“You realize trust is earned, right?” I ask.

He nods. “Yeah, but I’m going to need you to be open to it. My intentions are pure, although askew, but they’re pure. Going into this meeting, I knew I was going to be asking a lot, but I need to make sure you’re open to it first, before I lay it all out on the table.”

Huh.

Now I’m really intrigued. I mean, I was intrigued before—and of course a free meal—but he almost seems to be showing a slight hint of vulnerability, something I’m not sure a man like Huxley shows very often.

“Are you open to it, Lottie?”

I set my fork down and pat my mouth with my napkin. “I’m unemployed, I live with my mom, and I have nothing going for me at the moment. Pretty sure I’m open to whatever comes my way.”

He nods and then leans even farther forward. “I fucked up big time, and now I’m trying to cover my ass.”

“Ooo, a man who knows when he’s wrong. Be still my heart.”

He doesn’t smirk, but he grows more serious. “This fuckup could cost me my reputation, and not only my reputation, but my brothers’ as well, and everything we’ve built together.”

“What did you do?” I ask, leaning forward too. Going into this dinner, I didn’t think I was going to gobble up some gossip, but I’m here for it.

“Short story is I was trying to land a deal. The guy who I was trying to work with wasn’t biting, and my brothers said it’s because he couldn’t connect with me on a personal level. I ran into him on the street after the meeting. I met his fiancée, and before I knew it, I was telling him I was engaged as well.”

I wince. “Your mouth spoke before your brain could think.”

“Yeah, you could say that. Anyway, he invited me and my fiancée to dinner, and it’s the first in I’ve had with this guy. The problem is, the dinner is Saturday.”

“Well, that really puts you in a spot, doesn’t it?”

“You could say that.” His eyes bore into mine. “That’s where you come in.”

“You want me to go to this dinner with you, and pretend to be your fiancée?”

“Yes, but I also need you to play out the farce until the deal is done.”

“How long will it take for the deal to go through?”

He shrugs. “Could take a week, could take longer.”

I slowly nod, thinking this over. “What would the farce entail? Am I going to be required to play Julia Roberts for you?”

“Julia Roberts?” he asks, confused.

“You know. Pretty Woman. Richard Gere hires Julia Roberts to be at his beck and call for all of his important business meetings. Have you never seen the movie?”

He shakes his head. “No.”

“Well, basically she moves into his hotel with him and shows up wherever he needs her.”

“You wouldn’t need to move in with me,” he says.

Damn, there goes getting out of Mom and Jeff’s house. Not that I’d actually move in with a complete stranger. I’m not that insane.

“But I’d need you to be available when I need you.”

“I see.” I cross my arms over my chest. “And you think I could just do that given how I’ve no job?”

“I have connections. I could get you a job.”

I hold up my hand to stop him right there. “I don’t need your charity job. I’d prefer to earn my own career.”

“I can respect that.” His jaw tightens. “If I can’t hook you up with a job, what can I give you in return? This would be a business transaction, after all.”

Shelter would be preferred.

Money to pay off my student loans would be amazing, but I’d never ask that.

The reunion is the only thing he can really offer me, but is that enough? That doesn’t really solve much. Just gives me a superficial upper hand. It doesn’t solve my money problem or the need to move out of Mom’s house.

Honestly, what was I thinking, looking for a rich husband? What was the end goal?

The more I think about it, the more I realize there was no end goal. This was . . . hell, this was a distraction.

“I’m not sure,” I say.

“I can go to your reunion, act as though we’re in love, whatever you need.” Desperation slips into his voice.

“I’m not even sure I’m going to that,” I say. “You know, I’m not sure this is really for me. I have student loans I have to pay off, so I don’t think I can be at someone’s beck and call when I should be finding a job.” I lean back in my chair and stare down at the table. “Jesus, what was I even thinking, coming to this meeting? A job, that’s what I need to be doing, finding a job, not worrying about what I look like at a stupid high school reunion.” I look at Huxley, whose brow is pinched together in consternation. “This was a mistake. I’m sorry.”

I stand from the table, and Huxley says, “Wait. We can come up with something that benefits both of us.”

I shake my head. Ultimately, this is another situation where a rich person gets what they want by using a poor person. Even though I’m currently lying to my mom and Jeff, I hate lying. You have the intellect to be more, to find a job that utilizes your skills. “I know this is going to sound prideful, but I’m not sure I should be taking handouts right now. I need to figure out what I’m doing with my life.” I look at the bag of chips and snag them from the table. “But I’m not too proud to take free food.” I pat the bag. “Thanks for these and thanks for your time. Good day, sir.”

And then I turn on my heel and take off. I last only until I reach the crosswalk before I dip my hand inside the bag and pop a chip into my mouth. Lime salt is my only comfort right now.

Lottie: I’m alive.

Kelsey: Well, thank Jesus. Do I dare ask, are you engaged?

Lottie: No. It was tempting, but I really need to focus on my career. That’s what’s going to move me along from this nightmare, not some stupid fake fiancée bullshit.

Kelsey: You know . . . maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

Lottie: You’ve GOT to be kidding me. Have you lost your mind?

Kelsey: I was thinking while you were eating dinner—maybe you could do this fake fiancée thing and work for me at the same time. I’m so close to expanding, I could really use your help on the business side. I’d be able to pay you soon, and you could live with me for a few weeks. We could make it work. And he could help you.

Lottie: You’ve lost it. It’s okay, sweetie. Get a good night’s rest and then call me in the morning. I love you.

Kelsey: I’m serious.

Lottie: Night night.

“Hey, honey, how was work?” Mom asks from the kitchen, where she’s preparing dinner.

Pretending to be whupped from a tough day of dealing with Angela, I say, “Same old, same old.”

“Still no news on the promotion?”

I swallow hard. “No news.” I take a seat at the island in the kitchen and watch my mom stir the pot of spaghetti sauce she claims is homemade, though I know isn’t. She says she adds her own spices, which makes it homemade, but the empty Prego jars next to the sink suggest otherwise.

“Well, I’m sure it’s coming soon. What about the apartment hunting? How’s that going?”

Yup, I get it, Mom. You want me out.

“Found a cute place near Kelsey. Thinking about it.” The lie slips past my lips flawlessly.

“Oh, that would be wonderful, you two living close to each other.”

“Yeah,” I mutter as Jeff comes through the front door from where he’d once again been tending to the landscaping in the front yard.

“Lottie, care to explain these?” he asks, holding a large bouquet of red roses.

What the actual hell?

“Are those for me?” I ask.

He nods. “Yes, they have your name on them.”

“Oh, maybe it’s Angela promoting you.”

Jesus, one-track mind, anyone?