Wedding Date for Hire

by Jennifer Shirk

  At least someone had confidence in what we’re doing, she thought, crossing her fingers. Now let the real game begin.

  Trent glanced at Maddie’s annoyed stance and wondered if his football dreams weren’t the only thing he’d lost years ago. His finesse with women along with his sanity, apparently, had gone down the toilet as well.

  Maddie was giving him the cold shoulder now. Not that he blamed her. As fast as he’d complimented her, he had swiped it all back. But he had to.

  Something had shifted inside him when he gazed into her crystal blue eyes. Those eyes of hers that had drunk in everything he said about her like she’d never heard such words before. He hadn’t know Maddie for that long, but he could tell she was the kind of woman who wore her heart and emotions on her sleeve. The way she looked at him, like he had scored the game-winning touchdown. That’s when he realized he’d said too much. Too much for only a hired wedding date to say. Judging by the way she was in high school and the fact that she needed to hire a wedding date, she probably hadn’t heard compliments like that from a man too often. He didn’t want a woman like her getting attached to him. A woman who was definitely looking for a wedding of her own. Well, he was the wrong man for that particular job. So he corrected his mistake and played it off as no big deal. He brought the moment back to where their relationship should stay: purely professional. After all, Maddie was paying him money to be her pretend date, not a real one.

  Before he could gather another thought about Maddie and how he could correct the situation, a younger, shorter version of Maddie—whom he could only assume was her sister—rocketed toward him, launching herself into his arms. Trent played quarterback in college, but luckily for her sake, he’d started out as a wide receiver in high school.

  “Oh, I’m so happy to meet you!” she said, giggling as he stumbled back a few steps.

  “Uh, the feeling is mutual,” he grunted. At maybe five feet two inches tall, Louise could be described as a fun-sized version of her sister, but he’d bet she also had a good ten pounds extra on Maddie, too.

  “Louise, please,” Maddie admonished. “We’re only dating. There’s no need to start welcoming him into the family quite yet.”

  Face flushed, Louise took a step back, brushing the blond strands of hair from her cheeks. “Oh, of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you off. But we all only learned about you last week so, needless to say, I was super excited to hear that Maddie was in a relationship and that she was bringing you to my wedding. I don’t even know your name.” She laughed.

  “I’m a little hurt she wasn’t talking me up more.” He cast a side glance toward Maddie. “I’m Trent, by the way. Trent Montgomery.”

  “It’s good to—” Louise’s brows slammed together. “Oh, wait. Trent Montgomery? There was a Trent Montgomery in our high school. Are you him?”

  “I am.”

  Louise covered her mouth with her hand, laughing. “Oh my gosh. Too funny. I guess you know my sister used to completely hate you.”

  He cocked his head at Maddie, pretending to be puzzled. “Did she now?”

  Maddie’s eyes grew wide. “Um, to set the record straight, I don’t know if I ever uttered the word hate.”

  “Oh yeah, you did,” Louise insisted. “You even called him an egotistical blowhard who couldn’t throw a beanbag if his life depended on it, remember?”

  Maddie flushed every shade of pink known to Crayola. She opened her mouth, as if she wanted to defend herself again, but no words came out.

  Trent raised his brows at her. “Seems as if both of us have faulty memories when it comes to high school.”

  Maddie quickly recovered and tried to wave the comment away. “Well, it was so long ago. Who can remember anything from back then? Besides, we’re both different people now. At least, one of us is,” she muttered.

  Louise playfully shoved her sister. “No wonder you didn’t tell me his name. That is hilarious. You look adorable together.” She beamed at Trent. “And of course if Maddie’s happy, then I’m happy. I just know this one is going to last.”

  Trent smiled at the obvious love and affection Louise had for her sister. It was nice to see. Something he could relate to well with Kennedy. A lot of people didn’t have that kind of support. Trent sure as hell never got it from his parents. Or his own fiancée, for that matter.

  “I hope to continue to make your sister happy,” he said with a wink. Then he glanced over at Maddie. The smile on her face seemed frozen there and about ready to crack off from the tension emanating from her body. So he decided to help her out a bit and reached for her.

  Maddie’s body was about as pliant as a two by four but he managed to wrap his arms around her in a manner that looked as if she was a willing participant. “I’m sure Maddie would like to freshen up and change before the cocktail party. Where should I take the bags?”

  Louise smacked her forehead with her palm. “Oh, of course! Silly me. I’ll show you. This place is crazy big. I’ve been here at least a half dozen times and I still get lost. Michael’s parents put you guys together over in the small carriage house on the right of the property. Very quiet and cozy.”

  “What?” Maddie stopped walking. “I’m sorry, what was that? Together? Trent and I are sharing a room? Is that proper wedding guest etiquette?”

  Louise laughed like it was the best joke she’d ever heard. “Of course it is. At first, Michael’s parents weren’t into it. They’re so traditional. But then I explained that nowadays things like that aren’t a big deal and that you were probably half living at Trent’s place anyway, so there wouldn’t be anything new he hasn’t seen already. Am I right or am I right?”

  Maddie was rendered speechless, and Trent wisely kept his mouth shut as Louise stopped at the door and then swung it open in a flourish. She encouraged them to enter first.

  The room was something else, traditionally decorated with a mahogany canopy bed and marble fireplace. There was a full bath and even what looked to be a private deck overlooking the water.

  “What do you think?” Louise asked, grinning as if she already knew the answer.

  “This is fantastic,” Trent said.

  Maddie, on the other hand, remained mute, staring at the queen bed as if it had just been pulled from the sewer.

  “You don’t have to thank me,” Louise said brightly. “Well, okay, go ahead.”

  He couldn’t help himself. “Thanks, Sis.”

  He then grinned at Maddie and nearly laughed out loud when it looked as if she wanted to go for his jugular with a nail file. Yes, he was the devil, taunting her like this, but he kind of liked seeing the bossy and overly organized Maddie off her game. So sue him. Plus, Maddie just looked too darn cute all outraged and indignant and…panic-stricken.

  Louise checked her watch. “Well, my job here is done. I need to go and talk to Michael’s mom about the cocktail party tonight. I’m hoping we can have it outside since the weather is so nice. Why don’t you guys relax for a bit? You can meet everyone later.”

  Maddie rubbed her head. “Sounds good,” she said, sounding anything but good.

  “Okay. See you both later.” Louise fluttered her fingers in a quick wave and closed the door behind her.

  Maddie dropped her hand and warily looked at him. “Sorry to overreact. Sharing a room with you is fine. It’s just a minor blip in my radar I wasn’t expecting. No offense.”

  He shrugged. From what he’d observed about Maddie, he could tell she liked to be ultra-prepared. A trait he shared with her. “Understandable.”

  Maddie rolled her shoulders and sighed. “What a day so far, huh? I could sure go for a shower.”

  “Me too,” he said without thinking.

  Her gaze cut to his, sharp and deep. “I meant alone.”

  He raised his hands in mock surrender and thankfully managed to keep a straight face. “Me too.” Although, maybe—just maybe—way back in the deep dark recesses of his male mind, he might not have totally meant alone. But that
was his little secret.

  As if reading his mind, she narrowed her eyes. “Look, Trent, don’t get any funny ideas here,” she said wagging a pink-polished finger at him. “I trust you can be a professional despite the sleeping arrangements.”

  Although annoyed she would automatically lump him in the sexual pervert category, he pretended to think it over. “I believe so.”

  “Good.” She looked around the room. “Oh, darn. We forgot to bring the bags with us.”

  Even though Maddie held a cocky attitude, there were light smudges of fatigue under her eyes, and she looked a bit pale. They hadn’t even gotten through the first day yet. He wanted to lay a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but figured any touchy-feely-like advances—as platonic as he intended—would not be appreciated or welcomed at the moment. In fact, he was pretty sure she could summon up enough energy to sock him squarely in the mouth. But he wanted to make things easier and show her that despite his needling, he did intend to help her. “Listen, you stay here. I’ll go and get them for you.”

  “You don’t have to do that. I can grab my own luggage, Trent.”

  “Think of it as part of my overinflated service,” he said, trying to coax a smile out of her.

  A few beats went by, but it worked. She smiled at him.

  Maddie had a fantastic one. Like a skylight had opened up so sunlight could illuminate the room. Not that he should be noticing her smile at all. Or how fantastic it was. Or how great he felt knowing he’d been the cause of it.

  Trent frowned. He barely remembered noticing any woman’s smile in the past several years. What was going on with him? Had it been that long since he’d been alone with a woman?

  Maddie cocked her head. “Is something wrong?”

  Yes. But he wasn’t sure what. He felt his forehead but it was disappointingly cool. “Uh, no. I should get away from you—I mean, get the bags for you.”

  “Thanks. That’s nice,” she said, sweeping her blond curls off her shoulders.

  He swallowed as his eyes were drawn to her long, graceful neck. He made himself look away. Dammit! He needed some space. One more second alone and he’d be fawning over how trim her cuticles were.

  He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, feeling as if all the air in the room had been sucked out. “Be right back,” he wheezed.

  Trent practically dove out the door. It was one thing to admit to himself that he was attracted to Maddie and a whole other bag of cleats to be sharing a bedroom with her and not act on that attraction. He took a deep breath. When he mentioned wanting a shower, he should have emphasized a cold one. Brutally cold. He had no idea what Kennedy expected when she talked him into helping her, but keeping this job strictly professional was getting more and more difficult by the minute.

  Chapter Six

  “I bet everything is going as smooth as a baby’s bottom down there,” Kennedy chirped over the phone.

  Trent transferred his cell to his other ear, turning to gaze out along the spans of the beautiful bayfront property. Not too shabby a place to have a party. While Maddie was in the shower, he’d dressed in his dinner jacket and tie and left the room. He figured he’d give her some privacy to get ready for the cocktail party. In the meantime, he’d check in with his cousin while he waited for Maddie to meet him. The weather was perfect, and couples were already outside mingling and hanging around a bar that had been set up by the pool. “Oh, yeah, it’s been a real behind all right.”

  Kennedy chuckled. “Well, somebody tied his necktie too tight. It can’t be that bad. You only just got there. Unless…of course…you don’t get along with Maddie.”

  “It’s not that.” More like, he was starting to like Maddie. Not only was she a natural kind of pretty with those ocean-blue eyes of hers, but he admired her spunk, too. It was refreshing to be around a woman who held no pretense or guile and pulled no punches. What you saw with Maddie was pretty much what you got. Unlike his ex-fiancée who pretended to have feelings for him and evidently liked the idea of being married to a football star a heck of a lot more than a gym owner.

  “That’s good news,” she said. “And actually, speaking of good news, I spoke to your dad today.”

  Trent’s spine stiffened. “Why would you call him?”

  “He actually called me. He thinks my matchmaking business shows real promise and wants to invest. Can you believe it?”

  Trent held his tongue. He didn’t want to burst her bubble, but he didn’t trust his father’s sudden interest in her business—or his interest in anything that didn’t benefit or involve himself.

  “Trent, you’re being awfully quiet. I don’t have to see you to know that you’re not happy. But don’t you get it? If your dad becomes an investor, I’ll have the money to pay you back ahead of schedule.”

  “I plan on talking to the groom about an advertising spot. Everything will work out without my dad’s help.”

  “But I thought you’d be pleased.”

  “It’s not that. It’s just…be careful.”

  She snorted. “I know exactly what I’m doing. Besides, what is there to be careful about? It’s family.”

  Family.

  Trent tried not to let the bitterness of that word collect on his tongue. But his parents had no idea what real family entailed, which was why his relationship with them became so strained after he stopped playing football. Kennedy was the only true family he felt he had—the only person he trusted—which was why he’d do anything for her.

  He sighed. “Right. It’s your business, Ken. I want you to know you don’t have to rush to pay me back. I’ll figure something out if I can’t get the money.” And he would. Although he hated to do it, he’d have to close one of his gyms. His line-of-credit business loan was coming due the end of next month. If he couldn’t pay it back by then, the bank could start legal action. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Between his football career and his engagement, he had lost enough already.

  She didn’t speak for several moments. “You’ve done so much to help me start my own business. I want to help you now.”

  His heart squeezed with love for his cousin. “I know. But you’ve already done enough by just being there for me. Working as a wedding date is the least I can do. How about we call it even?”

  “Have I told you you’re my favorite cousin?”

  He suppressed a grin. He was her only cousin. “Not lately.”

  “Well, you are. Hey, gotta run, I have a client appointment. But I’ll call you in a few days. In the meantime, try to pretend that you actually enjoy weddings—if not for Maddie’s sake then for mine, please.”

  “Fine. But I draw the line at the ‘Macarena’.”

  “Deal.”

  He clicked his phone off and turned around, almost colliding with a dark-haired woman.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, reaching out to steady her. “Didn’t see you there.”

  The woman brushed away the hair that had fallen onto her face and looked up with annoyance. But then her eyes widened and her gaze traveled from his face to his chest. “Oh, no problem. It was totally my fault.” She licked her overly glossed lips. “Not that I’m really that sorry. You’re quite the serendipity to run into.”

  Trent had been called a lot of things by women over the years, but this one was new to him. “Thanks. Glad no harm done.”

  She was attractive, but she gave him the immediate impression of a woman who was trying a little too hard by her heavy application of makeup. He smiled and politely tried to step around her, but she shifted and blocked his path. “I’m Veronica.”

  Oh, crap. This one is a live one. “Trent,” he said, taking her outstretched hand.

  She didn’t readily let go and gave him a look he knew all too well. A look that clearly stated that she’d be ready, willing, and able to meet up with him later if he’d only say the word, which he had no intention of doing. One, he had a job to do—of sorts. And, two, he’d had plenty of Veronicas in his day, including his former fiancée. Not a lot of
substance to be had. But he had been young and at that time, substance was the last thing he was looking for. He could equate it to having candy for dinner—indulgent, tasty, and fun at first, but then in a few hours, you’re longing for a real meal. The woman standing before him was definitely a Snickers bar.

  She sidled closer. “I’m the bride’s cousin and also one of the bridesmaids. You must be in the bridal party, too?”

  “Uh, no, actually, but my date is.” He glanced to his left, looking for any outward escape. Then, like a desert oasis, Maddie popped into view. She looked stunning, wearing a sleeveless aqua dress that made her stand out all the more from the sea of black cocktail dresses surrounding her.

  Once she spotted him and Veronica, Maddie wasted no time coming over and planting a chaste kiss on his cheek. “Introducing yourself to my family already I see,” she said to him. Then she coolly nodded to Veronica. “Hello, Vonnie. I see you’ve met my date.”

  Veronica’s mouth dropped. “This is the guy you were talking about? Well. No wonder you’ve been so tight-lipped about him. I’d want to keep him all to myself, too,” she said, giving him a long look.

  Maddie curled her hands around his arm possessively. “And that’s exactly what I plan on doing: keeping him all to myself. You don’t mind, do you, honey?” she asked him sweetly.

  Trent lifted her hand and kissed the back of it, enjoying the softness of her skin a little more than he should have. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  And he actually meant every word. He was looking forward to spending more time with Maddie. He had convinced himself it was just because he wanted a distraction from all the wedding frenzy, but now he realized, he truly did want to spend time getting to know her better. He wished he could tell her that, along with the fact that he wasn’t really a paid escort. But he was afraid it might reflect poorly on Kennedy and her business. It was probably just as well. Better to ignore his attraction to her. It would only be messy when he walked away. Besides, Maddie still seemed like she could barely tolerate his existence.