Chapter 4
Four
Nicholas
“ I ’d love to take credit because it would be a genius plan. Unfortunately, I can’t. This interesting turn of events is pure fate.”
“Then why are you here?” She pauses in thought and then corrects herself. “Why am I here in your home with you offering to be my date for the wedding?”
“You needed a room for the weekend, that’s why you’re here.”
She fidgets with her hands. “Yeah…with my grandmother as you are already well aware of.” Her voice begins to rise. “She’s supposed to be staying with me. Is she staying here, too?”
“We’ve already established I’ll be your roommate for the weekend. I’ll even wear your grandmother’s clothing if that’ll make you more comfortable.” Her face is adorable with her nose scrunched up and the corner of her lips pointing down in a mixture of disgust and confusion. “Those were your original arrangements, correct?”
“You’re so fucking weird,” she whispers. Maeve takes a moment to rub her temples. “I don’t have time for this and I can’t afford this.”
“Did they ask for your credit card?” Before she can answer, I continue, “No. She gave you a key card to my home.”
She stands up. “Tell me why you brought me up here. Where’s Gram? What the hell is going on?”
Her temper excites me far more than it should. That conservative, America’s sweetheart dress and demeanor isn’t fooling me. It did at first, but I see right through her. Hell, she’s not even wearing underwear. Playing with her while acquiring a new business deal is going to be fun.
“I noticed tension between you and the two clowns downstairs.” Her eyes narrow and her lips pinch together. Sore topic. They must really get under her skin. I continue to tell her my proposition. “I can help with that. I can have them kissing your ass until their lips are chapped. In return, I intend to be your plus one for Vincent Goodman’s wedding.”
She sits back down and crosses her legs. “I can get you invited. No need for all the theatrics.”
“I have an invitation,” I bite out. I’m only mildly offended she doesn’t want to go along with what I’m offering. Most women would fall to their feet for a date with me. I clear my throat and continue, “I hadn’t intended on being your fake fiancé, that was the result of a misunderstanding. But I think we can make this work in both our favors.” Which is the only reason I’m going to let that idiot keep his job. She continues to stare at me as though I’ve lost my mind. Before I can further explain, the elevator dings. “My first surprise for you is here.”
“First surprise? Because you sending me up to your room under the pretense it was my room wasn’t a surprise?”
I ignore her remark. I’ve only granted access to three people for the elevator this evening. The stylist, makeup artist, and room service. The door slides open and three people exit with a rolling cart of fruit and wine, and another cart with a garment bag hanging, steel cosmetic box, shoe box, and jewelry boxes.
“Welcome,” I tell them and then gesture to Maeve. “Here she is. Allow me to introduce you to the lovely Maeve Goodman. My fiancée. Pamper her as though your life depends on it.”
“Of course,” they say in unison.
Maeve stands. “Wait. Nicholas. What’s going on?”
I hurry over to her and take her hand. “Oh, I see we’re no longer strangers. First-name basis. I like my name on your lips.” I kiss her knuckles and then drop it. “I’ll return soon, my date.” When she looks murderous, I decide to toy with her even more. “My future bride. Enjoy yourself.”
“ Nicholas. ”
I step back into the elevator and press the button for the bar. “Have fun, Little Bit.”
Her eyes widen and her mouth drops open in shock when I use her grandmother’s nickname for her. I give her a wink right as the elevator doors close.
The bar is a gray blue color with parts of the walls in velvet. Mirrors and old-style lamps with shades decorate the walls. The theme is Victorian meets contemporary. Everyone is dressed in glitter and designer brands, so it’s no issue at all spotting the one I seek.
Journi Reign.
Her hair is pulled partly back with a few dreads hanging loose. She’s wearing a neon pink crop top, sans bra, leather pants, and hot pink heels. Journi is laughing loudly and she sits with the lady of the hour, Maeve’s grandmother. As I approach, she notices me and her smile widens. Journi holds up her shot glass filled with what looks like Pepto Bismol.
“Nick! You’re just in time. Want some Pink Cadillac Puss-say? ” Not only did the whole bar hear her, I’m sure the casino did as well.
“That explains the color,” I grumble as I accept the shot glass from her. Journi only quirks a brow at me and holds the shot up in a salute.
After we down our shot, Journi pats my shoulder and leans in. “Thanks for picking up my car. I can’t believe I forgot it at the airport.”
“Really?”
She waves me off and then points to Maeve’s grandmother. “This one is a hoot. I can’t believe you picked them up. It’s so not like you to offer rides.”
Gram pats her arms. “You haven’t seen my granddaughter yet.”
Journi leans in to me. “Psst. I heard something. Are you now engaged?”
“Something like that.”
Journi begins to laugh. “Does this mean I get to be the godparent to your first born? You picked her up in my car. Will you name your baby after me? I mean – I found your soulmate.”
“Hardly,” I grumble.
“Such a romantic,” Journi slurs. “Seriously, make me your VP. Best something. Best friend?”
“Where have you put Little Bit?” Gram asks and then lifts a giant beer mug to her lips. “Little Bit?” Journi asks.
“For Little Bitty. She was a tiny thing forever. Not the full curved woman she is now, but the nickname has stuck.”
Journi arches a brow at me. “Yes, Nicholas. Where is Little Bit?”
“My room.”
Journi about spits out her drink. “ Your private room?”
“Yes.”
“She is special. Let me get a look at this granddaughter. Wow.”
Gram raises her brows. “My my. You kids do move fast these days. But you know, I married my husband after three dates. Of course, back then that’s the only way you could be alone with someone. You had to marry them. Or so I thought. I wanted to have sex so I got married. Turns out it wasn’t worth it. Now when we hired a gardener. He was worth it. That man knew what to do with his tools, so to speak.”
Journi elbows Gram. “Were you a dirty hoe?”
Gram’s frail shoulders do a little shimmy. “We were certainly dirty. But the hosing down was fun as well.”
“Did he spray your face?” Journi asks in a husky voice.
“Honey, there wasn’t anywhere he didn’t spray.”
Journi howls with laughter. “Where did you find her?” she asks me and I shrug. “I’m keeping her.”
I order Gram another drink. The old lady emptied that whole glass and doesn’t even seem phased.
“So you’re telling me not to hire a gardener?” I tease.
“If you know how to tend to her garden, you won’t need to worry now will you?” Gram calmly tells me.
Journi smirks. “Yeah, Nicholas. Tend to her little bud, and you’ll be just fine. Also, I’m your maid of honor and child’s godmother, yes?”
I narrow my eyes at Journi. “Will you stop talking if I tell you what you want to hear?”
“That usually works, yeah.”
“Then sure.”
“It’s an honor. Of course I’ll be your best man. Matron of honor. Godmother. Fairy fucking godmother.” Journi claps her hands in excitement. She begins singing some song, but I have no clue what words are even coming out of her mouth. Which means it’s my cue to go. Maeve is probably ready by now, or at least close to being ready.
“Anything you need or want is yours. I’m going to go check on Little Bit,” I tell Gram.
She reaches over and takes my hand before I can walk away. “I know a wolf when I see one. But I know you’re not going to hurt my girl.”
Even though I know I shouldn’t agree with her, I can’t stop myself. “And how do you know that?”
“Trust me.”
“Trust is a dangerous gamble.” A slow sinister smile spreads across my face.
“True, Mr. Deschamps. I’m a betting woman, and I bet you’ve met your match. I’ll warn you. I don’t think my granddaughter is the type to play fair.”
“Neither am I.”
Gram uses her other hand to pat mine. “I’m so happy we got in the wrong car.”
“It was reckless. What if you ladies had been robbed or murdered?”
“What about you? We could’ve been robbers or murderers.” At that I laugh but then Gram gets a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “The night is still young. Who knows who you invited to your room.”
Journi snorts. “Sleep with one eye open tonight, Nick.”
Now it’s really my cue to go. “Ladies. If you’ll excuse me.”
“Hey, guess what? I’m a fairy. True story. And I can grant you three wishes. Well, I just became a fairy godmother.” I hear Journi telling someone as I walk away. God help us with Journi and the innocent yet wild old lady tonight. Maybe I shouldn’t have paired Journi with her until I got everything sorted with Maeve.