2. Chapter Two #2
Then I realize from the nerves, that she hasn’t said what we’d be doing. All she’s mentioned since we’ve sat down is Chris’s nameless cousin.
“Wait…did you book me for Chris’s cousin? And not yourself?”
She chews on her lip. “Um… maybe? I just… I know you don’t normally do last minute bookings, but…” She looks at me with sad, guilty eyes. “You always make time for me , so I just thought maybe—”
Part of me feels more than flattered that she’d recommend me to someone else. It shows how highly she thinks of me, but also how much she trusts me.
Still, she’s right, we don’t usually book dates that urgently, but Foxy knows she’s a good client, and I’m more accommodating with Bella than most because I do genuinely like the woman.
She’s driven, determined, but she’s also shy and kind of awkward when it comes to life outside the office.
I swear if I wasn’t gay, I’d be all over a woman like Bella.
She knows urgent bookings—even the ones we accommodate her for—usually take a few hours, sometimes a day for the booking to get cleared through the system, and then we can schedule things accordingly.
But we do have exceptions to the rule, and Foxy doesn’t usually mind us bending it as long as we cover our asses. And hers.
Then the word finally hits me. He.
She said he. Chris’s cousin is a he.
I can’t hide my interest because frankly, I don’t get as many dates with men as I’d like—professionally or personally.
I sit up a little straighter.
“Go on…” I say, sipping my coffee.
“Well, his aunt and uncle are like, super pushy about his cousin finding someone to settle down with or something. At least, that’s what Chris says.
And there’s this big family thing they’re doing tomorrow, and he’s flying in so there’s…
not a lot of time to figure something out.
” She leans back, her gaze meeting mine warmly.
“And if anyone’s a miracle worker, it’s you, Jake.”
I lick my lips as I take in her words. It’s definitely a familiar scenario.
When I took Bella on as a client, after that funeral date, she was trying to garner a promotion within her company and her boss seemed to have a thing for people who were in committed relationships, since she herself was getting married.
I’d agreed to play the part of Bella’s boyfriend so she could get her promotion.
And it worked. Bella got the promotion, moved up the ladder, and I got a hefty tip. We’ve been working together ever since.
“Mhmm. Sounds familiar.”
Bella smirks at me. “I know. Seriously. But I know from experience how good you are, and I know if anyone can win a room of people over, it’s you.”
I can’t help but grin at her compliment. It always feels good to be told I’m good at my job. And maybe stupidly, it feeds my ego and makes me think I’m better boyfriend material than I actually am. So sue me, I like a little praise. What man doesn’t?
Still, the fact Bella used our pseudo-relationship to hold a place for a man she doesn’t know—a man she’s never even met, just because it would help out Chris—it’s clear he must be desperate and she wants to fix the problem for him. Bella’s like that. Selfless to a fault, but she doesn’t see that.
It’s admirable, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say she is doing this because of those unresolved, unattended feelings for Chris that she totally doesn’t have.
She lets out a shaky laugh, but her eyes sparkle with a little mischief. There’s the woman I know. The powerful corporate badass who runs circles around the men at the office.
I can’t help the chuckle that escapes my throat. “I’m seriously flattered that I come so highly recommended.”
She takes a sip of her drink and shoots me a knowing glare.
“That wasn’t a no.”
I chew on my lip, both wanting to make her sweat a little and wanting the details immediately.
I settle on something in between.
“You know, my schedule is jam-packed for the next month and a half, right?”
Bella bites her lip. “I know. But I also know you're off tomorrow, and so—”
I shake my head and tsk at her. “You know I’m off because you know I’ve been chomping at the bit for the release of Ice Breaker . Which comes out tomorrow.”
“I know, I know, you wanted to go to the launch party, but Jake….” she whines. “Please… I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t super important.”
I cross my arms. Bella knows how much I love my romance novels. She also knows I’ve had Ice Breaker, the next Secret Games book from my favorite authors, Penny Fox & Ariel Dawn, on pre-order for months and I’m practically dying to see what happens between Alex and Mack.
“Quite a favor you’re asking. What’s in it for me?”
I already know I’m going to do it. Not just because it’s Bella and she’s my top client, but because I knew the minute she said he needed a date for tomorrow, I was sold. But I can’t help that I like pushing her buttons sometimes because she is so cute and makes it so damn easy.
“What’s worth giving up my night binge reading my most awaited book this year in my TTPD sweats with a bottle of Prosecco?”
Bella looks me dead in the eyes when she says, “Chris said his cousin’s willing to pay double the rate. For the rush. And overtime pay if the party goes over the scheduled time.”
Double the rate? That’s three grand for the three hour minimum. And overtime? Fuck. Not even Bella pays me that well.
My eyes widen at her words. The potential to make at minimum three thousand dollars when I could be sitting at home in my sweats is too tempting to pass up. Even for me.
Sorry Alex. You’ll have to wait.
“You could have led with the three grand, you know,” I say as I take another drink.
Bella relaxes in her booth and breathes out, “Oh, thank God. You really had me going there for a minute.”
I chuckle as she takes a long drink. I hear Taylor on the radio again, smiling because that’s twice in one sitting.
Blank Space. I grin.
“You know I wouldn’t leave you—or Chris —” I say his name dramatically as I smirk at her with a wink. “Hanging.”
“You are a lifesaver, Jacob.” I don’t miss the tinge of pink in her cheeks as she whips out her phone.
I drink my coffee smugly. “I know.”
She casts me a knowing grin.
“Can I give Chris your number? He can text you the details since he’s the one arranging everything.”
I shrug as I get out my phone, queuing up my calendar and shoot off an email to Foxy, noting the switch and Bella’s recommendation.
It’s not something I usually do, but it’s not like it’s the first time it’s ever happened.
I’ve canceled dates and rebooked them on the same day.
Foxy doesn’t complain as long as we handle it.
I’d rather be honest, and Bella’s a good client, so I know Foxy will be cool as long as the client is happy and getting what they want.
And Bella is certainly getting what she wants—a solution to her neighbor’s problem.
Plus, since it is my day off, Foxy won’t complain.
“Seriously, I owe you,” she says once she shoves her phone back into her pocket. I set mine on the table.
“You can make it up to me by keeping your mouth shut about any spoilers,” I tease, since I know she’s going to binge the book the moment it hits midnight and lands on her Kindle.
“And you definitely owe me a coffee.”
Bella smiles warmly. “Deal.”
My phone chimes, and I pick it up to see an unknown number, likely Chris. I open the text to see the information for my date tomorrow night.
Unknown: Astrid Marina & Event Center 672 Portland Avenue 7:00 PM Black Tie. Meet Up 6:00 PM. Aaron will be wearing a black suit with a hot pink tie. This is his #.
Chris drops me a linked number, and I immediately add Chris into my contacts as Neighbor Chris as well as his cousin, who I list as Aaron Smith.
It’s enough information to put into the system. Even though I don’t have his real last name, that’s fine. Plenty of people book with fake names so it’s not a huge deal.
I vow to shoot Aaron a text when I get home so I can get his details. I may only have one day to prepare, but I’m going to do my best to treat this the same way I treat every other date of mine. I need to know who I’m supposed to be, after all.
The only way I will find that out is if I talk to the guy and get the details so I can deliver the top tier service he’s paying me double for on such short notice.
But for now, I just want to focus on my coffee, my friend, and the fact that tomorrow, I’m going to be three thousand dollars richer.