CLARA: I guess I’d just want it to be intimate.Surrounded by my loved ones.Lots of beautiful natural light and plants galore.
NASH: I’m beginning to see this is the Clara Whitehall brand.
I grinned at my phone.He was on to something there.My phone buzzed a moment later with an incoming call from Nash.I took a fortifying breath, preparing myself to hear his sexy growl so close to my ear, and swiped on.
“Yes, darling?”I cooed.
His low chuckle made my core clench with desire.“We need to figure out more details, but I didn’t want to text anymore.”
“Just wanted to hear my voice, huh?”I teased.
“Mmm.”The noise suggested he was licking his lips or something, and I felt a surge of moisture to my panties.Just imagining the gesture put me right back in the same spot I’d been that morning: desperate for another self-care session.In a lower voice, he went on.“I’ve got a meeting soon.But I was curious what you wanted in terms of a proposal.”
“A proposal?”It took a moment for the meaning to register.“Oh, like…the actual proposal.”
“Yeah.”
My stomach flipped.Of course we’d need to see every step of this charade through.I just hadn’t counted on being asked about my preferences.Making it align so closely with my own ideas felt dangerous.If it was sterile and distant, then I might have a shot at remembering this was just for show.
“It doesn’t have to be a big deal,” I said.“I’d rather it weren’t, honestly.I just…” My words failed me.I didn’t know how to explain this growing friction inside me.I wasn’t sure I even should.After all, I’d signed a contract that this would be business and nothing more.I was probably the only one falling for my business partner here.
“Okay.Low-key.I can do that.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.“Sorry, I hadn’t really thought about a proposal like it was a marketing campaign.What were you thinking?”
“I thought we could do it somewhere public, let it trickle through social media that way.Let innocent bystanders catch it too, you know?”
I mulled over his words.It made sense for the ruse.But it spawned a particular type of panic that I couldn’t fully explain.
“Maybe we can just…stage some proposal photos and announce it after the fact,” I blurted.“The idea of performing something like that in a public place…” I couldn’t finish my sentence.It just didn’t feel right.I could be on Nash’s arm.I could pretend to be his girlfriend and eventually his wife.But the thought that he might get down on one knee and say sweet, meaningful words to me for everyone to hear?I’d fall head over heels in an instant.Even if they were lies.
“Easier that way,” he said, his whiskey-smooth voice sinking into my body.“Hey, there’s another event that cropped up.We should make an appearance.It’s at the New York Botanical Garden, their annual plant sale and silent auction.The proceeds go to the garden.What do you think?”
I could barely form a response.“It sounds like a dream.When are we going?”
“Tomorrow.And this time, I want to see you in green.”
You can see me in whatever you want.I bit my lip before I could say it.“I can’t wait to see what you pick out.”
“And one more thing.We might add a few more lunches to the schedule this week.In addition to the standing Wednesday lunch.”
“Okay,” I said as butterflies swarmed and conquered my belly.More chances to see Nash.More chances to drown in this confusing, delicious, sexy stew.“What days?”
“I’m thinking Thursday and Friday too.”
“You’ll be seeing me almost every day this week,” I said.“You might get sick of me.”
“Mmm, we’ll see about that.”I could hear the smile in his voice.“I’m late to a meeting.I’ll see you later, babe.Love you.”
Everything inside me froze as the line went dead.
He hadn’t only called mebabe.He’d added “love you.”
Fuuuuuuck.
A breath finally whooshed out of me and I pressed a hand to my chest.What had I gotten myself into?My brain knew he was probably in front of people and needed to perform.My heart did not give a fuck about anything but hearing those words again.
How was this both the best and worst situation at the same time?
