by Remy, Cate
“It doesn’t sound so bad.”
Max made a face before turning to go to the auto shop. He didn’t take a sharp turn this time. “They own the land on Teak Ridge Drive where my dad wanted the hospital to be built. They won’t sell it to me unless I show intent to marry and start a family. This is where you come in by acting like my high school sweetheart. The small-town, romantic spiel appeals to them.”
Angie didn’t like his snarky attitude and critique of the business partners. She didn’t know them, but what was so wrong with men who placed priority on their families? “You want me to lie and pretend we’re engaged so you can buy a plot of land?”
“It’s a solid offer. It would only be for six months, tops.”
“Half a year is a long time.”
“Might be sooner if I play my cards right. I’ve been known to get things done fast.”
She hooded her eyes. Was this the part where she was supposed to be impressed by his business savvy?
Max must’ve seen her expression. He moved on. “All you have to do is attend functions and act like my fiancée in public.” He yielded for an elderly pedestrian out walking her miniature Schnauzer. “I forgot to ask. You aren’t married, are you?”
Angie rubbed the side of her neck. “No, but I have a seven year-old son.”
“Great. They have grandkids his age.”
“I don’t want Raymond involved in something shady like this. He needs stability in his life.”
“You don’t have to bring him to events if you don’t want to.”
There was a relief. After Raymond’s father walked out on her before her son was born, the last thing she wanted to do was expose him to a world of corporate wheelers and dealers. “I’m not trying to be nosy, but why not ask someone else from high school? Didn’t you date a couple cheerleaders during your senior year?”
“They got married or moved after graduation.”
“I see. You need a hometown girl and you’re experiencing a shortage.”
“Angie, if you agree to pretend we’re engaged, I’ll pay you one hundred and ten.”
“Dollars?” She got insulted. It didn’t sound like much at all for what he was asking her to do for six months.
“Grand.”
She held onto the donuts when he made an unexpected turn. One hundred and ten thousand dollars was a whole lot of money, far more than what she made at the auto shop. She’d have to work years to match the sum, and she didn’t have any permanent job prospects lined up. Most of the garages and auto body shops in Harper had closed down or relocated closer to Atlanta.
“Do you like fixing cars for a living?”
“I like tinkering under the hood, but I wish it paid more of the bills, if that’s what you mean,” she admitted. “I take care of my son and my grandmother. She broke her hip a month ago.”
Max parked the car in front of the auto shop. “So do we have a deal?” He cut to the heart of what he wanted. He didn’t even care to hear about how her grandmother was doing. Why did her brother ever hang out with such a self-absorbed guy?
“I’d have to quit seeking work as a mechanic, right?”
He shook his head. “Not if you don’t want to. In fact, if you keep your job, people will see your strong work ethic. It doesn’t get much more hometown proud than that.”
And Angie thought she could be pretty sarcastic. “You put a lot of thought into this, haven’t you?”
He smirked a little. “I didn’t make my father’s med supply company go global without using my head once or twice.”
“What happens after you get the land for the hospital?”
“You’ll be my fiancée until all the paperwork is in and I break ground at the hospital site. Afterwards, we’ll quietly end the engagement. I’ll keep managing my company’s headquarters in Atlanta. You can resume your life here in Harper.”
He made it sound neat enough. She couldn’t believe she was considering his plan. She had one last question. “What else has to change? My son and I live with my grandmother in the house I grew up in.”
“You can continue to live with her. The more wholesome we appear as a couple, the better.”
“Good, because I’m not shacking up with you, even if it is just pretend.”
Max drew his eyebrows together. “Do you agree to my offer?”
Angie bit her lip, thinking. “Until you get the land and break ground. That’s it.”
“Perfect.” He held out his hand for her to shake. “I’ll have my attorney drop by your house with the documents to sign tomorrow morning.”
Angie shook his hand before getting out of the car. Max drove away. Yesterday he left her with a one hundred dollar tip. Today he left her with a box of donuts and an offer worth one hundred and ten thousand bucks. Just what was she getting herself into?
Chapter Three
The next day, Angie dropped Raymond off at school. She received a text from her grandmother’s physical therapy clinic, saying the senior van came and picked her up for her session. She returned to the house to see a grey Lincoln Navigator parked outside along the curb. Rob, Max’s attorney, got out as soon as she went into the driveway.
“Glad I caught you. Max forgot to ask for your number so I could call first and let you know I was on the way.”
“He remembered my address, though.”
“Actually, I found it when he told me your name. Your grandmother still has it listed.”
“Oh.”
Rob had a portfolio under the arm of his suit jacket. “This won’t take long.”
Angie unlocked the door to the house and sat down with him in the living room. He unzipped the portfolio and spread several documents on the coffee table. “This is the official version of what you and Max agreed to yesterday. It spells out the terms of the engagement. Up to six months, you agree to go to all functions and business dealings according to his discretion. You’ll claim to be his fiancée to business associates, family, and the media.”
She took her gaze away from the white sea of dead trees splattered with black ink. “Media? I thought this was a local thing. Max wants to get the deed for land in town.”
Rob didn’t even blink. “Of course, but Max has connections in Atlanta and abroad. Once his engagement is announced, they’ll hear about it.”
Once it’s announced, not if. Angie got a sinking feeling in her gut. She didn’t tell her grandmother about her new gig as a fake fiancée yet. She still hadn’t thought of a way to break the news to her or Raymond. Better think of one soon. She was about to sign the contract.
Rob gave her a pen. She signed her name next to the little arrow-shaped labels affixed to the dotted lines. Max’s signature was already on the pages.
The attorney had her sign two copies. He gathered them in his portfolio. “I’ll have these notarized and get your copy mailed. Max wants to see you tonight at the Kleghorn. He’s meeting with the businessmen over dinner.”
“Tonight?” Things were moving faster than she anticipated. “What should I wear?”
He wrinkled his nose at her t-shirt and distressed jeans. “Not what you have on. I have your dress in the car.”
Rob went outside and came back in with a garment bag. “Max’s sister Trina owns several boutiques in the state. She just opened a store here.”
Angie took the bag from him. Pink letters spelling out Trina’s decorated the front. “How does his sister know my dress size?”
“Max guessed it. He’s usually accurate when it comes to this sort of thing.”
“Oh, is he?” She chose not to think about how much practice he had guesstimating women’s dress sizes. He didn’t seem to have trouble getting dates when he was in Harper High. Nowadays, he had success and those ridiculously gorgeous looks. She assumed women fell at his feet all the time.
“A car will pick you up tonight at seven.”
Friday nights were usually when she, Raymond and Angie’s grandmother went to the movies. One of her grandmother’s friends from c
hurch usually took them home if Angie didn’t go. She could give her family a ride to the movies before she went to dinner with Max. “Seven. Got it.”
Rob got up and buttoned his suit jacket. “Best of luck in your engagement, Miss Franklin.”
“Thanks.” She showed him to the door. She was going to need it.
* * *
Angie stepped into the light blue silk dress and slipped her arms through the dainty straps. She struggled with the zipper, but once she got it up, the dress fit like a dream. Max guessed right about her size after all.
She assessed her reflection in the mirror above her bedroom dresser. Never would she wear something so girly. The swing skirt swished at her knees when she moved. The top had a sweetheart neckline. Flirty yet tasteful.
She put a dab of styling cream in her short hair to bring out the textured curls and rummaged in one of the dresser drawers for some lipstick. She uncovered a sample container one of the salesladies at the mall handed out when she passed the makeup counter. Angie applied a little Rose Dream on her lips before checking the time on her phone. 6:49. She needed to get downstairs pronto. She grabbed her phone and ducked inside her closet to rummage for the only pair of heels she owned. She snagged them and padded downstairs in her bare feet.
The doorbell rang as she stuck her feet into the heels. Waddling like a turkey at first until she got the hang of walking in the shoes, she answered the door. A man in black polo shirt and tan khakis stood on the porch. The label on his shirt read Kleghorn Hotel. “Miss Franklin? I’m here to take you to the hotel.”
She reached for her keys on the console table in the hall and closed the door behind her. The block was quiet tonight. In about five months, football season would start and neighbors would be walking to Harper High to cheer the Eagles on to victory.
Angie expected to see a hotel shuttle parked outside. Instead, a black limo waited in front of the house. The driver opened the door for her. She got inside. Max was seated in the limo, checking his phone.
He put it away when he saw her. “You look nice. Blue’s your color.” He wore a tailored navy suit and white shirt with a patterned tie.
“Thanks. You picked it out.” She settled across from him.
His gaze lingered on her bare ring finger. “We’ll need to get you a ring soon.”
She folded her hands, hoping her short, bare nails didn’t look too bad. The limo pulled away from the curb. “Tell me about the people we’re meeting for dinner. I don’t want to look clueless.”
“The two men are Charley Landers and Steve Preston. They’ve been buying up land and selling it in Georgia for the past thirty-five years.”
“I meant, what are they like? Do you know what hobbies they share with their families?”
Max shrugged. “From what they said yesterday, they enjoy taking trips with their wives.”
“Travel. That’s a good subject.”
“Their wives will be there, too.”
Angie paused. Max said nothing before about meeting the wives of his prospective business partners. They had to be affluent, cultured women. What topics appealed to them?
As she pondered, Max opened the mini fridge at his feet. “Want a drink before we head to dinner?”
“No, thanks.” She needed her full wits this evening. I can’t mess this up. Raymond and her grandmother counted on her to provide.
The limo stopped and the driver opened the door. Max stepped out first, offering his hand to Angie. She planted both feet on the ground and got out of the vehicle like a lady, as her grandmother taught her years ago. Max’s hand was large and warm. If he noticed the callus on her palm from holding wrenches for most of her adult life, he didn’t say anything.
They walked hand in hand into the hotel lobby. Max commanded attention with his height and posture. Guests stopped texting on their phones or talking to view him. People looked at her, too. Angie noticed the curious stares.
Max walked her over to the Kleghorn’s fancy restaurant. Two older couples waited at the entrance. One set was Caucasian, and the other was African-American. They wore polite smiles and expensive clothing.
“Charley, Steve, ladies,” Max acknowledged their company. “Allow me to introduce you to Angela Franklin, my fiancée.”
Angie greeted them. “You can call me Angie for short.”
Charley and Steve introduced their wives Phyllis and Donna, respectively. “I don’t know about you and Angie, Max, but we’re starving,” said Charley. “Let’s hope this place lives up to its reputation of having the finest steaks in town.”
Angie accompanied the ladies inside the restaurant while the men talked about an article they read on Wall Street Journal’s website that morning. The host showed them to their table. Donna smiled at her. “Congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thank you.”
“Have you set a date?” asked Phyllis, smoothing down her blonde hair.
“Not yet. We got engaged recently.” Like thirty-six hours ago recently.
The host brought them to a table with six chairs. The places were set with stemware, fine china, and at least three forks per person. Angie read an article about a trick to remember which fork to use first. She couldn’t remember the article or the trick.
Max pulled out her chair. He ordered a round of drinks for the table when the waiter arrived. “Merlot to start.”
“I’ll have water for now,” Angie said. The waiter took their drink orders and disappeared.
“I remember when we first got engaged,” Steve said, gazing lovingly at Donna. “How big were cell phones then compared to today?”
“Stop.” Donna giggled. She played along, cupping her hand over her mouth to whisper. “I don’t think they were invented yet.”
Angie paid attention to Max seated beside her. He wore a pleasant smile on his face as he listened to them. Maybe if she also smiled, she could trick her mind into being at ease.
Chapter Four
The dinner lasted two hours. Angie ordered soup to avoid making a mistake about which fork to use first. The rest of the party dined on filet mignon while laughing at Charley’s jokes.
“Angie.” Steve put her in the spotlight after the laughter died down. “Where do you like to volunteer?”
She set her water glass on the table. “I don’t volunteer. I mean, I would like to, but I don’t have much free time between raising my son, caring for my grandmother, and working.”
“You have a little boy?” Donna appeared interested. All eyes were on Angie. Max sipped merlot.
“I do. He’s seven.” She waited to see how the older couples would process the information. It wasn’t the most traditional thing in the world for an unmarried twenty-four year-old to have a child.
“Our grandson just turned seven last month,” Donna remarked. “I’d show you his picture, but I left my phone in the hotel room.”
“I’m sure he’s adorable.”
“Where do you work, Angie?” asked Phyllis.
“I’m a mechanic.” She peeked at Max. He took another bite of filet mignon.
Steve chortled. “A woman who can fix cars. No wonder you didn’t let this one get away, Max.”
“She is very special, no doubt.” He poured on the charm for his dinner companions.
The waiter came to the table with the check fifteen minutes later. Max gave the man his credit card. “This has been fun.” He put down his napkin. “We should do it again soon.”
“How about tomorrow night?” Charley suggested. “Would you two like to take a trip to Atlanta to see Hamilton with us?”
“We like Broadway. Angie used to be in our high school drama club.”
Angie was surprised he knew.
Donna clapped her hands. “This is exciting. I always wanted to see a live musical.”
“Well, now’s your chance to see one tomorrow,” her husband said. “We’ll go after Charley and I take Max to visit the land on Teak Ridge Drive.”
The waiter returned with Max’s
credit card and then everyone stood. Angie remembered her manners. “I enjoyed talking with you. See you tomorrow.”
Max said gracious parting words before he walked with her to the limo outside. She was surprised when he climbed inside after her. “You’re not staying at the hotel?”
“What kind of fiancé would I be if I let you ride home by yourself?”
“You’re good at playing the southern gentleman.”
“You did a good job, too, tonight. I think they like you.”
“It’s about time I put those high school acting lessons to use.” She played with a pleat in her skirt. “I was so nervous.”
“This is how business is handled. You’ll get used to it.”
“I’m not sure. Deceiving people isn’t a natural gift for me.”
“Whoa, where’d that come from?”
Angie winced, realizing how harsh her words sounded. Max interpreted it like she was judging him. “That came out of nowhere. Forget what I said. I’m a little tired.”
“No, you’ve been on edge since I’ve been in town. I want to hear what’s bothering you.”
She realized something actually was on her mind. Did he really want to hear about it? She may as well clear the air. “Tomorrow is one year since my brother got killed in Afghanistan. Before he deployed, Detrick told me you both planned to hang out one last time. It never happened.”
Max sighed and looked down at his hands. He raked one hand through his hair. “You’re right for being angry at me. I couldn’t make it because there was a lot going with my family at the time.”
Angie had a hard time believing him. Max moved on to big city life and left her brother in a small town thinking he could count on a visit from his old friend before he got shipped off to a war zone.
They rode in the limo in silence. “How’s your grandmother?” Max asked after a couple minutes.
“She’s getting better from surgery.”
The limo stopped in front of her house. “There’s an ice cream parlor off Main Street. I can have the driver go back for a pint. Didn’t Detrick say everyone in your family liked rocky road?”