Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Taylor stared at the phone in her hand, willing it to ring. Willing it to be him.
Two days since the party, and the only thing she’d heard from Nick was a curt call Sunday morning: Skipping church today.
Every time the phone rang, she hoped for that deep baritone, only to get her grandmother twice and three texts from friends.
Please let it be him.
The phone chimed, and she grabbed it. “Hello?”
“Recovered from the party?”
Taylor’s heart sank, but she forced a smile into her voice. Tony.
“Just about,” she said lightly.
“Didn’t think I’d ever see you drink so much champagne.” Amusement laced his tone.
She winced. “Never again.”
“Headache?”
“The worst. Every time I moved, my head throbbed.” And every time she thought about that night, she cringed. She’d been reckless. With Nick. And he hadn’t called since.
“We should go out, catch up properly.”
Taylor hesitated. “That sounds nice.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Text me in a day or two, we’ll set a time,” she hedged.
“I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She hung up, relieved he hadn’t pushed. Normally, she’d jump at the chance to see an old friend, but the thought of blocking out time with Nick—just in case—made her hesitate.
What was she thinking?
Heat rushed up her face, remembering how she’d thrown herself at him that night. Was that why he hadn’t called?
Enough. She squared her shoulders. If he didn’t reach out tomorrow, she’d call him herself.
* * *
“How was the party?”
Nick scowled as Erik did his usual and propped his feet on the glass coffee table. “Tell me why you weren’t there.”
“She insisted I go.”
Nick barely heard him. He’d been restless, distracted all morning, and the news he’d received earlier only made things worse.
He pushed back from his desk and poured another coffee—his third—ignoring Erik’s smirk.
“That stuff is basically drain cleaner.”
“Spare me the health lecture from a guy who thinks tabloids count as news.”
“Hey, I’m an inquiring man. ”
Nick groaned. Erik’s fondness for sensational headlines had been a source of irritation since college—especially after he’d tanked their group project by citing one in a research paper. Nick had never forgiven him for that B.
“How was the wedding?” Nick asked, more to change the subject than out of interest.
“Same minister, same organist, same singer,” Erik said dryly. “Mom’s got them on retainer.” He shook his head. “Different groom, though. This one was into country music—had Here Comes the Bride played on a steel guitar.”
Nick nearly choked on his coffee. “That’s…something.”
“I’ll book him for your wedding.” Erik smirked. “Frequent-user discount.”
Nick rolled his eyes, remembering Grandpa Bill’s joke about the honeymoon.
“Keep the steel guitar,” Nick said, grinning wickedly. “But the wedding night? Now that’s different.”
Erik’s smirk widened. “ Knew you had the hots for her.”
Nick tensed.
“I knew it the second you made that crazy proposal. It was impulsive. So unlike you.”
Nick looked away. “Like you said—she’s a beautiful woman.”
But that wasn’t it. Not really.
Tony’s expression when he cut in on their dance flashed in Nick’s mind. Karelli was no fool. He saw what Nick didn’t want to admit.
“So, the pretend engagement is officially official?”
Nick exhaled. “Announced in front of five hundred people Saturday night. Society page on Sunday. Yeah, I’d say it’s official.”
Erik shook his head. “Man. You two deserve Oscars.”
Nick accepted the compliment with a half-smile. If only Erik knew how little acting was involved.
Over the past few weeks, the once clear line between real and pretend had blurred.
Being invited to dinner parties as a couple, golfing with Bill Rollins and being treated as one of the family, even texting and talking with Taylor every day had become part of his life.
This morning that fact had been driven home when an employee stopped him in the hall to offer his congratulations and he’d found himself saying, “I’m a lucky man,” and meaning it.
The closing curtain needed to fall on this charade, and fast. Or he just might end up in love with his leading lady.
“Now would be a good time for you to contact Henry’s attorneys. See if you can push things along. Get some of those last few contract issues resolved.”
“Merger means end of engagement.”
“It’ll save me some cash.” Nick dropped into his desk chair, picked up the pen and drummed it against the edge of the desk.
“You’ll lose your fiancée.”
“She’s never been mine to lose.”
He ignored the voice deep inside that insisted Taylor was his girlfriend. His fiancée. His .
She was so wrong for him. If his heart didn’t quite agree. Nick had never let it direct his decisions in the past and he wasn’t about to start now.
Yet every time he thought about Tony Karelli, about the way Taylor had smiled at him, hugged him like they were the only two people in the room—something twisted inside him.
He shoved the thought aside and tapped the pen harder against the desk.
“She’s not what I need,” he muttered.
“Maybe,” Erik said, studying him, “but she might be what you want .”
Nick shot him a glare. “I want this deal closed.”
Erik sighed. “Yeah. Sure.” He rose from the chair, adjusting his tie. “But for what it’s worth? If I were you, I’d start thinking about what happens after the merger. Because I have a feeling this whole thing doesn’t just end when you sign the contract.”
Nick didn’t respond.
Because for the first time since this arrangement started, he wasn’t so sure, either.
When his desk phone rang, Nick motioned for Erik to stay put. “Put her through.”
“Taylor,” he said, more gruffly than he intended. “What’s up?”
“We’re golfing Friday afternoon.”
Nick frowned. “We are?”
“Tiffany needed another couple for a charity scramble. I figured we’d be going out anyway, so?—”
“Friday’s not good.”
A pause. “Why not?”
He hated the disappointment in her voice. But it was better this way.
“I’ve got work.”
“You can’t spare one afternoon?”
“I gave you last weekend,” he said bluntly. “This engagement was supposed to give me more free time, not less. Just tell your friend we can’t?—”
“No worries.” Her tone cooled instantly. “I’ll find another partner.”
Guilt twisted in his chest.
“Nick, about the other night…” Her voice dropped. “I was embarrassed. I rarely drink, and the champagne affected me more than I expected. If I said or did anything to offend you, I’m really sorry.”
Nick closed his eyes.
“Don’t give it a second thought.” He forced a lightness into his tone. “You didn’t do or say anything I can hold against you.”
The lie slipped out easily.
Taylor exhaled. “Good. I was worried. About Friday, if Tiffany and I weren’t such good friends I would have said no, too. This consulting work is taking more of my time than I thought.”
“I know they’re glad to have your help.”
Before he could respond, she continued. “It’s ironic. You fire me, offer me a job as your fiancée, then hire me as a consultant. What a deal.”
She laughed, and the lilt in her voice that had been there when she’d first called returned. “I have to go—someone’s calling. Chat later.”
Nick lowered the receiver, frowning.
She didn’t seem to care much.
Maybe Erik was right. Maybe keeping his distance wasn’t just smart—it was necessary.
“Why aren’t you golfing with her Friday?” Erik asked.
Nick ignored him.
Erik leaned forward. “You do know you’re supposed to like your fiancée, right?”
Nick forced a smirk. “That’s what the money’s for.”
Erik didn’t look amused. “I heard you’re paying her to consult on the Burkhalter project.”
Nick nodded. “They were lost without her.”
Erik hesitated. “Did you ever check why she got fired?”
Nick tensed. He’d been trying not to think about that.
“Harv from HR called this morning.”
Erik narrowed his eyes. “And?”
Nick exhaled. “Her termination was a mistake.”
A beat of silence.
“What?”
“The pink slip she got was meant for a Kay Taylor in audit.”
Erik stared. “Nick. Holy?—”
“Harv asked what I wanted to do.” Nick rubbed his jaw. “I told him not to tell Taylor. She’s got a lot going on. Didn’t want her feeling obligated to go back full-time.”
“As if this whole fiancée-for-money thing wasn’t bad enough.” Erik slowly removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “When are you going to tell her?”
Nick set his cup down on the desk slowly and deliberately. “Keep in mind the only reason she’d even considered my offer was because she’d lost her job and needed the money. What’s going to happen if she finds out she still has the job?”
“Nick. Listen. You have to tell her.”
“I don’t have to do anything,” A hard edge crept into Nick’s voice. “I’m paying her a bundle to be my fiancée. Not to mention the money she’s earning now as a contract employee. She’s not hurting under this arrangement.”
The lines of concentration deepened along Erik’s brows. “Wake up and smell the lawsuit, Nick. I don’t have to remind you she was hesitant enough about agreeing to this engagement. If she finds out you’ve deceived her—there’s no telling what she’ll do.”
“Once the merger is complete, I’ll give her back her old job. With a raise,” he added hastily.
Erik leaned back and fit his fingers together. “You can’t believe she’d actually take it.”
“Why not?”
“Because everyone thinks your engagement is real. It’s bound to be awkward when it ends. You really think she’ll want to come back and work for you like nothing happened?” Erik shook his head. “No way.”
Nick looked away. “Then I’ll give her a great recommendation.”
An incredulous chuckle spurted from Erk’s lips. “I can just see it. Last assignment-fiancée. Job duties-social companion, attractive escort, occasional golf partner.”
Nick’s jaw clenched. “You know what I meant.”
Erik stood. “Keep her happy, Nick.” His voice was firm. “Happy people don’t sue.”
Nick stared at his desk long after Erik left.
Because deep down, he wasn’t worried about Taylor suing him.
He was worried about losing her.