Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Kir
We met at a restaurant that was designed to resemble a cave. It had decent Mexican food, at least according to my brother Gerard. I had a sense that Avril wouldn’t want to fly away with me for the night when I told her I was absolutely not going to be her fake boyfriend. She deserved better.
When she slipped out of the limo, my heart had slight palpitations. Then she walked closer to me, and all I could see was her. Like a scene in a movie, she approached and kissed my cheeks—she’d learned my family’s customary greeting—and my soul stirred. I couldn’t look away from her.
“Thanks for coming.” She waved to the dark restaurant inside. “What is this?”
I gestured toward the door. “La Caverna. My brother said it was good, and I wanted to treat you to something different.”
She laughed as she walked next to me. “This is definitely different.”
The sound of her happiness settled me. I checked us in, and we were shown to a table that was cornered off and designed like we were alone. I held her seat for her. “If you wanted to fly to Mexico, we can do that too.”
She shook her head. “That’s a little much, and I have work tomorrow.”
My lips curved higher. “Understood, so let’s try the specials.”
The waitress took our orders and walked away. I leaned closer to the table and hoped we would finish our negative discussion first and then be able to enjoy ourselves. I hated disappointing Avril. My heart stirred.
Then a voice from the past called, “Kir!”
I turned in my chair, and my eyes widened. “Bernadette.”
“Have you seen Michael?” she asked in her British accent.
I shook my head. She was the last person I’d ever expected to see. “No. Bernadette, this is Avril.”
The short brunette came over and said to Avril. “Hi. I’m looking for my brother, and Kir and Charlie both went to college with him.”
Years before, I’d been told that she was perfect for me, but Bernadette left me cold. She and Maman still acted like we could be an item. Even last year, she’d asked about me.
I lifted my chin and smiled. “We’re on a date.”
She winced but then waved. “Well, have fun.”
As she walked away, I turned back toward Avril. Unlike Bernadette, Avril reminded me that there were good people in the world.
“We’re on a date? And was she talking about Michael, Charlie’s butler?” she asked.
I pressed my finger to my lips and craned my neck back. Then I nodded and faced Avril. “I don’t think she heard you. We’re fine.”
Her lips curved higher, and her eyes had a sparkle in them. “I’m confused. Let’s focus. Are you going to help me?”
My heart twisted. “We need to talk.”
“We do.” She folded her hands on the table. “My sister filled me in on her new room and how she’s fully funded for her treatments.”
The waitress brought over a cheese-dip appetizer made with salsa and some handmade chips. I waited for us to be alone and then said, “I can’t have you worrying about money.”
She dipped one of the chips in the dip. “That’s sweet. So instead of a loan, I can work to pay you back with biweekly checks?—”
“That’s not necessary,” I interrupted. She took a bite of her appetizer. “I couldn’t live with myself if you lost your only family the way I lost my brother.”
She put her food down on her plate and took my hand. “Kir… thank you.”
Her simple touch sent a spark up my arm. Part of me wished for a second chance to meet her. If I could do it again, I would kiss her on the beach instead of listening to her talk about how she wished to fall in love.
My heart pounded. “So you don’t need to prove anything to anyone at work and can just apply for a new position.”
She let me go and shook her head. “I want to see this through. I should have been promoted months ago.”
My body grew warm, and I realized she wasn’t going to be talked out of it. I picked up a chip. “Why aren’t you letting go?”
She finished her bite. “It’s what I deserve, and I’m hoping you’ll agree.”
My body was tingling. I met her gaze and realized if I said no, she’d never speak to me. We’d never have another dinner. And my family might try to push Bernadette at me again.
I picked up a nacho. “I… how long do you need this fake relationship?”
She bounced in her seat. “A few weeks, a month at most.”
The waitress came with two arroz con carnes and took the dip. We waited till she was gone, and then I decided I was absolutely all in on seeing Avril again. “And you’ll come to my brother’s wedding as my date.”
She picked up her fork, and her face had a glow to it. “Absolutely.”
I followed suit but realized I was on a slippery slope, and I hated gray areas, so I said, “And let’s discuss rules.”
She cut her meat. “Rules. Of course. No kissing unless we’re in public, and we keep it as friendly as possible.” Her face pinkened.
“Exactly.”
She faced her meal and not me. “I have to be honest with you, though.”
My heart sped up. “What?”
She put her silverware down and played with the white collar of her work shirt. “For what you did for my sister, I don’t feel I should have even suggested the kissing rule. The truth is, you can dictate everything, and if you want me… sexually… then I’m in no position to say no.”
My eyes widened. The last thing I wanted to offer was emotional blackmail. Part of my soul wanted her to always think I was good because despite my protests earlier, she made me feel better about myself, as if I wasn’t just a pointless finance wizard.
I took a deep breath. “Let’s not discuss that ever. That’s not why I helped your sister, and I told her the same thing. I have nothing but respect for you, just as you respect yourself.”
She pressed her hand to her forehead. “Oh God, she asked you that?”
I laughed. “Yeah. You two think alike.”
She picked up her fork. “But I was nervous to even mention it to you.”
I nodded. “I’d never ask or want you to do that.”
She let go of her utensil and sucked in her lips. “Oh no—that’s even worse.”
I tensed and met her gaze. “What is?”
She tugged on her shirt. “I offered sex, and you said, ‘That’s a nice offer but no.’”
My eyes widened, and for a second, I couldn’t breathe. Then I said, “I didn’t mean it like that.”
She laughed and shook her head. “I’m still mortified.”
I took her hand. “We can go back to my place, and I can show you I’m into it.”
She gripped my palm. “It’s okay. I’m not going to throw myself at you for pity sex now. We’re here to settle rules on pretending to be each other’s plus-one. Is there anything you need from me at this wedding?”
We both ate some of our meal. I finished my first few bites. “You’re going to have to sell it because I’m not the one people expect surprises from.”
She smiled. “I can do that.”
“Good.” I wasn’t sure what else would happen, but we were going to tell people we were an item.
As we finished our meal, I poured us some wine. The waitress brought baked flan.
Once we were alone again, Avril held up her glass. “So, let’s toast to our new beginning.”
I blinked. “What?”
She spoke into her red wine. “Look, I get that I’m not the type of woman you’re into. I’m a big girl, and we want who we want, but I am happy we’re friends, and if you need anything from me, extra, just ask.”
I pressed my hand on my chest. “That’s your toast?”
She shrugged. “Do you have a better one?”
“To both of us getting what we want,” I said and clinked glasses with her.
“Sounds good.”
We both drank, and I realized that whatever happened next was probably exactly what I needed. I had to stop playing it safe all the time, and besides, Avril needed my help. So I was here to stay.