by Chelsea Hale
The phone kept ringing, and James wondered if Matt would ever pick up. Finally, he heard Matt’s voice. “Hello?”
“Hey.”
“Where are you headed tonight?” Matt asked, his voice interested.
“I have front row seats to the basketball game. Want to come?”
Matt just laughed. “I love how you say that so nonchalantly, like it’s no big deal. Like we’re in high school or college again and it’s just the local basketball game and your hoodie has been saving us the front row seats.”
“Hey, now don’t knock that hoodie. It did a great job of saving seats.”
“Yeah, I mean, it’s not like you own the building where the team plays or anything now. Of course you’ll be at the games.”
“I try to get to as many as I can. It’s good for the morale of the players.” The Chicago Chargers were doing well this year.
“So, is this a double date thing, or …”
“We broke up last week. I’m going solo unless you want to come.”
“That stinks, James. Sorry. Yeah, I can join you.”
“You sure you don’t have something else?”
“I was just going to do some work. But make sure you put in an extra order of chicken wings in your box.”
“You got it.”
* * *
“So, what happened this time?” Matt asked James as the ball tipped off.
James waited until his team got the ball and scored. He cheered, pointing at the coach and smiling. It was going to be a satisfying game, starting out this strong. “Same thing that happened with the last one,” he said, knowing that Matt would read between the lines.
“That sucks, dude.” Matt leaned back in his chair and cheered.
James wished he could be as relaxed as his friend, but he was on edge from the whole experience. “Tell me about it. I’m so tired of people hanging around me because of my money. It’s the worst.”
“I mean, I see it has its drawbacks. Still, you were named the most eligible billionaire of the year in Billionaire Insider.” Matt nudged him with an elbow, drawing a smile out of him. “So, that’s got to count for something.”
“Yeah, it counts for something. It counts for the ways women find out about me. I just need to go somewhere … where I’m not recognized.”
Matt laughed. “You’re pretty recognizable wherever you go, how would you even do that?”
James shrugged then cheered for his team. “You’re right. I’d have to, I don’t even know, get a haircut, dye my hair, wear my glasses.”
“Glasses?”
“You know, like Clark Kent, in disguise.”
Matt looked at him doubtfully. “Yeah, his glasses pretty much fooled nobody.”
“A guy can dream, can’t he? I mean, what good is a billion dollars when people just want to be your friend because you have it?” Maybe Matt had been right all of the years he’d turned down a job from James. Maybe Matt was the smart one. “I need to find someone who doesn’t know who I am.”
Matt slapped him on the shoulder. “Like someone who keeps their head out of the media and the rest of the world?”
“Exactly. Someone like that.”
They watched the game until the first quarter ended. Ushers brought James and Matt snacks, though they’d be getting their fill after the second quarter. Matt grabbed a bag of popcorn from the options supplied. “I might know someone like that.” Matt rubbed his chin.
“Someone like what?”
“Someone who keeps their head out of the media. Someone who has tunnel vision. Also, she’s a professional and doesn’t need your money.”
“You’re trying to set me up?” James lifted his hands in a surrender pose. But of anyone, he’d trust Matt’s judgment.
“I’m trying to help a friend.”
James nodded. It was nice of Matt to think of him. “I don’t know. I might need some time off from relationships.”
“Look, just meet her for coffee in the morning. She’s really nice. She needs a date to a family party.”
“If she recognizes me …”
“Make sure she doesn’t. Cut your hair or something. Wear glasses. I don’t care. But whatever you do don’t wear your suit for coffee tomorrow. Just be casual.”
James nodded. “Okay, fine, I’ll meet her.”
Chapter 3
Emery stared at the cryptic text message from Matt.
Hey, I think he’d be the perfect boyfriend for you for Christmas. He has had a hard time lately. Meet us at the coffee shop at 8:00 a.m.
She texted back. Hard time lately? How? Financially?
Matt’s response was just one word. Sure.
Matt had actually found her a date in less than twenty-four hours since her mother had called her? Of course, it looked like Matt had given her a clue to this guy.
She had thought Matt had caught her sarcasm when she’d made the crack about paying someone from a fake boyfriend website—as if there really was one.
If this guy Matt found was having a financially hard time, then maybe Matt had negotiated a price for her. But Matt took her seriously and had found somebody for her. She would bring money to the table.
Emery supposed it wouldn’t be a terrible thing to pay for a pretend boyfriend for a few days to visit her family. They wouldn’t have to stay long. Just long enough to see her grandpa. What was she willing to pay to save face? Probably a lot. At least she wouldn’t look pathetic in front of her sister and her ex.
She’d say hi to her grandpa, introduce her fake boyfriend to him, stay for an obligatory dinner, and she’d be done. If they went a few days before Christmas she could be back to trim her own tree back at her place. She would go early enough to Grandpa’s house and she could avoid the rest of the family. That could also work. After all, he’d been the one sick and in the hospital in New York.
The wheels started turning. This could work. She had already mentioned she was going to her boyfriend’s family’s house for Christmas. She’d avoid Christmas altogether with her family, but she’d bring her boyfriend before. If Grandpa wasn’t feeling well now, she should go and visit him—make it a weekend trip. She could be back to work by Monday.
The plan kept her on task and to the coffee shop early. The line was long, but she had no idea what type of coffee her fake boyfriend would like, and there was no sense in letting it get cold anyway. She took out a small notepad, jotting down her thoughts. She would need to know how he took his coffee. She hit her pen against the notepad. Was she really thinking of pulling the wool over her family’s eyes?
She pushed the guilt down. One rash comment to her mom in the middle of a frustrating conversation and this was what she was willing to do? She should call the whole thing off before it even got started.
Here it was. She was officially nuts. She just needed to admit that she wasn’t over the betrayal of her ex. She knew her sister well enough to know that even her new boyfriend wouldn’t be off limits, regardless of the fact that her sister was engaged. Again.
At that moment Matt walked through the doors with his friend. Emery's eyes widened. Matt’s friend was good looking. Sure, he might be going through a hard time like Matt had mentioned, but he didn’t look it.
She studied him as they walked toward her. She couldn’t quite tell the color of his eyes through the glare on his glasses, but his square jaw was chiseled. He was taller than Matt, which meant he was going to be taller than Owen. Good. That was always a good way to intimidate others. And although her soon-to-be fake boyfriend was still wearing a winter coat, she imagined he was more muscular than Owen too.
The guy gave her a lop-sided grin, making her realize that he’d caught her staring. That should be fine. They needed to have some attraction for this to work.
A beanie covered his head, but she could see a little bit of dark hair sticking out. She’d always gone for dark hair, except when she fell for Owen. Owen had blond hair. She needed to stop thinking of Owen. She was here to meet her new boyfri
end.
Matt spoke first. “Emery, this is my college roommate. We go way back. I think he’d be perfect to help you out of your problem.”
She stood up. “Hi. I’m Emery.” Oh, she could tell this was going to be a little awkward when he didn’t immediately take her hand.
“James.” He left his gloves on as he shook her hand. The leather gloves were smooth and she found herself holding his hand longer than she normally would, until he looked down at their hands, and then she pulled back, self-conscious.
“From Matt’s description, you aren’t what I was expecting,” she said, unable to stop herself from wondering what his story was. Now that James was closer to her she could see how clear and light his blue eyes were. They were mesmerizing, pulling her in.
“Oh, what did he say?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Emery looked between Matt and James, wishing she’d just kept her mouth shut. Finally, she said, “Just that lately you’ve had a hard time … financially.”
James squinted at Matt. “He told you that, did he?” He cleared his throat. “I suppose the clothes were bought at a time when I could afford them.”
“I’m going to go get us coffee,” Matt said. Then to James he added, “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got you covered.”
James glared at Matt’s back as he made his way over to the line. “I can’t believe he told you that,” James muttered.
“I’m not judging,” Emery said, running her words together. “It’s fine. And I’m willing to pay you for helping me, so don’t feel you need to do me any favors. Life can be hard sometimes. I get that.”
“Pay me?” He looked confused.
“$1,000. I just need you to come with me this weekend to see my family.”
“This weekend? I thought this was an over Christmas thing.”
“It was going to be, but I think we can just go beforehand. My grandpa is sick and I already told my mom that we’d be with your family … er, my boyfriend’s family, I mean … for Christmas, so you won’t have to actually change your Christmas plans.”
“No.”
“I mean we wouldn’t actually be going to your family’s. I mean, I obviously wouldn’t be joining you, I just don’t want to be with my family at Christmas time.” She could feel her cheeks burning.
“I meant no on the money.” His blue eyes watched her.
$1,000 was not high enough for this guy? For one weekend? He really must be in a tough spot. How much had Matt alluded to? “$2,000 is the highest I can go.” Why had she just given that away? She could have raised it by half that, and he probably would have taken it.
“$2,000 for what?” Matt said, balancing the coffees and setting them down on the table, joining Emery and James.
Emery waved her hand in the air, wondering if Matt would have offered to be her boyfriend if he knew money was involved. But that was silly, he was going to be at his cousin’s wedding anyway. “Just trying to negotiate my price.”
“She started with $1,000.” James practically spat the words at Matt through clenched teeth.
“I’m being transparent here, but $2,000 is really my limit.” That was her vacation money, but she supposed saving face was worth her dream vacation on a tropical island. She’d get there another time, maybe once her Christmas bonus came through.
James looked like he was about to protest, but Matt said, “He’ll take it.”
James jaw dropped. “I will not take it.”
Matt elbowed him, almost causing him to spill his coffee. “Yes, you will. You owe me.”
“What does he owe you for?” Emery asked, curious what Matt would be holding over his friend’s head.
Emery could see Matt hiding a smug grin behind his coffee, like he’d just won at something. “I took him to a basketball game last night. Even managed to land us front row seats and take him to a box suite afterwards. It was a party.”
“You what?” James asked.
Matt held up his hand. “James, it’s fine. Emery, he’s gone through a rough patch. You know, it’s hard for us guys to admit when we need help on things. $2,000 is more than generous. He’s just stubborn.”
Emery smiled. “Thanks, Matt. But, if James isn’t interested in coming with me, I’m not going to force him.”
“Emery, what will you do then?” Matt asked.
“I’ll think of something. But if calling in a favor and my money won’t convince him, it’s fine.”
She couldn’t possibly sink any lower, so she smiled through her disappointment. She’d have been attracted to James had she just met him on the street. And she wondered why Matt had never bothered to introduce her to his college roommate before now.
They might have really hit it off under different circumstances. But as it was? It was better to move on and save some face.
She pushed up from the table. James and Matt could enjoy their coffee without her, and she’d see Matt when he got in to work.
“It was nice meeting you, James. Merry Christmas.” She turned to her coworker. “I’ll see you at work, Matt.”
“You’re not staying?” Matt asked, his eyes widened as he looked up from his coffee.
She mustered a final fake smile. “I’ve got a lot of work to do.” And truthfully, she’d probably spend the next hour before work began, trying to think of what to do.
Emery walked away from the table with her head held high. She leaned hard on the door handle and pushed out of the coffee shop. The bitter cold wind bit her cheeks as she made her way toward her work, two blocks away.
Chapter 4
James watched Emery leave the coffee shop. Why had he let Matt talk him into this in the first place? She wanted to pay him $2,000. He knew Matt’s coworker wasn’t rolling in the cash.
The idea of taking her money had made him feel sick. He didn’t sign up to take people’s money. How would that look if it ever came out? He was a billionaire.
“I don’t think I need to tell you but, just in case you missed the obvious signs, you’re an idiot,” Matt said, taking another sip of his coffee.
“You told her I was having a hard time. How could you do that? Then she offered me more money.” He folded his arms across his chest. “I’m not taking her money.”
“I actually thought it was a brilliant plan on my part. And you played the shock factor up so well. If she thinks that you are having a hard time right now, she’s not going to recognize that you are a billionaire. She’s not going to like you for your money.”
James huffed. That was Matt’s brilliant plan? “She’s not going to like me at all.”
Matt just looked at him. “Well, what does that matter? With this plan, you won’t be alone sulking on Christmas.”
“She changed her plans to this weekend. She just wants to go to pacify her grandpa who isn’t doing well.”
Matt frowned. “Maybe if it’s not over Christmas anymore, I’ll step in.”
James raised his eyebrows. “You like her? Then why are you trying to set me up with her?”
“Emery has been a good friend at work. Nothing more. But you’re not the only one who has had it rough in love. Of course I’d help Emery. And she’d do the same for me. Just like I’d help you out, anytime.”
James thought about what Matt had just said. Matt had helped him more times than he could count, and he never seemed to ask for return favors. How hard would it be to help his friend out, for one weekend? He’d be back to his basketball team for the home game on Monday night. He wouldn’t even have to send his V.P. It’d be fine.
“All right, I’m in. But I’m not taking her money.”
“How are you going to explain that? I mean, I already primed the pump for her to think that you don’t have money. She’s going to be more suspicious if you don’t take it.”
“Do you think she’s already made it to work by now?” James asked.
“I think if you hurry after her you might catch her.” Matt didn’t look like he was going to leave right now.
�
��Okay.” James took his empty cup in his hand. “Thanks for the coffee, by the way.”
“Don’t mention it. I know you’re down on your luck. Who knows, maybe you’ll be turning a corner soon.” Matt laughed. “But just go straight from here to get to her.”
James headed out the door and down the street. He could see Emery in her bright red coat, only a block ahead of him. The walk sign for the cross walk was already blinking with a red hand.
He looked at the cross-street traffic. He’d have at least five seconds. He ran across the street. Jogging in his work shoes wasn’t ideal, but thankfully his leather shoes were comfortable even with the added friction.
He caught up to her just as she started crossing the street.
“Hey,” he said to her, breathing harder as the cold air ran through his throat.
Emery’s dark hair was curled and long and she was gorgeous. She seemed well put together and self-assured. Two things that were definitely lacking in his last two relationships. Her attractiveness hadn’t escaped him at the coffee shop, though he’d been stunned by her offering him money. That was definitely a first.
“Am I on your way to work? Or are you on my way? Matt never mentioned you work close.” She seemed very focused on crossing the street, not sparing him more than a sideways glance.
Had Matt even mentioned him before? “He’s mentioned me?”
“Not particularly, I guess. He’s spoken of a college roommate before, but I assume you have lots of them.” She put her hands in her pockets, shivering.
“Oh?” And nope, they were roommates for all four years of their degrees.
“Matt never mentions any of you by name. Just always says he’s going to go help an old college buddy or roommate.”
James supposed last night would count as one of those times. Matt was so uncomfortable with the spotlight for anything. He hung in the shadows even when James asked him to come to events or invited him to dinners.