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“Why not?”
I don’t answer.
“Paige, you’re going to be crushed if you’ve gotten some foolish notion in your head. That man can’t possibly care about you, or he never would’ve involved you in this. Men don’t toss women they care about into their little games.”
She’s right, of course.
They don’t, but at least Ward was open about his. That’s what makes this so confusing now. I might as well wait for the fall out to be crushed.
“I’m doing a job, Mom. Is this all you called for?”
“I called because I miss you. I haven’t seen you much since this crap started—” She stops.
I don’t point out that she didn’t see me much before I became a phony bride-to-be, either.
“Just remember, Brandts are notorious for trouble. You’re going to meet a very nice man someday who wants nothing more than to be with you, and you don’t want to have to explain this involvement with them,” she continues, stressing the last word like it leaves a bad taste in her mouth.
“Mom, they’re titans in the art world. The freaking skyline would look different without Brandt designs.”
“Uh-huh. So respected that—that Warden—just has to pretend to be betrothed to my daughter for his precious appearance. That should tell you something.”
I try not to burst out laughing when she realizes how well Warden fits. Guess I didn’t fall far from the tree.
“Well, guess what? Hearing you tell me I’m stupid isn’t helpful, okay?”
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Ugh. What did she mean to do then?
“Whatever, it’s okay. I have to get ready for a conference this afternoon. Call you later.”
She doesn’t say goodbye immediately, and I know there’s more. I’m not in any mood to hear it.
“Can I say one more thing?” Mom asks quietly.
“Would it matter if I told you no?”
“You’re not a child anymore. Be serious, Paige.”
“Fine. What, Mom?”
“I think you should talk to him about ending the contract early if his client signs. It’s not helpful for either of you to drag this out.”
Yeah, no way am I doing that.
And unfortunately, the reason why I won’t validates her concerns.
“We’ll talk later. Love you,” I say, punching End Call.
But even when it’s over, her words echo in my head. Men don’t toss women they care about into their little games.
Maybe I should just accept this isn’t real and move on.
My phone pings with a text from Ward. Reese will pick you up for the conference.
I squint at the unexpected thing at the end of the sentence.
A heart emoji with an arrow through it.
Stop literally everything.
Who knew Ward Brandt could be so adorable?
I find myself gawking at it, wearing a smile so crooked it hurts, and physically have to slap my own cheek.
Mom’s right. I can’t lose my head...
...and if it’s gone, I need to get it back.
I go to the guest suite to change clothes. At least my clothes still keep their own closet.
Sure, my heart leaped when Ward asked me to stay in his room, but now I realize how dangerous that might be.
My dresses are probably smarter than I am when separation is key.
“You look uptight today,” Reese says.
I slouch in the back seat.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
“I don’t know,” I say, even though I do.
I’ve gotten myself too deep in a situation that’s guaranteed to end badly.
“Hope this helps.” She turns and hands me a bouquet of purple flowers being clasped by a fluffy teddy bear. “Full disclosure, I grabbed it, but he picked it out. He pretty much insisted on purple roses. They’re super rare.”
Stupid sexy Wardhole.
Abandon all hope. A smile spreads across my face as I take the flowers and their fragrance hits my nose.
My fake fiancé bought me flowers. A feat my almost-real fiancé never accomplished.
I’m beaming, and it occurs to me that Ward Brandt is the only man on Earth who makes me go from sad panda to overexcited hamster in all of two seconds.
What if I’m the stupid one?
I can’t argue with everything Mom warned me against. Then again, it’s in her nature to second-guess everything I do. I shouldn’t let her get in my head.
Flowers and a bear. A nice gesture. Nothing more.
Can’t I just leave it at that?
I pick up my phone and start typing. Thank you, dah-ling.
Must’ve made your day if you’re doing accents by text. Enjoy the conference. I miss having you in the office, he sends back.
Reese pulls up in front of the Palmer House, and when I look up, my face resembles a sun-ripened tomato.
“I’m going to leave the flowers in the car so I don’t have to carry them around, if that’s okay?”
“Totally cool!” Reese tosses back with a grin.
I hand her the bouquet.
She lays the flowers in the passenger seat. “I have to say... Ward never struck me as the flower buying type before. You really did a number on him, lady, hacking away at that glacier around his heart.”
