I looked around. Blade was going to be here any minute. The Svenssons were notoriously protective of their family. If Blade thought I was the type of person who fraternized with lunatics like Nathan, he would call the whole fake relationship off, and I would have to spend the next few decades watching Cassie turn my house into some sort of monstrosity.
“You need to leave.”
Nathan’s eyes narrowed. “Are you meeting someone?”
“It’s just business.”
7
Blade
Aman brushed past me as I opened the door to the Salt House and glared up at me. He rubbed me the wrong way, but maybe I was on edge. Avery was waiting in the lobby of the restaurant. She was wearing a coat dress, the dramatic V neckline plunging.
I bet she’s not wearing anything under that.My brain was hit by an image of her slowly unbelting the coat and letting it fall to the floor. I shook my head. This was business, nothing more. Avery was my employee, and we were both working together toward a mutual goal.She’s going to be your wife though.
“Avery,” I greeted her. I didn’t know if I should shake her hand, hug her, or kiss her. We did an awkward half hug then followed the hostess to a table.
Act like her boyfriend.
Except I didn’t know how. Weston was the one who went on dates and womanized. I worked. The few dates I’d had rarely led to relationships, and in the few cases they had, they were short-lived. The women had all quickly made it clear they only saw me as a walking wallet and didn’t actually care about me.
The other restaurant patrons were pretending not to stare as we walked past. With the way my brothers had been carrying on during the past year, my family had been in the news a lot.
Be her boyfriend.I rested my hand on the curve of Avery’s lower back. The black leather coat was warm against my hand.
“Is this table all right?” the hostess asked.
We were in a semiprivate area away from the large front windows. I nodded and pulled out Avery’s chair.
“To drink?” the waitress asked, pulling out her notepad.
“Scotch. Bowmore. And you’ll have?” I prompted Avery.
“A white wine is fine,” Avery said. She shifted in her seat. I stared at her. It felt like hours but was probably only a few minutes until the server returned. She set our drinks down in front of us, and Avery fiddled with the stemware.
“I’ve redone the spreadsheet,” I told her to break the silence. “In order to fit in all of the required events that lead to a wedding, we should start meeting our families this weekend.”
She made a face and took a sip of the wine.
“My family isn’t that bad—well, perhaps they’re a little crazy,” I told her.
“I’m sure they’re fine,” she said in a rush. “My family is insufferable.”
“You think they won’t like me?”
“Honestly, as long as they buy that we’re in love, it doesn’t matter.” She squared her shoulders. “You’re going to need to up your game. I’ve brought fake boyfriends to meet them before. My stepmother and sister are paranoid and suspicious. You need to act loving, caring, and sensitive.” She looked at me critically. “You suck at being a boyfriend, by the way.”
“That’s blunt,” I said, taken aback.
“Yes. It is. It’s one of my big rules of fake relationships—honesty always. I dated this guy once about a year ago. It was fake for me—I needed a date to a college friend’s wedding—but I didn’t tell him that it was all a lie. It broke his heart.” She took another sip of her drink. “To keep each person from getting hurt, we have to tell the truth about everything. That’s a hard-and-fast rule. So, in the spirit of honesty, you need to do a better job of pretending that you like me.”
“I do like you,” I said. “Since we’re being honest.”
She ducked her head. “I make mean comments to you. I’m surprised you haven’t fired me.”
I shrugged. “You intrigue me.” I reached out and took her hand. It felt exciting that I could just do that—touch her. Avery shivered slightly as I ran my fingertips along the back of her hand.
“Is this a little more loving?”
