Overlooked

by Lulu Pratt

  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.”

  “That’s cliché.” I shoot back, but I am blushing, warmth spreading from my cheeks to my toes. The night is magical and his words strike a core within me. I still feel a little dizzied from the evening, which feels like it passed in a whirlwind.

  A laugh bubbles up in my chest, surprising me. Cade looks at me curious and I shrug, “You proposed on the first date.”

  “I was enraptured by you and I just happen to keep a spare ring on hand.”

  I laugh, a genuine one, and shake my head, “So you only date girls with my ring size?”

  Cade nods, “It’s an absolute deal breaker if you’re any other size.”

  I smile and the walk lulls into a comfortable, pleasant silence. I realize that I am still holding his arm, but it seems too late to pull away. So I just breathe in the river, the water, and the lights that glitter from the city.

  It’s magical. This would have been the perfect evening, if not for the nagging doubt that I am being a complete sell out. I’m doing Cade a favor and he’s doing me one in return. We both have our reasons. I know his and I’m not sure whether or not he knows mine.

  He needs to be married before he turned thirty, or he won’t inherit the money from his trust fund. I smile, remembering the conversation that happened as I cut his hair. He had been worried about it – I could tell, even through the easy confidence. As a joke, I had recommended he just fake a marriage, fake a relationship to make it through.

  Cade had jumped at the idea and I soon found myself being propositioned. I would pretend to be in a serious relationship with him – possibly even marry him (for a little while), and he would compensate me by paying me serious money.

  “You seem lost in thought.” Cade glances at me.

  I shrug, “It’s been a bit of a crazy day, don’t you think?”

  “Pretty average.” He teases.

  I laugh and shake my head, “That’s one hell of an ‘average’ life you’ve got there.”

  “You know it.”

  We lapse into silence again and I am happy to let it happen. I have to let all this happen, after all. I need the money, even though he doesn’t know it. Sure, he realizes that I’m not making top dollar in my job, but there are medical bills mounting for my brother, an aging mother who cannot possibly do it all herself, a lifelong dream of opening my own salon and helping them all.

  My stomach twists. I have to make this convincing. Cade is relying on me and so is my family. There is no room for being coy, no room for error. I glance at Cade. It shouldn’t be hard. He’s easy on the eye, wealthy and everything a girl should want. Sure he’s a flirt and I want to strangle him when he asks too personal questions, but I can make this work. I have to.

  I bite my lip. It’s not easy to pretend we’re in a relationship, when I’ve never been in a relationship that was even close to as serious as this fake one. I blush. Cade kissed me with more passion in a relationship that is totally made up than expected, more than any other man has in the past.

  I hurry to find something to say, something to cover the way I have started blushing, “What else do we have to do to prove this?” I look at him curiously.

  Cade sighs and tilts his head back to stare at the stars, “We might have a few meetings to attend, a couple of legal signings – that kind of thing.” He glances at me, “You don’t have to attend, but it would be good if you did.”

  “Be the supportive fiancée, I guess?” I smile.

  Cade nods, “Yes, and you can guarantee that they will send people in to check up on our relationship, to prove that it’s real.” He shakes his head and I can see the disgust in his eyes at the thought. “Sharks, the lot of them.”

  I nod and decide now is not a great time to bring up the fact that this is a fake relationship, and they would be right to have their suspicions. I keep my mouth shut and idly muse that I’m already getting better at reading him, fake relationship or not.

  We approach the bridge and Cade leads us onto it. I smile as the glittering lights reflect off the water. It’s heavenly. It’s beautiful and I sigh. This might all be fake, and I might have my own motives, but there’s no denying that it’s an experience being on Cade’s arm.

  He’s cha
rming and driven and knows how to treat a lady. No wonder he has a new one on his arm every week. He probably has a new girl on his arm every couple of days, if I am being honest. That would make me his longest relationship. The thought makes me chuckle and I shake my head when he throws me a curious look.

  I realize that I have still not let go of his arm and I smile, realizing that I am not in much of a mood to do so. We need to be convincing, after all.

  “Let me know when they schedule any meetings and I’ll try to get off work.”

  He nods, looking concerned, “It might be short notice. Do you have to pay your replacement if you give short notice?”

  I nod, “Yes, that’s the standard rule, unless it’s sick leave.”

  Cade nodded, “Well, I’ll cover any expenses, okay? We need this to go smoothly, so just let me know what you need.”

  I smile and nod, relief bubbling up inside me. I laugh, “Well, in that case, I need a shopping trip.” I tease.

  “Done.” He stops, riffling through his wallet and handing me a credit card. He scribbles down the pin code and hands it over to me.

  “Cade.” I blush, embarrassed, “I didn’t mean you had to…” I trail off.

  “Just try not to spend thousands. If you need something for the meeting, don’t hesitate to grab it. You’re my fiancée, after all.”

  I stand there, feeling awkward as I clutch his card in my hand. Eventually, I tuck it into my purse and shut it firmly, “Okay… but I’m not going crazy with it.”

  Cade smiles and looks me over, “No, I don’t suppose you would.”

  I wonder if he’s given anyone else a card, if any other woman has had access to his funds, or knows his life story as well as I do. I don’t think we’re close, but being someone’s stylist means you learn things. It strikes me that he may be trying to get me on his good side, so that I have no reason to rat him out.

  I realize that I have a lot of the power here, even though he holds the money. One word to the trust fund and it’s all over for him. But then, that would mean it would be all over for me too, and I’m not that silly. Besides, he’s an arrogant womanizer, but he’s never been anything but nice to me, even though he can drive me nuts. I have no reason to try to hurt him. As long as we keep this professional, there’s no reason to worry.