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“You didn’t say anything about losing the house back at Libby and Raz’s place.”
“I know,” she answered, not meeting his eye. “I didn’t mention it to my friends because I didn’t want them to worry. But I’m out of options. We’re in a bad spot, and time is running out. She owes a little over forty-eight thousand, and it’s due—”
“—on October fifteenth,” he answered as it came together. This was some serious shit. “I could give you the money. Fifty thousand dollars is nothing to me,” he replied and instantly regretted it.
A blush colored her cheeks. “I don’t take charity from anyone. That’s not the person my grandparents raised me to be.” She blew out a sharp breath. “What’s going on, Landon? Why won’t you do it? Even your manager agrees this would be good for your career. You can’t lose.”
Oh, but he could. This seemingly harmless venture could expose him. Every humiliation could be revealed.
Mitzi should have known better than to throw his name into the hat for something like this.
His damn phone buzzed again, and now he was ready to toss it into the cupcake frosting.
“Landon,” Harper rasped as her bottom lip trembled. “I need you to agree to this.”
He met her hazel gaze. Warm cocoa brown and cornflower blue pleaded with him as his phone buzzed again.
Christ, give it a rest, guys.
Agitation tore through him. A game of tug-of-war played out in his mind. He wanted to help her, but every fiber of his being begged him to chuck the pen across the room and tear the contract into shreds.
But he didn’t.
For the first time in a long time, he fought the urge to flee and pushed past the fear.
She had no idea she was asking him to risk everything.
Still, he couldn’t say no to her.
A heady mix of elation and trepidation flowed through him. “Where do I sign?” He could barely believe he’d spoken the words.
“On the second page, sir. There’s a red sticker,” the lawyer replied, and that’s when he realized the suit, Madelyn, and Mitzi had had a front-row seat to that charged exchange.
Madelyn threw Mitzi a curious look.
He’d deal with them later.
He flipped the page, zeroed in on the slash of red cutting through the monotony of black and white, and signed the contract.
Landon Bartholomew Paige.
He handed the document and the pen to the lawyer as the muscles at the base of his neck tightened.
“Thank you,” Harper said on a relieved breath and rested her head against his chest. And just like in the club in Las Vegas, he wrapped his arms around her, and the strain and stress dissipated.
Touching her did that to him.
“This arrangement can end after Red Rocks Unplugged. I’ll stay with you until then if that’s what you want,” she said softly, her words vibrating against his torso.
What did he want?
What did she want?
Cash.
She needed cash.
“Look at this—a nanny match by way of marriage,” Madelyn announced.
