Layla held up a warning hand. “I’m sure you could have found someone equally skilled. You didn’t have to sleep with the man who broke your heart.”

“First, my heart was bruised, not broken,” Daisy said. “Second, there is no way I could have found someone with that level of talent. And, third, sadly, it was just the one time. I told him the rules and he agreed to them.”

Layla slapped a hand to her head. “When has Liam ever followed the rules?”

“He’s doing pretty well with the dating plan,” Daisy offered. “Well, except for when he showed up at the clothing store before our date and bought a sherwani and a sword. And also when he showed up at my office, but that was part of helping out the company. Oh, and then he went off-plan when he came to the vet clinic after Max ate the chocolate, and then again when he played Guitar Hero with me until the early hours of the morning so I wouldn’t be alone.” She brightened. “But other than that, he’s followed the dating plan for our last three dates.”

Layla didn’t look convinced. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I know you don’t. I don’t want to get hurt, either.” She twisted her hands, making the shapes of wolves and flowers as she went through the arm motions of the dance. “That’s why I invited everyone from my office to our Irish pub date tonight. We had a rule against sex and we broke it, but we agreed on a new rule that it would be just once. There will be no chance I’ll get drunk and want to sleep with him again when my work colleagues are around.”

“Seriously?” Layla’s tone dripped sarcasm. “You need an entire office staff to help you restrain yourself when he’s around?”

“It was very intense and I don’t want to take any chances.” Daisy danced a few steps. Sometimes her cousin could be way overprotective, although thinking back, she’d acted the same way when Layla had gotten together with Sam. “Maybe it was just old feelings resurfacing and I was still back in high school crush mode thinking ‘Oh my God, Liam Murphy is taking me on a date,’ ‘he’s kissing me,’ ‘we won a free pizza,’ ‘he’s sitting in my car looking like a lost puppy,’ ‘he likes me and Max likes him,’ and then my brain exploded and no more thinking went on.”

Layla shook her head. “Get out now. Forget about the aunties. It’s not worth it. Roshan is a catch. I met him and you know I wouldn’t steer you wrong.”

“I can’t get hurt if it isn’t real,” Daisy said lightly. “Even his friends didn’t think it was real—which is highly problematic for the success of our charade, and I have yet to properly think it through.”

“It sounds real.” Layla followed her across the floor to keep up the conversation.

Daisy dropped to a crouch and sprang up again. “It’s not just about me anymore. It’s about saving jobs and helping my friends at Organicare. I can’t let them down.”

“And I can’t watch you go through that again,” Layla said. “Liam was bad news before and he’s bad news now. I just can’t see a happy ending to this fake relationship.”

Daisy fought back her anger and disappointment at not getting the support she had expected from the woman who was as close to her as a sister. Her new friends at work were much more enthusiastic.

“I can handle this without getting hurt. I know what happens when I care too much. And I know the things that make me special are not the kinds of things that would make me . . . desirable—my mom made that pretty clear. And that’s okay. I’m good with it.”

“I used to hate Liam with all my heart,” Layla said, her jaw clenching. “But now I realize the hurt he caused you was nothing compared to what your mother did. I wish I could wash her words out of your head, or at least make you see them for the bullshit they really are.”

The music stopped and Daisy looked back to see Mehar Auntie waving her over. “I have to go. Don’t worry about me. I’ve got my rules and I’m sticking to them. Trust me.”

“I do trust you,” Layla said. “But I don’t trust him.”

* * *

• • •

“WHAT are you doing over here when your girl is over there?” Rainey took a bottle of whiskey down from the shelf.

“I was sent for refills. Three pitchers of draft, four vodka coolers, and two pink lemonade martinis.” Liam gestured to the Organicare crowd who had taken over all the tables in the back corner of the bar. “Not exactly what I had in mind when I suggested Daisy and I come here for our date.”

Rainey laughed. “Errand boy. I like it. I’ll give you a free shot because it means I don’t have to go over and serve. I’m trying to conserve energy for my weekend race.”

Liam took a seat at the bar. “Death Race?”

“Nah. Just a marathon. But I’ll be wearing a ten-pound bag of flour on my back, so that should make it more interesting.” She grabbed two empty glasses from the rack.

“Did Ethan get the box of Murphy whiskey I sent over?” Liam asked. “I found a few extra cases in the visitor center and since we’re not getting many visitors, I thought he could use it.”

“Ethan!” Rainey yelled down to the end of the bar. “Did you get Liam’s cases of Murphy whiskey?”

Liam winced. “You could have just told me he was there.”

“Then I couldn’t have annoyed him. He hates it when I shout.”

Ethan joined them a few moments later with a scowl for Rainey and a handshake for Liam. “Thanks for the bottles. That must have been a good year.” He looked over at the Organicare table. “So, which one is the fake fiancée?”

Liam pointed out Daisy, who was wearing a layered green dress, the skirt just skimming the bottom of her ass, neckline diving down so low he could see the soft swells of her breasts. She’d taken off her quirky green hat when she arrived at the bar, and the yellow feather that had adorned it was now tucked behind her ear.