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Chapter 5
Matteo
Lacey was not what I expected going into this meetup. She had an attitude, but what woman doesn’t. When I picked her up, she looked like an innocent girl which meant she could play the part around my mother. That was the biggest thing for me. My mother had to believe this, or it would end badly. As the night went on, I could see the attitude and that made me uncomfortable. I don’t need a girl that’s going to speak her mind. This could potentially cause problems, but I don’t have any time to request someone else. She would have to work. I shook my head when I thought of how wrong things could go. As the night progressed, she got silent. I’m not sure if it’s because she was having second thoughts like I was or that she was bored.
I knew I was being a dick to her but this was business and I was her client, not her lover consumed to make her happy. She better get that into her pretty head. And even if it were a date, the guy who would bring the moon down for a woman simply didn't exist anymore. After Kelsey killed that side of me, I knew I could never be the sweet guy I was before. I would never go down that road again. Women couldn’t be trusted. They were all gold diggers or used me for my connections. True Love was never going to find me. At first, I thought maybe I had found that with Kelsey but then it blew up in my face. I wouldn’t give any woman the opportunity to do that to me. I’ve been closed off for so long that I don’t know if I could ever get the sweet side of me back. It was gone, locked away in a part of me that wouldn’t ever be found again.
One thing about the night that really infuriated me was she felt the need to touch me and attempt to kiss me. I could understand while we were in the Bahamas, but we were at a restaurant having dinner. No need to do that just yet. I did follow her reasoning behind it, to see if we could even do it believably. It just wasn’t going to happen. The thought of her touching me was repulsive. Lacey was an attractive girl, but I didn’t want to get intimate with her. We were going to be enclosed in a hotel room together for a week. No need to complicate things.
It had been five years since the situation with Kelsey, and I would like to keep it that way. The last thing I needed was to involve myself with someone again. It only ever ended badly. I’ve had enough heartbreak for a lifetime. I will continue the route I’m on and just indulge in some activities occasionally, with a woman who had no idea who I was. It’s the only way it would work without complicating things.
Kelsey was someone I was once very fond of. We were together for almost a year before I found out her real intentions behind being with me. She had wanted to gain connections to a vital person within the community. The only thing was she used me to get close to him. Once she got what she wanted, she left me. The sad thing was that I was going to propose to her the next day. Naturally, I felt like a total fool to think I had believed her charade the entire time we had been together.
Ever since then, my guard was always up. I don’t date because I don’t have time for heartbreak anymore. My work was far too critical to be locked in my bedroom for weeks, crying like a baby. Kelsey was enough of that. From then on, I focused on myself and the business only. Women were trouble. I refused to let anyone close to me. They will just use me like every outsider had ever done.
Bringing Lacey along to the Bahamas would be the only way to get my family off my back. I couldn’t tell my sister the real reason why I didn’t have a girlfriend all those years but was it even any of her business? Yes, she was my sister, but sometimes it’s best to keep secrets. I don’t need any of my family to feel pity for me. I would be content by myself. No girl was going to give me happiness. If Lacey could play this part well, then I wouldn’t have to worry about my family breathing down my back for at least a couple of months. I would be able to breathe.
But what if something went wrong? My mind started going on a rampage about the what if’s? What if they don’t believe us? What if they see right through our lie? I couldn’t imagine what would happen if my family found out that Lacey was hired to play the part? Honestly, Shawn would probably laugh at me, but the rest of them would kill me. Figuratively. Of course, I’ve had my doubts about going through with it, but I’ve kept talking myself out of it. Regardless of how Lacey is, it was going to have to work because I was out of options.
All this could have been avoided if I just wouldn’t have opened my mouth. I could have just continued not to date someone and told them to mind their own fucking business but that doesn’t work with my family. As I have said before, my mother was a meddler. If I didn’t have a date, she would spend the time in the Bahamas trying to fix me up with someone. I did not want that. The first time my mother set me up with someone was right after college. I only agreed because my mom begged me to go. She vowed she would be perfect for me. Well, she was wrong on so many things. The woman was dumb as dirt. If I had to choose between someone who was drop dead gorgeous or someone who I could have an intellectual conversation with, it would be conversation.
I swished my bourbon around in my glass and contemplated how the week might play out.
Chapter 6
Lacey
Our flight was set to leave at 8am, but I wanted to be early because security would be crazy to get through. I made sure to arrive ninety minutes prior to ensure time to check my bags, get through security, and get coffee. When I arrived at the gate, Matteo was in the corner, flustered, yelling at someone on the phone. Why did he already have to be in a bad mood? Five hours was a long flight when sitting next to someone who had a piss poor attitude. Not exactly the best way to start off my morning.
I took a seat awaiting the onboarding and soon after Matteo sat down next to me. I don’t open my mouth because I knew he was frustrated. We sat in silence for a good twenty minutes before he broke it.
“Are you ready for this?” He asked me.
He gave a little smirk for a split second and then it was gone.Was I ready for this?Once I got on that plane, this was happening. I wasn’t going to be close to safety. I would be flying across the country with a man I barely knew to stay in a hotel with him.Was I insane?No, I needed that damn money. I knew the moment I touched down in the Bahamas, I was going to have to act happy and in love with him. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
The airline employee came over the speaker to board first class. I looked at my ticket and see coach while Matteo got up and boarded the plane.Did he really buy me a ticket for coach when he’s flying first class? My temper was trying to make an appearance, but I stopped it. In the back of my head, I just kept reminding myself about the money. I could deal with this asshole for a week for $10,000. Shit, I’ve had to do it for years for free. At least I’m getting compensated for my troubles.
I boarded the plane with a bad attitude but today was my lucky day. The seat next to me was empty. I won’t have to deal with some asshole or a screaming baby. Hell, I think I might just take a nap. Who knew what I was walking into when I got there? I never thought to ask Matteo about his family. Do they even get along with each other? I could be walking into a shit show.
Five hours later, the flight attendant announced our descent to the ground. I cringed at the thought of being stuck with Matteo here. If anything happened, Dr. Shepard would be the first person I would call.
When we left the plane, I headed toward the baggage claim. I needed to find Matteo, so I knew where we were going. Aside from feeling lost in a country I had never been to, I had no idea where we were staying or where to go. He left me in the dark on that part of the trip. I started to feel like a dumbass as I walked in circles. He could be a murderer and just lured me here, and I fell for it.
“Stop freaking out!” I muttered to myself. Shepard knows where I was so if anything happens he will report me missing.Oh, fuck! Wait? My mind started running over scenarios, a symptom of watching way too many crime shows. Right as I was coming to the prime of my overwhelming fears, I turned and noticed Matteo staring at me with his right brow raised. “Hey, where are you going? We need to be headed that way.” He pointed in the opposite direction.
Of course, towards the transportation exit. Sighing, I trailed behind him, unable to form words to express my discontentment. It looked like I was going to be stuck with him. Taking a deep breath and tried to forget all the crazy scenarios my head had cooked up.
A limousine transported us to the hotel which was beautiful. It was a resort on the beach where the rooms led out to the sand. I’ve never been somewhere so beautiful before. Honestly, I have only been to the beach once when I was little. As we walked up the walkway to the hotel, I could see people out on the beach with sand that looked incredibly soft. I wanted to run directly over there and stick my toes in it. So, I did. I ran towards the beach, dropping my purse, and not caring if he followed me. Stepping onto the sand, it felt like pillows beneath my feet. Almost like I was walking on clouds. Remembering back to the only other beach experience I’ve had, the sand here seemed so much better. What was so different about it than the other? I found myself wondering while squishing the sand in between my toes.
“Come on, we need to check in. You can do that later.” Matteo yelled at me.
Such a buzzkill. I could tell this wasn’t going to be a fun trip. The rest of this trip I would probably have to follow him around like a puppy dog. I was in the Bahamas, and it killed me to know I might not even get to enjoy it. In the back of my head, I told myselfyou will, you better.
We walk up to the front desk, a young brunette woman handed him a key.
“There is a pull-out couch in the room as well if needed.” The attendant said as she noticed how uncomfortable that made me. I’m glad I was that obvious.
Why was I so stupid? Of course, we would share a room. His family thought we were a couple. If we had separate rooms, it might raise suspicion. I can do this. It’s only a week. Afterward, I would go home and resume my normal life.
