Love For Hire: The Helena's Grove Series Book 2 Read Online Free PDF Page B

conversation until the two of them were seated on the plane waiting for takeoff. Marcus sat next to Annie, engrossed in some book about solar panels.
    “So…” Annie began, “do you ever get nervous for these things?”
    “Not anymore,” he said casually, barely glancing up from his book.
    “How long was it you’ve been in this business?”
    He gave a half smile. “A while.”
    “What made you choose hiring yourself out as people’s fake dates as a career?”
    “I couldn’t make it as an actor in Hollywood.”
    Annie looked at him skeptically. “Really?”
    He looked up at her, eyes full of amusement. “No.”
    “How old are you?” Annie asked. “I just realized I don’t know how old you are and that is probably something I would know about my boyfriend.”
    “Marcus is your boyfriend, why don’t you tell me?”
    Annie sighed. “Well you look to be about thirty so let’s go with that.”
    “Sounds good.”
    “Do you want to know how old I am?”
    Marcus closed his book but kept one finger in the pages to hold his place. “How old are you?”
    “Twenty-four – almost twenty-five.”
    “That’s right your birthday is the first of February, correct?”
    “That’s right.”
    The ‘fasten your seat belts’ sign went off and the stewardess walked in to begin the final instructions before takeoff. Annie watched out the window as the plane began to move and pick up speed. Take off was her favorite part of flying; that sudden weightless feeling was something she never got tired of. Before long they were in the air and the passengers were allowed to move about the cabin.
    “So…” Annie turned to Marcus. “What if someone asks you something and you don’t know the answer? Or our stories don’t match up? Has that ever happened to you before? Has anyone ever found out what you do and called you out on it? My Aunt Gabby is old but she’s quick as a whip and if you slip at all I’m sure she’ll think something’s up. Zack and Jen will be easier to fool since they are still in the new relationship phase. Is there anything else you think I should know or that you should know because I’ve been wracking my brain the last week trying to think of stuff and I keep thinking we got it all covered but I’m kind of a scatter brain so it would be just like me to forget something big...”
    “Annie.” Marcus took her hand, cutting her off. She stared at it a second before looking up to meet his eyes. “Will you please, for your own sanity and mine, calm down?”
    His eyes pierced through her and she felt a tingling sensation as his hand touched hers. “I’m sorry, it’s just… I’ve never done this before.”
    “I understand that but as I’ve told you before, I have done this before, countless times. I’ve never messed up and it’s always worked out so just take a deep breath and trust me.” He grinned at her and she seemed to forget how to speak so she just nodded instead.
    “Good.” He let go of her hand.
    Annie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Just relax, she told herself. She awoke with a start when the captain announced their descent into Cleveland, Ohio. They landed and made their way through the crowds to grab their luggage. The holidays were always the worst time to travel and Annie couldn’t believe how many people were in the airport. She and Marcus stayed close together as they walked through the large glass doors to the line of waiting taxis. Before long they were settled in the warm car, winding their way through the traffic toward Aunt Gabby’s house.
    “Have you lived here your whole life?” Marcus broke the silence as he looked out the window.
    “We moved here when I was little, right before my dad died.”
    “I’m sorry,” Marcus said quietly. He turned to her. “I mean about your dad.”
    “Thanks, it was a long time ago.”
    “Time doesn’t make losing someone any easier. You just get better at blocking out the pain.”
    Annie looked at him but he had