by Ella Miles
I frown.
“You can’t do that.”
“I just did.”
I sigh. I should let Kade pay my hospital bills. I don’t have enough to cover them, and I don’t want to have to go to my father for this.
“Paying for your hospital bills isn’t enough though. What else can we do for you? Sebastian will do anything to make this right.”
I peek under the covers and see the brace on my foot. I wince at the black and blue covering my legs. This accident is going to ruin my running career.
“He can’t make this right. I don’t want to be near him. And I sure as hell don’t want his money.”
“Then, let me make this right,” Kade says, his head dropping a little in embarrassment.
“You did when you saved me.”
He shakes his head. “That’s not enough. I shouldn’t have let you walk home that night. You wouldn’t have been out there in the dark if I hadn’t made sure you had a ride home, instead of treating you like crap. I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you.”
Damn Kade, and his sincere apologies. His puppy dog eyes and sad face, which somehow still shows his dimples, make me want to grab his face and kiss him. Then accept his apology immediately. I restrain myself, mainly because moving that much would hurt like a motherfucker.
“Kade, I don’t—”
“Stop, I’m making this up to you. I understand you don’t want to deal with my brother, and you’re right. He doesn’t deserve to be forgiven any time soon. But let me be nice so that I can have a shot at forgiveness sometime in my lifetime.”
He grins.
And I grin.
His grin reaches his eyes when he knows he’s winning.
“I’m stubborn. I won’t take no for an answer. So you might as well start thinking of ways I can help you.”
I bite my lip, trying to stifle my smile, but it’s a useless endeavor.
“Okay.”
He tightens his grip on my hand over the covers, and I regret hiding my hand away in the first place.
“So what will it be? Money? A new car? A broken faucet that needs fixing?”
I raise an eyebrow. “You know how to fix a broken faucet?”
He shrugs. “I know how to hire a plumber.”
I shake my head. Of course, his ways of helping are to give me money. I don’t want his money, though. If I won’t take my father’s, I sure as hell am not taking a King’s money.
What do I want?
To be healed, but Kade can’t help me with that. He already covered my hospital bills.
I need a place to stay after graduation, but I don’t want to take his money.
My car could use a tune-up, but no, no money.
Graduation is coming up. I could use a new dress for the graduation party my father is throwing, so for once, I could meet his unbelievably high standards. But again, that would require Kade’s money.
My face lights up when the perfect idea creeps in. I shyly peek over at Kade. Do I have the balls to ask him this?
He’s looking at me eagerly, squeezing my hand twice, trying to coax words out of my mouth. I don’t have a choice but to ask him or come up with another way for him to pay me back, fast.
“My father is throwing me a graduation party in two weeks.”
“Isn’t that a bit early for a graduation party?”
I smirk. “Yes, but my father wants to throw it early, so he doesn’t have to cancel and be embarrassed in front of his friends on graduation day if I don’t graduate.”
“Is that a possibility? I mean…don’t answer that,” he says, his cheeks flushing. He draws his hand back and grabs his neck, like his collar is too tight, though his collar is barely brushing against his neck.
I’m not offended by his words, so I continue, forcing the words out. “Take me to my graduation party, and pretend I’m yours for the night.”
He sinks back in the chair next to my bed, like I pushed this conversation too far. But of course, I did. I asked Kade King to pretend to be mine for a night. It would ruin his reputation in Santa Barbara. If any of the wealthy women that run this town saw Kade King with me, the drama it would cause would never end. He can’t go on a date with me. Even if it might be the only thing to make the disappointment in my father’s eyes disappear.
“You mean, be your date for the night?” he asks.
I bite my lip again, considering not saying the next words, but I’m committed now. “No, I mean, pretend I’m your girlfriend for the night. It has to be more than just a date.”
Kade’s eyes narrow as he searches mine for the truth. For why I need him to pretend I’m his girlfriend. But he isn’t going to find the truth. If he pretends to be my boyfriend, he might get answers. It would take him five minutes in my father’s presence to figure out why I need him. But if he says no, he’ll never know the reason for my embarrassment.
The silence stretches, and I can’t take it any longer. If he wants to say no, he needs to say it and stop toying with my emotions.
“I understand,” I say, but I can’t continue. He should go.
“I’ll pretend you’re mine for as long as you want,” he says, with a wink.
I chuckle. “The one night will be enough.” I peer at his cocky grin and blush. I hope one night is enough.
5
Kade
Larkyn thinks I’m an ass. She has no idea how amazing I can be as a boyfriend. I’m about to blow her mind.
I’m supposed to meet her at her parent’s house for the graduation party they are throwing for her. Not happening. If I were her boyfriend, I wouldn’t be meeting her anywhere. I would pick her up in one of my fancy cars, and drive her around proudly. So that’s what I’m doing. If I’m going to pretend she’s mine, I’m doing this right.
Shortly after noon, I park the car outside the apartment building she shares with Serena. Thank god I got Serena’s number while waiting for Larkyn to wake up in the hospital. She told me where Larkyn lives, so I’m able to pull this off. I haven’t talked to Larkyn in two weeks, since she woke up in the hospital. My throat feels dry just thinking about what condition she’s going to be in. The last time I saw her, she was beaten up, broken. All I could focus on was her bruises and pain. I can’t imagine that two weeks will have changed much. She may even need crutches or a wheelchair to get around.
I run up the stairs to their floor, holding the flowers in my hand with a smirk on my face. I thought Larkyn would want me to do something horrible to pay her back. Like, perform at a gay strip club. Or dress in drag. Something creative. Instead, when she said she wanted me to claim her as mine, it was like she granted my wish. She gave me an excuse to put my hands on her. To kiss her. Worship her. And I plan on cashing in on that excuse all night long.
I knock on the door with my smug grin, knowing that this simple gesture is sure to earn me big points with Larkyn.
The door opens, and instead of the smile I’m expecting, she frowns.
“What are you doing here? I told you to meet me at my house.”
I roll my eyes. One thing I’m learning about Larkyn is she likes things her way. If she’s going to be mine for the night, she needs to learn to let go, because I like doing things my way. And that includes bringing her flowers and driving her to the party.
I hold out the flowers, and she reluctantly takes the roses, unable to hide her growing smile behind the dark red flowers.
“You’re my girlfriend for the night. If anyone saw us show up separately, the ruse would be ruined before the night even started.”
She sighs. “You’re right.”
I grin. I like her saying I’m right. I finally take in her appearance. Her flawless skin is wrapped in a deep blue sundress that flares out at her hips and gives her just enough cleavage. I might have overdressed a little in my dark grey suit complete with a tie, but it doesn’t matter. I’m sure she wants me as her date to make an ex-boyfriend jealous. Being more dressed up than everyone else will make my job easier.
&n
bsp; My smile drops. Her skin is flawless. I don’t see a bruise or a cut. Either she heals quickly, or she’s wearing a ton of makeup. It was hard for me to look at her before when she was in the hospital. Not because the bruises and cuts made her appear ugly, but because they reminded me of my role in her suffering.
I glance down at her hands grasping the flowers, then dart down quickly to the heels on both of her feet. No cast or brace on either. No crutches. No wheelchair. I might believe the bruises healed enough to be covered in makeup in two weeks, but I know there is no way her wrist or ankle healed this quickly. The doctors said it would be weeks or months before the braces could come off, and even then it would be a long road of training and exercises before she was back to her old self.
She takes a step back, motioning me inside, and then curses as her ankle gives out in her heals. I grab her hips, keeping her upright.
“Are you supposed to be wearing heels right now? I thought your doctors said to wear your braces for a few more weeks?”
“She’s supposed to be using her braces. But she’s a stubborn ass that won’t listen to anyone,” Serena says, taking the roses from Larkyn’s hands and storming into the kitchen to put them in a vase.
Larkyn half frowns, half grimaces from the pain. “I’m not going to my graduation party and letting everyone stare at me in the braces.”
I narrow my eyes, not understanding why it would matter if she were wearing her braces or not. Surely, everyone would understand she is still healing from an accident that wasn’t her fault.
“That’s because they would ask questions since you haven’t—” Serena stops when Larkyn shoots daggers her way with her eyes.
I look between the two women, even more confused at what’s going on.
Larkyn continues inside, and I keep my hands on her waist, afraid she is going to hurt herself. It also gives me an excuse to be touching her.
“You should at least wear flats, those heels look dangerous,” I say, staring at the high spikes on her feet.
Larkyn glares at me with a growl that tells me to shut the hell up.
I grin. I like that look.
“No, she should wear her braces,” Serena says.
“Will you two stop? It’s my choice. I feel fine. I’m not used to walking in heels, but after wearing them a few more minutes, I’ll be used to them.” She shakes my hands off her body as she storms over to the kitchen to pick up her purse and throw the strap over her head to cross her body. Her purse is a light tan color, not flashy, like Larkyn.
She stomps past me, without a word to Serena or me, merely an evil glare.
“Have fun!” Serena shouts from the kitchen. Then she looks at me. “Don’t keep your hands off her. Larkyn’s stubborn. She won’t tell you she’s in pain and she is in agony since she stopped taking her pain medications almost immediately after she got home. And she couldn’t walk in heels before; she definitely can’t now.”
My eyes turn to the sassy woman strutting out of the apartment, her ass swaying making her flowy dress swoosh side to side as she walks. I much prefer the dress she was wearing the other night that hugged her body a little too snugly. This one makes her look as innocent as she is. This one will force me to behave like a gentleman, instead of the cocky bastard, I want to be.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be able to keep my hands off her,” I say, winking at Serena who is smiling, amused.
Shit. I may have just given her the wrong impression about what my intentions are with Larkyn. I won’t fuck her. I won’t hurt her. I’m paying back my debt to her, that’s it.
I need to talk to Serena on her own and explain things. And also receive some advice on how to convince Larkyn to take my money.
I chase after Larkyn as she reaches the stairs. Of course, she decided to skip taking the elevator. She’s a wreck walking on a flat surface. I can’t imagine how she is on the stairs.
I reach her as she is taking her first step down and hold out my elbow to her, like I’m escorting her down the stairs at some grand ball.
“What are you doing?” she asks, her body tense as if she might slug me.
“I’m being a good date. Now shut up and stop asking me that.”
“You don’t have to pretend until we arrive at the party. For now, can’t we just be us? Friendly toward each other and nothing more?”
“No.”
I grab her hand and place it on mine. I only get one day with her. I’m not wasting a second of it being friendly toward her.
She sighs but lets me help her down the stairs under the illusion I’m doing this because I’m pretending she’s my date, instead of it being necessary to ensure she doesn’t hurt herself.
I lead her to my McLaren, and she smirks when it comes into view.
“You couldn’t pick me up in something nicer than this piece of trash?” she asks teasingly.
I smile. “Sorry, next time I’ll pick you up in my horse and carriage, princess.”
That earns me a smile, and I never want her to stop smiling. The smile reaches her deep eyes and makes the blonde in her hair shine. Her cheeks blush enough to be noticeable, but not so much that she appears embarrassed. Just happy. I haven’t seen this look on her. I like it.
I open the door and help her inside, hating that I have to drop her warm hand to run around to the driver’s side. I hop in quickly and throw my arm around her shoulders as I start driving toward the address she texted me to meet her at.
Her body tenses when I throw my arm over her shoulders. But she doesn’t say anything. Maybe she’ll finally give up, and try to enjoy herself a little. She might like being mine if she let herself benefit from the perks.
Her fingers fidget with the hem of her dress as I turn on the highway. I swear I hear her heartbeat speed to hummingbird levels. Her breathing catches in her throat. And her face turns pale white.
“What’s wro—shit,” I curse when I realize what’s wrong. This is the same highway where my idiot brother ran her over and almost killed her.
I turn off at the next exit, almost running over a minivan, as she squeezes her eyes shut and grabs for anything to brace herself with. She finds my hand. And she grips it, as if she were to let go, she’d float away and get sucked up by a black hole.
My hand hurts like a bitch, but there is no way I would ever let her stop holding it. Never. I want her tiny hand gripping mine. I would take this over any of my usual daily activities in a heartbeat.
I pull the car over to the side of the road as she takes several deep breaths and stares out the windshield. Her grip slowly loosens, but I tighten my hand around hers, letting her know I’m not going anywhere.
Seconds pass. Or minutes. I don’t know.
But finally, she turns her attention from staring at the field in front of us to me. Her big eyes are swollen as if she might cry, but won’t let herself.
“I didn’t realize how much driving on that road would affect me.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I should have driven a different route.”
She shakes her head. “I would have said you were crazy for taking a longer route when this was the most direct way. I’m stubborn like that. You would have driven on the highway, and only then would I have realized my mistake. I’m glad I was with someone the first time, instead of driving myself when the panic attack hit.”
I grin, and reach over to her body, pulling her into my arms so I can hug her. She lets me. Exhaling another breath, this one goes deeper than her previous breaths, now that I’m holding her.
She gently leans back in her seat, and I reluctantly lean back in mine. But I still hold her hand, dammit. I’m not letting go.
“I’m better now. We should go if we want to make it to the party on time,” she says, her voice steady.
I nod and start driving. “You’re going to have to give me directions. I don’t know how to go anyway but the highway.”
“Keep going straight. I’ll tell you when to turn.”
I do as she s
ays, and the silence stretches out between us. It’s not uncomfortable, but I don’t want her thinking too much about what just happened.
“Tell me about yourself,” I say.
She raises an eyebrow and makes a face like that’s the worst thing I’ve ever suggested.
I laugh and bring her hand to my lips and kiss the top of it without thinking.
Her teeth rake over her bottom lip as she tries to pretend she didn’t enjoy the simple kiss on her hand. But she did. She shivered when my lips touched her skin.
“I should know something about you if I’m going to pretend I’m your boyfriend for the day. What if someone asks me what your favorite food is or if you prefer red or white wine and I don’t know the answer?”
She scrunches her face as she thinks a moment. “I rarely drink, but usually red wine, I guess, if I was going to choose. I don’t have a favorite food either, and trust me, no one will ask. The basics are I go to UC Santa Barbara, and I’m graduating in two weeks with a business degree with a minor in finance. My best friend is Serena. I’ve lived with her all four years of college. We moved into the apartment last year. I love running. That’s what I spend most of my time doing. And I teach yoga classes at the YMCA. And I don’t bring guys home ever. So be ready for everyone to be shocked as hell at the sight of you.”
She eyes me brightly with a goofy smile.
I blink rapidly, trying to take everything in. Except, all I can focus is on one thing. “How can you not have a favorite food? It’s not possible. My favorite things are sex and pizza. Preferably together, but I’ll take them separately.”
She bursts into laughter. Most of the women I’ve dated, I’ve hated their laughs. Not Larkyn’s, though. I love her laugh. It’s not too high-pitched. It’s not pretty either. She doesn’t laugh while trying to bat her eyelashes at me or hide some of it to keep it feminine. Her laugh is deep and glorious.
“Sorry, I’m just imagining Harlow with cheese and marinara all over her body. And her annoyed face when some of the sauce reached into her hair. It made my day to think of her like that.”