Her Imaginary Husband (Contemporary Romance) Read Online Free

you like that. Are you all right?”
    She rubbed the new bump on her skull and glared. “Tell me you did not just slap my behind. Tell me a bird shot a really big rubber band at me and flew away because I would believe that more.”
    “Sorry,” he said, hands in the air in surrender. “I slap the boys all the time on the football field, and I forget myself.”
    “Oh, well, if I accidentally rap your knuckles with a ruler, you’ll cut me some slack, too, right?”
    Coach laughed and took a step back. “So, you have plans this weekend? Last chance at freedom before the grading starts,” he said.
    Is Gayle right? Does he flirt with all the women? Dang, he smells good.
    “I was thinking I could show you some of the more intimate bars in Eastmont.” He leaned his elbow on the roof of the car, pulling his polo shirt taut across his pecs. His whole aura exuded virility, and it sucked all the moisture from Nikki’s mouth. A date sure would be a nice change. And he’s mighty hunky.
    Something twinkling in his eyes set off a warning alarm in her brain.
    “Uh.” Nikki searched the parking lot for some clue of an excuse.
    Just then Officer Ross rolled up in his security patrol car and lowered his window. “Everything okay here? This is a no loitering zone, you know,” he said with a mock-serious tone. “The Friday before Labor Day, this place should be empty.”
    “Hi!” said Nikki too eagerly.
    “No car trouble?”
    “We’re all fine, Officer,” said Coach. He clenched his jaw and ran his fingers through his hair. “Just making plans for the weekend.”
    “Oh?” Ross glanced at Nikki.
    “We’re not making plans together .” She waved her arms between them. “We were just talking.”
    “Right. What?” Coach looked off-balance for a moment.
    “Pretty soon you’ll be married to your work here.” Ross smiled sympathetically in the way all the teachers did when they implied her life was about to be forfeit to endless grading and committee meetings.
    Married. Did he say married? Nikki had a brain flash. “Yes, actually! My husband’s taking me out tonight to celebrate my new job really starting.”
    “Your husband? ” Coach coughed.
    “Isn’t he sweet?” She grinned and bounced on her heels like a giddy teen girl. “He’s always doing such thoughtful things for me.”
    “I didn’t know you were married.”
    “Oh yes. Newlyweds. You know how it is.” Nikki winked knowingly.
    “What’s his name?” asked Ross. “Your husband, I mean. I’ll need to meet him so I don’t arrest him if he comes to take you out to lunch one day.”
    Nikki laughed a little too loudly at this, suddenly panicking about the lie she had birthed. “His name?” Something neutral, she thought. Something common. “Mike. Mike Fallon. He’s… a pilot.”
    Will winced, and Nikki realized her unintentional sting.
    “Congratulations,” said Ross. He waved and drove off as Nikki slipped into the driver’s seat.
    Starting her engine, Nikki beamed up at Coach. “Well, good-bye. Have a great weekend!”
    And just like that, Nikki was married.

6~Faith and Fabricated Families
     
    “Some best friend you are.” Janna slid into the pew beside Nikki as the introduction for the first hymn started playing and everyone rose to their feet. “I didn’t even get to throw you a bachelorette party!”
    “That’s because I’m not actually married, stupid,” said Nikki.
    “So what’s he like?”
    “Who?”
    “Your husband.”
    “Sh! Someone’ll hear you.”
    “Not over that organ music,” said Janna. The congregation croaked out “A Mighty Fortress is our God”, and Janna pinched Nikki’s arm. “Who’d you marry? I want details.”
    “I told them he was a pilot.” Nikki kept her eyes on the person leading the music.
    Janna snorted and flopped her head back in a loud cackle, earning more than a few disapproving glares from the poodle-headed ladies across the aisle. “Around here?” she whispered. “A crop duster,