by Reese Ryan
“I thought I’d get an early start on shopping for my mother’s birthday this year. I’d love to get a first look at your newest designs.”
Kayleigh seemed to find his response reasonable. She directed him to an arrangement of three necklaces with matching bracelets and earrings.
“These are incredible, Kayleigh.” He studied the pieces, one by one. Using gold-and-silver wire, she’d recreated some of the flowers and leaves they’d seen during their hike. Each piece was more stunning than the last. The third set was embellished with precious stones.
“This one is particularly beautiful.” He admired the wire-wrapped stones and her intricate work. “I’d never really noticed what exceptional work you do. I’d like to buy this set.”
“I’m not quite finished with it, and I’m not sure how much I’ll charge for it when I’m done.”
“Well, when you decide, I’d like it.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.
Kayleigh narrowed her gaze at him and then waved her hand. “Consider it a gift.”
She was wearing tattered jeans and an old T-shirt. Her hair was pulled high in a lopsided bun that a light breeze could’ve blown apart. Yet he could barely take his eyes off her. And he couldn’t stop thinking of the taste of her mouth or how it had felt to hold her in his arms.
“No, I couldn’t.”
“You paid for the upgrade to the cabin and King’s Finest is covering my travel expenses this weekend.” She swept aside a few stray curls that had tumbled free of her loose bun. “It’s the least I can do.”
“You let me know when you decide on a price for that set.” He didn’t acknowledge her offer again as he turned to leave. “Be sure to lock the door this time.” He gave her a faint smile. “Good night, Kayleigh.”
She followed him to the door, wished him a good night and locked it behind him.
Parker squeezed his eyes shut against the vision of Kayleigh at the cabin that day, wishing he’d made a different choice.
Fourteen
Kayleigh studied herself in the full-length mirror. Her hotel room was gorgeous, as was the hotel where Parker’s national distillery trade organization was holding their conference and gala. He’d arrived earlier in the week, while she’d arrived the previous day.
Parker had planned a day of sightseeing for them, and as much as she hated to admit it, it had been fun. She’d been to New York before, with Aidan, but she hadn’t visited any of the touristy sites like the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty. Which was something she’d mentioned to Parker when he’d proposed this trip.
He’d arranged for her to visit both, and earlier that day they’d gone on one of those cheesy television-show tours. She’d loved every minute of it. And despite himself, Parker seemed to enjoy it, too. He’d been genuinely disappointed when she had other plans for lunch.
She raked her manicured fingernails through her shiny, silken coppery curls and tugged her hair over one shoulder, hoping he’d be pleased when he discovered how she’d spent the afternoon.
Kayleigh removed her dress from its silk hanger and stepped into the soft, buttery gold satin, sliding it up her body. The floor-length dress had a deep V-neck, a low-cut back, spaghetti straps and a thigh-high slit.
It wasn’t something she’d typically wear, but Savannah had gotten teary-eyed when she’d tried the dress on and insisted that this was the one. So Kayleigh had trusted her hormonal friend and ventured outside of her comfort zone.
There was a knock at the door that separated her hotel room from Parker’s.
“Perfect timing.” She opened the door and turned her back toward him. “Can you get this zipper for me?”
Parker set something down, then zipped up her dress. “Kayleigh, you look...absolutely stunning.”
“Thank you.” She surveyed his charcoal gray Michael Kors tuxedo and pristine white tuxedo shirt. “You look quite handsome, too. Except...”
She adjusted his black bow tie a smidge. It was the kind of thing that she normally didn’t notice, but would drive Parker insane. “Perfect.”
“Ready?” He checked his watch. A Bvlgari with a black alligator strap, an eighteen-karat rose-gold bezel and a transparent dial that revealed its black gears. The watch had to be worth more than her truck. Maybe even when it was new.
“Yes.” Kayleigh stepped into the gold, peep toe Betsey Johnson stilettos she’d picked out to go with the dress. The four-inch heels were studded with crystals and had an ankle strap. She picked up her cell phone. It was all she planned to carry.
“Before we go...” Parker retrieved the box he’d set down when he’d zipped her dress. It was wrapped in shiny gold paper and had an organza bow. He handed it to her. “This is for you.”
“What is it?” Kayleigh studied the beautiful box. It was almost too pretty to open.
He shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”
Kayleigh carefully loosened the bow, set the box on the bed and opened it. She gasped. “This is the Alexander McQueen clutch I admired in the shop window yesterday. You went back for it?”
He shrugged, as if buying her a bag that cost more than her mortgage payment was no big deal. “You liked it, and you said you didn’t have a handbag for a formal event.”
Kayleigh glided her fingers over the crystal-studded black calf leather and the hinged clasp with its signature skull and embellished four-ring knuckle-duster. “Parker, this was incredibly sweet of you, but it’s much too expensive a gift. Besides, I thought you didn’t like it.”
“I didn’t at first. But the more I thought about it, the more I understood why you love it. It’s edgy, yet beautiful. Classic, yet modern. It suits you, Kayleigh.” He lifted the black leather clutch from the box and extended it to her. “So I want you to have it. It’s that simple.”
Parker Abbott was an enigma she might never understand. He could be infuriating, but he could also be sweet and insightful. “I don’t know what to say other than...thank you.”
She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, then wiped off the smudge of lipstick left in its wake.
They made their way down to the beautifully appointed ballroom. Kayleigh tensed the moment they stepped inside. Most of the women were dripping with diamonds and wearing expensive, high-end designer ball gowns. Many were wearing red-bottomed heels.
She’d felt confident and beautiful when she’d stepped on that elevator, but now she felt like she was on the JV team when everyone else here was clearly varsity.
Parker slipped an arm around her waist. “You’ll do fine, and you look amazing.” He guided her to their table and pulled out her chair. “Can I get you a drink?”
“A dirty martini, please.”
“Coming right up.”
Kayleigh watched Parker walk across the room. He looked incredibly handsome in his tuxedo and there was something about the swagger of his walk that...
No. Nope. Stop it.
Kayleigh reminded herself of all the reasons she shouldn’t be thinking of Parker Abbott that way.
* * *
Parker surveyed the crowded room as he moved toward the bar. He reached inside his tuxedo jacket for his wallet when the bartender requested his order. “A manhattan and a dirty martini, please.”
“I hope that dirty martini is for me,” a sultry voice whispered in his ear.
“Elena.” His spine stiffened as he turned to face her. “How are you?”
“Better now that you’re here.” Her brown eyes twinkled.
Elena Mixon was the kind of woman who commanded attention anywhere she went. The kind of woman that just about any man would want on his arm. But Elena was no man’s arm candy. Nor would she ever consent to being a trophy wife. Much to the chagrin of her parents.
She was as dedicated and driven as any man he’d ever met, and like him, she was determined to prove that she was the one who shou
ld be running her family’s distillery. An opinion her old-school father, traditional mother and six siblings—five of whom were male—heartily disagreed with.
“And I was afraid it was going to be boring this year.” She trailed a finger down his arm, her brown eyes gleaming.
They’d last seen each other at an event two years ago. And they’d seen every inch of each other.
“Actually, I brought a date this year.”
She smacked her lips as if it were the most preposterous thing she’d ever heard. “I thought you didn’t believe in dating.”
“Generally speaking.” He shoved one hand in his pocket and leaned against the bar.
“What makes this girl so special?”
“She just...is.” Parker glanced in Kayleigh’s direction. Their eyes met and she smiled. It warmed something in his chest.
He checked his watch. What the hell is taking the bartender so long with those drinks?
“How long have you two been dating?” Elena parked herself on the stool beside him.
Parker groaned quietly. Elena was worse than he was at taking hints. “Not long, but we have history. We were best friends in grade school.”
“And what prompted the change in your relationship?”
“Is there a reason you’re so interested in my love life?”
“The thing is, I didn’t think you had a love life. That’s why I didn’t press for anything more than industry-event hookups. But when you change the rules of the game, darling, it isn’t fair to not inform the other players.” Elena crossed her legs and one long, shapely leg peeked through the high slit of her dress.
“We haven’t seen each other in two years. You’re upset because I’m here with someone else?” He was honestly baffled by Elena’s reaction. “Why? Neither of us expressed an interest in a relationship.”
Elena sighed. “I understand, but if I’d known there was another option—”
“Another option for what?”
“Don’t play coy with me. You know good and well that—”
“Hi, babe. I thought I’d check on our drinks.” Kayleigh suddenly appeared beside him, her clutch in hand.
He blinked. Had she just called him babe?
“Parker can be so...well, you know...Parker.” Kayleigh smiled at Elena. “Hi, I’m Kayleigh Jemison. I’m Parker’s—”
“Fiancée.” The word escaped his mouth abruptly, taking all three of them by surprise.
“Fiancée?” Elena echoed.
“Yes.” Kayleigh stared up at him lovingly, after quickly recovering from her initial shock at his sudden declaration. “I’m his fiancée.”
“But no engagement ring?” Elena tapped her long fingernails against the oak bar.
Parker and Kayleigh exchanged glances. It was something they hadn’t considered.
“I’m a jewelry designer, so I’m hard to shop for.” Kayleigh smiled at Elena sweetly. “But I’m confident we’ll find the right ring.”
“Yes.” Parker wrapped his arm around Kayleigh’s waist and pulled her closer. “I know we will, sweetheart.”
She wasn’t the only one who could throw around terms of endearment.
After an awkward silence between them, Parker spoke. “My apologies, ladies. I should’ve introduced you from the outset. Kayleigh, this is Elena Mixon. Her family owns Mixon Whiskey. And Elena, you already know that Kayleigh Jemison is—”
“Your fiancée.” Elena sounded completely unconvinced.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Elena.” Kayleigh nodded, then turned toward the bartender, who’d finally brought their drinks and apologized for the delay.
“What was that about?” Kayleigh asked once they’d taken their leave and returned to their table. “The look you gave me... I could tell you needed an escape from your friend over there, but I didn’t expect you to pull the whole fiancée thing out of the hat.”
“Neither did I.” Parker gulped his drink. He still wasn’t sure why he’d said it. But if the encounter with Elena was any indication, their fake-fiancée experiment was going to go up in flames before they unmoored the boat from the dock.
“I guess it’s only fair.” Kayleigh sipped her martini. “You’re playing my fake fiancé for a week—the least I can do is play yours for one night.” She set her martini down. “It’s good this happened. Elena brought up a very good point.”
“The ring. I know. I hadn’t thought of that either.”
“I cannot go there with a fake ring. Aidan’s mother and sister would spot it from a mile away. Maybe I can find a really nice ring at a pawn shop here.”
“Don’t worry about the ring.” Parker swigged his manhattan, then set the glass on the table. “I’ve got that covered. A friend owes me a favor.”
“Thank you, Parker.”
The relief and gratitude in Kayleigh’s eyes made him sit a bit taller. He liked being someone she could count on.
“Parker, it’s so good to see you.”
He stood as Malcolm and Sarah Mays, the owners of a gin distillery in Washington State, joined them at the table. He accepted a hug from the kindly older woman and then shook her husband’s hand.
“And you must be Parker’s fiancée.” The woman grinned.
Kayleigh nearly choked on her martini. She set her glass down and gave him a panicked look before her smile fell back into place. “Yes, ma’am. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Parker searched the room for Elena. She was talking with a group of industry execs and pointing in their direction.
By the time the night was over, the entire room would know.
Fifteen
“You’ve been practicing.” Kayleigh looked up at Parker as they swayed together on the dance floor. She was surprised at how light and confident his steps were.
“I’ll neither confirm nor deny.” He chuckled. “Maybe I just had a really good teacher.”
“Well, that’s for sure.” She grinned. There was a beat of silence between them before she blurted out, “I’m sorry this whole fiancé thing got out of control. I should’ve stayed at our table and let you handle your friend over there.”
“It isn’t your fault. I’m the one who told her. I just didn’t think she’d make it her mission to tell everyone here.”
Kayleigh’s cheeks heated. They’d been congratulated by countless distillery owners and execs, as well as several of the vendors. And more than once the photographer had asked to take a picture of the award winner and his fiancée. Photos that would hopefully go into a single email or, better yet, be buried on someone’s hard drive.
“Congrats again on the award.” Kayleigh was anxious to change the subject. “Your acceptance speech was heartfelt and witty. You even made us laugh. I was impressed.” She grinned. “I know your family is enjoying themselves in the Caribbean, but it’s too bad they couldn’t be here to see you tonight.”
“Thankfully I wasn’t alone.”
There was something so warm and open about his expression. It caught her off guard and made her belly do a little flip. Suddenly she was keenly aware of the placement of his large hand low on her back and how their bodies moved together. It stirred up all of the feelings that had led her to kiss him that day at the cabin. Something she couldn’t stop thinking about, no matter how hard she tried.
This is a business arrangement. Real feelings have no place in a fake relationship. Because the only person who would get hurt was her. Again. Parker would go on with his life as if nothing had happened. Experience had taught her that.
“Everything okay?” Parker frowned.
“Yes.” She stopped swaying and took a step away from him. “It’s been a long day.”
“And it’s been a long week for me.” Parker looked disappointed, though he managed a cursory smile. “We stayed a socially acceptable amount of time, and I danced. Seems l
ike a good time to call it a night.”
Kayleigh forced a smile and slipped her arm through his, disappointed that their weekend together was coming to an end.
* * *
Kayleigh said good-night to Parker and closed the door behind her. She pressed her back against the cool door and sighed. Just a few more weeks and then they could go back to the way things were. Hopefully she and Parker wouldn’t be enemies. But they wouldn’t need to spend time together, either.
She tossed her clutch on the bed and kicked off her heels. Her feet ached, and she remembered exactly why she preferred a broken-in pair of cowboy boots.
A knock at the door between their rooms startled her. She swung the door open.
“Yes?”
Parker didn’t speak right away. He just stared at her for a moment. “Need help with that zipper again?”
“Oh, yes. Thanks.” Kayleigh tried to tamp down the disappointment in her voice. She turned her back to him and swept her hair over one shoulder.
He stepped forward and slowly unzipped the back of her dress. When he was done, he didn’t move and neither did she. Kayleigh stood there, heart racing, the sound of her heartbeat filling her ears.
Parker slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him as he leaned down and kissed her neck.
Kayleigh’s eyes drifted closed at the delicious sensation of his lips grazing her heated skin. She relaxed against Parker’s hard chest and felt his heart thudding against her back.
She allowed her head to fall back, granting him complete access to her neck and bare shoulder. Her entire body shivered as he planted soft kisses along her skin.
A soft murmur escaped her mouth when Parker’s hand glided up the front of her body and cupped her breast. She leaned into his touch, wanting more.
He turned her around and captured her mouth in an intense kiss. One hand was pressed to the heated skin of her bare back; the other was wrapped around her waist, pulling their lower bodies closer.
Kayleigh slid her hands beneath his jacket and wrapped her arms around his back, desperate for more contact between them. Parker obliged. His strong hands eased down her body, gripped her bottom and hauled her against him. His growing length was pinned between them.
