“Good to know.”
Just as I slide my keys in my pocket, my phone goes off, and the minute I see the text, I nearly stop breathing.
Aaron: Here.
I suck in a breath and straighten my shoulders, doing my best to channel Prince Charming.
“Showtime,” I whisper to myself as I head for the door.
Chapter Nine
Aaron
I lean against the driver side door, the bright sun shining down on the sidewalk. My palms are starting to get clammy, and he’s not even out here yet.
Christ, Aaron, how the hell are you going to make it through the damn party if you can’t get a grip now?
I let out a frustrated sigh, not wanting to think about the alternative. This has to work. It just has to. There’s no other option.
It’s one night. One appearance. All I need is to give my parents theillusionthey want, and they’ll give me whatIwant. And once I have it?
I’ll never have to see Jacob again. I can’t help but feel like some Bond villain, scheming in a nice suit. But my parents have given me no other choice. If I want the coveted spot my dad’s giving up, and I want to keepEvermoreand the company itself in the family, this is a sacrifice I have to make. A little lie never hurt anyone, especially in the jungle of corporate hospitality.
I swear, the air changes the minute he walks out the doors, and my heart stops.
Jacob strolls out wearing a hot pink button down and dress pants. His golden hair is slicked back and his bright blue eyes capture my gaze. My heart skips a beat, because fuck…
He’s so damn pretty in pink.
He looks up, catching my gaze and gives me that devilish smirk. The one that caught me from the photo Chris sent me.
“Well, don’t you clean up nice?” I say with a smirk of my own as I push off the driver side door, strolling towards him with more confidence than I actually have.
Fake it til’ you make it, Aaron.My mother’s most trusted advice. The woman wouldn’t know a thing about being genuine if it came wrapped in a silk bow.
“Thanks,” he says, and I note the faint tinge of pink in his cheeks again. This man’s going to kill me with those damn cheeks, I swear.
I let out a chuckle as I slide my hand down my silk tie. “We match.”
Jacob nods, standing straighter. His expression is different. Stern, confident. Though his cheeks still have that faint tint that tells me beneath his facade, he’s just as nervous as me.
And I’m not sure how I feel about that. He’s supposed to be the professional here, right? What reason doeshehave to be nervous?
I mean, you did book him on short notice, and he said usually he has time to do a trial date before…
Trial date. Right, dinner’s the dress rehearsal. The party’s the show.
I clear my throat as I lead him to the passenger door and open it for him.
“Thanks, baby,” he says, the words so smooth and warm it makes my insides melt a little.
It’s not the endearment as much as it is the way he says it. Plenty of men have called me baby. But the way Jacob says it is like a damn prayer.
I’d love to hear him call other names.
Sir. Daddy.
Mine.
