Chapter 12
CLARA
Luke had arranged for his stylist to come over to his penthouse to help me get ready. Francesca knew her stuff, but she seemed like overkill. On the plus side, as she did my hair and makeup, we were able to talk about things I felt comfortable wearing, and she had shown me a few things.
Francesca promised she’d put together some outfits for me and send them over. I liked how she was dressed and how she was making me up, so I trusted she would find me clothes that were both fashionable, but not over the top.
Tonight’s dress, however, was so well-fitted to my body I was afraid to take a breath. Francesca had pinned a few things and worked some kind of magic, and the damn thing looked painted on.
I had to admit, though, I looked damn good in it too.
My curves were on display but in a classy way.
I was covered up tastefully, not threatening to spill out anywhere.
Once I put on the matching shoes, I looked like a woman who was used to the finer things in life.
No one had to know I was basically homeless.
“You are going to break some hearts tonight,” Francesca said, giving my one last check.
“Good,” I told her. “It’s all because of you, though. This is easily the prettiest I’ve ever looked.”
“You are the clay and I am the sculptor.” Francesca gave me light slap on my round butt. “And you have very fine clay.”
I jumped and blushed. “Thank you.”
She wished me luck again and then was on her way to hunt me down some new outfits. I took a deep breath, relieved that my boobs didn’t explode out my bodice, and then stepped out of my bedroom.
Luke was waiting for me. At first, he just stared, his phone pressed to his ear while he carried on a conversation about work. I didn’t understand what he was talking about. He hung up, looked away, and took a deep breath.
“So what do you think?” I asked, doing a little twirl. “Do I look the part?”
He tugged his suit jacket down and quickly buttoned it. “It’ll do.”
A candy cane flashed in my head and I hid a smile.
Lenny was waiting for us at the curb. Luke wasn’t threatened by him anymore, it seemed.
Not that he had any reason to be worried.
Still, it was nice to see he cared enough about me to be jealous.
I knew the whole thing was fake, but if Luke thought I was worth getting jealous over, I wasn’t about to complain.
On the way to the restaurant, Luke seemed trapped in his head while he scrolled through emails on his phone. Was he trying to distract himself? Did men like him get nervous? It seemed impossible. He was tall, strong, and handsome, and he was fearless enough to go on TV and talk for hours.
Was he trying to distract himself for some other reason then?
Whether he was nervous didn’t matter. I was. “Luke, is there anything I should say during dinner to make this scheme sound more believable? It’s your show and I want to make sure I’m playing my part right.”
“I’ll lead the way,” he said gruffly, seeming totally disinterested.
I shifted my position to look at him fully. “Do you even like your job?”
Luke went rigid for a moment before clearing his throat. “Of course I do.”
When Lenny announced we were about a block away, Luke motioned for him to pull over. “We’ll walk the rest of the way. It’s a nice, clear night.”
I worried about walking that far in the heels that Francesca had brought over. At least she had brought a good coat, too. It would give us a chance to see some of the Christmas decorations and the city lights. I wondered if Luke had suggested it because he knew I wanted to drink in the city more.
As we walked, I looped my arm through his. “So, boyfriend, tell me what we’re walking into. Reassure me a little. Please.”
He bumped me softly with his shoulder. “You’ll do great. There will be fancy food and fancy clothes, but these people are as normal as the rest of us.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “It’s just, it’s finally real now. I’m about to go fake it in front of people you’re trying to trick.”
He chuckled. “I like to think I’m trying to impress them more than trick them. I’m capable of taking on more responsibilities at the network. I figured a steady girlfriend, from my hometown no less, was a solid way to do that.”
“It’s risky,” I said. “How do you plan to announce the end of our relationship after Christmas? Please don’t tell people I cheated on you. Or that you cheated on me. Allow me some dignity.”
Luke smiled. “I promise I won’t drag your name through the mud. I was thinking we can just say it was the long distance that was a problem.” He bumped me again. “Our love was so great we couldn’t bear to be apart.”
“Um, what if I end up moving here after our breakup? Will I have to change my name? Wear a mask like in Phantom of the Opera?” I glanced up at him with a grin.
He laughed. “Nothing like that. We can figure something out. Technically, we can keep up the lie as long as we want. I’m a private person. No one will care or expect to know the details of my private life.”
I felt sorry for him. That statement sounded utterly lonely.
“We’re here,” he said, taking my hand to guide me up the stairs leading to the swanky entrance.
The tables had white linen tablecloths topped with candles in the center. Well-dressed people drank wine and talked about their stock portfolios, I assumed. Or their third vacation home and where to find the best fifty-dollar strawberry.
I had to stop being so judgmental. Tonight, I needed to be one of them. Country mouse needed to be city mouse.
It appeared we were fashionably late, since all the other guests at our table were already seated. Several older gentlemen in suits sat with women at their sides. I wasn’t sure who he worked with and who were the spouses. They really should have worn nametags for this meal.
Luke pulled out my chair for me near the head of the table, where a man with gray hair and red cheeks was glugging down wine like it was water. “Luke, my boy, is this her?”
Luke nodded as he sat beside me. “Yes, sir. Marshall Lipton, this is my girlfriend, Clara Snow.”
“Nice to meet you, sir,” I said to him.
Marshall laughed. “No need to call me sir, little miss. We’re all friends here.”
“He says that,” Luke said with a grin to me. “But he’s on the board. He’s one of my bosses.”
I appreciated the heads-up. Marshall Lipton was one of the people I was there to impress. A woman sat beside him, who I assumed was his wife. They looked about the same age, although she might have had some work done.
I shot him and his wife a mischievous smile. “In that case, I won’t tell any stories about Luke in high school.”
Luke stiffened like I’d shocked him with a cattle prod, but Marshall and his wife laughed. That seemed to loosen up my fake boyfriend.
“I like this one,” Marshall said.
“And who’s this lovely lady?” I asked, since no one had bothered to introduce the woman. She wasn’t furniture, for God’s sake. “Your daughter?”
More laughter. Luke reached under the table and gave my hand a squeeze. I looked at him, to see if he was telling me to rein it in, but his smile was grateful, relieved.
Damn right.
We talked a bit with the entire table, but eventually, everyone talked among their own little groups. We were chatting with Marshall and Kerri Lipton, having a lovely time. The conversation turned toward me, and Kerri asked me what line of work I was in.
I gave her the short version. “I’m a set designer for movies and plays, but I was recently let go. It’s a real shame, too, because I had come up with some amazing designs for our production of The Nutcracker. Now no one will ever see them.”
Kerri’s eyes lit up and she shared a look with her husband. “Can you believe it?”
He nodded. “Seems like fate to me.”
Luke frowned and his brow furrowed. “I feel like I missed something.”
Marshall leveled his gaze at me. “Would you be interested in helping Kerri plan and decorate for the company Christmas party? I know it’s not Broadway, but it sounds like you’re exactly the help she’s been looking for.”
Luke stiffened. Neither one of us had anticipated this. How could we?
I wasn’t sure what Luke wanted me to say, and there was no way for him to tell me. “Of course,” I said, making my choice. “Just let me know how to help.”
Kerri gave a little cheer and leaned over to hug me. “Welcome to the family.”
That sent a shiver through me. I hoped she hadn’t felt it. Kerri seemed so happy and excited, and I should have been feeling the same way. But seeing how quickly she had accepted me made me feel guilty for lying to her. Kerri was being kind to me and I was repaying that kindness with deception.
It was a white lie, and it would be over before Kerri ever found out my relationship with Luke was fake. That soothed my guilt somewhat. Besides, working with her might allow me to put in the good word for Luke. And she would talk him up to Marshall. Game, set, and match.
Dinner wound down after that. Kerri and I traded phone numbers and we all said our goodbyes.
Luke walked me down the block to where Lenny would be waiting. He was quiet, looking lost in thought.
I nudged him. “So what do you think? Did I act my part well?”
“You did,” he said, nodding.
“Still think it was a mistake to choose me?” I asked, looking up at him with a smile to show I wasn’t trying to pick a fight or anything.
Not paying attention, I didn’t see the grate at my feet. My heel wedged right between the metal and got stuck. I flew forward.
Luke caught me before I hit the ground, cradling me into his chest. Nearly nose to nose, my heart galloped behind my ribs.
“Fast hands, Whitaker.” I inhaled deeply. “You’ve still got it.”
I desperately hoped he didn’t see the blush to my cheeks or feel my racing pulse.
He rolled his eyes and steadied me on my feet. “I tell you, women are always throwing themselves at me.”
I scoffed out a laugh. “I’m surprised you can walk straight with an ego that size.”
“Clara,” he said, a hint of a smile on his face. “I won’t take walking comments from the woman who almost just fell on her face.”
“I would have caught myself,” I said, laughing for real now. “Probably.”
He threw his arm around my shoulders casually, and we walked the rest of the way to the SUV like that. It felt natural, just like dinner had. We made a good team.
I just had to be careful and remember none of this was real.