“You mean you didn’t see anything that brought in the wealthy elite,” I said with a laugh.
“Exactly,” she replied easily. “That’s what I said.”
“It will be nice to have a normal week.”
She shrugged. “I suppose. Normal is boring.”
We ate our meals, stuffing ourselves on the great food before we parted ways. I was going home to do some minor housework before I sat myself in front of the TV for a little more downtime.
After cleaning up and settling in on the couch, I realized I might be a little bit lonely. I liked solitude, but it could be a little much at times. I didn’t have a lot of friends.
Hell, who was I kidding? I had one friend, Lola. The friends I did have over the years all grew up and started having families of their own.
I had felt odd, out of place hanging out with them when all they talked about were their husbands and children and what school the kids were going to. I had nothing in common with them, and I got tired of the looks of pity when my perpetual single status came up in conversation.
None of them could understand how it was my choice to stay that way. I quit trying to explain, and eventually, I just kind of drifted away.
Lola got it—for the most part. She didn’t hound me about getting married and having babies, but she did hound me to date.
My phone chimed. I assumed it would be Lola telling me about some show she was watching. We often did that. We watched TV together but apart. We’d watch the same show and then text back and forth about what had happened.
It wasn’t Lola. It was Cade.
I couldn’t stop the little burst of excitement from swelling inside.
Are you free tonight? I’d like to take you to dinner.
I looked down at my ratty shorts and threadbare T-shirt and decided I wasn’t free. Plus, I still hadn’t made up my mind I wanted to go out with him. Part of me was afraid he would reject me because I wasn’t rich or educated or polished like the women I had seen at the party.
Can’t tonight. I replied.
Come on. I’m hungry. You need to eat dinner. Let’s do it together.
I laughed at his reasoning. It’s not a good night.
It could be if you let me take you to dinner.
He was smooth. I had to give him that. I was tempted.
One dinner in a public restaurant. How bad could it be? It could be bad because he might expect that dinner to be prepayment for something else. I was not interested in doing that.
I can’t. I will see what my schedule looks like for the week and let you know if I’m available, I wrote back.
I waited to see what he would reply. There was playing hard to get, and then there was difficult. I didn’t want to be difficult, but by telling him no, I was letting him know I wouldn’t jump when he called. I didn’t want to be too easy.
I’ll be keeping my phone close, waiting for your answer, with my fingers crossed.
I smiled as I read his message. It was sweet. I almost texted him back and said I was suddenly free for the night, but I resisted the urge. I had to stick to my guns and not let myself get sweet-talked by the very handsome, wealthy man. I wanted him to know I was tough and independent.
I couldn’t stop smiling as I put my phone back on the table. It felt good to be wanted. It was a huge boost to my self-esteem and made me feel like I was worthy.
I didn’t like to dwell on it, but my mom had made me feel very unwanted for most of my life. It hadn’t been until the last few years that she tried to have a relationship with me.
Of course, she only wanted to hang out with me when she’d been dumped or she needed money, but I did feel like she was trying to be a decent mother. Not a good mother, but better than the uncaring woman she’d been most of my life.
I quickly dismissed the unpleasant thoughts from my mind and turned up the TV to help drown out those negative memories. It did no good to dwell on the past. I wasn’t going to give those memories another minute of my life. I had lived through them once and didn’t like it. There was no sense in reliving it over and over.
What was done, was done, and I was all about looking ahead, not back.
Chapter 11
Cade
I moved to unlock the back door and found it already unlocked. Either I had been burglarized or Kacia was early. I was going with the first. The odds were better.
I heard humming and assumed a burglar would probably not be humming as he robbed me, unless he was eating my gelato. My gelato was that good and could make even the toughest thief hum.
“Who are you, and what have you done with Kacia?” I asked when I stepped out front.
She groaned. “Shut up. Why are you always such an asshole?”
I made a big show of rubbing my eyes. “Kacia? Kacia, is that you?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know why I work here. You’re a horrible boss.”
“You work here because you love me.” I winked. “But seriously, why are you here so early?”
“Have you ever thought maybe you’re late?”
I looked at the clock on the wall and realized she was right. “Not late, on time.”
“That’s what I always say, and you say on time is early,” she pointed out.
“Fine, fine. Thank you for being early. I appreciate it.”
She dropped the cups on the counter and spun around, one hand on her hip. “How was your party?”
“Fine.”
“Did you wear the suit?”
“You know I did. To defy him would have only brought holy terror upon my head.” I knew it sounded dramatic, but I wasn’t joking at all.
“Did anyone talk to you, or did they keep their distance in case you were radioactive?”
“Stop.”
“I bet everyone shielded their eyes with sunglasses,” she said. “That outfit was neon.”
I rolled my eyes. “How many more of these do you have?” I asked dryly.
She giggled. “I have a couple more.”
“Save them. The suit wasn’t that bad.”
“It was horrible,” she said.
I sighed. “Fine. It was horrible, but no one was rude enough to actually say anything. Unlike you. You could really use some manners.”
She blew out a breath. “All right. How was it really?”
I couldn’t stop the grin. “Actually, it ended on a high note. The dinner was horrible, and my dad was a complete jerk, but I met someone.”
“Someone, like a female?”
“No, a dog.”
She scowled at me. “You’re being coy.”
“Yes, I met a woman,” I told her.
“And?”
“She’s beautiful.”
She let out an exaggerated sigh. “That’s it. That’s all you have to say?”
“Honestly, I don’t have much more than that. Her name is Eliana. She has beautiful chestnut-colored hair, light green eyes, and is just a tiny bit edgy.” I smiled at the memory of our conversation.
“Ha! She made fun of your suit!”
I chuckled, nodding my head. “She did.”
“I knew it!” she exclaimed. “I like her already. Tell me more!”
“I honestly don’t know much more about her. I met her briefly before dinner. I didn’t realize she worked as a waitress for the venue. I stuck around and tried to talk to her after most everyone else had left, but she wasn’t exactly a friendly sort. She was very standoffish. She told me she’d never met a rich guy like me.” I waited for her to pick up on the key word.
I saw when she did. Her forehead scrunched up. “Rich guy? You’re a rich guy?”
I slowly nodded. “I may have told one tiny little white lie.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Tiny? Um, I don’t think that’s so tiny.”
“She assumed I was rich because I was at the party. I didn’t deny it. Actually, she said something about rich guys, and I said I was the richest of the rich. I said it sarcastically, but I don’t think she picked u
p on my sarcasm.”
“I have warned you about that, haven’t I?” she scolded.
I nodded, feeling like a little boy being lectured. “You have.”
“So, now what? Is this a thing? Are you going to see her again?”
“I want to. I did get her number.”
She nodded. “And? Are you going to call her? I know you Cade. You’ll sit on it for too long, and she’ll end up forgetting who you are.”
“I did text and ask her to dinner last night. She shot me down.”
She cringed. “I’m sorry. Maybe it’s for the best. I’m not sure how you’re going to carry on this little charade. It would be too embarrassing to confess your very humble roots.”
“I’m not embarrassed by how I live,” I retorted.
She shrugged. “Obviously, you are.”
“No, I’m not. Why do you say that?” I was growing flustered, and I heard the hint of my Greek accent coming through, as it always did when I was upset.
“I say that because you lied to her,” she whispered in Greek.
“Not intentionally,” I said, keeping the conversation in English.
“Cade, I know your dad has not been supportive and has ridiculed you for your choices, but you’re a good man,” she said, her voice soft. “You’re successful in your own right. You know you’re doing okay for yourself.”
I nodded. “It just came out so easily. I was wearing the suit and playing a part, and it just spilled over. I should have told her I was joking.” I shook my head and sighed. “It just came out.”
“Idiot,” she grumbled.
“Enough. Get back to work. I don’t need any help feeling like a dipshit. I’ve got stuff to do in the office.” I turned to walk away.
“No, you don’t. Cade, I’m on your side, but you have to tell her. If she’s the girl you say she is, she’ll be okay with it. If she isn’t okay with who you really are, you don’t need her. Lose her now, or lose her later.” She shrugged.
“You’re a kid,” I told her. “You have no idea what any of this is about.”
“I’m not so young. You act like you’re an old man. I know you well enough to know this isn’t going to be easy for you. You are going to make yourself crazy if you try and fool this woman. You’re the most honest person I know, and I’m not saying that’s always a good thing.” She laughed.
“Thanks. I do have stuff to do. Let me know if you need any help.” I headed for the back room.
Everything she said was true. I hated that she knew me that well. I never had siblings, and when I had met Kacia for the first time, I immediately knew I was going to adopt her as my little sister. She was young, feisty, and in need of some big-brother guidance. At least, I thought she needed it. She didn’t. I gave her advice whether she liked it or not, and she did the same to me.
I sat down behind my desk and looked around my office that was just a little bigger than a closet and lacking any windows. It wasn’t the office of a wealthy man. I wasn’t a wealthy man. I knew that didn’t make me any less of a man, but what if Eliana wasn’t attracted to an average guy?
I had dealt with my fair share of rejection from women over the years. I had learned early on that a lot of them could be shallow. They saw my body and where I worked and automatically assumed I was an unmotivated man still living with his mommy in some tiny hovel. It had been hurtful, but I brushed it off, using humor to get through.
Eliana sparked something inside me that I wanted to explore. I couldn’t explain what it was about her, but I really wanted to get to know her better. I just wasn’t sure I would get the chance.
If I confessed my lie, she could dump me. If I didn’t confess my lie and she found out, she would likely dump me. I felt like I was damned if I did and damned if I didn’t.
I smiled, holding my phone in my hand. But if I did get her to go out with me once or twice and gave her a chance to get to know me, I could reel her in and hope she had fallen for the real me and didn’t care about my lack of wealth.
That was the best-case scenario, and I knew I would have to be extra charming to make that happen, but I could do it. I hoped.
I texted Eliana Hi. What are you up to today?
It was a little cheesy, but I wasn’t sure where else to start. I needed to get the lines of communication open and flowing.
She replied. Getting ready for work. You?
I grimaced. Did I tell her I was at work? What if she asked what I did for a living?
Work.
And ding, it came back just as I expected. What kind of work do you do?
I thought about my answer before sending it. I own a business.
It wasn’t a lie. I did own a business. I didn’t want to keep lying to her. That would only make digging out of the shit more difficult later. So far, my one little tiny white lie could still be chalked up to joking. I could still tell her I didn’t think she’d taken me seriously.
I had to leave myself an exit plan.
There was a long pause, lasting several minutes actually. I wondered if I had said the wrong thing. Maybe she already knew who I was? I quickly dismissed the idea. She couldn’t.
My phone buzzed when she replied.
Look, you seem like a nice guy, but this isn’t going to happen. I don’t want to lead you on.
I reread the message at least six times. What the hell? We’d gone from what I did for a living to her giving me the boot.
One dinner, I sent to her.
I’m sorry, but no thanks.
I got it. I wasn’t going to fucking beg. I sent her the thumbs-up emoji and tossed my phone on the desk. I wanted to throw it against the wall. That had not gone like I’d expected.
I was beginning to take the constant rejection personally. I couldn’t even land a woman who thought I was filthy rich. There had to be something seriously wrong with me.
I wasn’t going to be any good to Kacia. I wasn’t going to be able to focus on much of anything. The anger and hurt boiling in my veins could only be exorcised one way—through exercise.
I snatched the phone, shoved it in my pocket, and stomped back up front. Kacia had just unlocked the front door and turned the open sign. She saw me staring at her and got a look of concern on her face.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing. I’m taking the morning off. Call if you need me.”
“Cade, are you okay?” she asked, stepping toward me.
I held up a hand. “I’m fine. I just need to go. I can come back later if you need me, but right now, I just need to go.”
She nodded. “I’ve got this. You know I do. I’ll see you later.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, turned, and left out the back door.
I went straight home, changed into my running clothes, and headed for the beach. The exercise would drown out the feelings that were threatening to pull me under. I knew I had to run. If I didn’t, I was going to find me about twenty meatball subs and gorge myself.
She wasn’t worth it.
Obviously, she wasn’t interested, and I had enough self-esteem to know I wasn’t exactly the bottom of the man barrel.
Chapter 12
Eliana
I was sitting at a table, folding napkins in preparation for the party being held at the event center in a couple hours. It was an easy, yet tedious job. I didn’t have to think. I could just fold.
I had volunteered to come in early to help with the setup when one of the regular guys called in sick. I could definitely use the extra hours. If my mom hadn’t hooked up with a new man yet, she would be coming around soon, asking for money.
If I didn’t immediately hand some over, she’d guilt me into it. She would remind me how she raised me on her own and sacrificed so much for me and deprived herself of an education.
We both knew I was going to give it to her. It made sense to just fork it over and be done with it, which meant I would work extra to support her and me. I was fully aware it was an unhealthy relationship. I didn’t nee
d an expert to tell me that.
“Hey, I called you,” Lola said, taking a seat at the table next to me.
“My phone is in my purse,” I said. “I came in to cover for Ben.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
I shrugged. “Nothing. I’m folding napkins.”
“You seem melancholy.”
I smirked. “This is me. What you see is what you get.”
She studied me closely. “Talk to Cade?”
“Who?” I asked, feigning innocence.
She nodded. “Yep, you talked to him. Are you going out with him?”
I shook my head. “We’ve exchanged a few texts, and I thought about going to dinner with him, but then I realized it was a waste of time.”
“How is going to dinner a waste of time?” she asked. “You eat. He eats. You eat together. To me, you’re saving time. You’re getting to know a man and taking care of your need to eat.”
I shook my head. “There is no point going through the motions. Cade is not my knight in shining armor. I don’t want to do the whole awkward thing. I don’t want to ask him about his life, and he asks me about mine, like we actually care. I don’t want to do something that will lead nowhere.”
“How do you know it won’t lead anywhere?” she asked. “You might actually like him if you give yourself a chance.”
“And then what?” I asked. “He’s the rich guy swooping in to rescue poor little old me? No thanks. I don’t need rescuing. I don’t want his pity or his money.”
“Why are you assuming the worst?” Lola asked, frowning. “I saw him that night, and I didn’t get that vibe from him. In fact, it kind of looked like he was an outcast. He didn’t talk to many people all night. He was practically glued to his seat the whole time.”
“Probably because he was too embarrassed to move around in that suit he was wearing,” I said.
She laughed. “It was kind of a wild outfit. Maybe it was a dare.”
“I hope it was a dare. No man should ever wear that color combination.”
“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” she said before getting up from the table and walking away.
Pretending to be Rich Page 7
