Title: Real Fake Love
Series: Copper Valley Fireballs #2
Series: Copper Valley Fireballs #2
Author: Pippa Grant
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Ā Release Date: September 3, 2020
Ā Release Date: September 3, 2020
Blurb
If people have polar opposites, Luca Rossi is mine.
His butt is in the baseball hall of fame. Mineās comfortably
seated in the hall of lame.
seated in the hall of lame.
When heās not snagging fly balls out in center field, heās
modeling in shampoo commercials. I once jammed my own finger while stirring
cookie dough, and sometimes I forget shampoo is a thing.
modeling in shampoo commercials. I once jammed my own finger while stirring
cookie dough, and sometimes I forget shampoo is a thing.
Heās a total cynic when it comes to love.
I make a living writing love stories.
But after my latest broken engagement (no, I donāt want to
talk about how many times thatās happened), itās clear heās exactly the man I
need.
talk about how many times thatās happened), itās clear heās exactly the man I
need.
If anyone can teach me to be the opposite of me, itās him.
The first thing I want him to teach me?
How toĀ notĀ fall in love.
And as luck would have it, heās in desperate need of a fake
girlfriend to get a meddling grandmother off his back.
girlfriend to get a meddling grandmother off his back.
We couldnāt be more perfect together, because the last thing
Luca Rossi will ever be is the next man to leave me at the altar.
Luca Rossi will ever be is the next man to leave me at the altar.
Or will he?
Real Fake Love is a line drive straight to the heart
featuring a grumpy athlete, a jilted bride, a fake relationship, and the
worldās laziest cat. It stands alone and comes complete with sibling rivalry,
the worldās most awkward shower scene, and a sweetly satisfying happily ever
after.
featuring a grumpy athlete, a jilted bride, a fake relationship, and the
worldās laziest cat. It stands alone and comes complete with sibling rivalry,
the worldās most awkward shower scene, and a sweetly satisfying happily ever
after.
Purchase Links
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ALSO AVAILABLE IN AUDIO & PRINT
Excerpt
Henri, in the middle of
Chapter Four…
Chapter Four…
It’s probably
weird to be sitting on the doorstep of the man I cyberstalked after his whole love sucks speech after my failed
wedding. But I wonāt apologize for waiting for Luca here at what I think is his
house, because you donāt get what you need in life if you donāt go for it.
weird to be sitting on the doorstep of the man I cyberstalked after his whole love sucks speech after my failed
wedding. But I wonāt apologize for waiting for Luca here at what I think is his
house, because you donāt get what you need in life if you donāt go for it.
Still, maybe
Dogzilla and I should be waiting in my car instead? At least that way, I could
turn on the radio while we wait. And the air conditioning.
Dogzilla and I should be waiting in my car instead? At least that way, I could
turn on the radio while we wait. And the air conditioning.
Iām about to move
to the car when a clunker chugs around the corner, one headlight out, and turns
into the driveway.
to the car when a clunker chugs around the corner, one headlight out, and turns
into the driveway.
This is
definitely the wrong house.
definitely the wrong house.
Iām sitting on
the porch of a strangerās house, hoping thatās a woman driving, because if itās
a woman, at least I know I wonāt be in danger.
the porch of a strangerās house, hoping thatās a woman driving, because if itās
a woman, at least I know I wonāt be in danger.
Of falling in
love with her at first sight, I mean.
love with her at first sight, I mean.
The engine shuts
off, and while I donāt often trespass at midnight, I have this feeling that
jumping up with Dogzilla and making a run for it right now is exactly the wrong
move. A well-timed, “Oh, sorry, I thought you were someone else,”
will give us all a laugh, Iāll take my cat and leave, and then two complete
strangers will have a weird story to tell their friends over margaritasāor an
iced tea, in my caseāand huh.
off, and while I donāt often trespass at midnight, I have this feeling that
jumping up with Dogzilla and making a run for it right now is exactly the wrong
move. A well-timed, “Oh, sorry, I thought you were someone else,”
will give us all a laugh, Iāll take my cat and leave, and then two complete
strangers will have a weird story to tell their friends over margaritasāor an
iced tea, in my caseāand huh.
This would make
an excellent meet-cute for my friend Dorotheaās next steamy romance novel. Iāll
have to drop her a note too.
an excellent meet-cute for my friend Dorotheaās next steamy romance novel. Iāll
have to drop her a note too.
The occupant of
the car is still sitting in it, and the figure illuminated by the street light
looks too big to be a woman.
the car is still sitting in it, and the figure illuminated by the street light
looks too big to be a woman.
Dang it.
He also seems to
beā
beā
Is he hitting his
head against the steering wheel?
head against the steering wheel?
Uh-oh.
If I picked the
house of a nutjob, all bets are off.
house of a nutjob, all bets are off.
“Be ready to
run, Dogzilla,” I whisper.
run, Dogzilla,” I whisper.
My lazy cat
doesnāt move, and instead snores in my lap.
doesnāt move, and instead snores in my lap.
Easier this way
anyway, since itās not like I can count on her to follow alone when I take off
running at full-steam.
anyway, since itās not like I can count on her to follow alone when I take off
running at full-steam.
Which doesnāt
happen all that often, if weāre being honest here. Iām a writer, not a runner.
happen all that often, if weāre being honest here. Iām a writer, not a runner.
Butāwait.
The way his hair
is movingā
is movingā
That is Luca Rossi.
I rise, cradling
Dogzilla, and when Luca looks my way, I give him a finger wave and a smile.
Dogzilla, and when Luca looks my way, I give him a finger wave and a smile.
The light isnāt
bright enough for me to see what heās saying, but his lips are definitely
moving, and if Iām not mistaken, heās wearing the same long-suffering
expression my father usually has when I tell him Iām engaged.
bright enough for me to see what heās saying, but his lips are definitely
moving, and if Iām not mistaken, heās wearing the same long-suffering
expression my father usually has when I tell him Iām engaged.
Again.
It might also be
remarkably similar to the expression Luca was wearing when he recognized me at
Duggan Field earlier today too.
remarkably similar to the expression Luca was wearing when he recognized me at
Duggan Field earlier today too.
Not my intention
to ambush him at work, I swear. I was curious about the ballparkāIām curious
about a lot of thingsāso when I caught wind on social media of a writer
organization that was touring the park, it was easy enough to get here in time
today to join the group.
to ambush him at work, I swear. I was curious about the ballparkāIām curious
about a lot of thingsāso when I caught wind on social media of a writer
organization that was touring the park, it was easy enough to get here in time
today to join the group.
And it was
fascinating to see where the players work out, to smell the chairs the
announcers sit in, what it feels like to stand in the dugout, and hear how many
light bulbs have to be replaced every day.
fascinating to see where the players work out, to smell the chairs the
announcers sit in, what it feels like to stand in the dugout, and hear how many
light bulbs have to be replaced every day.
Thereās a pop and
a creak as the car door swings open, and I suddenly desperately need to know
why Luca Rossi, millionaire sports star, lives on a grocery store clerkās
salary.
a creak as the car door swings open, and I suddenly desperately need to know
why Luca Rossi, millionaire sports star, lives on a grocery store clerkās
salary.
For research.
I swear.
I like to do
research.
research.
Itās one of the
things my ex-fiancƩ Kyle liked about me.
things my ex-fiancƩ Kyle liked about me.
“Henri,”
Luca says.
Luca says.
My brain hears what the hell are you doing here, and why
are you between me and my bed, and Iām not asking out loud because I donāt honestly
want to know.
are you between me and my bed, and Iām not asking out loud because I donāt honestly
want to know.
I either have a
lot of experience understanding people because I write good characters, or I
have a lot of experience with frustrating men after five failed engagements.
lot of experience understanding people because I write good characters, or I
have a lot of experience with frustrating men after five failed engagements.
Plus my lifelong
relationship with my father.
relationship with my father.
“Hi, Luca!
Great game tonight. That catch you made in center field was likeā”
Great game tonight. That catch you made in center field was likeā”
“The one
where I didnāt move, the one where I stepped three feet to my left, or the one
where I had to take two steps back?”
where I didnāt move, the one where I stepped three feet to my left, or the one
where I had to take two steps back?”
Okay, yeah, he
had an easy game. “How did you know where the ball was going to be? Thatās
likeāitās like youāre psychic.”
had an easy game. “How did you know where the ball was going to be? Thatās
likeāitās like youāre psychic.”
“Itās called
being a professional.” He squeezes his eyes shut briefly, opens them,
eyeballs Dogzilla in my arms, and then sighs again. “To what do I owe the
pleasure of your company tonight?”
being a professional.” He squeezes his eyes shut briefly, opens them,
eyeballs Dogzilla in my arms, and then sighs again. “To what do I owe the
pleasure of your company tonight?”
Wow. Heās cranky.
Not gonna lie.
I know itās
probably me.
probably me.
But thatās no
excuse for not forging ahead. I didnāt come all this way to chicken out.
“You remember the last time we saw each other?”
excuse for not forging ahead. I didnāt come all this way to chicken out.
“You remember the last time we saw each other?”
“This
afternoon in the clubhouse?”
afternoon in the clubhouse?”
“I liked
your hat, but I meant the timeā¦before that.”
your hat, but I meant the timeā¦before that.”
He closes the
distance between us with three casual steps. “Nope.”
distance between us with three casual steps. “Nope.”
And I go
momentarily speechless as a waft of something delicious teases my nose.
momentarily speechless as a waft of something delicious teases my nose.
But only
momentarily. A quick recovery is a gift. Or possibly a defense mechanism.
“The time we were togetherā¦in that townā¦with that big monumentā¦and the
event thingā¦”
momentarily. A quick recovery is a gift. Or possibly a defense mechanism.
“The time we were togetherā¦in that townā¦with that big monumentā¦and the
event thingā¦”
No answer.
“The event
thing that didnātā”
thing that didnātā”
“Iām trying
to block it from my memory.”
to block it from my memory.”
“Oh. Oh!
Thank you. Thatās very kind of you. Sorry. I didnāt realizeā”
Thank you. Thatās very kind of you. Sorry. I didnāt realizeā”
“That I
wouldnāt want to remember your ruined wedding, that you like to redecorate
people with dessert, and that your ex-fiancĆ© is the first man that my motherās
dated in three years and I might have to start calling him Stepdad?”
wouldnāt want to remember your ruined wedding, that you like to redecorate
people with dessert, and that your ex-fiancĆ© is the first man that my motherās
dated in three years and I might have to start calling him Stepdad?”
I wince.
My heart also weeps
because yeah, still not over seeing Jerry lock lips with a woman who couldāve
been my mother, and hearing that it might actually be going somewhere is salt
in the wound.
because yeah, still not over seeing Jerry lock lips with a woman who couldāve
been my mother, and hearing that it might actually be going somewhere is salt
in the wound.
“So, no,
Henri, I donāt remember the last time we were together. At least, I wonāt, once
I get inside and pour myself a large enough vodka tonic. Care for one?”
Henri, I donāt remember the last time we were together. At least, I wonāt, once
I get inside and pour myself a large enough vodka tonic. Care for one?”
Once again, Iām
momentarily speechless. “Um, Iām kinda allergicā”
momentarily speechless. “Um, Iām kinda allergicā”
I cut myself off
when one of his brows rises infinitesimally, and then I gasp. Of course he
knows Iām allergic. We had an entire conversation about it. “Are you trying to send me to the hospital?”
when one of his brows rises infinitesimally, and then I gasp. Of course he
knows Iām allergic. We had an entire conversation about it. “Are you trying to send me to the hospital?”
“No, but I am trying to get into my house. Alone.
Preferably without the sad panda thoughts Iād finally managed to shake before
you showed up today.”
Preferably without the sad panda thoughts Iād finally managed to shake before
you showed up today.”
“Oh. That
was a hint.”
was a hint.”
“It
was.”
was.”
“Iām bad
with the subtle.”
with the subtle.”
He swipes a hand
over his mouth and looks up at the sky, and Iām certain heās not stifling a
smile.
over his mouth and looks up at the sky, and Iām certain heās not stifling a
smile.
Probably the
exact opposite.
exact opposite.
Time to forge
ahead. “Iām here because I need your help.”
ahead. “Iām here because I need your help.”
“And now I
pay the price for my sins,” he mutters.
pay the price for my sins,” he mutters.
Iād ask what his
sins are, but my google searches were very
thorough.
sins are, but my google searches were very
thorough.
Normally, he
really would be the last person on earth Iād turn to for help.
really would be the last person on earth Iād turn to for help.
“I donāt
want money or anything like that. And Iād rather no one know Iām here, so Iām
not after your fame either, though I wouldnāt mind some tips on how to get my
hair as good as yours always is. Iāve tried Kangapoo before, andāwait. Sorry.
Off-topic. I need you to teach me how to not fall in love.”
want money or anything like that. And Iād rather no one know Iām here, so Iām
not after your fame either, though I wouldnāt mind some tips on how to get my
hair as good as yours always is. Iāve tried Kangapoo before, andāwait. Sorry.
Off-topic. I need you to teach me how to not fall in love.”
Also Available
Free in Kindle Unlimited
ALSO AVAILABLE IN AUDIO & PRINT
Author Bio
Pippa Grant is a USA Today
Bestselling author who writes romantic comedies that will make tears run down
your leg. When she’s not reading, writing or sleeping, she’s being crowned
employee of the month as a stay-at-home mom and housewife trying to prepare her
adorable demon spawn to be productive members of society, all the while
fantasizing about long walks on the beach with hot chocolate chip cookies.
Bestselling author who writes romantic comedies that will make tears run down
your leg. When she’s not reading, writing or sleeping, she’s being crowned
employee of the month as a stay-at-home mom and housewife trying to prepare her
adorable demon spawn to be productive members of society, all the while
fantasizing about long walks on the beach with hot chocolate chip cookies.
Author Links
Giveaway
šReviewš
Henri is a woman who believes in love, romance and happy ever after which works well for her career as an author but when it comes to her choices with men it is an epic fail as evidenced by her most recent debacle of another failed engagement. The only saving grace was that Luca came to her rescue and he is the man to cure her of romance woes.
Luca is a professional baseball player who doesnāt believe his lifestyle is suited for love, so he is determined to ensure that it never happens to him. The only problem is that his matchmaking Nonna feels otherwise so a quid pro quo with Henri feels like the solution they both need as he gets a fake girlfriend and she learns how not to give her heart so easily. What could possibly go wrong?
Fun and flirty the characters are captivating, and the story is filled with both mirth and emotion that will have you enchanted from beginning to end.
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