Fake Dating My Ex's Favorite Hockey Player

Seven months earlier, Claire Carter believed she would marry Zane Collins. He ended ten years in minutes. The ring stayed with her. The key belonged in the flower pot. He needed the house back. Six months later, Zane had found someone he wanted to marry. Tessa Orlov, Claire's best friend, refused to let her stay home and let Zane write the ending. A plan formed around Liam Walker, an NHL superstar and Zane's favorite player, who needed a steady girlfriend to clean up his image.

Claire agreed to a fake-dating contract: one month of public dates, believable chemistry, a cruise appearance, and no catching feelings. Public hand-holding was fine; kissing was not. Claire wanted Zane to see what he threw away. Liam wanted the press to stop calling him a heartless playboy. At her bakery, Zane used his old key and pressed the fake-relationship claim. He claimed he paid for the place and threatened that Liam would tire of her and she would crawl back. Liam arrived, declared Claire his girlfriend, and made clear both would attend Zane's wedding.

Later, Liam asked to kiss Claire, and she agreed. The kiss was not in the contract. Claire meant only to make Zane mad; she forgot he was there. Liam noted there were no cameras. PR wanted one normal public date. On that date, Liam pushed Claire to start with what she wanted next. She admitted she was not sure who she was without Zane.

At the bakery, a fan of Liam's insulted Claire and dragged Liam's name into it. Liam defended her, claimed he pursued her and walked into her life, and refused to let his name wreck her store. Claire refused to let him speak for her and wanted to answer herself. Later, Liam admitted he had failed to protect someone before, and that she almost died. Jessica, the superstar, appeared in trouble; Liam went silent for two weeks because of her.

On the wedding cruise, Zane appeared outside their room and used the birth name Claire had left behind to force the door. Claire revealed the name she was born with, the family that believed she killed her brother, and the seven years since she left home. Liam chose to stand with her and let her decide if and when to tell him. At the couples challenge, they held intimate eye contact and shared a cheek kiss. The act was no longer easy to separate from real feeling.

Zane retaliated. He sabotaged the couple and framed Claire. When the fake deal was exposed, Claire walked away and chose to rebuild her life. Liam confronted his own mistakes. On the wedding day, Zane's crimes aired live and he was arrested. Liam earned Claire's trust again, and they fell in love for real, with no binding terms left.