In sweats and a T-shirt, I ventured back out into the big, empty apartment and made my way to the kitchen. Like the rest of the place, it was spotless and I didn’t want to make a mess. But Luke had a big, fancy espresso maker, and I needed caffeine like diabetics needed insulin. It was life or death.
No one I knew back in Harrison City had a machine like this in their home, but I had used a similar one when I was working in LA. That was where I had developed my caffeine addiction. After a few misfires, I got it running and managed to find a mug.
With a steaming drink in hand, I decided to raid Luke’s fridge. What did Mr. Moneybags snack on? The answer was… nothing.
The fridge was empty aside from some packets of soy sauce and three bottles of champagne. I shook my head and chuckled. What a life.
I knew the man was busy, working weird long hours because of his job, but he didn’t even have cold cuts or bread or a damn granola bar. No wonder he was in such good shape. He never ate.
A pang of sadness made my heart ache. Poor guy. He seemed like he could use a good woman in his life. Not me, of course. I had plans that didn’t involve cooking and cleaning for a man while he went off to be the breadwinner. It was a fine life but it wasn’t for me.
Now, if Luke wanted to stay home and take care of her? If he wanted to cook breakfast every morning in just an apron and nothing else? Then we could talk.
I sighed and shook my head. We hadn’t even properly started this fake relationship, and I was already daydreaming about which one of us would do the housework. That was not a good sign for the future. I had to remind myself not to develop real feelings for Luke.
This was all fake and he was technically my boss. And I needed the payday more than I needed a man. Hoping for both was too much. I was a dreamer but I wasn’t delusional.
Keep your eye on the prize. Don’t think about how wet you got when Luke put his hand on my shoulder.
I found a Chinese takeout menu, and I figured it must deliver to the building if Luke had it. I gave the place a call, and once I told them the address, they perked up, recognizing it. Luke seemed to be a regular customer. He had a running tab with them, and I went a little wild, ordering a few dishes that sounded good. He had said money didn’t matter, and all Chinese places made things differently.
Less than a half hour later, the intercom by the front door buzzed. It was the concierge, bringing up my food. He handed it to me at Luke’s front door, and I felt mildly embarrassed at how heavy the bag was. When I was back in the kitchen, I opened the bag and they had given me five sets of silverware.
Screw it. This is a celebration.
I feasted alone on my first night in New York, on top of the world in more ways than one. The future looked a hell of a lot brighter with a belly full of kung pao chicken. Maybe I could actually do this and be the girlfriend he needed me to be.
I knew how to smile, nod, and laugh at bad jokes. I could wear whatever he dressed me in, fit into whatever room he brought me to. I could show those executives he was dependable and normal, and not at all a man who would pay a woman to pretend to be his girlfriend to trick his coworkers.
Beyond stuffed, I tidied up every last crumb and tucked the leftovers in the fridge. There was plenty of room for them. I didn’t want to give Luke anything to yell at me about. I didn’t need more ground rules, like no eating egg rolls in the penthouse. That might actually be a dealbreaker.
As I put the leftovers away, the champagne called to me. I considered it but I didn’t know if the bottles were super expensive or rare or something. Luke probably wouldn’t notice, but it still felt wrong. Plus, my stomach didn’t have room for anything else.
It was getting late and it seemed like Luke would never be getting back. With a yawn, I headed to my guestroom and shut the door. The bed was huge and soft. I slid my sweats off and crawled under the big, fluffy comforter. The bedding smelled like Luke and I smiled. Sleep found me quickly, and when I dreamed, I dreamed of him.
When I opened my eyes, I thought I was still dreaming. I woke up to a tall, grumpy sleep paralysis demon glowering on the side of the bed at exactly three a.m. I screamed.
Luke clapped a hand over my mouth, and I bit him. He yanked his hand back and shook it like it stung. Good.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked.
“Me? What the hell areyoudoing?” He held his hand to his chest.
“I was sleeping until you grabbed me.” I shook my head. “Is this your game? You trick women into your home and bust into their rooms?”
“This ismybed,” he said wearily. “You’re in the wrong room. I was about to tell you that when you screamed.”
“Oh.” I sat up in bed and wiped at my sandy eyes. “Sorry I bit you, then.”
He was still dressed in a suit and looking slightly undone and exhausted. “Sorry I put my hand over your mouth.”
I yawned so wide my jaw clicked. “Why are you home so late?”
He sighed. “A couple of the games had a weather delay. If they start late, they end late and I don’t get home until the ungodly hours of morning.”
Luke shrugged off his suit jacket and hung it over the back of a chair. He kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his shirt. That woke me up. Had he forgotten I was here or was he just really comfortable with his body?
I was less comfortable with it. Luke didn’t play football anymore but he was still in amazing shape. He looked just as good out of his suit as he did in it.
