{"id":27252,"date":"2021-05-21T08:16:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-21T13:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/?p=27252"},"modified":"2021-05-18T17:21:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-18T22:21:00","slug":"dualreview-blogtour-excerpt-fake-by-kylie-scott","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/?p=27252","title":{"rendered":"#DualReview #BlogTour #excerpt- Fake by Kylie Scott"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Fake<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

He walks the red carpet. She\u2019s more familiar with vacuuming one.<\/b><\/p>\n

When a scandal tarnishes the reputation of hot as hell A-lister, Patrick Walsh, he needs a reputation rescue, pronto.<\/p>\n

Enter waitress Norah Peers\u2013a nobody who\u2019s average with a capital A. She\u2019s available, dependable, and has sworn off men for the rest of her natural born life. In other words: the perfect match for a no-strings fake romance.<\/p>\n

For the right amount of money, she can avoid waitressing and play the part of his dependable down-to-earth girlfriend. What she can\u2019t avoid\u2013dammit\u2013is the growing steam between them.<\/p>\n

But being hounded by the paparazzi and having your life dissected on social media is a panic attack in the making. And while Patrick might be a charming rogue on screen, in real life he\u2019s a six-foot-two confusing, gorgeous, brooding grump, who keeps her at a distance . . . but also makes her feel like this bond between them might be more than just an act.<\/p>\n

Being dumped on cue should be no big deal. Except being fake with Patrick is the realist relationship Norah has ever had. What\u2019s a girl to do, but flip the script, and ask for a rematch made in Hollywood?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Chapter 1<\/p>\n

He slunk into the restaurant mid-afternoon wearing his usual scowl. Ignoring the closed sign, he took a booth near the back. No one else was allowed to do this. Just him. Today\u2019s wardrobe consisted of black jeans, Converse, and a button-down shirt. Doubtless designer. And the way those sleeves hugged his biceps . . . why, they should have been ashamed of themselves. I was this close to yelling \u201cget a room.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, I asked, \u201cThe usual?\u201d<\/p>\n

Slumped down in the corner of the booth, he tipped his chin in reply. For such a tall guy, he sure went out of his way to try to hide.<\/p>\n

I said no more. Words were neither welcomed nor wanted. Which was fine since (A) I was tired and (B) he tipped well for the peace and quiet.<\/p>\n

Out back, Vinnie the cook was busy prepping for tonight, his knife making quick work of an onion.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s here,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

A smile split Vinnie\u2019s face. He was a huge fan of the man\u2019s action films. The ones he\u2019d made before hitting it big time and taking on more serious dramatic roles. Him choosing to visit the restaurant every month or so made Vinnie\u2019s life complete. Especially since the restaurant, Little Italy, was the very definition of a hole in the wall. Not somewhere generally frequented by the Hollywood elite. Meanwhile, I was less of a fan, but still a fan. You know.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet him his beer,\u201d Vinnie ordered.<\/p>\n

Like I didn\u2019t know my job. Sheesh.<\/p>\n

He was busy with his cell by the time I placed the Peroni in front of him. No glass. He drank straight from the bottle like an animal. Just then, a woman in a red sweater dress and tan five-inch-heel booties strode in through the front door.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, we\u2019re closed,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m with him.\u201d She headed straight for his booth and slid into the other side, giving the man a dour look. \u201cYou can\u2019t just walk out, Patrick. You\u2019re going to have to choose one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope.\u201d He took a pull from his beer. \u201cThey all sucked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere had to be at least one that would do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot even a little.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sighed. \u201cKeep this up and you\u2019ll be obsolete by next week. Beyond help. Forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo away, Angie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust another talented but trash male in Hollywood. That\u2019s what they\u2019re saying on social media.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t give a shit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLiar,\u201d she drawled.<\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t quite sure what to do. Obviously they knew each other, but he did not seem to want her here. And she really wasn\u2019t supposed to be here. Vinnie had okayed after-hours entry to only one person. On the other hand, if I asked her to leave, she\u2019d probably sic her lawyers on me. She looked the type.<\/p>\n

The woman spied me hovering. \u201cGet me a glass of red.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s not staying,\u201d countermanded Patrick.<\/p>\n

Angie didn\u2019t move an inch. \u201cThey were all viable options. Pliant. Young. Pretty. Discreet. Nothing weird or kinky in their backgrounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat might have made them more interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInteresting women is what got you into this mess.\u201d The woman frowned, taking me in. Still hovering. One perfectly shaped brow rose in question. \u201cYes? Is there a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n

Now it was Patrick\u2019s turn to sigh and give me a nod. He was so dreamy with his jaw and cheekbones and his everything. Real classic Hollywood handsome. Especially with his short light brown hair in artful disarray and a hint of stubble. Sometimes it was hard not to stare. Which is probably why his personality tended to scream \u201cleave me alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

I headed for the small bar area at the back of the restaurant to fetch the wine like a good little waitress.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t be discussing this here,\u201d said Angie, giving the room a disdainful sniff. Talk about judgy. I thought the raw brick walls and chunky wood tables were cool. Give or take Vinnie\u2019s collection of old black-and-white photos of Los Angeles freeways. Who knew what that was about?<\/p>\n

Patrick slumped down even further. \u201cI\u2019m not going back there. I\u2019m done with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t safe.\u201d Angie looked around nervously. \u201cLet\u2019s\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re fine. I\u2019ve been coming here for years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just got dropped from a big-budget film, Patrick,\u201d she said, exasperation in her tone. \u201cThe industry may not find you bankable right now, but I\u2019m sure gossip about you is still selling just fine. This week at least.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Goodreads<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n