How is that “good” news? That’s a given in this situation…
His name is Gage Harrison, and he’s legally blind and uses a cane.
You’re a goddamn genius.
Thank you.
Ifound myself at Sunset Isles, a private brunch bar where executives handled deals away from the prying public.
Jenna had paid the owner to shut it down just for me and my “third best” option.
She’d told me this one was “iffy,” but I took that to mean perfect, so I decided to opt into seeing her first.
“Ahh! There you are!” a soft voice said from behind. “You’re Nicholas Saint, correct?”
“Yes, that’s…” I stopped talking as she moved around and plopped down in front of me.
This isn’t going to work…
“Good morning.” She sniffled, extending her hand. “I’m Katie Hughes.”
“Nice to meet you.” I wasn’t sure if I should shake her hand—if the tears falling down her face were from an advanced stage of the flu—so I gestured for a half hug.
“I assume you’ve spoken to my assistant in detail and signed an NDA before coming here?” I asked her.
“Yeah.” She nodded. “And I honestly wasn’t going to come here at all, but I figured since you paid me a sign-on fee, I at least owed you an explanation.”
Is the flu capable of making someone’s eyes that red and puffy?I leaned back.
And why is she shaking?
“I can’t be your wife-to-be,” she said, “because something dangerous has appeared in my life.”
“Please tell me that whatever you have isn’t contagious.”
“Huh?”
“You’re sick, correct?”
“Heart-sick, perhaps.” She smiled. “My boyfriend from college just happened to see me at the bar last night, and he begged me for a second chance.”
She spoke like she was in a romance novel. I felt like I was in the wrong genre entirely.
“I could’ve sworn Miss Dawson told you to stay away from bars and clubs until after this arrangement was over.”
“I was only going there to chat with a few friends, but—” She sniffled again. “Once I saw him, it was like the earth stopped. He was the one who got away.”
“Can he continue staying away for like eight weeks?” I asked. “That’s not that long…”
“He wants us to pick up where we left off as soon as possible.” She pulled one of Jenna’s binders from her bag and placed it on my lap. “Your secret is one hundred percent safe with me, but I’m sorry. I have to follow my heart.”
I’m not even going to fight this one.
“Understandable,” I said. “You need to sign an additional set of NDAs with the security team downstairs before leaving here today.”
“I will, and thank you so much for this opportunity.” She forced me to shake her damp, Kleenex-holding hand. “I really appreciate it.”
She walked away without another word, leaving me with two final wives to try.
