My Silver Lining: A Small Town, Fake Dating Romance (Rosewood River Series Book 2)
My Silver Lining: Chapter 1

“I think we could totally make a volcano,” I said, scratching the back of my neck. My nephew, Cutler, was in town for the holidays, and they’d be heading home tomorrow. I’d taken him sledding earlier and wanted to spend a few more hours with him before I returned him to my sister, Emerson, and Nash.

“It’s so cool, Uncle Rafe. We made one in school, and you’ve got to see this,” he said.

Cutler Heart was seven years old and the coolest little dude around. My sister was engaged to his dad, Nash, and they were getting married here in Rosewood River in a few months. She was in the process of adopting Cutler, and our whole family was crazy about this kid.

I searched DIY volcano on my iPad, and it looked simple enough. “I’ve got a soda bottle we can empty and use, and I’ve got the dish soap. All we need is vinegar and baking soda.”

“Oh, man, I hope we don’t have to drive to the store. It’s snowing outside,” he said.

“I’m a resourceful guy, Beefcake,” I said with a laugh. Cutler liked to be called by his handle, which was hilarious. Like I said, this kid was a cool cat. “I bet Uncle Easton has that stuff in his pantry in the main house.”

I was temporarily staying in my brother’s guesthouse, as my home was in the midst of a large renovation. He moved in with his girlfriend, Henley, whose house was up the street. Apparently, Henley’s best friend was going to stay in the main house for a few months, and she’d be here at the end of the week.

All I brought with me was clothing, toiletries, and a few things from my home office. I’d be staying in the guesthouse for two to three months, or at least that’s what my contractor had promised.

“I thought Henley’s bestie was living in the big house?” Cutler asked, as he dropped my cowboy hat on his head and checked himself out in the mirror.

“Yeah, she had a bunch of boxes shipped here yesterday, but she won’t be here until the end of the week. I’ve got the key, so let’s go look in the pantry. I bet we’ll replace both of these things in there.”

“Good idea. Can I wear your hat?” he asked.

“Of course. You look far too cool to take it off.” I grabbed the key to the main house off my counter, and we made our way across the paved area leading to the back door.

When we stepped inside, there were a few boxes stacked against the wall. “Apparently, she’s got a lot of clothes. I mean, she’s only staying for three months.”

I made my way through the kitchen, with Cutler right behind me.

“Yep. My mama has a lot of clothes, too, Uncle Rafe.”

“She sure does.” I pulled open the pantry door and immediately found a box of baking soda and shook it in front of him. “One down. Now to replace the vinegar.”

The sound of something falling from down the hallway had us both straightening.

“What was that?” Cutler whispered.

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s just the heater clicking on.” I held up my hand for him to stay put. “Wait right here. Let me go check it out.”

I came around the corner and saw the light from under the door in the bathroom. Did some teenager think he could crash here while no one was living here?

Are you fucking kidding me?

Was someone actually squatting in Easton’s house?

This was Rosewood River. People didn’t squat. Hell, people didn’t break into homes here.

Before I could reach for the handle, the door pulled open, and honey-brown eyes locked with mine, just as a hard fist collided with my throat. The stunning blow had me falling back against the wall as I gasped for air.

What the actual fuck is happening?

“Who the hell are you?” a woman shouted, as I coughed a few times and took her in.

She was standing in a fighter’s stance, as if she were preparing to attack me again.

“Did you just fucking throat punch me?” I clutched my neck as I straightened, standing a good foot taller than her.

She was petite, gorgeous, and without a doubt, a violent lunatic.

And what the hell was she wearing? She had some sort of cheetah print robe on, with a hood over her head.

“Damn straight, I did. I’ll ask you one more time. Who are you?”

“I’m Easton’s brother. Who the hell are you?”

“Oh.” She dropped her arms and relaxed her body as she raised a brow. “I’m Lulu, Henley’s bestie. You must be Rafael. You’re one of the Chad-dicks. I thought you were staying in the guesthouse?”

“It’s Rafe, and that would be Chadwick. Not Chad-dick.” I rolled my eyes at the fact that she said my name with a shit ton of confidence, even though she was incorrect. “And yes, I am staying in the guesthouse. I thought you weren’t supposed to move in until the end of the week.”

“There’s a storm coming, so I arrived a little early. I wasn’t aware that I needed to run it by you. Do you always just let yourself into a home that isn’t yours?” she hissed.

“Uncle Rafe. Are you okay?” Cutler called out from the kitchen, and I could hear the concern in his voice.

“Everything’s okay, Beefcake,” I said, my voice loud enough to carry down the hall.

“My God. You brought a child with you,” she huffed, as she stormed past me in her ridiculous cat costume. “You do know that breaking and entering is a crime, right?”

I groaned as I followed her to the kitchen. “It’s not breaking and entering when it’s your brother’s home and no one is supposed to be here.”

“Henley knew that I was coming early.” She stopped when she saw Cutler standing there, cowboy hat on his head, and chocolate smeared on his cheek.

“Beefcake. What are you eating, buddy?” I asked.

“I found some chocolate chips in the pantry. And I found the vinegar. And who did you replace?” he asked, taking his hat off as he walked toward her.

“It looks like Henley’s friend decided to move in early.”

She shot me a glare over her shoulder. “Beefcake. I’ve heard so much about you. You’re Easton’s nephew, right?”

“Which also makes him my nephew.” I pushed past her and took the chocolate chips from Cutler, pouring a bunch in my hand before handing back the bag. “Damn, I forgot how much I like these.”

“Okay, we need some ground rules. You can’t just barge in here unannounced. I could have been compromised.” She placed her hands on her hips, and damn, she was pretty. Not a stitch of makeup. I could tell she had blonde hair, even though it was hidden behind the ridiculous fuzzy hood.

“Compromised?” I asked.

“Yes. What if I wasn’t decent?”

“I can’t even imagine the physical violence that would have taken place if I’d walked in on you naked. The throat punch was a bit much, considering you were fully covered in a cheetah print costume, and there was no threat.” And now I couldn’t get the idea of her naked out of my head, although, she was basically wearing a bedspread over her body, so she wasn’t giving anything away.

Cutler’s head fell back in laughter. “Uncle Rafe, you can’t say naked to a girl you just met.”

Says who?

“Well, it’s nice to see that one of you has manners.” She closed the distance between us and put her hand out to Cutler, and he poured a bunch of chocolate chips into her hand. “Thank you. I’m Lulu, by the way.”

She offered him her other hand, completely ignoring me.

“I’m Cutler, but my friends call me Beefcake.” He waggled his brows. Damn, the dude had game. “Henley’s my girl, and if you’re her bestie, then I guess that makes you my girl, too.”

Her lips turned up in the corners, and she was that breathtaking kind of beautiful, even if she was an angry little wildcat.

“That’s the best offer I’ve had in a very long time. Consider me your girl, Beefcake. And how about you teach your uncle some manners about entering a home without knocking?”

More laughter from Cutler. Clearly, the kid had no loyalty when it came to a beautiful woman.

“Listen, Wildcat,” I said, accentuating the nickname because if she was going to dish it to me, she should be prepared to get it dished right back. “You weren’t supposed to be here. You arrived early. I’m living in the guesthouse of a property owned by my brother. And I took a pretty good hit to the throat, so I’d say I’m not the only one lacking manners.”

She popped the last few chocolate morsels into her mouth and raised a brow. “If you enter a home I’m staying in unannounced, prepare to take a hit, buddy.”

I moved closer, and she straightened her shoulders. “You knew I was staying in the guesthouse. You could have checked before striking.”

“That’s not really my style.” She smirked.

“This is a small town, not the city. You need to take it down a couple dozen notches,” I said, trying to contain my irritation because my throat was still sore. I glanced at Cutler, who was looking between us with concern.

We’d come for vinegar and baking soda, not to commit an armed robbery.

Her lips twitched the slightest bit. “You can never be too prepared for an attack. You’ve been warned.”

“Not to worry. I won’t be returning anytime soon. We got what we came for,” I said, taking a step back and grabbing the baking soda and the vinegar off the counter. “Nice robe, by the way. It screams feral cat, so it’s very fitting.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Thank you. I wasn’t looking for fashion advice from a man who looks like he shops at Baby Gap.”

I glanced down at my clothes, taking in the navy long johns and gray hoodie that I’ve had on since we went sledding earlier.

The nerve of this woman.

Cutler found the comment hilarious.

“Uncle Rafe, she called you a baby.”

“Let me ask you, Beefcake. You know your animals. Does Lulu here look like she’s wearing a cat costume?”

He reached for my cowboy hat and popped it back on his head, before smiling up at her. “Prettiest cat I ever saw.”

“Thank you, Beefcake.” She sighed before turning to me. “Are you done robbing the kitchen? I’d like to get out of my costume and get dressed.”

Damn. I wouldn’t mind seeing her out of the robe, even if I found her incredibly annoying.

“We’ve got all we need. Thanks for the throat punch and the hospitality,” I said, oozing sarcasm.

She ignored me and bent down to hug Cutler. I wasn’t sure why he was getting special treatment. Hell, he was the one who wanted to make the damn volcano. He broke in here right alongside me.

“It was nice to meet you. Henley told me so much about you, and she was spot on. You are one cute kiddo.”

He clutched his chest dramatically. “I’m all man, Lulu.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “Let’s go, little man. I’d say it was nice to meet you, Wildcat, but I can’t lie in front of my nephew.”

“Yes. Breaking and entering you’re okay with, but lying is where you draw the line. I’m so impressed.”

I winked as I pulled the door open, and Cutler jogged toward the guesthouse. Lulu stood there with her arms crossed over her chest, glaring at me.

“Look at that. You’re already warming up to me,” I smirked.

She flipped me the bird, and I chuckled as I let the door close behind me.

I’d definitely be staying clear of the little deviant.