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“See!” She throws her hands up in the air. “I’m TSTL.”
“What’s that?”
“Too stupid to live.”
“No, you’re not. I bet you googled the shit out of me before you left, right?” I shoot her a look and she nods. “See, there’s an electronic trail. Plus the whole world knows we’re together and theyalwayssuspect the boyfriend.”
“Fiancé,” she corrects me with a hint of a smile.
“You’re more useful to me alive.”
“Gee, thanks.” Ava rolls her eyes, but I can still see that smile tugging at the corner of her full lips. She’s relaxed against the back seat of the limo now, and I think my charms might have worked on her.
Charms, really?
That’snotusually a word associated with me. Ambitious, driven, single-minded. Arrogant. They all get bandied around at length, because I refuse to pander to the press who’ve tortured my family since I was a child. They donotsee me as charming. Therefore, the world doesn’t see me as charming.
Truthfully, the world has no idea who I am behind my suit and my job title. I keep that part of me—therealme—locked up tight. Protected. Even from myself.
“Look, we were backed into a corner and a decision had to be made on the spot,” I say. “We seized the opportunity to improve both of our situations.”
“But what if people ask questions? I didn’t even recognise you in the cupboard, so how am I supposed to act like we’ve been dating for months?”
Good point. Not so much to fool the press, but I have an even bigger, more important audience to worry about: my brother. “What do you want to know? I’ll give you the speed-date version now.”
Ava shifts on the spot, turning her body so she’s looking at me directly. The dress she’s wearing is soft and touchable, a light grey cotton with embroidered white and pink flowers and little sleeves that flutter around her arms. There’s a subtle V at the neckline that hints at treasures beneath—and unfortunately I saw enough two nights ago to mentally fill in the blanks.
“What’s your favourite movie?” she asks.
“The Godfather.”
“Favourite food?”
“Pastaal forno.”
“Favourite place in the world?”
“Tuscany.”
Her eyes crinkle with laughter. “Are you just naming Italian things?”
“Are you trying to tell me I’m a cliché?” I slide my hands down my thighs, the thick denim an unusual sight. Most weekdays I wear a suit. But I left the office early, opting to take all my afternoon calls from home so I could pick up Ava. The second she’s settled, I need to get back to it. Although she’s right, wedoneed to get to know one another. “I also happen to like soccer, gelato and Formula 1.”
“Youarea cliché.” The smile lighting her face is enough to power a city. If she’s this sweet and charming come dinnertime, then this whole mess might be wrapped up easier than I thought.
Hopefully then my life can go back to normal. No more headache-inducing drama. No more having my brother think I’m nothing but a carbon copy of our father. No more sleepless nights, tossing and turning with fury.
You know Ava is going to cause sleepless nights.
Okay, so having a beautiful woman around 24/7 for the next week will be a distraction...but I’m perfectly capable of keeping myself in check. But even as I think that, I feel anticipation crawling through my bloodstream. It’s been too long since I let myself indulge.
“And what do I need to know about you?” I ask.
“Well, I’m a teacher... Although I can only get relief teaching shifts at the moment. You know, funding cuts and whatnot. I love working with children and helping them learn. It’s one thing I’m really passionate about.” The tone of her voice is so genuine that for a moment, it sounds almost foreign. “My favourite colour is sea-foam green. I have a sweet tooth. I love B-grade action movies, and my hidden talent is being able to tie a cherry stem with my tongue.”
Good lord, I donotneed to imagine that.
I clear my throat and hope that she doesn’t see how my brain tried to short-circuit itself. “See, now we’re best friends.”
