“Uh … fine.”
“You sure?” His gaze dropped to my hand for some reason. “You’re not wearing your engagement ring. I thought it was because of swimming … but … you’ve been off these past few weeks.”
Just like that, the truth blurted out of me. “We broke up.”
Baird’s face slackened. “For real?”
“He asked me to step aside while he tried to figure out if he wanted me or his ex-girlfriend.”
“Are you fucking joking?” Baird exploded from his seat. “I am going to fucking rip off his nutsack!”
I launched out of my armchair, grabbing Baird to halt him from his angry departure. “Stop! Stop. Will’s not worth another tabloid exploit.”
“Youare!”
While that was lovely, I tugged harder. “Baird, please.”
Just like that he stopped, whirled, and yanked me into a bear-hugging crush. “Fuck, My, he’s a prick. He never deserved you, babe. Never.”
I accepted his embrace, pressing my cheek to his warm, hard chest. Tears burned my eyes because why didn’t Will believe I deserved better?Hewas the one who had spent three years in my bed. The warm, safe envelopment of Baird’s masculinity only reminded me that cuddles like this were no longer a certainty in my future. My favorite thing about Will had been his hugs.
A sob caught in my throat.
“Fuck, I’m going to kill him.” Baird’s voice was gruff with emotion as his embrace tightened. “Nutsack. Off.”
A giggle broke through my tears, and I leaned back to look up into his beautiful dark eyes. It amazed me that he could make me laugh when I was at rock bottom. “Stop threatening to take off his nutsack. Trust me, he needs all the help he can get in that department.” Catty, but I was allowed to be.
Baird’s eyebrows shot up. “Oi, oi. Spill the tea.”
I smirked at his playfulness. “Nope.”
“If he not only chose another woman over you but failed to bring you pleasure, I feel like it’s almost a legal requirement for me to remove his nutsack.”
“We are not talking about that. Especially since that’s the least of my problems.”
Instantly, Baird became serious. “What’s happening?”
I sat down and proceeded to tell him about the situation at work. “And now I could lose everything I’ve worked for because I don’t have a fiancé to present to them,” I finished on a shaky exhale.
“Well, isn’t Becky a conniving wee rat.” Baird shook his head. “I’m sorry. That’s shit … I don’t know what to …” His expression suddenly slackened and then immediately intensified. “I think I’m having a plan. Aye. There is definitely a plan forming.” Baird stood, pacing my small living room. “Two birds. One stone. It could work. It could totally fucking work.”
I peered up at him in confusion. “What are you rambling on about?”
He suddenly whirled on me. “I’ll be your fiancé for the campaign.”
CHAPTER FIVE
BAIRD
Maia gaped at me from her armchair, those phenomenal violet eyes wide behind her black-framed glasses. She looked adorably shocked and confused.
All the while my heart raced like a motherfucker as I waited for her response.
So okay, what I’d suggested sounded crazy.
But in my mind, it was the perfect plan.
“I’m sorry, can you repeat that?” She shook her head, blinking rapidly. “I thought I heard you say you’ll be my fiancé for the campaign.”
