“I know this is out of nowhere,” Nigel stated, raking a hand through his hair, clearly stressed.
She’d only known him a short time, but she’d never seen him this flustered. Clearly he was in a bind and wasn’t any more comfortable asking her than she was being invited. She also had to assume that he wouldn’t have come to her had he’d had another choice.
“My grandmother is quite persistent,” he added, his dark eyes pleading with her.
“But, what about my job here?” she asked, still reeling from the out-of-the-blue request. “I mean, what will everyone think? First I’m hired as a consultant, then I’m put in charge of heading up the marketing for the wedding episode that may or may not happen, then I go to an award ceremony with you and now a family wedding back at your home?”
Her mind was spinning just saying all of this out loud. Talk about a whirlwind experience. But the biggest issue for her was the thing she didn’t dare say aloud—between getting swept up with Nigel and his charm and sex appeal, and her inability to deny him anything, she was running out of time to uncover information on Miranda. Every angle she’d tried ended up a dead end. Everyone she spoke to absolutely loved the woman.
“I know it looks crazy... It is crazy,” he amended, reaching for her hands. “Nobody here has to know about where we’re actually going. I can say I have you going on a trip to scout potential locations for the show.”
More lying. For someone who used to pride herself on honesty, she’d fallen down the rabbit hole of deceit and she wasn’t sure she’d find her way back out anytime soon.
If she went away with him, Sophie knew they’d pick up where they’d left off the other night... That both thrilled and terrified her. She’d never wanted anyone the way she wanted Nigel and that was what scared her most. How could she ever let him go?
Nigel’s strong hands held hers as he continued to stare at her, imploring her with his eyes.
“How long will we be gone?” she asked.
A toe-curling smile spread across his face. “Five days.”
Five days in an English countryside estate with a man she was quickly falling for, during which she’d have to pretend to be his girlfriend so his family would get off his back. Seriously, what could go wrong?
Sophie had lied to get to this point and now she was taking this acting skill on an international tour. What would her brothers think when she told them about this venture?
Maybe she should keep this part to herself. She didn’t want to use Nigel. That part kept niggling at her. She may be lying in her position here, but she wasn’t lying about her growing feelings or attraction. She wasn’t that good of an actress. But all of these emotions were completely unexpected and causing issues she hadn’t planned on.
“I don’t want to pressure you,” he told her. “I just didn’t want to ask anyone else.”
The fact he trusted her with meeting his family and only added to her shame. He was being so transparent with his life with her, as far as she knew, and she was a complete phony.
Yet she couldn’t say no. She wanted to spend more time with the man who made her wish this were all
real. He made her daydream about a real relationship, a real attraction...a real affair instead of one based on lies.
“I’ll do it,” she told him. “I’ll go to England.”
Nigel’s shoulders relaxed as he stepped closer her and gripped her hands to his chest. “You will love my home and my family. Dame Claire can be overwhelming at times, but she does everything out of love.”
Sophie wasn’t sure how she’d deal with a large, loving family and a doting grandmother...especially one with a title. Sure, she and her brothers were close, and she’d loved her her mother, but the relationship with her father just left her feeling broken.
What would her life be like if she had a close relationship with her father? Maybe the outcome of the will would’ve been different and Sophie and her brothers would have had their legacy given to them.
She only had her brothers now and they were depending on her. Even though Kellan had said she could come home, she didn’t want to let them down. She wanted to be the one to make everything right. She wanted to give them back what had been taken away.
“What should I pack for this wedding?” Sophie asked, ignoring the blaring horns and red flags in her head.
Nigel quirked a brow. “I’ve got everything covered. My jet will be ready to go Wednesday morning and your dresses and jewelry will be on board.”
And Sophie fell just a little deeper into this Pretty Woman scenario.
* * *
Central Park was absolutely gorgeous in the winter. Freezing, but breathtaking and so picturesque.
Sophie huddled deeper into her coat as she walked along the curved path through the park. The brisk air gave her a freshness that she didn’t find in Texas heat. Besides, she’d wanted to get out of the office and take a much-needed break.
She’d tried calling Vaughn, but she’d only gotten his voice mail. She stopped at a park bench that had been cleaned off and took a seat, pulling out her phone to call Kellan.