Maia munched on a piece of toast as she tapped her pen against her notebook. "I plot fake relationships all the time." She laughed. "But it feels weird doing it for myself."

"Yeah but ours doesn't have to be as intricate as the ones in your novels," Mateo said, leaning over the counter to grab the plate of leftover bacon. "We met because we're neighbors and we got together a month ago."

"Yeah alright that's the most logical back story and easy to remember," she murmured, jotting that down. "But what if someone asks how it happened?"

"Mm, someone's bound to ask that, especially nosy Jodie at the coffee shop."

"Exactly, we need a story."

"We have one. You hired me to be your muse and we spent so much time together that we started catching feelings, as you like to put it." Mateo chuckled. "And one night after a few bottles of wine while we were reading your manuscript –"

"You slipped up and confessed you liked me and the rest is history."

Mateo raised an eyebrow. "How come I'm the one who confesses?"

"Because it's too cliché if the romance writer confesses first and you're the Hoth, people will eat that shit up if you're the one with the secret crush on me."

Mateo choked out a laugh. "Yeah, okay. I guess that makes sense. So how are we going to break up?"

Maia tapped her pen against her cheek. "Long distance is going to end us. We won't find the time to be with each other and we'll break up amicably, but remain friends. That way it won't look weird if we still hang out when I come back."

Mateo nodded. "Alright, but if we go with that story then we're pretending to be with each other for the rest of your time here."

"That's true, but I don't know how else for us to end it. We can't just break up the minute Sven leaves. That'll look weird and I don't want it to be a bad break up either."

"I don't mind carrying this on until you go back to Amsterdam if that's what you want, but it seems kind of silly to keep it up if Sven's not around."

"Yeah, I know, but how else are we going to break up and still be friends? People are going to talk and I don't want you to have to be here and deal with them gossiping about our break up or talking shit about you because of it."

"Mm, true and I don't want people talking bad about you either," he said, dragging a hand through his hair. "Alright, then we're a couple for the next few months and we'll end it like you said."

"Good, now that we have our story," she said, drawing a line under that bit in her notebook. "Let's talk about boundaries. Obviously, sex is off the table. We don't need that to fake this."

"No we don't, but how are you going to act when the ladies at the coffee shop ask you how I am in bed?"

"Oh God," Maia said, laughing as her cheeks burned up to her ears. "Yeah, that convo is definitely going to happen."

"Mm-hm," Mateo grinned with his brown eyes full of mischief. "So, what am I like?"

"I think you're enjoying this way too much."

"Maybe, but I like making up stuff with you." Mateo shrugged. "You could say my bedroom skills need some work, but my looks make up for it."

Maia raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I've ever met a man that was happy for someone to say he sucks in bed," she said, chuckling softly. "Your humbleness would suggest the opposite."

"Well, I don't want to come off too perfect. I gotta have some flaws."

"You do, but we can't ruin your whole mystique. I'll just say...you keep me up for hours, but you have a terrible snore or something."

"Alright, that's pretty tame, but it'll work."

"Hey, now. Snoring is a deal breaker for some people," she huffed. "What kind of flaw do you want?"

"I don't know, something quirky. Like I've got a crooked dick."

Maia burst out laughing. "You're a fucking mess! I'm not talking about your dick or your dick size. We're sticking to snoring," she said, shaking her head. "God, and here I thought this was going to be awkward planning this out."

"Why would you think that?" He chuckled. "We do this all the time."

"Yeah, about fictional people, not us!"

"I mean, it's kind of the same thing. We're just making up a story about a fake relationship."

"Yes, but it's one we're going to live for a little while, let's not make it too extra."

"Alright. Fair enough," he said, reaching for the box of weed and rolling papers. "So, what other boundaries do we need to discuss?"

"How we're going to act in public," she said, taking a sip of her coffee. "I figured we'd do the usual hand holding, hugging, flirting and all that."

"Okay," Mateo said, grinding up the weed. "And what about kissing?"

"I think kissing should be limited to cheeks, hands and foreheads. Kissing on the lips should be reserved for emergencies only."

Mateo raised an eyebrow. "And what would be an emergency situation?"

"I'm not sure." She shrugged. "I guess that's one of those play it by ear things."

"Right," he said, rolling up two thick joints. "But what if one of us thinks it's an emergency situation and the other doesn't so we end up looking awkward."

"Okay, then we'll have a code word for emergency lip kisses. Like," she tapped her pen to her lips. "Framboos or something."

"Raspberry?" Mateo said, handing her a joint. "That'll work."

"Okay, I think that's it," Maia said, taking the joint and lighting it. "Is there anything you think we missed?"

"Nope, I think we covered everything."

Maia nodded as she took a drag. "And you're sure you want to do this with me? It won't be weird for you to act like you like me?"

"What do you mean?" Mateo frowned, but there was a teasing glint in his eyes. "I do like you."

"Fuck off." Maia laughed, nudging his shoulder. "I mean romantically, you idiot."

"No, I'll be fine," Mateo said, catching her hand. "The more important question is, will you be able to act like you like me in front of your ex?"

Maia's heart thumped as she gazed into Mateo's eyes, his tousled hair and his rumbled white t-shirt and gray sweatpants. He wasn't the typical man she'd go for and she liked him as a friend, but she wasn't sure how natural she could be acting like his girlfriend. She sighed, shaking her head. "Honestly, I don't know, but I really need this to work."

"That's fair." Mateo nodded, letting go of her hand. "Then we need to practice. You don't want to look awkward when we run into Sven."

"Yeah, that's true, but where are we going to practice? There aren't too many places between here and the Butte."

"It's going to have to be that shopping center outside of town. It's far enough away where we won't see too many familiar faces."

"Okay, let's do it," Maia said, taking a drag from her joint. "Sven can't know that we're faking it and I don't want to be the reason he figures it out."

"Just lean into that main character energy you're always talking about." Mateo smiled. "And just remember why we're doing this. You've got a book to finish."

"Yes I do and you're being far more helpful as a muse than I originally intended," she said, making another note in her book. "I need to adjust your contract."

"No you don't," Mateo said, placing his hand over hers. "This one's on me."

Maia raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

"Absolutely. You don't want it in writing that not only are you paying me to be your muse, but you're paying me to be your boyfriend too," he said, shaking his head. "Trust me, if that information got out Sven wouldn't be the only one ruining your peace."

"I didn't really think of that. I doubt my fans would be impressed with this situation. I'd end up in one of those 'bad author' threads on Twitter or something."

"Mm-hm and you don't need that additional drama in your life."

"I sure don't, but you seem like you've been there," Maia said, scratching the note out. "Was your property management job a bit more high profile than what you've said?"

"Yes, and my reputation was damaged by my ex who I trusted to keep our relationship private."

"Oh shit. I'm so sorry. So, is that why you have zero presence on social media and the internet?"

"Yeah, I guess I should be more honest about why I'm here," he said, taking a deep breath. "It wasn't just because my job was getting stressful, I'm here for damage limitation to my family's company."

"Okay that makes more sense, so before we make our relationship public, are you absolutely sure this isn't going to hinder that? I mean, the town is going to talk and there's a risk this could go farther than that."

Mateo flicked the ash of his joint in the tray as he nodded. "I've thought about that and I think the risk is minimal. People are going to talk, but there's more a chance of them gossiping on that Facebook group and in their small cliques than it being a massive PR scandal. I doubt us being together would make it to my family and even if it did, you're the type of woman my parents would prefer me to be with anyway."

"Really? And why's that?"

"Because you're a person of your own making and this is going to sound shallow." He chuckled. "But you have your own wealth and you have a very respectable public image. That's all that really matters to them."

"That's a bit shallow, but I'm going to take that as a compliment." Maia smiled. "So, if this did get out, it'd be beneficial to you too?"

"Potentially, so you don't need to worry about me, but let's hope it stays in the Butte bubble."

"I'm sure it will. Not too many people care about Sven Fontein's personal gossip." She smirked. "And he wouldn't make it known that his ex is snubbing him for another man."

Mateo grinned. "Especially not one that's treating you better than he did."

Maia laughed. "Getting a bit cocky, sir. It's not a competition and sadly, you already treat me better than him just being my friend," she said, looking around the cabin as the smile on her face fell. "Even when things were good with us, he would've never taken me to a place like this on the off chance it would inspire my writing."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah." She scoffed. "Hindsight is really an eye opener. He wined and dined me in pretty lavish places and to be fair, they did help me create some good content, but everything was always about what he liked and what he wanted. My needs and wants were always an afterthought."

"Wow, okay. Well, that's not how we're going to do things and Maia," he said, sliding his hand to her chin, turning her face to him. "That shouldn't be how anyone treats you."

The tenderness in Mateo's eyes sent a warm tingle down her spine and pooled in a place she wished it didn't. "I-I know. I just got caught up in the idea of him and I won't let anyone treat me like that again."

"Good because you deserve better," he said, letting go of her chin. "And if you didn't need a buffer to keep your peace for your deadline, I'd tell you, you don't need to fake a relationship with me to prove that you're worth being treated better. That's just a given."

"Thank you for saying that," she whispered. "It means a lot."

"You're welcome and I mean it. You're an amazing woman and if you don't mind, I intend to continue to treat you that way while we do this."

"I don't mind as long as we stick to our boundaries and we don't fuck up and catch feelings."

"Of course not. This is strictly business," he said, snuffing his joint out. "We should probably get showered and dressed and get out of here if we're going to do a practice run."

"Yeah we should," she said, closing her notebook and sliding off the stool as he picked up their empty plates. "Do you want help cleaning up?"

"No, I got it," he said, nodding to her bedroom. "You just go get yourself sorted."

"Alright," she said, shuffling to her room with her heart simmering from the sweet confession he said about her.

She closed her door and bit her lip. He thought she was an amazing woman. Dear God, she needed to be careful doing this with Mateo. He may not be her type, but shit, the things he says could have her falling hard.

And she wasn't going to fall for their made up relationship. It was just business. She had a deadline and the only reason Mateo stepped up was to keep Sven from bothering her. He didn't actually want to be with her and she didn't want to be with him.

Completing Donny and Tati's story was all that mattered.

She wasn't a main character and she wasn't about to catch feelings and fall in love with her muse.

Not again. Not ever.

A/N: So I'll be honest, this chapter wasn't supposed to go as in-depth about their plan like this, but I think it forced them to open up a little more to each other. Mateo is still keep somethings to himself but at least he opened up about the true reason he fled to Colorado and Maia opening up about the fact that Mateo treats her better as a friend. Sven doesn't sound like a nice guy at all, but there had to be more to him if Maia fell for him, right? I mean it couldn't just be the fantasy she created in her head?

I dunno...but I love that Mateo is basically like - No one is going to treat you that way and I'm going to keep treating you like you deserve

And Maia's all - 😳 Okay... *Fuck! Don't fall in love with him.* 🤣

And hopefully next chapter we'll meet Sven....???😈

I'll be back next week with more chapters, I'll forewarn you though. it's another busy week at work so it may be a one chapter week, but if you can't wait you're more than welcome to read ahead to chapter 19 on Patreon! 

As always thank you so so much for reading! I hope you have a wonderful week, Little Bees!