“Okay,” she said. “You going to see Betzy today?”
Anticipation revved within him. “Yep. She asked me to show up at the clubhouse naked, but I told her I didn’t think that was appropriate.”
“Ah. Right.”
“I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“Okay. Maybe we can do dinner sometime this week here at the house. You bring Betzy. I’ll bring Ted?”
Sawyer gulped. “Let me test things out today. I’ll let you know.”
Mom leaned along the doorframe and sighed. “Well, see you in a while.”
“Have a nice workout,” he said.
Sawyer wasted no time getting laced up and hitting the streets. Even in the daylight, signs of Christmas were everywhere. Holly berry wrapped around street lamps. Porches decorated with antique sleds, fake snowmen, and stuffed Santas. He wondered how Betzy might decorate her front porch. She owned a home of her own now. Did it hold candles and potted chrysanthemums for the season?
She always did have good taste.
Similar musings went through his mind as Sawyer headed to the clubhouse. He went early, met Duke there for a round of golf before lunch, and somehow made it through the entire game without telling Duke he was meeting up with his sister.
“Let’s do golf again before you take off, man,” Duke said while closing his locker door. He eyed his man-bun in the mirror. “Or we can go out for a drink. Pick up on a few chicks…”
Sawyer’s gaze shot to a group of men headed toward the other side of the locker room before settling back on Duke. “Yeah. Sounds good.”
“When you moving back here anyway? I thought this whole New York thing was supposed to be temporary.”
Sawyer tipped his head as he considered that.
“I know Betzy would be happy if you moved back. I think she’s secretly hoping that little marriage contract you guys put together holds firm.”
The laugh Sawyer managed came out forced, but that’s only because there were fireworks going off in his chest. A premature celebration at Duke’s words.
“You think so?”
Duke rolled his neck. “Totally.”
“Hmm…”
A buzzing sounded, and Duke put up a hand as he reached into his pocket. “I better get that. I’ll be in touch.”
“Sounds good.” Sawyer hadn’t wanted to get his hopes up, but it was too late for that now. What if, in some roundabout way, Betzy actually wanted to discuss that contract? He could hear it now: Remember that little arrangement we drew up twenty years back? Well, you’re twenty-eight, I’m twenty-eight, and we’re both still single…
Calm down, man. Sawyer glanced at his watch, realized he had time to swing by the gift shop if he hurried. Maybe he’d show up wearing that turtleneck after all. It’d been far too long since he’d heard the sound of Betzy’s laugh. And there was no better feeling than knowing he was the one who’d earned it.
The clubhouse did not disappoint. Sawyer opted for the men’s charcoal turtleneck, the famous crest stitched into the upper right side. Perfect.
Another glance at his watch said it was twelve o’clock on the dot. Quickly, he made his way toward the cabanas, flashing his membership card as he checked in. Soon he’d know exactly what Betzy had on her mind. If it wasn’t what he hoped it would be—and he should face it now, it probably wasn’t—he’d be disappointed. But either way, Sawyer knew this was the year to make his move.
Go right ahead, came that inner voice. Get ready for rejection. It was the same voice that tormented Sawyer year after year. Still not enough money. Still not enough success. Still not enough to score a woman like Betzy Benton.
After the incident with his father, Sawyer had convinced himself that he’d simply jumped the gun. If he’d have waited until he was a little older, the guy might have been interested in meeting him.
Heck, they could’ve become friends. Hung out. Grabbed a couple of drinks. Sawyer had spent years scrutinizing the school photo he’d given him. Of course he rejected the awkward adolescent in that picture—some freckled kid with big teeth and overgrown hair. Why had Sawyer picked that year to grow it out anyway?
As time passed, he found himself wanting to send the guy a list of his recent accomplishments.
What do you think about these? Am I good enough now?
It was no wonder he’d tortured himself over this whole thing with Betzy.
But now was his time to silence that voice.
No more waiting around as the years ticked by without her. Sawyer had known what he wanted since he was eight years old. This time, he’d make his move, ready or not.
Chapter 7
Private cabana number three offered the quintessential view of serenity. An infinity pool that seemed to go on for miles. Palm trees swaying in the distance. Music strategically selected to allow for a peaceful, quality experience.
But even still, Betzy was anything but calm. Two opposing emotions warred within her as she waited for Sawyer to show. She pulled in a soothing breath and pictured what the next few minutes of her life would look like: I’m about to ask Sawyer Kingsley to be my fake fiancé. That fact was enough to twist her nerves into one massive train wreck.
When she let the idea resonate, her palms broke out in sweat, her heart pounded itself into a frenzy, and her throat dried up, which forced her to take yet another sip of her iced tea. Poor Phillip, her cabana attendant, had already refilled it twice.
To counter the unpleasant emotion, Betzy tried to stick with a different focus: Daisy. And poof, the nerves were gone. Magically replaced with something quite different: fury.
But the fury came with a physical backlash all its own—chest tightening, fist squeezing, and jaw clenching until it hurt. And while those weren’t great side effects, they came with a tempting promise of something she really wanted—revenge.
Daisy’s article would be made irrelevant in one hot media flash. Boom! And there’d be no avoiding it. No pulling the magazines off every grocery store stand and digital shelf. It would be out there for all to see, proof that Slipper Magazine wasn’t as “slipper-stealthy” as they thought.
That reassurance brought with it an emotion all it’s own. Excitement. Betzy could not wait to put Daisy in her place.
“Your guest is here, Ms. Benton.”
Betzy spun to glance over her shoulder, but a simple glance wasn’t enough. She almost didn’t recognize the clubhouse merchandise he sported. Mainly because the twill turtleneck had never ever looked so good.
Sawyer’s eyes scanned over the LA landscape, wandered across the table, and then settled on her at last.
Holy gorgeousness!
Sure, she’d stared at his bachelor spread at least four dozen times in the last twenty-four hours, but seeing him up close and personal was an experience all its own. One that had become increasingly impressive over the years.
That jaw was chiseled out of god-marble. Was that a thing? And he had the most attractive smolder when he squinted against the sunlight. Those hazel eyes slightly narrowed, making him look so serious.
Betzy came to a stand as he rounded the table, and watched as his face transformed from that brooding expression to a full and glorious grin. Yep, that killer smile still had the same effect.
A flash of heat flared in her face. Chills rippled up her arms. Heaven help her.
She smiled in return as he came in for a hug. He smelled incredible. A spicy, heavenly scent that reminded her of all of his masculine qualities. The things that had set them apart since they were young.
He was the one to squish the spiders when the eight-legged things got into the house. He’d always been the one to jump into the lake at the cabin to test out the water for her. And best of all, he’d been the one to take her by the hips, hoist her onto that barrel, and give her a mind-blowing, life-changing kiss she’d never forget.
“Hi,” she said softly. Their embrace was caught between formal and familiar. Each using the same approach: one arm wrapping around the
shoulder, the other coming in lower around the waist. But then Sawyer kicked things up a notch (as if she weren’t already rattled enough) by rubbing his scruff-covered jaw against her cheek. “It’s good to see you.” He kissed her cheek, and her pulse spiked into oblivion.
“It’s good to see you too,” she said. But suddenly, she wasn’t so sure that it was. This all seemed so easy for him. Mr. New York’s Most Eligible Bachelor. For all she knew, he could be juggling ten girls at once back home. And here she was, unattached, and waiting for him to move back home and decide that he wanted her?
“You look beautiful,” Sawyer said as he held the back of her chair; he must have waved off the attendant.
“Thank you.” She lowered herself back into the seat.
“I’ll be back momentarily with the menus,” Phillip announced, stepping back into her line of view with a nod.
“Thank you,” Betzy said before shifting her gaze back to Sawyer. “I’m starting to wonder why we didn’t have you model for the clubhouse catalog. Those turtlenecks would sell like hotcakes, the Los Angeles warmth aside.”
Another grin. “You’re flattering me again. I like it.”
She chuckled, and suddenly the tightness in her muscles relaxed a bit. As much as the chemistry between them put her in knots, Sawyer’s easy manner and playful ways made Betzy feel right at home.
“So,” Sawyer said, resting his forearms on the table’s edge. “What’s new?”
Talk about fireballs in her chest. The right-at-homeness took flight. It was a full-on explosion as she considered saying what she’d planned to say. Keep your emotions out of it. This is business.
“Well,” she said, reaching for her iced tea once more. She’d need a potty break very soon. “I’ve got a proposal for you.”
Chapter 8
A proposal.
The word sank like a rock in Sawyer’s gut as he took in Betzy and all her beauty. That gorgeous auburn hair accenting her flawless skin. Cheeks that glowed when she smiled. Eyes that let off an unmatched kindness, unique in the world of high society and big money.
“Okay,” he encouraged with a nod. “Let’s hear it.”
“So you were featured in Slipper Magazine’s November issue. Now, they plan to feature me in their next one.”
He lifted a brow. If the magazine wanted to feature the most eligible bachelorettes in the LA area, Betzy would definitely be at the top of that list. It made Sawyer feel one giant step further from gaining her affections. How many more men would be in the running?
“But it’s not anything like yours,” she assured. Her cheeks grew pink as her gaze dropped. Sawyer followed the action, watching as she ran a finger along the linen tablecloth. Back and forth.
“There are a ton of wealthy women out there who never got married,” she said, casting him a quick glance before dropping her gaze once more.
Sawyer gave her an encouraging nod, wondering where the confident woman he knew had gone off to.
“Anyway,” she continued with a shrug. “The article lists common characteristics of those women, calling them spinsters, which is evil, and then it goes on to show how at least one billionaire bachelorette is destined to wind up on that list as well.”
A rash of angry heat flared in his chest. “Not you,” he said, tone low and even.
She looked up. “It is me. I saw it for myself.”
Sawyer slapped a hand on the table, causing the glasses to tremble and shake. “That is rich.” Seemed as if her rivalry with Daisy Shay was worse than he thought. Her family ran the magazine, after all.
“She really has it out for you,” he said.
Betzy nodded, her shoulders lifting suddenly. “Right? Can you believe that?”
“No, as a matter of fact, I can’t. We’ve got to do something.” Adrenaline raced through him from his shoulders to his toes. He fought the urge to shoot out of the chair and pace.
“That’s exactly why I texted you,” Betzy said.
Sawyer held her gaze. “What do you have in mind?”
She bit her lip, shut her eyes for a long blink, and shook her head with a laugh. “I can’t believe I’m asking you this.” She licked her lips next, blew out a pursed breath, and covered her mouth with one hand.
“What is it?” he urged. “Betzy, you know you can ask me anything.” Heck, he’d dreamt of slaying dragons for this girl nearly half of his life. She’d just never had any dragons she couldn’t slay on her own.
But was that about to change? He leaned further onto the table.
Betzy held his gaze as hints of that dimple appeared in one cheek. “Would you be willing to…”
“To what?” The laugh coating the word bordered on madness.
“To be my fiancé?”
Sawyer gulped.
“Just for show,” she added. “In time for the article to come out?”
The choppy delivery of that question made him pause. “You want us to pretend we’re getting married?”
“If you don’t want to, or you’re dating someone, or you’d rather not deal with all of this—”
“Of course.”
“Of course, what?”
“Of course, I’ll do it,” he assured.
“ You will? You’ll do it?” At once Betzy was off of her seat and circling around to him. Sawyer stood up in time to receive a hug that felt very different from the one he’d gotten a moment ago.
Anticipation buzzed through his blood.
This was his chance.
This was his dragon.
This was his way to win Betzy’s heart once and for all. He couldn’t help but think back on the conversation he’d overheard between Betzy and her mom years ago. If the woman hadn’t changed her tune yet, perhaps this would help. “We’ll make them sorry they ever dared to mess with Betzy Benton,” he promised.
Betzy squeezed him tighter before stepping away. “That’s right,” she cheered. “Oh my gosh, thank you! I can’t believe you’re actually on board.”
As Betzy made her way back to her seat, their attendant entered the cabana once more.
“Your menus,” he said. “Press the signal once you’re ready to order and I’ll be at your service.”
“Thank you,” Sawyer said with a nod. He rested the menu on the table, figuring they’d order once business was through.
“So, if we’re going to do this, we’ve got to do it right. Do you have a plan?”
A dimple-flashing grin spread over her face. “Absolutely.”
There was the Betzy he knew. Confident. Poised. Ready to take on the world. She produced an oversized bag and pulled out a notebook. After a quick glance over her shoulder, Betzy set it on the table for him to see.
Sawyer flinched at the harsh appearance of angry strokes in thick, red ink. He smiled as he read the first item on her list. #1 Ask Sawyer to propose to me.
He tapped it with one finger. “Check.”
She grinned shyly, the pink returning to her cheeks.
He set his eyes back on the list. The second one mentioned a public appearance. Yes, they’d have to be seen once or twice to make it convincing. And then he got to number three. “Your Grandma Lo isn’t in on it?”
Betzy shook her head adamantly. “She’ll never approve of it.”
Never approve of it or never approve of him?
“Grandma Lo worries everything will turn into a scandal,” Betzy explained.
“But your mom’s okay with it?” The question was heavier than Sawyer wanted to admit. A sharp ache grew in his gut as he waited for her reply.
“My mom likes to play dirty. It’s what usually sets us apart, but in this case…”
Sawyer tried not to get stuck on her response, but it didn’t do much to put his mind at ease. If anything, it seemed they were in a predicament, the whole desperate times called for desperate measures type of thing.
Measures as desperate as having your daughter accept a proposal from the housemaid’s son. Sure, that housemaid was one of Claudia Benton�
�s closest friends, but that didn’t, in the world of known names and big money, make Sawyer a worthy candidate for her daughter.
At once, Duke’s offer shot to his mind. “You should probably tell your brothers. I just golfed with Duke. He asked me to go grab some drinks with him, pick up a few chicks while I was here.”
Betzy’s face scrunched up.
“His words,” he assured, “not mine. Anyway, I say we tell our families. If your grandma won’t go along with it, we’ll work on convincing her.”
She nodded. “We won’t be able to tell my mom’s boyfriend either. Matthew would never go along with it. But he’ll be easy. My grandma will be tougher since the two of us are so close.”
She shifted her gaze to look over the view, her gorgeous blue eyes reflecting the pool and sky and all their glory. And for a moment, it hurt to look at her. Hurt with a longing that might never be met. With a passion he might never fulfill. And with a determination to help this woman whether she felt the same or not.
“I think with my grandma…” Betzy said, her brow furrowed in concentration, “we’ll have to say that, you know, we’ve been flirting off and on while you were gone. And that when you came back this time, we had lunch…” She waved a hand toward him. “And just hit it off.”
Sawyer managed a smile. “Okay.”
“Or,” she blurted, “maybe we say that we told each other how we really felt months ago, but this is the first time we’ve been able to, you know, act out on it.”
Heat flared low in his belly. “That would probably be more convincing, since I’m going to propose before the month’s through.”
Betzy laughed. “Right.”
“So,” he asked. “This is kind of our first semi-public appearance?”
Betzy glanced at the guests spread out on sun chairs below. The others who stood up to the bar having drinks. “Anyone who tried hard enough could see us together up here, so sure,” she said with a nod.
Her Best Friend Fake Fiancé Page 6