Chapter 20
PIPER
I’ve never been to anything this fancy in my life.
The banquet is in a reception space in the fanciest hotel in Austin. The red and cream carpeted floors look like they belong in a British royal palace, and the glittering chandeliers look like they cost as much as a house in an upscale neighborhood.
I’ve had a good time so far. I met the owner of Nash’s team and his wife, and have enjoyed yapping in conversation circles with people who make more money in a year than I’ll see in a lifetime, with Nash standing stiffly by my side.
Having a hunky piece of arm-candy while sipping champagne and chatting with millionaires is something I could get used to.
Right now I’m standing a little bit apart from the action, taking some time to text my sister while Nash uses the bathroom.
HALLIE
OMG! NO WAY!
I just sent her a picture of Mike Marble, legendary lead anchor of the local Austin morning news broadcast. Even though broadcast television feels like something from the Stone Age, everyone who grew up in Austin knows Mike Marble.
He’s infamous for his chemistry with his female co-anchors, who usually go on to major national jobs after a couple of years trading banter in the seat next to him.
He’s a total silver fox, too.
ME
I know, right!
HALLIE
Did you talk to him?
ME
I haven’t been able to work up the courage yet
HALLIE
I hear you. I think my tongue would tie into three knots if I tried. You know me and older men
I send a laughing emoji. I’ve always teased Hallie about having crushes on older celebrities and how she particularly enjoys age gap romance books. She’s only ever dated guys her own age, though. At least that I’m aware of.
“Well, hey there, darlin’.” A slurred voice pulls my attention from my phone.
It’s a middle-aged guy with a bolo tie around his fleshy neck. He’s got a glass full of liquor in one hand, and the red in his face and gloss over his eyes tell me it’s very, very far from his first of the evening.
“Hi,” I clip, polite but short, not wanting to be rude but not wanting to encourage his attention, either.
“Beautiful evening, ain’t it?” he asks. Then he hiccups before adding, “Not as beautiful as you, though.”
I roll my eyes and put my attention back on my phone. Hopefully, he’ll take the hint and walk away.
But he’s either too drunk or too entitled.
“What are you doing all by yourself over here, anyway?” he asks.
“Waiting for her husband.”
The low, menacing rasp of Nash’s voice sends a shiver gliding up my spine. Tonight Nash is clean-shaven, which only makes it easier to see how his jaw muscles are flexing as his dark gaze bores into the guy trying to hit on me.
“Married, huh?” The man takes a swig of his drink. “Lucky you,” he says sarcastically before slinking away.
Now Nash’s eyes are on me, a hot, heavy weight as they drag up and down my body. “Yeah, lucky me.”
Heat crawls up my neck and settles in my cheeks. When his gaze brushes up my low neckline, his lips press together. The thought strikes me that maybe he’s trying to keep himself from licking his lips, and a muscle tugs between my legs.
I reach for a topic of conversation to take my mind off it. “I haven’t seen any of your teammates here tonight.”
Nash tilts a shoulder. “I guess this one’s just for rich old married couples.”
“Neither of us are old, and I’m not rich,” I reply with a grin.
“Not yet.”
I chuckle. “Pretty sure I’m never going to be rich.”
“I’m not. I don’t want to admit how fast I ate those pastries you made. Once you take over the place for real, it’s going to be the hottest bakery in Texas.”
I smile. The way Nash sounds utterly confident in me makes my chest feel fuzzy. “Honestly, I just want a nice, local business that makes enough money for me to live decently but doesn’t drive me crazy. Somewhere I can enjoy going every day. If I have that, I don’t need to be rich.”
Something gleams in Nash’s eyes. Admiration? That can’t be it.
“That’s a healthy mindset. Wouldn’t be surprised if you run that place so well that its popularity explodes despite your humble intentions, though.”
“I’ll cross that bridge if I come to it.” A waiter walks by with a tray of champagne flutes. Nash snags two and hands one to me.
“What about you?” I ask, arching a playful brow. “Any plans to expand that petting zoo?”
Nash groans into a sip of his champagne. “That damn petting zoo.”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t made friends with any of the animals.”
Nash makes another grumbly sound. “Just one. It’s one-sided. There’s a damn capybara that won’t let me be.”
I gasp. “Oh my gosh! You’re kidding.”
“If only.”
“Nash, I know you’re a grump, but come on. How can you not enjoy having a capybara friend?”
“She’s annoying.”
“I want to meet her. I wonder if she’d like me, too.”
“Probably not.”
“Nash!” I gasp, punching him in the arm. He laughs, and my knuckles buzz from how solid the muscle I just felt was. “Are you saying I’m unlikable?”
“I just mean she doesn’t seem to get along with anyone, according to the staff at the petting zoo. But for some reason she always wanders to my house and stays until I kick her out.”
“Have you thought about selling the petting zoo portion of your land? You don’t seem too enthusiastic about it.”
He sighs. “It’s really not profitable. Barely breaks even. I don’t think anyone would buy it. So either I put up with it, or all those people are out of jobs, and who knows what would happen to the animals.”
I’m starting to feel flushed and buzzed from all the champagne I’ve drunk. I feel my cheeks warm from the smile that’s pulling on my lips, and my eyes are dreamy as I point it at Nash.
He quirks an eyebrow, looking askance at me. “What?”
“You’re nice when people aren’t looking.”
His brow furrows in embarrassment, and it’s so cute that my smile only pitches higher. “Whatever,” he grumbles.
“I wonder if you were that way back in college, too, and I just didn’t notice.”
“Are you saying in so many words that you thought I was a jerk in college?”
I puff. “You know I thought you were a jerk in college.”
“And now?”
A shy smile pulls on my lips as I consider how I’m starting to feel about my fake husband.
I play it off with a shrug. “Now? I guess I could’ve been married to worse.”