Santa Maybe (The Duchess Hotel #1)

Chapter 3

Three

The next time Rosie saw Selena and Charlie, she was having words with them. Stern words. Where did they get off, engineering such a blatant setup?

She glanced across the table at Drew, who seemed befuddled by their hasty exit.

Why did he have to look so good? And was she shallow as hell for still drooling over him?

To be fair, he was objectively hot. He worked as a personal trainer, and when he wasn’t at the gym, he spent his free time pursuing outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, and biking, which meant his body was in amazing shape. Six feet tall, lean and muscular, with short brown hair, warm chocolate-brown eyes, and dimples for days. Plus, he was so thoughtful. It was no surprise the “Golden Oldies” clique at the gym—a group of women in their seventies and eighties—treated him like their honorary grandson.

Who could resist a guy like that?

But even if Rosie had been enjoying his company tonight, she didn’t like the way their happy hour had turned into an impromptu date. She looked down at her glass, which was almost empty. By now, she’d had the equivalent of two and a half margaritas. Maybe she should call it a night. She was about to excuse herself when Drew cleared his throat.

She forced herself to look up at him, which was a mistake because those soulful brown eyes sucked her right in. “Yes?”

“Can I ask you something?” His voice carried an unexpected vulnerability.

With a twinge of guilt, she remembered what Selena had told her. Something about Drew having a hard time. But they’d gotten so caught up in discussing their plans for the Duchess that none of them had asked him how he was doing.

“Sure,” she said. “Is everything okay?”

“Sort of. But since we’re alone, I need to know—did I do something to offend you last winter?”

Where had that come from? “What? No . Why would you think that?”

“You haven’t been back to the gym since February. You said you were busy, but I wondered if I screwed up somehow.” He ran a finger around the rim of his glass. “I try to treat all my clients with respect, but if I offended you or behaved inappropriately, I’d like to know what I did. Was it my fault?”

It was, but not for the reasons he thought. After months of secretly yearning for him, her self-worth had dwindled when he began dating Evelyn. No matter how much Rosie worked out, she’d never look that good. Despite her firm belief in embracing body positivity, she hadn’t been able to shake the nagging insecurity that cropped up whenever she compared herself to his girlfriend.

She couldn’t tell him that, but she could be honest about the other factors that had led to her decision. “It wasn’t you. Life just got really busy. My last boss was so incompetent that we had a mass exodus of staff, and I ended up taking on more responsibility at the hotel. Then my dad had a heart attack in April, so I tried to visit him whenever I could.”

“Oh, shit, Rosie. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She wiped her eyes quickly, remembering how agonizing those months had been. “The doctor said it was a warning. My dad needs to exercise more and watch his diet. But he wasn’t happy about it, and the stress was hell on my mom. I should have told you what was going on, though you probably would have reminded me that being physically active is a great way to relieve tension.”

“Maybe so, but I wouldn’t have pressured you. You don’t have to come back to the gym if you don’t want to.”

“I’ve been walking a lot, but…” It wasn’t the same. Even if she’d never considered herself a gym person, she’d genuinely enjoyed those early morning workouts. She and Selena had gotten into the habit of going before work, then grabbing smoothies for breakfast. Their routine had energized her. “After the holidays, I’ll think about re-upping my membership. Right now, I have too much going on.”

When her phone pinged with the distinctive chime she’d given her mom, she pulled it out. “Can you hang on a sec? My mom sent me a message, and I’ve learned to ignore her at my own peril.” When he nodded, she took a peek.

Mamá: You’re coming for Sunday dinner. Right??

Of course she was. Twice a month, her parents hosted a big family dinner at their place. The few times she’d skipped out due to the demands of her job, she’d gotten a blistering lecture on priorities from her mom.

Rosie: I’ll be there at six. Do you need me to bring anything?

Mamá: Just your biggest smile. Jaime invited one of his coworkers to join us for dinner. He’s eager to meet you!!

“Fuck me,” she muttered. Realizing she’d said it out loud, a warm flush heated her cheeks. “Sorry, but my mom reminded me I’m expected for dinner this Sunday.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“Mostly good. I like spending time with my family, but they’re always up in my business. And…” She hesitated, then decided to be honest. “Whenever they criticize my life choices, I end up feeling pathetic.”

“What can they possibly have to criticize? You’re the assistant manager of the Duchess. That’s so impressive.”

“Thanks, but it doesn’t make up for the fact that I’m still single. My parents think it’s because I work too hard. They’re afraid I’m so obsessed with my career that I’ll never settle down.” She sighed, remembering how Mamá had nagged her at the last dinner, tossing in the painful phrase, “We just want you to be happy.”

Rosie would be a lot happier if her parents would back off a little. While she sometimes envied her older brother and younger sister—both of whom were happily married—she was so focused on her job that her dating life came second. Not to mention, the last time she’d made an effort, she’d ended up with a boyfriend who’d torpedoed her self-esteem.

“Are your folks really traditional?” he asked. “I don’t want to assume they are, but…”

“But it’s okay to ask. My grandparents on both sides were originally from Mexico, so they placed a lot of emphasis on the importance of family. And religion. But my parents are more laid-back since they grew up here in Victoria. Even so, they’d love to have as many grandkids as possible.”

“That’s a tall order. Have they been trying to set you up with anyone?”

“Yep, and it’s only going to get worse because my whole family goes hard at the holidays. And thanks to my boss, my stress levels are already off the charts.” She tossed back the rest of her margarita. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to off-load all my baggage onto you.”

“I don’t mind.” He gestured toward her glass. “Want another drink?”

“I’d better not. I’ve barely eaten anything all day.” But she was reluctant to leave. This was the longest conversation she’d had with Drew in months. She’d forgotten how much she enjoyed talking to him during her training sessions. Mostly, they’d kept things light—chatting about their favorite movies or their weekend plans—but she’d always looked forward to it.

“Why don’t we order some food?” he said. “Then you won’t be drinking on an empty stomach.”

She didn’t want to read too much into his suggestion, but it seemed like he wanted her to stay. “Okay. I can never say no to Pepe’s carne asada tacos.”

After they put in their order, he focused on her again, giving her a roguish grin that made her pulse race. “Seeing as how I’m swooping in to save the Duchess with my masterful Santa impersonation, is there any way I could help with your family? What if Santa just happened to show up at those Sunday dinners?”

“I love that idea. But honestly? I’d rather have Santa bring me an imaginary boyfriend. If my mom believed I was involved with someone, she’d give me a little breathing room. As would the rest of my family.” Fully aware of how ludicrous she sounded, she started laughing. “That came out totally unhinged. I blame the tequila.”

“I get it. Maybe Santa could bring me a plus-one so that I don’t have to attend my ex’s wedding without a date. I’m dreading it like the plague.”

Which ex was he talking about? “Do you mean Evelyn? Didn’t you two just break up?”

“Pretty much. She left me three months ago for another trainer. Not just any trainer, but my supervisor, Jared.”

What a shitty move. “Ouch. That sucks.”

“Yeah, it was brutal.” He released a ragged breath. “The worst part was—I kind of saw it coming. Back in May, when he was hired at Northlife, I was worried because he and Evelyn had a history together. Two years ago, they worked at the same gym in Vancouver and dated on and off. But when I brought it up to Evelyn, she said I was being paranoid.”

Rosie’s jaw tightened. Classic gaslighting . She’d been through it before.

He continued. “In August, Evelyn admitted they’d been sneaking around behind my back. Then she chose him over me, which was a tough blow. But not as bad as getting their wedding invitation two days ago. They’re getting married on December twenty-second.”

Holy shit. Rosie’s heart went out to Drew. “I’m sorry. Do…do you still have feelings for her?”

“Not anymore.” He looked down and wiped up a stray drop of salsa with his napkin. “Toward the end, things got ugly. We were arguing constantly. It was a relief when she finally told me the truth. But because we work at the same gym, the rest of the staff are concerned about me. Especially after she invited all of us to her wedding.”

Rosie could only imagine how painful that would be. “You’re not going, are you?”

“I’d like to.” He met her eyes again. “Maybe it’s childish, but I want to prove to her—and everyone else—that I’m doing just fine.”

She wanted to reach over and take his hand—anything to console him—but wasn’t sure she should cross that line. Instead, she tried to lighten the mood. “That sounds excruciating, though not as grueling as multiple family events where I’m forced to make small talk with a complete stranger.”

“I’ll trade you,” he said. “Or wait…”

“What? Do you want to make a bet? To see whose holiday season is going to be worse?” She snatched up the last few tortilla chips from the basket.

“Nope. But I do have an idea that might spare us a little agony.”

* * *

Before Drew could share his idea, the server arrived with their tacos and a fresh round of drinks. Since they’d have to drive home eventually, they’d both ordered Jarritos soda rather than more margaritas. He pushed aside the empty basket of tortilla chips to make room for their plates.

Upon taking the first bite of her taco, Rosie let out a groan of pleasure. “Mmmm. I was so hungry. Today’s sad desk lunch was an apple and a bag of pretzels from the vending machine.”

Even if that groan hadn’t been directed at him, Drew’s groin tightened. Fuck, she was sexy. He’d really missed her. Missed her laugh, her self-deprecating humor, and her quirky passion for action movies. She’d seen tons of them, even the janky, low-budget ones that went direct to streaming. They’d once spent an entire workout ranking the movies in the Fast & Furious franchise.

But then he’d gotten involved with Evelyn, who’d put him through the wringer. Once he was single again, he’d thought about reaching out to Rosie but hesitated because he worried that he’d driven her away from the gym. Now that he understood why she’d been absent, he wished he could have supported her when she’d been dealing with her dad’s health issues.

Rosie added a spoonful of salsa to her taco. “What’s your idea?”

“You need a date for a few dinners and some holiday events, right? Just to get your parents off your back for a while?”

“Yeah. What with everything going on at the hotel, I’m at my limit.”

“And I want to get the wedding-from-hell over with. So, here’s a thought. Why don’t you come as my plus-one? In return, you can bring me home and tell your folks we’re dating.”

As he waited for her to respond, sweat beaded on his forehead. Was it nerves or a reaction to the “Disco Inferno” salsa he’d added to his taco?

Rosie narrowed her eyes. “Are you punking me? This is a rom-com scenario. No one actually fake dates in real life.”

“Maybe they don’t, but it’s a decent plan.” He paused, afraid he’d insulted her. He didn’t want her to think she wasn’t worthy of a real date. “It’s not that I’m opposed to actual dating, but I’m not in a good place for a romantic relationship. Not after all the shit I went through with Evelyn. And…”

He stopped before he unloaded any further. His issues stemmed from his teenage years, when his parents had turned their house into a battlefield, but he wasn’t about to burden her with all that baggage.

“I don’t have any room in my life for romantic entanglements, either,” Rosie said. “Not with my job hanging by a thread. And I definitely don’t have the bandwidth to massage some guy’s ego when he yells at me for not spending enough time with him.”

The bitterness in her voice made Drew suspect she was speaking from experience. “I take it that’s happened before?”

“Yep. Not a great scene.” She finished her taco in a couple of bites.

When she didn’t elaborate, he knew better than to probe any further. Like him, she’d probably experienced her share of heartache. All the more reason his fake-dating scenario was a solid plan. “So…would you be on board with this idea?”

She laughed. “As wild as it sounds, I might be up for it, except for the part where I’d be lying to my family.”

Yet another reason why he admired her. Even if her family irritated her, she didn’t want to hurt them. “I don’t like lying, either, but given how much time we’d be spending together, it would almost be like we’re dating for real. Except without all the angst and expectations.”

“If we do this, you wouldn’t just be coming to my parents’ house for our Sunday dinners. You’d need to attend my family’s big holiday events: my aunt’s party on the sixteenth, our Nochebuena celebration on Christmas Eve, and Three Kings Day on January sixth. It might cut into your time with your own family.”

He gave a curt laugh. “Fine with me.” At her shocked expression, he rushed to explain. “I’m not close to my parents. My sister and I might try to visit them on Christmas Day for a few hours, but that’s all we can handle.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ve learned to live with it.” Most of the time, he rarely mentioned his parents or his fractured past. Instead, he locked that shit up tight so it couldn’t hurt him anymore. No matter how miserable he’d been, he’d managed to make a good life for himself. “Anyway…you didn’t answer me. Rosie Gonzalez, would you be my pretend girlfriend for the next two months?”

Instead of agreeing immediately, she gnawed on her lip, clearly torn over her decision. Which made him suspect he’d grossly overstepped.

What were you thinking? You finally get a chance to reconnect with Rosie, and then you ask her if she wants to pretend you’re dating. Who does that?

He was tempted to blame the tequila, but he wasn’t even drunk.

“Never mind. It was a goofy idea.” He raised his glass in a salute. “Who knows—maybe you’ll hit it off with the next guy your family invites to dinner.”

“If he’s one of my brother’s colleagues, then he’s a dentist. He could look exactly like Pedro Pascal, and I still wouldn’t be interested. Not if he’s going to nag me about flossing my teeth, which my brother does on the regular.” She gave a full-body shudder. “If we agree to this, then what do we tell people when January seventh rolls around?”

Shit. He’d been so focused on surviving Evelyn’s wedding that he hadn’t considered what he and Rosie would do after the holidays. “How about we say it didn’t work out because our jobs are too demanding? Or make up some other excuse? Would that be okay?”

As he waited for her to respond, he crumpled his napkin into a tiny ball. To his immense relief, her lips quirked up in an affectionate smile.

“All right, I’m in,” she said. “This Sunday at six, you’re joining me at my parents’ house for dinner. Bring your A-game , sweetheart .”

Perfect. Whatever nickname she wanted to give him, he’d answer to it.