by Laura Burton
“Thank you, Robert.”
And with that, Robert was gone and she and David were alone. Play it cool, Emily.
David smiled warmly at her, his almond shape eyes creased, and his cheekbones became more defined.
“Hmm, I smell steak,” Emily said, then walked into the penthouse suite. She stole a few glances to take in the room. Across from the door was an entire wall of glass windows overlooking the city, and to her side a spiral staircase with plush carpet and marble handrails climbed toward the impossibly high ceiling, making David look like an average-sized person, instead of the 6’4” giant he was. Even with her five-inch heels, she still didn’t come up to his shoulders.
“I love sunflowers.” She ran her fingers along the edges of the bright yellow sunflowers decorating the glass dining table already set with china. David closed the door and followed her.
“I didn’t know that.”
“You sure? You’ve not been looking me up online to find out all my weaknesses?”
David laughed and his cheeks flushed.
This is going to be easier than I thought, Emily mused.
“Your timing is perfect. I just had these prepared.” David held out his hand and gestured for Emily to take a seat.
“I thought you said you were looking at a plate of food earlier?”
David’s forehead reddened as he grinned. “Ah well, these are new….” He lifted the dome covers to reveal two sizzling steak dinners.
Emily took a seat at the table and inhaled. “It smells delicious.”
David poured their drinks and took his seat across the table—obscured by the large sunflowers sitting in the middle of the table.
“So this is what it’s like to be on a blind date.”
Emily covered her mouth as she burst out laughing at the sight of the flowers seemingly talking to her. She heard the jarring sound of a chair scraping across the floor as David’s face came back into view, towering over her.
“I’ll move these,” he said sheepishly. He stooped down and picked up the crystal vase and carried it over to the kitchen. Emily watched the light refract off the crystal and sparkle on the red granite worktop.
“So, this is a date?” Emily asked with a teasing smile as David returned to his seat.
Lines creased around David’s eyes as he smirked.
“I wonder how Mandy is getting on with Joffrey?” Emily mused as she picked up her knife and fork. She cut into the fillet steak and brown juices flooded the plate.
David made a humming sound; Emily looked up at him to see him eating his steak with a look of total concentration.
“Why are you chewing that like it’s a chunk of an old boot?”
A flash of realization crossed his face and David raised his napkin to his mouth as he swallowed. “I instructed the chef to cook the steak well-done, so not to cause offence.”
He did that for me?
“My ex-boyfriend wouldn’t even hold the door open for me, let alone burn his steak.” Emily picked up her glass and took a sip. A rush of fizz and sugar flooded her senses.
“So, tell me about your week,” Emily asked, taking the opportunity to dive into her food and let David do all the talking. David’s smile faltered and he glanced around the room in an apparent moment of contemplation.
“I think I’ve eaten more sushi this week than I have in my entire lifetime.”
A sickly sensation swirled inside Emily’s stomach at his words. She forced a polite smile as she silently chewed a piece of asparagus.
“The first date… Judy,” he began carefully as he stared up at the giant chandelier gleaming above their heads. “She was nice. Only problem is, I think she would make a better wife for my dad.”
Emily swallowed and shook her head with her brows raised. “You never said anything about age.”
“Yes, but I didn’t expect to be set up with someone who is nearly double my age.”
Emily suppressed the urge to laugh.
Judy had been on her list for years, a serial dater with no ability to settle down and commit to one person. She was a well-known actress in the 70s, and despite her mature years, acted like a giggly school girl when around people. “Age is just a number, don’t you think?”
“That’s not all,” David said firmly as he sat up straighter. “She only wanted to talk about herself.”
“That’s what you do on a first date, talk about yourself.”
David inclined his head with a grimace. “But her voice—” He stopped, apparently unable to bring himself to say anything offensive.
Emily hummed softly, knowing exactly what he meant. At first, she thought the high-pitched squeal was part of the act when she was in Hollywood. Yet, every phone call with her resulted in a blinding headache.
“Right, so you like a woman who is close to your age, doesn’t talk about herself, and has a low voice. This information is helpful,” Emily reeled off, in an attempt to sound professional.
“She can talk about herself,” David added quickly. “I just prefer a more evenly balanced conversation.”
“What about your next date, with—”
“Lola.”
“Yes, that’s right, the international accountant.”
David snorted as he took a bite of his food. “In complete contrast, she didn’t speak.”
“At all?”
“No, just silence. I asked her questions and she didn’t even respond.”
“Ah yes, I forgot to mention that she’s selectively mute.”
“What!”
“David Marks, do not tell me you discriminate against people with a mental illness?”
“You didn’t tell me she had a condition! That would have been helpful… I assumed she hated me.”
Emily dabbed her mouth and surveyed David for a moment. The two of them locked eyes and shared an unspoken conversation. Emily was not sure what was being said exactly, but she knew something was happening. The way his cheek dimpled at her, and his eyes narrowed. For a second, she wondered if the game was over. Could he see right through her? Did he know she had set him up? Her panicked thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an elderly woman’s voice echoing around the suite.
“David, are you there, David?”
As if he were struck by a bolt of lightning, David scrambled to his feet and gestured for Emily to keep quiet. Alarmed by this personality shift, Emily sat perfectly still and watched David clear his throat and march off into another room.
“Grandmother, how are you feeling today?” his voice trailed off as he disappeared behind a door. Emily crossed her arms and slumped back in her chair. Was this the terminally ill grandmother? Her fragile voice boomed out of the speakers around the suite. Emily wondered what to do. Should she discretely see herself out and call David later? Or stick around and see how this plays out. Maybe the call wouldn’t be long? A couple of awkward minutes passed, and Emily unfolded her arms and finished the rest of her drink.
“Is this your wife, David?”
Emily nearly choked on her drink as she looked frantically around. On the wall behind her, a flat screen TV over the top of a fireplace revealed the close-up of an old woman’s face. The elderly woman squinted, and her wrinkled face broke out into a gleeful smile. Emily whipped round in her chair and got to her feet.
“I’m sorry, can you see me?” she blurted out in shock. She glanced back at the sound of hurried footsteps to see David staring at her with a crazed expression on his face. She frowned at him.
“What do I do?” she mouthed at him. David’s fake smile grew as he waved at the TV across the room.
“Sorry, Grandmother, I forgot the TVs are linked,” he said formally.
“Come closer, dear, I want to get a good look at you, old eyes, you see.”
Emily’s sense of panic evaporated as an idea dawned on her. This is too perfect. She straightened her black dress and twirled on the spot to look at the TV screen.
“Oh! You must be David’s grandmother! He talks so m
uch about you,” Emily said in a charming voice as she marched over to the fireplace with her shoulders back and head held high. She ignored the sharp intake of breath from behind her and flicked her hair back confidently as David’s grandmother made a noise of approval.
“That’s nice, dear. On the contrary, David has told me nothing about you. Tell me, what is your name?”
“I’m his little secret, Emily Stewart.” She reached out her hand to David, who stumbled forward with an endearing dumfounded expression. She grabbed his arm and placed her hand on his chest, her fingers glided across the cotton shirt.
“Emily, what is it you do?”
Emily exchanged looks with David for a breath, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I’m a business owner here in New York, looking to branch out into LA actually.” She glanced at David again, wondering when he was going to step in and take control of the situation like the leader he was. Yet, he appeared to be like a deer stuck in headlights.
“Well, I’m glad to finally meet––” David’s grandmother broke into a wheezing coughing fit. The camera jolted up and down and Emily could just make out the sight of an IV stand in the background.
“Grandmother, are you all right? Do you need something?” David snapped out of his stunned silence. His grandmother came back into normal view and she pressed a tissue to her thin lips.
“I’m moving the date of my party to next week.” Her voice was weak, and her pale skin glistened with sweat.
“Next week? You can’t––”
“It’s my birthday and I can do what I please, David. I am most-anxious to meet you, Emily. I’ll have John send the details across.”
Emily wrapped her arms around David and squeezed as she offered a gracious smile, he stiffened against her touch.
“We’re both looking forward to it, don’t worry,” she said with a beaming smile.
“I best go, this phone is heavy, and the nurses say I’m not supposed to be making calls.”
“Okay, Grandmother, we will see you soon. Rest up.” David shrugged out of Emily’s grasp and raised a control to turn the TV off. The screen transformed back into a mirror. Emily grinned sheepishly at David as he turned to give her a look of bewilderment. Had she just crossed a line? Was she really so desperate to drag a sick grandmother into the situation? She bit her lip and watched David drag his hand across his brow.
“So… we’re married now?”
Chapter Four
Negotiations
David cradled his favorite mug in his hands and stared at the piping hot chocolate while Emily paced the room.
“What did you do?” he said, dazed.
“What I had to,” Emily snapped. She stopped pacing and stood with her hands on her hips. “What else was I supposed to say? ‘Oh, hi there, I’m the woman who is trying to find David a fake wife.’ Yeah, like that would be any better.” Her usually straightened hair was beginning to curl at the ends and fanned out wildly across her shoulders. David couldn’t help but notice how fitted her black dress was; the way it sat snug on her hips sent his imagination running as she ranted.
Stop it. Listen to her.
“… on the screen and she could see me, it’s not like you were even saying anything.”
She had a point. The shock of seeing his grandmother deteriorating so fast threw him back. Her usually tanned complexion had become ashen grey since the last time he saw her. Then she started talking to Emily… David inwardly sighed. She was astute and quick on her feet. When she wrapped her arms around him, the scent of her perfume intoxicated his senses and he became distracted by the heat of her body pressed up against his.
“You do realize what you’ve done, though?” David placed the mug on the glass coffee table in front of him. “You’ve introduced yourself to my family as my wife.” He looked across the room at Emily and studied her expression. Her eyes were guarded, but the twitch in the corners of her mouth gave her away. “You think this is funny?”
Emily exploded into a fit of laughter as she bent over and clutched her stomach.
“Yes.”
The sound of her musical laugh softened David’s heart and he stared at her, grinning at the sight of her cheeks flushing as she hyperventilated. His eyes lingered on her red plump lips and he licked his instinctively. Her hazel eyes twinkled, and David was overcome with the urge to race over to her, grab her, and kiss her. His body wilfully obeyed, and before his brain could tell him not to, he found himself on his feet. He must have given Emily a look of intensity because she stopped laughing abruptly and stood up straight, staring at him with wide eyes.
“Are you okay?” She stepped back hesitantly, her reaction stopping him in his tracks.
“I was going to kiss you.”
You sound like an idiot. Why did you say that?
Emily opened her mouth and closed it again as she played with her brown hair. David couldn’t decide if she was considering the idea or planning her escape. It was the first time he had seen her look unsure. She always acted confident and feisty, the way she swayed her hips and held her shoulders back, further accentuating her curves. The image sent a rush of heat through him and his body tingled. He licked his lips again as he stood immobile.
“So, you want to kiss me?” Her voice was low and silky now, and David clenched his fists, digging his nails into the palms of his hands. He swallowed.
“Yes.” His voice sounded alien, like someone was speaking for him. The tingling faded to a numbing sensation; he could no longer feel his arms, or the pain of his nails pressing into his skin. He supposed they should talk about their current predicament. It was a serious situation. But in that moment, his brain forbade him to think about it. Emily was there, looking dangerously tempting and biting her lip, indicating she might share the same thoughts.
Before David could think about anything else, Emily moved forward in a flash and by the time his brain could catch up, his arms were wrapped around her. Emily’s hands ran up and down his back. She could barely reach his shoulders, so he stooped down and lifted her up; her body pressed tightly against his. Her head was now above his, her mouth hovering a couple of inches away. Emily closed the gap and their mouths collided and moved in unison. All sensation came crashing back. David spun Emily around and lowered her onto the couch as they kissed. Her hands roamed and the warmth of her mouth against his lips sent vibrations through his body. Minutes later, the two broke apart, panting and breathless. David’s head was buzzing, as if he just took a shot of adrenaline. Emily was biting her lip again as her eyes glinted devilishly in the amber lighting. As David leaned in for another kiss, a vibration on his thigh jolted him out of the moment.
“Sorry.” He pulled away from Emily and retrieved the phone from his pocket, glancing at the display.
“Oh no,” he murmured, seeing the message.
Grandmother’s blown up the family phone line, I see.
“Do you need to take that?”
He looked up from his phone to the gorgeous woman sitting next to him and turned his phone off.
“Not now. Let’s just have this evening together.”
He loosened his blue tie and undid the top button of his shirt. Emily raised her brows at him.
“What are you doing?”
Her words fell like rocks in the pit of his stomach and he promptly stopped moving. Staring into her eyes, he saw the same heat he knew was reflected in his. Cautiously, he lifted his hand and caressed her cheek, leaning in for another kiss. She obliged. This time their exchange was slow and tender.
David felt Emily’s hand press against his chest, but instead of it roaming, she gently pushed him back. He looked down to see wet eyes she was trying to conceal.
Is she crying?
“I’m sorry.” She appeared to be wrestling with her thoughts. “I think I’ve been leading you on, and that’s not fair.”
David stood up too and straightened his shirt. “You are giving mixed signals.” He wiped his mouth and look
ed down at the faint smudge of lipstick staining his fingertips. Then looked up to see Emily straightening her dress.
“I want you to know this wasn’t what I planned.” She crossed her arms and looked at him furtively.
It wasn’t what I planned, either. But I’m not complaining.
David chewed the inside of his lip as he eyed Emily carefully. Her brows furrowed as she looked downcast with her shoulders hunched. David wondered if she was already regretting their heat-of-the-moment exchange.
“It’s okay,” David said in an attempt to be reassuring.
Emily’s eyes snapped up. “What do you want to do? I’m sure we can stop this before the news gets out.” She wrung her hands and looked wildly around the room, almost as if expecting David’s grandmother to pop up on the TV again.
David scratched the bristles along his jawline. The night was wearing on and based on the messages he received, there were already questions to answer. What was the best course of action? Call his sick grandmother and tell her it was a ruse? But then it would raise the question of who Emily really was, and what she was doing in his penthouse, alone. He would be forced to confess that he had never been married, and the consequences of doing that were costly.
The doorbell interrupted his thoughts.
“Yes,” David called out from the living room, looking past Emily who had walked over to the breakfast bar. Robert stood in the front doorway with his hands clasped together.
“Sorry for the intrusion, sir.” David gestured for him to come into the room. “We have a situation downstairs,” he whispered, nearing the sofa.
David studied his face. Robert’s eyes shot to Emily briefly and he cleared his throat. Whatever it was he wanted to say, he did not feel comfortable sharing it with Emily in the room.
“Emily, would you mind––”
“Yes, of course, I’ll see myself out.” Emily placed her mug on the breakfast bar and walked through to the front entryway. Her heels clicked against the marble flooring, and David stole a glance at her figure as she sauntered away. He turned back to Robert.