Free The Sweetheart Hoax by Christy Hayes

nights in high school?”
    She stared at her lap for a moment before raising her eyes to his. “My mom was in the hospital a lot. Going to games didn’t seem that important at the time.”
    He didn’t miss the edge in her voice that told him to back off that particular subject. It was just as well. He didn’t know what to say and they’d arrived at his drive.
    “This is it?” she asked as he pulled the car to a stop in front of the rambling old farmhouse. He wondered why his parents had never gotten a smaller house that didn’t require so much upkeep after he and his brother left the nest. His dad had put a fresh coat of brick red paint on the door and shutters and the setting sun shone brightly off the polished windows. He hoped his parents hadn’t gone to any trouble for his visit home with Margot. Knowing his mom, she probably had.
    “Home sweet home.” He hopped out, stretched his back, and was on his way around the car to open Margot’s door when she opened it herself. For a moment, his mouth went dry as she swung her legs to the ground and gracefully climbed out of the car.
    He didn’t like the path his male addled brain had decided to take with Margot, zooming straight from a semi-friendship to noticing the curve of her backside and her slender, tapered ankles. He felt very grateful she’d worn those boxy clothes to work all these years or else he would have had a hard time keeping his eyes and his hands to himself. He started to look away when he realized his appreciation for her would go a long way toward convincing his parents she was his girlfriend. He closed the door for her and thrust her against his chest, locking his arms around her tiny waist. She felt like a doll in his arms.
    “What the hell are you doing?” she asked with an irritated line between her brows.
    “We’re dating, remember.” He dipped his head and nuzzled her neck. He got a whiff of her perfume and almost took a bite out of her delicate skin. “If you don’t act like you like it, my parents are going to get very suspicious.”
    As if on cue, his mother stepped onto the porch and let the door slam at her back. “Well, well, well. Look what the cat finally dragged back in.”
    He pulled away from Margot to stare at his mother. The wind whipped her dark hair into her eyes and she’d draped a royal blue sweater over her shoulders. Her jeans were well worn in the knees and her bright pink jogging shoes made him laugh out loud. “You going to the game like that?” he asked.
    “You know I don’t wear yellow.” She walked down the steps and, when she reached the bottom, extended her hands to encase Phil in her long and sturdy arms. She smelled like cinnamon and goodness.
    “It’s good to see you, Mom.”
    “It’s been too long, Philly.” She gave him one last squeeze and shoved her arm through his before turning to look at Margot.
    Margot’s cheeks turned pink as she extended her hand with a nervous smile. “Mrs. Williams. I’m Margot Manning. It’s so nice to meet you.”
    His mother cradled her hand in hers. “I’m Judy Williams. What a lovely name you have, Margot. Sounds kinda like a movie star, doesn’t it, Phil?”
    He cocked his head to the side and pondered his mother’s question. This new Margot certainly was putting on one hell of a show. The wind tossed her carefully controlled tresses into disarray, helping him snap out of the weird place he’d let himself visit. Margot. Young Margot with the crazy hair and ugly clothes. Except she’d buried her mother and put herself through school. And when she put a little effort into her appearance, she didn’t seem so young after all.
    “You both must be starving after traveling all afternoon.” His mother led them up the stairs and inside the house. “I’ve got some stew on the stove and fresh bread in the oven. Why don’t you grab your bags, Philly, and let Margot freshen up until dinner’s ready?”
    He heard her talking, he knew she wanted him to get