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Chapter One
Briar St Clair
Los Angeles, CA
I stared listlessly at the television. A perky cheerleader type waved her arm around a dump of a kitchen, painting a picture of possibility for the potential buyers. My mom was addicted to these home improvement shows. As if my dad had time to redo the home I’d grown up in, but I couldn’t make myself care. I couldn’t bring myself to care about much anymore. I was thirty years old, divorced, back living with my mom and dad, listening to my mom plan renovations that would never happen.
I’d officially hit rock bottom.
My cell rang on the coffee table in front of me—my bestie’s name, Lyla, lit up on the display. I didn’t have the energy to answer, but I knew how tenacious she was, so I gave in and answered.
“Hey Lyla.”
“Wow, you answered on the first ring. I’m shocked.”
“I’ve learned it’s just easier to give in with you.”
“I’ve trained you well.” Lyla snort laughed.
And I couldn’t help to smile in response. My heart might feel like lead, but I could never be a hundred percent sad around Lyla. She was awesome. “So, what’s going on?”
“Right.” Lyla cleared her throat. “I know you were thinking about giving up your classroom and going a different, more lucrative route, and I think I’ve found the perfect placement for you.”
“Lyla,” I whined, and then sighed. “You know that was just talk. I could never leave my classroom.”
“There’s no way you’re going to be able to afford IVF working for the school district. You still have to pay off your student loans from your master’s degree.”
I felt a pang at the thought of my fictitious baby and the arduous fertility treatments I’d need to ever hold her. “You know that was just a pipe dream. I’ll never be able to afford it regardless of where I work.”
“Au contraire, mon ami. I’ve got the perfect placement for you. Between the lucrative wage and retention bonuses every month, you’ll have more than enough money to pay off your loansandstart saving for your future IVF treatments.”
“Whose billionaire spawn would I theoretically be watching?”
Lyla hummed. “Not billionaire. Definitely millionaire.”
“I’m not interested.”
“Even if it were for a Hollywood hunk?”
I had to admit my curiosity was piqued. Still, I persevered. “No.”
“Even if it were for a certain superhero?”
I groaned. “You have to be kidding me? Kingston Grier?” I’d seen all of his movies. But that didn’t matter. I wasn’t interested. “No, Lyla. You know why I can’t.”
“Listen. You are perfect for the position. You are the only person I can guarantee won’t try to crawl into his bed. Apparently, that’s been a little bit of a problem in the past.”
“Thanks. I think.”
“I know you’re not even thinking about men after what the asshat did to you. And you have every right to feel that way. I still think we should string him up by his balls. You just say the word, and I’ll be there with mace, a winch, and some rope.”
“And that’s why I love you.” Not that I’d ever take her up on her offer. I was better off not thinking about Danny ever again. It hurt my heart too much.
“This is a live-in position, so it’ll get you out of your parents’ house. You’ll have your own bedroomandbathroom in a gorgeous house in the Hollywood Hills. And I just know you’d be perfect for the position. He wants someone educated, experienced, and stable. I can’t think of three words that describe you more.”
And it was exactly the reason Danny left me. I wasn’t sexy or exciting. I paid my bills on time. I meal planned and prepped every Sunday. I flossed. Old, reliable Briar.
“I can hear you spiraling, Bri. And you shouldn’t. He was an ass who didn’t know what an amazing, wonderful woman he had. And I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but you are better off without him.”
