls bar to see her.” Savannah glanced over at me in surprise.

That part wasn’t fake.

“So that means you snaked my girl. I had my eye on her first.” He winked at her.

“You had your eye on me? You barely told me your name. We’ve got to teach you how to hit on a lady, Beebs,” Savannah said, as her head fell back in laughter. She’d met all the guys a few days ago when she’d surprised me and brought us all cookies from Magnolia Beans to the firehouse.

She impressed the hell out of everyone.

“How did Rambo possibly land you?” the smartass said, and I just flashed him my cockiest smirk.

“I’m more appealing than you’d think,” I said, as Savannah’s hand moved over mine.

Cap came walking back over with Clara, and she and Savannah acted like long-lost friends. A few of the guys joined us, and we’d formed a half circle on one side of the room.

“Since when do you attend social events?” Stinky asked, holding a small plate loaded with meatballs.

“He’s trying to impress his girl.” Bones tipped his head back and downed his flute of champagne.

“Hey, it happens to the best of us,” Cap said. “It’s good to see this guy smiling now and then.”

I rolled my eyes as Stinky spoke over a mouthful of meatball. “Yeah. It’s a hell of a lot better than that intimidating scowl you usually wear.”

I flipped him the bird, and he waggled his brows.

It was good to see all the guys outside of the firehouse. We worked a lot, and we worked hard.

My phone vibrated, and I glanced down while Bones told some lengthy story about how he’d had to climb a tree yesterday to get Mr. Peters’s cat down, and the cat scratched the shit out of his neck.

King

Did anyone go to the fundraiser at dickhead Lenny’s house?

River

I’m not attending anything that involves Lenny and Kimber.

Nash

Same. Fuck that dude.

Romeo

Demi is wiped out from the little monster she’s carrying, so we’re watching a movie.

Romeo’s wife was pregnant and expecting their son in a few months.

Hayes

I’m actually at the fundraiser now.

Nash

Well, this is unexpected. You hate that shit.

River

Savannah went with him.

King

Now it all makes sense.

Romeo

The last man standing is going down.

King

The bigger the asshole, the harder they fall.

Fuck off. You assholes told me to play the game. So I’m here.

Nash

With your girlfriend.

I scratched the back of my neck. It didn’t feel right lying to them. I’d never lied to these guys. River knew the truth, but we’d agreed the fewer people that knew the better.

It’s complicated.

River

Don’t overthink it. Just enjoy it, brother.

Nash

We’re starting renovations out at the farmhouse tomorrow. I’m relieved to be done working on the steakhouse, which is officially opening this weekend. I have no desire to go there for a very long time.

King

I’m much more invested in the farmhouse for Savvy. Not sure she should be staying out there while we’re renovating the place.

River

I noticed she went home with Hayes that night we were all at Whiskey Falls. I’m guessing that wasn’t the last time she spent the night over there.

Let me know if you need me to drop off some tampons for you later. You must be menstruating.

King

Someone sounds defensive.

Romeo

No shame in saying you like her, brother. I always thought you two were more than friends.

Whatever. I’ve got to get back to the party. And now Savvy wants to throw a party for the firehouse and outdo Kimber’s lame party.

Nash

Holy shit. Hayes is throwing a party?

King

With his girlfriend.

Romeo

I give him six months, and he’s walking down the aisle.

River

I don’t think he’ll wait that long. When you know, you know.

<middle finger emoji>

I tucked my phone into my back pocket and looked up to see all the guys huddled around Savannah. They were all laughing, and I just watched her.

My woman.

Fake or real—it didn’t really matter at the moment.

She was here with me, and she felt like mine.

Maybe she’d always felt like mine.