by Lulu Pratt
“The wine is great,” he smiles, lifting his glass. “You should try some.”
I lift it thoughtfully, bringing it to my lips. It is the perfect combination of light flavor and alcohol and I find myself taking another sip. It is delicious, but I suppose that is to be expected from a restaurant that is this well-known and has a wait list a mile long.
“Good?” he asks with a knowing smile.
I take a breath, remembering that he is supposed to be the love of my life. I smile, “Excellent choice.”
Cade smirks in triumph, and I glance away, taking in the atmosphere. It is gorgeous, opulent and lovely. The room itself is large, with high ceilings and sweeping chandeliers. There are several tables, all dressed with crisp, white linen and elegant table settings. The cutlery is polished and the flowers and candles that decorated each table were breathtaking. I had not known where to look when I had first stepped into the room.
The wait staff are all dressed perfectly, and look more suited to modeling careers, if I am being honest. Lavish drapes and low, soft music finished it all off. The service is superb, the wine is delectable and the company…
I look back at Cade, where he surveys the room just like I had. He is handsome, there is no denying it. If this wasn’t a strictly professional arrangement… I swallow, fighting the urge to bite my lip. I don’t want my lipstick to smudge.
“Here you go, ma’am.” The waitress appears at my side and sets down my salad.
“Thanks.” It looks delicious, even for a simple salad and I feel my stomach rumble quietly with hunger.
Next comes Cade’s plate and he smiles, “Thank you.” His voice, low and soft, manages to sound seductive even through the crowded room. The minute the waitress is out of earshot, I shoot him a glare.
“What?” He raises an eyebrow, “I was being polite. Let’s start, shall we?”
I have to admit that the food is absolutely amazing. The chicken seems to melt on my tongue – it is so wonderfully done. The vegetables are crisp and full of flavor, and pair with the wine wonderfully. It is an experience all right, one that I am not used to.
It isn’t often that I go out for dinner and I have never been at a restaurant this fancy in all my life. I nervously smooth down my dress, a simple black number, and try not to focus on the fact that I feel completely out of place in a fancy establishment such as this one.
Cade might be able to afford it quite comfortably, but for me, this would have been totally out of my reach were it not for him. I glance at him enjoying his steak as if he was eating a sandwich from his own kitchen. Casual and so completely at ease. I touch my hair for a second, reminding myself that it, at least, was looking good.
My days as a hairdresser tend to come in handy for times like this, when I need to look good in a pinch, or at short notice. Long days have left me feeling pretty tired, but I made a promise to come out tonight and I fully intend to keep it. Besides, the food is great and I am slowly getting used to the company.
Cade smiles at me, looking me over. Again, the sense that he can see all the way into me is burning through my mind and my clothes. I want to cover up, to hide from his gaze. Instead, I meet his gaze head on.
“What’s the matter, babe?” I ask.
The emphasis on the last word is not lost on him and he smirks, a slow, predatory smile.
“You seem distracted, sweetheart. Am I boring you?” He smirks again, staring me in the eyes until I feel a shiver beneath across my skin and down my spine.
I shrug and a small smile tugs at my lips, “Only a little.”
He chuckles at this and I find that I love the sound. I want to hear it again. I suddenly realize that I have never seen him laugh, really laugh, in all the times he has come into the salon. I don’t know that much about this man – not really.
I know how he likes his hair styled. I know that he likes it when I massage the shampoo into his hair. I know he is stylish and wealthy and that he likes it when I do his hair, seeing as I know how he likes it done.
I know that he is a bit of a flirt. In fact, he is a lot of a flirt. He’s never mentioned a relationship to me. Then again, maybe he doesn’t do relationships. He hadn’t seemed to have an interest in settling down until now. But he is charming and sexy and I know that I cannot keep my eyes off him when he walks into a room, and he knows it. He knows that he has ladies eating out of the palm of his hand and he is not afraid to use that to his advantage.
“Well, I’ll have to see if I can change that, hmm?” He’s still smiling and for some reason, I feel like my heart is stopping, like it has been caught in my chest and cannot be released. I take a breath, a deep breath, but when he stands up in the middle of the restaurant, it all rushes out of my lungs.
His meal is half eaten. He moves to one knee. I have never seen anyone look so graceful. He lifts his hands, and in them, I see a ring box, black velvet and perfectly designed. Even though I knew this was going to happen, I can’t help the way my heart catches in my throat, the way my hands fly to my mouth in surprise.
And for one beautiful moment, I am taken away. I am left breathless and in awe. He smiles and it seems so genuine. He flips up the lid and reveals the most perfect ring that I have ever laid eyes on. It is stunning, sparkling even under the low lights. It’s beautifully made and I can tell from one glance that it will fit me just right. I can also tell that it was expensive, very expensive.
I am suddenly touched by the effort, the thoughtfulness, the way that he is doing this, when he didn’t have to make it such a big deal.
“Ellen Cassidy…” His voice is low and warm, “Will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”
The tears that well up in my eyes are not scripted. “Yes.” I manage to say, “Yes, of course!”
He stands and takes my hand, lifting it to his lips and presses them against my skin in a kiss. Then he slips the ring on my finger and, just like I suspected, it fits like it was made just for me. It fits like an engagement ring should and it sparkles.
And for a moment, I am perfectly, blissfully happy, because this is just how I imagined it. What I had never planned for was this being nothing more than a business transaction, a fake date and a fake relationship.
Cade is playing his part well, but it’s still a part. I stare at the ring, and Cade strokes my cheek and lifts my chin. Before I know what is happening, I feel his lips on mine and electricity jolts through my body. His lips feel incredible, his kiss warm, the feel of him more perfect than I ever dared to dream about. Perfect. He’s perfect.
For just a moment, everything is perfect.
CHAPTER TWO
CADE HARLOW
I’m standing in the middle of a restaurant, slipping a ring on a beautiful lady’s finger. My lips are on hers and I never expected her to taste so sweet, or so good under my tongue. Things are going smoothly, just like I planned. The date, the restaurant, the lights.
The way the ring fit her like a glove. Ellen gasps just right, her hands flying to her mouth when I pop the question. I feel a surge of satisfaction at her reaction, a surge of something like happiness, but not quite.
I have planned for every eventuality, for every change in mood, for the wine, the food and the ring. It’s perfect – as perfect as any woman could ever want. I pride myself in doing things right, in knowing what a woman wants and needs, and providing it to her, without hesitation.
I expect everything to go perfectly. What I don’t expect is for Ellen’s eyes to well up with tears. I don’t expect the emotions that flood her eyes, even as she tries to mask them. I didn’t expect, or plan, for the way she looks at her ring like it’s the most precious thing in the world.
And when she looks at me with eyes so deep you could fit whole oceans inside them, I don’t think. I just do what I do best. I pull her in and I kiss her. I make her forget about everything that’s bringing tears to her eyes – the good, the bad and the ugly. I make the kiss as perfect as I can. I put everything into it, long motions, gentle
touches, firm grasps. Everything I know she’ll want.
I make the moment perfect. Because I can promise her that the rest of our lives will be anything but. So for now, for this moment, I make things as perfect as I can.
When I finally pull away, Ellen is a little breathless and looking flushed. She is stunning tonight, absolutely stunning. Her hair is pulled up in a simple style and she looks effortlessly polished and incredibly sexy all at once. I’ve never seen her look so good, and I’m realizing more and more that I made the right choice. That this woman is right for the part. It’s a part she is playing so very well and we’re only into the first day.
I smile and take my seat opposite her, “Champagne!” I call for the waitress, a sexy little fox who knows how to swing those hips. I bet she’s incredible in bed. I glance at Ellen. The waitress might be a great lay, but I need Ellen far more – intelligent, hardworking and classy. I cannot deny that she fits the bill nicely. Also, she’s nursing a low bank account and I know she can keep a secret. Perfect.
Ellen clears her throat, “Cade… thank you.” She’s smiling and it seems disarmingly genuine.
I smirk back as if it is nothing, shrugging my shoulders, “I’m not letting you walk around with something cheap.” I chuckle, “That would not be very gentlemanly of me.”
There are many women I know who would not describe me as gentlemanly, but I need to make an effort this time around. As the waitress fusses around, finding the glasses and the bottle, I sink back further into the chair.
“I still appreciate it. It’s beautiful.” Ellen smiles, and her eyes sparkle as she takes it in. The right woman and the right jewelry… I didn’t think I was far off with my choice. Lucky for me, I was spot on.
“It’s fine.” I sit up a bit straighter as the waitress brings us our Champagne. She pops the cork with a flourish and Ellen laughs when it bubbles over. It’s a lovely sound. I suppose I could get used to it – at least for now.
Once our glasses are filled, Ellen shoots me a look.
“So… what now?” she asks, and from the hushed tone and concern on her face, I don’t suppose I’d be wrong to assume she is talking about business.
I take a sip of my drink, the bubbles lingering on my tongue, and I shrug, “We keep this up for as long as it takes to properly convince everyone.”
Ellen nods slowly, processing it, “Until after your birthday?”
I clench my jaw, feeling a little tense at the mention of it, “Yes, until after my birthday. Longer if they need more proof.”
The thought of my birthday sends tension across my shoulders. A few months ago, my world was turned upside down by the revelation that there was a catch to my trust fund. It was due to pay out when I was thirty, something that my grandmother set up to make sure I was comfortable. I thought that I was home free, until I recently got a letter detailing a few little additions.
I had to be married by the time I was thirty, or I would only get a small portion of the money and the rest would go to the trust fund managers and the other sharks in my family.
The thought makes me cringe. They won’t use it to invest in the family business, or to build it up the way I have. They would just squander it. I don’t doubt that they feel the same way about me – but that doesn’t matter. What matters, more than anything else, is making sure that I have everything sorted and in order by the time my birthday comes around. And that includes convincing everyone that I am in a relationship, about to be married.
Fake relationships don’t count and I know it.
Ellen is smiling and it is easy to see why I might fall for her. She is a lovely woman, and I have known her for several years. Sure, she has only ever cut my hair, but as is the case with most stylists, we’ve gotten to talking about a lot of things – mainly me and my life.
“Well, this should do a good job of convincing them.” She smiles and holds up her hand. The ring glints in the candle light – it really does look beautiful on her.
“I hope so.” I shrug and take another sip before raising an eyebrow. “Dessert?”
“If you’re offering.” She smirks. She doesn’t bother being coy. She doesn’t need to impress me and I kind of like that. Girls have been throwing themselves at me since high school and I have no problem taking advantage of it. Ellen’s never done that. It’s refreshing, and it helps keep things professional.
“As it so happens, I am. Try the Italian kisses. I hear they’re divine.” I murmur.
Her cheeks color and she shoots back, “I bet you’d know all about that.”
“Maybe I do. I could show you later.” Our eyes meet and she looks away quickly.
I call over the waitress. She hurries over and we order our desserts. I’m pleased when Ellen orders the Italian kisses, despite my jab. I order a tiramisu and we both grab a coffee.
Dessert is exquisite as usual and we eat it in relative silence. My worries gnaw at me, making the coffee taste a little too bitter. If this doesn’t go through, my company will plummet and I’ll be in a lot of trouble. I have a few big deals lined up, all riding on this money coming through. If it does, the family business, and my life, will flourish. If not… I sigh and take a sip of my coffee. If not, I don’t even want to think about what will happen.
I’ve worked too hard to let it happen. My grandmother’s ideals of marriage and children are not going to hold me back. I love her dearly and I honor her memory, but I’m just not cut out for a long-term relationship. I never have been and I doubt it will change. Even as I near thirty, the thought just does not appeal to me.
Ellen throws me a concerned look, “Something on your mind?”
I shrug, an easy smirk tugging at my lips. It’s best that I keep this to myself – I don’t need her thinking I’m going soft. I don’t want her to worry about our deal. “As a matter of fact, yes… you naked with my tiramisu in strategic places.”
For a moment she looks so shocked that it is all I can do not to burst out laughing. I settle for a chuckle instead. Ellen finds her voice as she glares at me, “Cade, that is… completely inappropriate!”
“Why?” I counter smoothly, “Of course, it would be inappropriate for a working relationship… but we’re engaged.”
I meet her gaze and I can see her struggling to come up with a retort to that. I press my advantage with a smile, “I suppose your previous boyfriends never said anything like this?” I look at her intently and she blushes and turns her head away.
I feel something stir within me, a feeling in my gut that I have not felt in a long while. “You’ve had boyfriends before, right?”
She throws me a dark look, “Of course I have!”
“What about sex?” I murmur, a low whisper. I know that no one else can hear, but Ellen blushes like the whole restaurant can hear.
“None of your business! Your fiancée or not.” She looks at me sharply.
I grin and drop the topic. She has told me everything that I need to know. She’s never had a man touch her – at least, not in the way I would.
My insides tighten and I feel a stirring below my belt. I have another few sips of my coffee as I consider her over the table, “Okay. None of my business.”
Ellen nods sharply, but I can tell she is relieved. She crosses her legs and I catch a glimpse of skin. I shift. It is going to be difficult to keep this strictly professional. It’s going to be very hard indeed, with a woman like this on my arm. I knew she was lovely, but I had no idea how much. Hair up in a ponytail, wearing slacks and a bleach-stained T-shirt, I had no idea how much more there was to her.
“Will you join me for a walk?” I set down my cup and Ellen looks surprised. I reassure her easily, “An after-dinner stroll. I hear the lights of the city are quite lovely from the path.” I gesture to the walkway outside.
Ellen nods and I see her relax a little, “Yes, of course.”
“Great.” I smile and call over the waitress, asking for the bill. She is prompt to bring it and I notice the thank-you note scribbled on
the bottom of the receipt. Good service. I tip her well and pay cash.
“Let me pay my half.” Ellen is rummaging in her purse. Surprise rushes through me. I am not used to going out with women who pay their own way. Ellen doesn’t have much money to spare, or so I gather, and I am surprised to see her offering.
She seems to be full of surprises. I hand over the bill to the waitress and shake my head at Ellen, “I asked you out. I proposed. I pay.” I chuckle. “It would be pretty bad of me if I asked you to marry me and couldn’t even pay for dinner.” I shrug.
Ellen is blushing as she stands up, pulling on her coat. I take a moment to admire her curves.
“Thank you, then.” She says as I stand. I wave away the waitress who is coming with the change, “Keep it. It’s yours.” She beams and I turn, offering Ellen my arm. She stares at me for a moment, as if she isn’t sure what she should be doing. Then she takes my arm like it is the most natural thing in the world and saunters out of the restaurant with me.
She really is a natural. Relief relaxes my muscles. I made the right choice. She’s going to do great and we’re going to pull this off. There’s no need for me to worry myself sick.
I smile as we step into the evening air.
CHAPTER THREE
ELLEN CASSIDY
We walk into the night and I pull my coat tighter around myself. The air is chilly, but pleasantly so and I take a deep breath. It’s clean and cool and I feel the fog from the restaurant start to lift.
The ring still glitters on my finger and I am not sure how I feel about it. A moment of euphoria, and a lingering sense that I am selling out. I glance out at the river as we near it. It’s lovely, with built-up banks and a wide, sweeping look to it. It’s really more of a creek – there’s not much to it compared to some of the bigger ones, but I think it is majestic.
Cade is staring at it too. He pauses and glances at me with a smile when he notices I am looking, “It’s stunning, isn’t it?” He continues, “It’s got nothing on you.”