15. James
JAMES
James had run halfway home, not wanting Lauren to think he was flaking out on their dinner. He’d been relieved that she still wanted to eat with him when he’d finally made it.
Now, though, she was standing with a cutting board in one hand, looking at him with her brows pinched.
“What kind of problem do we have?” she asked.
“It’s not a big deal.” James went to the fridge and started pulling out vegetables. “We can talk over dinner.”
“No way. You can’t just say we have a problem and then not tell me what it is.” Lauren put a hand on his arm to stop him. “Tell me.”
“All right.” James set the carrots, bell pepper, and spring onion he’d just gotten out of the fridge on the counter and turned to her. “There was an article. Or, there will be. I have a contact at the Tribune who gave me a heads-up, since I’m mentioned. We’re mentioned.”
“Oh, no.” Lauren’s face went pale. “What’s happening?”
“Apparently, the article is about our marriage. People are wondering how we really met, what we see in each other, and whether the marriage is even real. The journalist got a quote from Kelly Jennings. You remember, she saw us at the restaurant. And a couple other people agreed that it seems fishy, since no one knew we were even dating. Plus, lots of people commented that we’ve always been nothing but snippy with each other in public until recently. ”
Lauren slumped against the counter. “Oh, no,” she repeated. Then she sighed. “I should have known this would happen. We messed up with Kelly. Do you have a copy of the article?”
James shook his head. “Sorry, I don’t. But my contact told me it isn’t that bad. They aren’t accusing us of fraud or anything.”
Lauren must have heard the unspoken “yet,” because she grew even paler. “If people start doubting our marriage, truly, it would be a huge problem. And not just for me and my immigration status, either. No one would want to work with either of our companies if we were suspected of fraud.”
James wanted to put a hand on Lauren’s shoulder, even pull her into a reassuring hug, but he didn’t. “It’s going to be okay.”
“How can you be sure?” Lauren bit her lip. “This would be as much a disaster for you as for me.”
“I’m sure because I have a plan,” James said. “I’ve known about this for a couple hours, so I thought it through and came up with a solution. What would convince everyone that we were really married?”
“A big wedding?” Lauren guessed. Then she shook her head. “No, that would just make things worse. It would look like we were putting on a show.”
“Not that,” James agreed. “A honeymoon. Everyone knows that we both love work more than anything. If we take a week off for a romantic honeymoon somewhere far away, and plenty of pictures get leaked of us sharing romantic meals and sunset walks on the beach, people would believe that we’re really together.
Plus, we mentioned to a few people that we were planning to take a belated honeymoon, so it would make sense for us to go. ”
Lauren sighed. “You have a point. That might just work. But there’s no way I can take a week off. I’m working harder than ever right now. I have a big presentation for Missy’s nonprofit next week that I have to nail, as well as plenty of other ongoing projects.”
“I know,” James said. “That’s why I’ll take care of everything. I’ll book the flights, the hotel, and the activities. I’ll even leak our location to the reporters. You just have to show up. And I’ll have us leave right after your pitch, when your work will be a little more relaxed.”
Lauren frowned. “Are you offering to do all the planning to be helpful or because you like to be in charge?”
James chuckled. “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Just accept the help.”
“Fine.” Lauren smiled. “You have a point. I’m too busy to worry about your motives.”
“They are pure, I assure you. Pure as the freshly fallen Canadian snow.”
“Yeah, right. I just… I’m worried this is turning into a real mess. And taking a week off work could put my company in more jeopardy than it already is.”
“You have a couple of employees,” James reminded her. “Task them with the work you need done. And otherwise, just tell your clients you’ll be away. I’ll do the same. One vacation a decade is perfectly acceptable, even for workaholics like us.”
Lauren laughed. “James Pembrook, advocating against work. I never thought I’d see the day. But… okay. You’re right. Let’s do it.”
“And for now, let’s eat.” James turned back to his vegetables. “Are you really going to help me, or is that just another hollow offer?”
“Since when do I make hollow offers?” Lauren grabbed a carrot and a peeler. “Let’s do this.”
Over the next week, Lauren worked harder than ever.
Though she still came to dinners with James, he often saw the light on under her office door late at night and early in the morning, and she had a newly frazzled air about her.
His heart went out to her. He’d often poured hours into important pitches, and he understood how she must be feeling.
James had plenty of work, too. But during his moments of free time, he planned the enforced honeymoon.
He found a nice resort, booked flights, and sent information to contacts in the media about where they would be and when.
When it came time to book the hotel room, though, he hesitated.
They needed to stay together, but he didn’t want Lauren to feel uncomfortable about being in the same room, even the same bed.
In the end, he settled on a large suite with a bedroom and a sitting room, deciding that he could always sleep on the sofa if needed.
The closer they got to the honeymoon, the more nervous James was.
He hadn’t taken a vacation in years. Stepping away from his company was daunting, even though he’d spent hours that week briefing his employees and board on what needed to be done.
If everything fell apart at work, he’d never be able to forgive himself — and neither would his father.
More daunting than being away from work was the thought of a week with Lauren.
Just him and her. There would be no distractions — no work, no employees, not even cooking.
They might end up actually talking to each other.
Maybe they’d even find themselves in a secluded spot beneath the starlight, Lauren leaning in and?—
James cut himself off. There was no point in thinking about anything romantic between the two of them. They were better off as they were now, somewhere between friends and rivals. Any closer, and he could put his relationship with her, as well as his company, in danger.
The night before the trip, James and Lauren ate dinner together. They’d ordered Chinese, since both had been too busy to cook, and sat around the table with boxes and chopsticks.
“Ready for your presentation tomorrow?” James asked.
Lauren sighed. “I really messed up last time, so I’m nervous. But I guess I’m ready, too. Or, as ready as I’ll ever be.”
“You’ll do fine,” James said.
“And if I don’t, you’ll swoop in and steal the client,” Lauren put in. James smiled.
“You never know. Hey, did you try the garlic broccoli?”
“It’s delicious.” Lauren took another bite. “I love broccoli. It’s?—”
“The best vegetable,” they said in unison. Then they both laughed.
“Maybe we have more in common than we thought,” James said.
“Yeah.” Lauren grinned. “Who knew we just needed to be talking about vegetables instead of colors or football teams?”
“Exactly. Tell me, what are your thoughts on onions?”
“They’re excellent. Fried, sautéed, baked — just not raw.”
“My thoughts exactly. And celery?”
Lauren wrinkled her nose. “Disgusting. It’s only good in stuffing, and even then, stuffing is okay without it. My nightmare is those little trays of celery sticks with ranch.”
James pointed at her with his chopsticks as he nodded. “Agreed.”
“What about carrots?” she asked.
“Great as a snack, great cooked, great in salads. An all-around vegetable, like Christian McCaffrey.”
“Now you’ve lost me. Who’s Christian McCaffrey?”
James made a mock gesture of horror, then laughed. “Never mind. See, I was nervous about this honeymoon, but now I’m not. It turns out that we just need to talk about vegetables the whole time.”
Lauren leaned a little closer. “You’re nervous?”
James’s instincts told him to say no, to preserve his distance, but he nodded. “A little.”
“Me, too,” Lauren admitted. She raised her gaze to meet his. “It’s just different.”
“Yeah.” They were silent for a long moment, just looking at each other. In that moment, James felt connected to her in a way he hadn’t before. Then Lauren looked down at her rice with a smile.
“But now it’s fine. You’re right, we’ll just chat about veggies.”
“And fruits?”
“Now you’re pushing it, Pembrook.” She winked.
After dinner, Lauren retreated to her room while James went to pack.
Her light was still on when he went to sleep, and when he woke the next morning, she was already gone.
There was a note on the fridge telling him she’d made an extra smoothie for him and that she’d see him at the airport in a few hours.
It was time. Next time James saw her, they’d be on the way to the resort for their honeymoon.
He just hoped vegetables and bickering would be enough to get them through a week of intense alone time.