Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 119005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
“It’s not an ultimatum.” Beth took another sip of coffee and again licked the foam off her lips. It was fucking distracting. “It’s a ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’ proposal.”
The woman was killing me.
Ignoring the image that popped into my head at her words, I shrugged nonchalantly, “Tomahto, tomato.”
Beth narrowed her eyes. “Does that mean you’re not interested?”
“I didn’t say that. But I’m not sure you’ve thought this thing through. I mean, I’m not famous beyond the sport. If you’re not a football fan, you’re unlikely to know who the fuck I am—”
“Not true. You’re on drink ads everywhere.” She referred to the ad campaigns I’d done for our national soda drink company.
“Even then … my point is, I’m no Messi, but I’m still recognized, and I’m still talked about in the tabloids. That email you sent with the details of the party … you didn’t mention it was a launch campaign for Aura Beauty. If we pretend to date at a launch party with that much press around it, they’ll take pictures of us and they’ll talk about it … and there’s a big difference between getting me a meet with your dad and your dad being comfortable that the son of the bloke who shagged his first wife is ‘dating’ his daughter.”
She blanched. “Right.”
My gut twisted, because even though I’d brought it up, I kind of wanted her to defend me. It wasn’t my fault, after all, that my dad was a prick.
“Well … we’ll need to deal with it. Because … I think it might take more than the party. I think we’ll maybe need to go out on a few dates and be seen. Just in case. All you have to do is meet me for a drink or dinner a couple nights a week while Sheera is interviewing social media managers. She says she’ll have a decision by September, so if we could just be seen around until then … Only a few dates scattered here and there. I promise not to bore you to death.”
Like she could.
“And in exchange, I’ll talk to my dad next Sunday. I’ll explain that you have no relationship with Gavin and that you can be trusted. I’ll get the meeting.”
Leaning forward, I asked, “And when they find out about us ‘dating’?”
“I … I’m a grown-up. I can date who I want. Right?”
The uncertainty in her eyes pissed me off.
“So, Captain … do we have a deal?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
BETH
It was Callan’s idea to make our first fake date a “hang-out” thing so we’d both feel more comfortable. Since I got on so well with Baird, he’d suggested I attend the birthday party Baird was throwing for John. The team didn’t have a game until Sunday, so Baird was throwing the party on the Friday evening.
Callan suggested we walk together to Baird’s flat in Dean Village. Since it was a twenty-five-minute walk, I donned flat espadrilles that tied up my calves. I’d paired the vintage-look sandals with what my mum called my Audrey Hepburn shorts. They were high-waisted white shorts with turned up hems. My long-sleeved tee was cropped and lightweight. I swore I caught Callan shooting my legs sneaky glances now and then. The idea that he might still find me attractive made me want to wriggle my rump in glee. After all, I found him too sexy for his own good.
“Do you really think anyone is watching?” Callan asked quietly as we wandered out of the gate of our apartment car park.
Despite the warm Friday evening, I shivered at the thought of Sheera Green having me watched, as ludicrous as it was. “Nope. But out and about at restaurants and stuff? Who knows? I don’t think you can put it past a woman who is that interested in her egotistical son’s love life.”
“Just in case, princess, we better give them something to watch.” Callan reached for my hand and laced his fingers through mine.
I jolted a wee bit at the touch, goose bumps prickling up my arm. His skin was slightly calloused and rough. I glanced quickly at our hands, an ache scoring across my chest. There was absolutely no reason for him to hold my hand other than that maybe … he wanted to. “Thanks.”
Callan shook his head, a wry smile almost curling the corner of his lips. “It’s not exactly a hardship to hold your hand.”
A surprised huff of laughter escaped my mouth. “Are you flirting with me, Callan Keen?”
“You know you’re gorgeous,” he said matter-of-factly.
I grinned because he also sounded put out that he found me gorgeous. “I don’t remember you being so grumpy in high school. Serious, driven, yes. But not this broody and surly.”
His grip tightened as we crossed the street. Callan was too busy looking left and right to make sure we were safe getting across to look at me as he replied, “Maybe you bring out the worst in me.”