“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 likeHot BaristaorPink 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.
