Instead, she stepped forward toward the machine to get some breathing space. He backed up, released her from his arms.
“I think that’s enough of playing games,” she said, “Do you have anything else planned for me?”
“I did say I wanted four or five hours. So, if you’d like to go back to my place—you’re a little flushed. Is it too warm in here?”
“Yeah, that’s it,” she said sarcastically.
“So, would you like to go for drinks at a club or come back to my apartment?”
“I think I should go home. I need to check on my sister, and I think if I stay with you I’ll end up doing something I regret. Something we’d both regret.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’d regret a single minute, but if you want to go home, I’ll take you.”
“Thanks. I really do appreciate that. I’m sorry this didn’t work out like you thought it would. I’m still not comfortable being your fake wife. I mean, my first instinct when I overheard you was that I could help you out and it might be fun. But with things going not so great with my sister, plus the fact that you’re the CEO of the company where I work...it was a bad idea. Your initial reaction, I recall, was to say it was inappropriate for an employee to be involved in a personal matter like this. And I don’t say this very often, but you were right. I was wrong. So, I apologize for butting into your business that way. You can call off the flowers and chocolates and shoes and all that now.”
“I never sent you chocolates.”
“Oh, like you remember what Gina sent me?”
“Gina didn’t send you a damn thing. I know how to make a phone call, and I know how to shop online. She did provide your shoe size, but that’s the extent of her involvement. I kept this quiet out of respect for your privacy.”
“You sent me stuff at work. That’s showing off, not keeping it quiet.”
“Did I put my name on a single card?”
“Well, no, but it was obviously from you,” she faltered.
“See, I was protecting you from speculation. I wanted everyone to see the flowers, to see that you were—wanted and valued. I liked doing it. I also want the offer back on the table.”
“I know we’ve been toying with the offer but... And I say this in the nicest and kindest way. No offer. No deal. I’m going home. You’ve been pretty wonderful to me, but I can’t get involved in someone else’s drama when I have plenty of my own going on. I—I’ll probably miss you. Miss talking to you. So, if you ever need a friend, give me a call. But otherwise, I’m going back to being just another VP’s secretary on a floor you never visit.”
Luke called the car, held the door for her to get in. She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the dark interior as he slid in beside her.
“Are you telling me to forget your number?”
“I’m asking you to let this go. I realize you thought two dates would make you irresistible to me, and it did. Just not in the way you wanted. See, I’d sleep with you right now, this second, but all that would accomplish is confusion and misery for me, and probably inconvenience for you. Because I’ve got a crush on you. You’ve been thoughtful and charming, and you’ve listened to me and paid attention to me—I was lonely as hell, and there you were. So, I like you. And the kind of thing you’re talking about, twelve months of living together, there’s bound to be blurred lines. There’s bound to be funny business and hanky-panky between us, and pretty soon I’d be infatuated with you. I’d end up heartbroken, Luke. And you’d end up disgusted with me because I couldn’t keep my feelings out of a business arrangement.”
“That’s not a happy ending. The way I see it, we have a good time together, we challenge each other. What better way to spend a year that’s going to pass anyway than being married? The benefits are manifold. First, obviously, the illusion of stability will get my board of directors to calm their tits. Second, we like to spend time together, so we could do more of that. Third, I’d have a partner in crime at all the boring functions I have to attend. You’d make me laugh and smile, make them bearable. Fourth, you’d have the benefit of my financial support during that period as well as a settlement upon divorce. It would take care of your student loans if you have any or credit card debt. You could use the year to quit your job and study something you always wanted to or just take time off to be a corporate wife and go to the spa and have brunch with your friends. Maybe even go on a little vacation. There’s no drawback here. It’s win-win. What do you say?”
“I’m still reeling from the fact that you said calm their tits,” she giggled.
“That’s your only reaction? I gave my best persuasive argument in favor of marrying me and what stuck with you from that was tits?”
“You have to admit, it was surprising.”
“You’re avoiding the question. Will you marry me?”
“You told me when I asked you that same question I needed a ring.”
“I did, didn’t I?”
“And you said it better be over-the-top.”
“You have a great memory.”
She peered up at him. “Yes, I do.”
“So, what’s your answer?”