The next day, Cassandra was humming happily to herself as she went through her closet. While she hadn't been allowed to watch movies as a child and into her teenage years, she'd spent the rest of her time getting caught up. And her favorite genre was romantic comedies. Especially the ones that involved fake relationships. She knew realistically that the ending of those movies wasn't going to come about her, not for her and Stone.

But she hoped that they would at least have a friendship at the end. A real one and not the working one they had right now. He seemed willing to try and he was grateful for her help in this situation. And it was going to be so fun. She'd learn about the Oklahoma side of their art historian and she'd be able to live out a movie fantasy with a handsome man. It was a win-win as far as she was concerned.

She did blush as she held up a dress in front of the mirror. There was one aspect of this fake relationship they hadn't discussed yesterday. Oh, they'd discussed hand holding and hands on the small of the back and pretending to squeeze knees under the table. And that while his family called him Jake, he preferred Jacob, so she was to call him that and remember not to call him Stone. And that he'd be willing to put up with any endearments except for sugar which reminded him far too much of that Mary Sue Baker.

But they were going to have to kiss. And that might not make Stone very happy. She sighed, well at least they were going to be in public, so chaste friendly kisses were totally appropriate even for a couple that was supposed to be in love. Still though, it had been quite a long time since she'd kissed anyone, friendly or not. She made a mental note to make sure to throw a package of breath mints in her purse. It was going to be awkward enough, she didn't want to worry about her breath.

Focus Cassandra. She held up another dress and smiled. Perfect. She had a pair of low heels she could wear with it, wide enough to provide traction if the backyard was a little damp. And a cardigan in case it got chilly later. Maybe she'd even forgo tights. She giggled at the thought, it was quite daring for her style. Might even shock Stone just a little bit.


Stone was nervous as he waited for Cassandra the next afternoon by the back door. They were going through to the friend's house where his car had remained when Baird whisked him off to this new life. Ray was the type of guy who never asked questions and so, he'd just did what Jacob had asked him. Stone had asked him to keep it around back and to start it periodically to make sure it was still running. He'd called Ray to make sure it had gas and that he was coming around to get it today. Not sure what he was going to do with it now, either leave it back at Ray's or just ask one of his sisters to sell it. But that was the least of his worries today.

In the middle of the night, he'd woken up with the thought of the one thing he and Cassandra hadn't discussed.

They were going to have to kiss. There was no way they were going to sell a couple in love at a wedding of all places if they didn't at least kiss once. They wouldn't have to do anything passionate, it was public after all. Cassandra wasn't going to like this. Despite how helpful and into this whole thing she was being.

She was a good friend and he was going to make an effort to be an equally good friend back to her. They could never be more, that door had closed behind them long ago. But friends they could be and that was fine.

Even if he got a sinking feeling in his gut that maybe it wasn't so fine being just her friend.

Especially when she showed up, looking as pretty as a spring day. Her dress was very Cassandra, yet not at the same time. White but with a pink, blue and green floral print which made it appropriate for a wedding. Vintage but modern at the same time, it suited her and her figure perfectly. She'd curled her hair more than usual, pinning some of them up on top of her head making her big blue eyes more noticeable. The dress fell just past her knees and she had decided not to wear tights, which was something completely new to him. She wore low mint green heels and carried a matching cardigan.

"How do I look?" She asked.

"Beautiful," he whispered before he'd even realized he spoke. "Um," he cleared his throat. "You look fine. Real pretty."

"Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself." In fact, he looked really good and Cassandra felt her mouth go dry. He was wearing his black boots that she remembered from their trip to Rome, a pair of dark wash jeans that fit oh so very well, a pale green button down and a black leather Western style vest. She'd never seen that before, but hoped he wore it more often from now on. "We managed to match without even discussing it."

"Yeah, I noticed that." Stone shuffled his feet and then said. "There's something we still have to discuss."

She nodded. "Yeah, kissing."

He took a deep breath. "You realized that too, huh?"

"I watch a lot of movies. They're never, especially Mary Sue Baker, gonna buy that we're in a relationship if we don't at least kiss. It doesn't have to be anything other than a friendly sort of kiss. People will just think we're being discreet in public."

He scratched the back of his neck. "I'm really sorry about this, Cassie. If there was anything . . . .
"

"It's too late to back out. It's your baby sister's wedding."

"I know. I just, do you think we should uh practice?"

"Yeah," she blushed. "We don't want it to look like we've never kissed before at the wedding."

"Right, should I um . . . ."

"Stone . . . ."

"Right."

He stepped forward, both of them not quite sure where to put their hands, or how close to stand. After some awkward shuffling, he settled on one hand on her waist and went with what came natural to him, putting the other hand on her cheek. They bumped noses twice and they had to back apart because she got the giggles from that and the attempt where their chins bumped.

When she finally calmed down, he tried again, one of her hands on his shoulder, his back on her cheek. He was just glad he'd used mouthwash this morning, it was going to be awkward enough without worrying about his breath. This time, they got the angle right and their lips touched. They'd agreed to keep the kiss fairly chaste, mouths closed, more than friendly but not passionate. Just sweet and slightly romantic, the kind a couple might exchange when there were people around.

Never mind that she had to fight to keep her hands from creeping into his hair and felt just a bit of a wobble in her knees. He was really good at this, even keeping it as sweet as they were. Even though the kiss lasted a bit longer than it probably should have and they both opened their mouths just a little by the end.

Never mind that the feeling in his gut that he wasn't okay with just being her friend turned into a tingle that spread up his spine and made him want to sink into the kiss, back her into the desk and forget the wedding entirely. Bad idea, bad idea, Stone, break it off right now.

They parted and she backed up a step, finally opening her eyes that had fluttered shut.

"I think um that'll work," she said, trying to sound casual and hoping he didn't notice the hitch in her breathing.

He inhaled but decided that he was going to act like his lips weren't still tingling from the contact. "Yeah, and with any luck, we won't have to do that too much or anything."

"Right, sure. Well we probably should get going, huh? Don't want to be late."

"Yeah. Um, Cassandra?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks again for doin' this."

"Anything for a friend."

"Yeah."


Cassandra was happily chatting away, asking him the occasional question as they drove to his sister's place. Stone answered and tried to keep up his half of the conversation but in the inside he was quietly and steadily freaking out.

How did that kiss not affect her? She seems completely fine and I'm a mess. He inwardly sighed. I guess it's all the proof I need that she's not interested.

She'd mentioned when they had coffee that she was a fan of romantic comedies. She'd laughingly thanked him for giving her the chance to live out a fantasy as a heroine in a movie.

He was going to have to treat this the same way she was treating it. Like a fantasy. Growing up in this town, trapped in the life he'd chosen for himself, his only escape had been the hours he'd locked himself away and studied and wrote. Those precious hours had been what made the rest of his life bearable, had made it easier for him to put his costume back on and pretend he was content with his life.

So this wedding would be the same way. These precious hours he could indulge in his feelings for the woman next to him. She'd never know he wasn't acting. And when it was over, he'd have the memory of those hours to keep him going when he had to go back to keeping her at arm's length. It wasn't an ideal situation, but it was the only option he had.


Cassandra chatted away, trying to hide her feelings under her usual cheerfulness.

How did that kiss not affect him? He seems completely calm and inside I'm quaking.

But she knew better. She'd firmly closed the door on the possibility of anything more than friendship between them long ago. She was lucky he was even considering a real friendship with her at this point. He'd had his trust shattered and he barely trusted anyone.

All she had was today. And this fantasy, a few hours of him pretending he had feelings for her. A few stolen kisses to keep her warm. She could deal with this. Most of her relationships had boiled down to stolen moments and memories that kept her going. And in her memory, she'd pretend that he meant whatever he said or did today, instead of it all just being make believe.

It wasn't an ideal situation, but it was the only option she had.


"Here we are," Stone said pulling his car up into the makeshift parking lot that had been set up in front of Georgia's house. "Ready?"

She took a deep breath. "As I'll ever be. You?"

"Same. Let's try to have fun. The Stones do know how to throw a shindig so I think we'll have a good time."

She smiled and he got out of the car, remembering to go around to her side to help her out. He offered her his arm, which she was grateful for, the ground was a little uneven and she wasn't used to wearing those shoes.

"Jakey!" A woman's voice called, running forward.

"Georgia," he murmured to Cassandra.

"Hey sis," he said, dropping Cassandra's arm for a huge from his older sister.

"So is this your girl?" Georgia asked with a huge smile.

Jake winked at Cassandra over his sister's head. "Yep, Georgia this is Cassandra Cillian. Cassandra, this is my sister Georgia Williams."

"It's nice to . . . ." Cassandra didn't finish her sentence as she was engulfed in a big hug.

"Welcome, welcome. We're so happy that Jake brought someone home."

"He's told me so much . . . ."

"I've got to scoot though, I have so much to do. So much. But I'll catch y'all later."

"Bye Georgia," Jake said to his sister's back.

"Well, maybe that'll keep happening and I won't have to even talk." Cassandra giggled.

People were milling around a tent set up in the backyard before they went to go take their seats for the actual wedding. Stone introduced her to a couple of people, but his other siblings weren't around. The other girls were in the bridal party, so they were in the house and Joey apparently had been sent to the barn to take care of some last minute work that needed to be done. Cassandra had met Georgia's husband who was trying to just stay out of the way. She decided she rather liked him.

Stone was just about to suggest Cassandra they find seats when a shrill voice that belonged to a woman wearing a dress just a little too tight and just a little too much makeup came across the lawn.

"Jake Stone as I live and breathe!"

And Stone stiffened next to Cassandra.

"Mary Sue Baker."