Chapter 7
LUKE
Packing my suitcase was bittersweet. My crazy life waited for me back in New York, but spending a few extra days in town had been rejuvenating. With a million obligations, I rarely had a chance to slow down in my regular life.
Staying allowed me to sit around with my family talking about nothing, to get drunk around a bonfire with a bunch of old friends, and to reconnect with people I hadn’t realized I was missing—like a curvy little redhead I couldn’t stop thinking about.
There was nothing glamorous about Harrison City, but the last few days were the most fun I’d had in a long time. Back in New York, I got so busy working, I forgot what I was working for.
I had money. Success. Fame. All the women I could ask for. Now I was searching for something else, something that would fill the hollow spaces in my chest. I just had to figure out what that thing was.
In the meantime, I had been pushing the network to transition me to a role behind the camera, directing and running my own shows.
There had been resistance. They loved me in front of the camera, young, cocky, and opinionated.
But they didn’t take me seriously. I was too young, too wild.
Not executive material. As if a person needed three kids and high cholesterol to be trusted with important decisions.
My suitcase didn’t take long to pack. I was only supposed to be home for a few hours. Lucky for me, I always brought extra clothes. Work required me to travel a lot, and more than once, I had been stranded in an unfamiliar city with nothing to wear.
You really learned to appreciate your good underwear when you were forced to wear whatever was available at Target.
The pilot had texted me he was back with the plane, waiting for me at the airfield.
Once I had decided to stay in Harrison City for a few more days, I had told him to fly home, on my dime of course.
There was no sense in forcing him to sleep in a hotel while I made up my mind how long my trip was going to be.
My assistant had been able to reschedule all my obligations at work, and I’d recruited some friends to cover my broadcasts.
They were happy to get some airtime. My producer grumbled a bit but even she eventually agreed I could use a few days off.
She always said I worked too hard, and this was from a woman who regularly worked eighty-hour weeks.
The detour from my real life had been a treat. Mom was over-the-moon. She had lit up even more when I promised her I would be home for Christmas. It was part of the bet I’d made with Troy, but she didn’t need to know that.
I was zipping up my bag when Chris came into the guestroom and leaned on the doorway. “All set?”
I nodded. “Just about.”
He scratched at the stubble on his chin and looked down, like he was uncomfortable. “Listen, I know we like to bust your balls, but it was really good to see you, you know?”
“Yeah,” I said, smiling softly. “I’m glad you guys forced me to stay.”
“Hey, that was Troy,” he said, shaking his head. “That bet is between you all.”
“Right. But still, I agree it was nice. I need to make time to visit more.”
He snorted. “Same here. Troy and I are only a couple hours away, but we don’t make it down here as often as we should either. Maybe we’re all crappy sons.”
“All we can do is try to be better, I guess.”
He took a step into the room. “About that bet, have you done any shopping for a girlfriend, yet?”
I barked out a laugh. “When was I supposed to do that? At the bonfire?”
He grinned. “I’m sure you could have found one there. Some of those girls would have pushed their grandmas into that fire just to get a shot with you.”
“I’d rather avoid that kind of girl,” I told him.
“Troy told me to find a girlfriend to bring home for Christmas. He didn’t say it had to be a real relationship or true love or anything.
So all I need is a girl I don’t mind hanging out with for a few weeks, who won’t go apeshit when I break up with her the day after Christmas. ”
“He didn’t say it, but I figured it was implied.” Chris frowned. “With your cabin on the line, are you sure you want to risk it?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re not going to rat me out, are you? Because my plan is to hire a model from an agency once I get back to the city. Or maybe an actress. I figure if I pay them enough, they’ll find a way to make it look real. With the added bonus they won’t fall in love with me.”
“Troy will definitely see through that.”
“Why the hell do you care so much Chris?” I turned toward him but he looked away.
“I don’t,” he said quickly. “Just making conversation.”
“Bullshit. What’s going on?”
He sighed. “Okay, so maybe I have a little side bet going with Troy.”
“What kind of side bet?” I took a step in his direction. “What the hell is going on?”
“It’s nothing bad,” he reassured me, holding up his palms. “I just bet him that you would win the bet. And if you do, I’ll get a new work truck for the business.”
“And if I lose?”
“Well,” he said, drawing the word out. “I have to send him and Debbie on a Hawaiian vacation.”
I shook my head. “Damn, you guys must be doing all right if that’s the kind of stuff you’re betting with.”
“We’re not doing as well as you, but yeah, those oil companies pay us big bucks out there.”
“You shouldn’t have gotten involved, man.” I picked up my suitcase, which weighed very little, and moved toward the door.
Chris shrugged as he got out of my way. “Maybe not, but I’m involved now. So I’m just saying, I think you want to make sure your Christmas girlfriend is believable. Maybe someone we know, or someone you have a history with.”
“Dude, I don’t have history with hardly anyone. I go out. I have fun. But I don’t date anyone seriously. I don’t have the time or the interest.”
My brother followed me down the hall and down the stairs. “I’m not asking you to get married and have some kids. Just find someone who feels natural.”
That was a surprisingly tall order. My phone was filled with numbers, but they were mostly labeled things like Hot Barista or Pink Yoga Pants, rather than their names. Was it shallow? Yes. But they were under no illusions I was offering anything deeper.
If I asked any of them to be my pretend girlfriend, though, they would want it to turn real, and I didn’t want to deal with kind of drama.
It had occurred to me that my wild, single lifestyle was the reason the executives weren’t taking me seriously.
They thought I was a scandal waiting to happen, a walking PR nightmare.
I was blunt, sly, and often out partying with models and socialites, and there were eyes all over New York watching my every move.
But a good girl, from a solid family, that no one in New York knew?
Two birds, one stone. I could beat Troy and impress my bosses. Maybe the bet would end up helping me instead of just being a minor annoyance.
I secured my luggage in the back of my rental SUV. Chris and my parents came out with me to see me off. Troy and Debbie had left earlier in the day. After lots of hugs, kisses from Mom, and a hearty handshake from Dad, I got in the rental and lowered the window.
“I’ll see you all at Christmas, okay?” I told them.
“I can’t wait,” Mom said.
“Me neither.” Chris grinned and I knew he was talking about seeing how I won the bet. My brother had no idea what plan I had in store.
I drove away from the ranch but I didn’t head for the airfield where my plane was waiting. I ended up in front of the Snow family home.
Mr. and Mrs. Snow went to church every Sunday, but I wasn’t here to see them. I rang the doorbell and waited on the porch, feeling like I was back in high school.
Clara pulled the door open and she looked shocked to see me. “Oh, hi. Nic’s not here.”
“I figured,” I said. “I’m not here to see him.”
“My parents aren’t here either.”
“I’m here to see you.”
Her cheeks went pink and she shut the door in my face.
I chuckled in surprise and knocked on the door with my knuckles. “Hey, wait a sec. I need your help.”
The door opened a crack and her green eye peeked out, sparkling like an exotic jewel. “What could you possibly need my help with?”
“Look, can I come in or can you come out here? This is no way to have a conversation.”
She opened the door all the way and stepped out hesitantly. “Why are you standing on my front porch, Luke Whitaker?”
“I have a proposition for you.” I help up my hand quickly to stop her from saying anything. “I know it’s going to sound weird but I promise it’s perfectly innocent. Just hear me out, okay?”
“Go on then.”
I took a deep breath and just went for it. “I need to hire a fake girlfriend, just for the next few weeks, and I thought I’d ask you first. You come spend a few weeks with me in New York, and after, I’ll pay you a hundred thousand dollars.”
Clara blinked at me, wavering on her feet. For a moment, I thought she might faint. Then she burst out laughing. I didn’t like being laughed at. Not a bit.
“It’s a serious offer.” I pulled out my phone. “What’s your number?”
She stuttered over the numbers, tears of laughter in her eyes. The text she got on her phone silenced her. It was a first-class ticket to New York, leaving tomorrow morning.
“See? I’m not kidding around.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “You can’t just show up at people homes with offers like this? Are you crazy?”
“Probably a little. That doesn’t mean you should turn me down, though.”
I gave her a quick rundown of the deal. Be my fake girlfriend for the holidays, both here and in New York, and the day after Christmas, she would have a hundred grand in her bank account with no strings attached.
“That should be enough to cover the remainder of your student loans, right?” I said. “And you wouldn’t have to give up your apartment here if you don’t want to.”
Clara’s mouth opened but no words came out. Her brain seemed to have trouble processing my offer. I couldn’t really blame her. It was a ridiculous thing to ask a person, especially someone I had only just reconnected with.
“Do you need more?” I asked. “I’m flexible.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s not the money.”
“What is it?”
“Uh, the lying!”
I frowned at that. What did it say about me that I never considered the morality of the offer? Dishonesty didn’t come naturally to everybody. “To be fair, it’s barely a lie.”
“But three weeks?” she asked. “I don’t know.”
“I don’t have time to stand here and beg,” I said. “Please consider it. And think of it this way—Nic said you wanted to move to New York. This can serve as a trial run. And that money would go a long way to helping you make the move out there. Please say yes.”
She chewed on her lower lip with indecision, and I stared too long at her mouth. Her skin was so pale, I could see the fine blue veins beneath her skin.
I checked my watch. “I’ll tell you what, Clara. I’ll assume the answer is no if you don’t get on the flight. If you do, I’ll have a driver waiting at JFK the second it lands. It’s up to you.”
I turned to walk away but her small hand caught my arm, her fingers digging into my skin.
“Does Nic know what you’re asking me to do?”
“Of course,” I lied, shrugging her off. I could figure out a way to smooth this over with Nic if I had to. “You have less than a day to decide. I won’t be buying a second ticket.”
I walked away with my heart racing for some reason.