“No. Nothing like that.”
“Okay. I’d hate to give up my position.” I won’t find another job that pays as generously as my current one. If I can resell the things he buys me for the dinners and parties after we “break up,” I might be able to hit my financial goals more easily. Still, a little voice says it won’t be that simple. Life always throws you a curveball.
“What do you do that you’re so enthused about?” he asks with a curious smile.
“I work at the Pryce Family Foundation. As a junior fund development specialist. You know, help raise money for various causes. I love it. How about you?”
“I’m in advertising. The head of the 4D Agency.” His eyes sparkle.
“And you love that.”
“Yup.”
“Bet you’re good at it, too.”
“I like to think so. I fought my family to start the agency, and I’m not giving it up.”
“They don’t approve?”
He snorts. “No. If they could, they’d find a way to bankrupt it.”
“That’s terrible!” Empathy wells. His family sounds just like Nelson and Karie, who would do something similar to me, partially out of spite and partially out of a need to keep me down and control me. “Why would they do that?”
“Because they want me to join the family business. They don’t like it that I’m doing my own thing.”
My sympathy deepens. No wonder he’s desperate enough to fake an engagement. I would be, too. “So everyone in your family is awful?”
“The older ones are. But my brothers are great.” The bright smile returns to his face, making him look younger and approachable.
“How many do you have?”
“Six. Except for me and Noah, they’re all married. Two have kids.” His expression gentles with affection. “You have any siblings?”
“No. It’s just me and my mom.” I debate bringing up Nelson, but decide not to, since there’s no way he and his family would want to be associated with me any more than I do. Their disdain for me couldn’t be clearer. If I could, I’d pull the half of my DNA that came from Nelson and give it back. Like returning defective junk you don’t want to Amazon.
Huxley holds my eyes. “I’ll do everything I can to avoid disrupting your life. You don’t even have to move in with me.”
I nod. That works—it would probably be awkward to share a space with a guy I barely know. “Is your family going to believe that we’re really engaged? What are we going to tell them? And the people I know?”
“We should stick to the truth as closely as possible. That way, there are fewer chances of screwing it up.”
He’s put some thought into this.“So, we met two years ago?”
“Right. When I gave you a ride to the ER, but then we lost touch. I was sad that I couldn’t find you because I was attracted to you…even though you were soaked through.” He grins, and I have to smile. “And when we just happened to run into each other again, and I knew you were the one I’d been looking for all my life. Love at first sight. Well, second.” He says it like he’s pitching an ad. Straight to the point, a little humor to leaven the seriousness of the business. No real sentimentality. But with such finesse that it sounds completely natural and believable.
I study him, all my nerves tingling. The easy, confident way he sits opposite me and the air of affluence about him say of course he’ll be able to forge his own path and get what he wants. No other outcome is possible in his world. A keen intelligence shines through his eyes. Despite the kindness he’s shown me, I’ve seen a hint of cynicism as well, when we first met and he almost drove away. And the brutal physicality at the bar against that ill-mannered lawyer.
But it’s doubtful that Huxley hides that side of himself from his family if they’re as big of a pain as he claims. And they’re going to know he isn’t sentimental enough for the scenario he’s presenting.
“I don’t think anybody’s going to believe that you’re the type to fall in love at first—or even second—sight.”
He cocks an eyebrow.
“I can’t picture it. I don’t think your family will be able to, either.” To be honest, I can’t imagine him in love with anybody. If he ever marries—for real—he’ll go for pedigree and credentials: somebody smart, beautiful and inoffensive.
He considers for a few moments. “Maybe you’re right.”
“So…” I nibble on my lip.
