by Alice Ward
“Oh, it was nothing,” she said, blushing slightly. “I just suggested you use real patients in the commercials as opposed to actors. Real people, real experiences. That sort of thing.”
Richard nodded. He seemed impressed. “That isn’t half bad.”
Her blush darkened. “I mean, I don’t know anything about the business.”
“Hey, most things in life are all instinct,” Richard assured her. “You seem to know more than you think.”
“She’s special.” I grinned. Dani looked at me, her eyes searching mine. I tried to convey that I was serious. I did think she was special.
“She is,” Richard agreed. “Hold on to her, Talen.”
“I plan to.” I kissed her hair. “Well, we should get in there. Dad’s waiting.”
“Yes, go,” Richard said. “I’ll see you kids later.”
“It was nice to meet you,” Dani said.
Richard beamed. “You too, sweetheart.”
We watched him walk away, and I put my arm around Dani. I sighed in relief and leaned against her playfully.
“He was nice,” Dani said.
I nodded. “That went well. At least, I think so.”
She squeezed my hand. “It did.”
“Thank god,” I said, laughing. “All right, you ready for this?”
Dani turned to face my father’s office. His name was written in big white letters on the black door. She took a deep breath like she was readying herself for battle. “Let’s do it.”
Knocking softly, I glanced at Dani reassuringly. I didn’t want her to be nervous, even though my own anxiety was at its peak.
“Come in,” my father called. I pushed open the door, and we stepped inside.
Dani’s eyes traveled over the office, taking it all in. She looked impressed but mostly intimidated. I let go of her hand and wrapped my arm around her waist instead. I didn’t know what inspired me, but she looked like she needed the extra comfort. I didn’t blame her. Being in my father’s office always felt like a trip to the principal’s.
“Good morning.”
“Has she met anyone yet?” he asked without looking up. His attention was focused on a folder in front of him.
“Just Richard.”
“And?” he asked.
“It went well.” I looked at Dani and she gave me an encouraging smile. “He loved her. He and Sheila want to have dinner with us sometime soon.”
He nodded. “Good. Make sure she meets the rest of the execs today. Everyone needs to be familiar with her before the investors arrive.”
“I know.” I bristled at the reminder. “They will be.”
Dani stood silently by my side. Her shoulders were tensed, and when I turned to look at her face, I saw that she was glaring at my father.
“The meeting with the investors is a week from Monday. You will both be here.”
Dani tensed even more at my side.
“Of course,” I said. “It’s already on my calendar.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” my father scoffed. “I can’t count the number of meetings you’ve missed.”
I took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I won’t miss it.”
“I would hope not,” he said, looking down again. “But I’ve learned not to expect much from you.”
“Talen wouldn’t miss something this important,” Dani snapped.
I jumped when she spoke. The last thing I expected was for her to come to my defense. Despite her dislike of my father, no one challenged him, and Dani had now done it twice. I never appreciated her more than I did in that moment.
His eyes flicked to Dani. “You, of course, won’t be expected to stay for the meetings, just breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” His eyes flicked down to her shoes and back up again. “Dress nice.”
Her brow lifted. “Like a good little female?”
It was hard not to laugh so I didn’t even try.
My dad’s glacial eyes moved from her to me. “That’ll be all. You can go.”
I gave him a snappy little salute and dragged toward the door Dani behind me. I laughed again when she said, “Good to see you as always, Mr. Gaston.” Then under her breath she added, “Asshole.”
The moment the door was closed, I pulled her to my chest and kissed her hard. “You are brilliant.”
And she was. Brilliant and brave. I’d never, ever, seen anyone stand up to my father.
“Is he always like that?” Her voice was tight with anger. I smiled at the sound. Her eyes were narrowed, and her cheeks were flushed. She looked beautiful and ready to burst with rage.
“Nah. He must have been in a good mood today.”
Dani laughed, and I joined her. It took a little while for us to calm down. Dani shook her head and glanced around her, clearly searching for something to say. “I don’t know how you do it. He’s a monster.”
“He is,” I admitted. “But he’s rich, so no one calls him on it.”
I grinned so she would know I was joking. She laughed again, and I enjoyed watching the joy light up her face. She had a beautiful smile, and the sound of her laugh was even better. I found myself wishing she would keep laughing forever. I could have listened to her all day without getting bored.
As we left the conference room and made the rounds, I found myself watching Dani’s face more than anything else. Every time she smiled, I smiled along with her. Not only had she faced off with my father twice, but the second time was because he insulted me. I didn’t deserve her support, but I had it, and I was grateful. Whatever else happened between us, whatever else the future held, I was sure we would be friends for a long time.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Dani
After our time at the Gaston Pharmaceutical building, Talen and I returned to his apartment and spent the evening hanging out and talking. It was nice. We were quickly becoming real friends, and I was glad. I no longer felt an animosity toward him, and I wanted to keep it that way. If we were friends, it would make our pretend marriage that much easier to fake. Things weren’t awkward at the office, but we had yet to put ourselves to a real test. I was worried about the meeting with the investors.
I tried not to think about it. It was over a week away, and we had better things to focus on. Saturday morning, Talen surprised me in the best way.
I woke up and walked out of the guest room, rubbing sleep from my eyes as I moved. When I stepped into the living room, my mouth fell open. My easel and all my art supplies were set up by the window. There was a tarp strewn across the floor beneath them, and Talen was standing beside my easel with a huge grin on his face. I was beyond speechless. I didn’t know if I would ever be able to speak again.
“What do you think?” Talen asked, spreading his arms wide.
“How did you get all this stuff?” I asked, the words barely coming out of my throat.
“Don’t be mad,” he said. “But I sort of stole your apartment key and picked up all your things late last night. I wanted to surprise you.”
I couldn’t believe it. “You did.”
“I just thought this would be easier. You were talking about how important your art is, and I don’t want to keep you from it. This way, you can stay here and still get work done.”
“Th-is is…” I stuttered. “I just… I can’t believe… Talen, I…”
“Are you happy?” The grin had fallen away, and he was watching me closely. He looked worried that I would freak out.
“Yes, I am. This is amazing. Thank you.”
He shrugged. “It was nothing. I have to go out for the day. Errands and all that, but I had my driver pick up your car. It’s in the garage so you won’t be stuck here while I’m gone, or you’re welcome to use any of mine.”
“Thank you,” I said again. The words didn’t seem strong enough for how I felt, but they were all I could manage.
The grin was back. “I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah,” I said with a slight nod. “Yeah, I’ll be here.”
“Ok
ay.” He smiled and walked across the living room. I watched him leave, still in shock. When I turned back to my easel, a smile slowly spread across my face.
I’d been desperate to get some time with a paintbrush. I never felt like I had enough time to work, but now, I would have the entire day. My face felt flushed. I still couldn’t believe what Talen had done. Most of the time, I didn’t think he cared about me at all, but then he did something thoughtful like this.
With a shake of my head, I tried to stop thinking. I poured out some paint and dipped my paintbrush in it. I squeezed my eyes closed for a second and forced my mind to clear, allowing my emotions to surface. Lately, I was determined to paint what I felt, not what I thought. It was difficult to do, but so far, it had been worth it. My newest works were the best I’d ever done. I wanted nothing more than to keep creating paintings using only my heart.
Standing in Talen’s living room, I lost myself in my art. Soon, the canvas came alive with colors and emotions. I painted for hours, not thinking about anything outside the four edges of the canvas. My head never felt clearer, and my entire body felt relaxed. It wasn’t until I was done that I realized I’d painted Talen.
I took a step back and blinked. I could barely breathe. My surprise was so strong, I almost dropped my paintbrush. I took in the details of the painting. My first instinct was to be embarrassed, but that was quickly replaced by intrigue. I moved closer to my painting again, analyzing each brushstroke. It was a truly beautiful piece. One of my best. Still, I couldn’t believe I’d painted Talen without realizing it. I tried to tell myself it didn’t mean anything, but I wasn’t sure.
When my phone rang, I jumped and hurried toward it.
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me,” Madison’s voice rang out. “What are you doing right now?”
“Just finished painting,” I said, glancing at the piece again. “What’s up?”
“You at home?”
“No. I’m at Talen’s.”
“Ooh,” Madison said with excitement. “Can I come over?!”
I laughed. “I guess. I’ll text you the address.”
“Be there soon.”
As I set my phone back down, my attention immediately returned to the painting on my easel. I didn’t know what it meant, but I knew that I needed to hide it before Talen got home. Or before Madison came over. The last thing I needed was for someone else to see what I’d done. They would surely read something into it, something deep.
I carefully carried the painting to the guest room and set it on the desk. The paint would dry quickly, so I wasn’t worried about smudges, but I was still hesitant to cover it. I left it there, hoping Talen wouldn’t venture into the guest room before I could hide it more carefully.
Just as I stepped back into the living room, there was a knock on the door. I smiled and opened it, knowing it would be Madison. When she stepped inside, her eyes traveled over the living room. “Holy shit. Can I marry him?”
“Sure. After our divorce is finalized.”
“When will that be again?” Madison teased.
“You’re hilarious.” I batted my eyelashes. “Besides, marrying someone for their money is tacky. We’re above that.”
“Are we? Because this place is fucking amazing, Dani.”
I laughed and looked around again, seeing it through her eyes as well as my own. “I know. It really is. I’m still not used to it.”
“I don’t blame you,” she said. She walked around the living room, taking in everything around her. When her eyes landed on my easel, she looked back at me suspiciously. “You brought your art supplies over here?”
“Actually, Talen did that. He surprised me with it this morning.”
“He did what?” Madison asked. I opened my mouth to speak, but she cut me off. “On second thought, go get dressed.”
“Why?”
She waved her fingers at me. “We’re getting mani-pedis. Your nails always look like shit, and—” Her eyes dropped to my hands and she squealed. “Oh my god. Look at that rock.” She grabbed my hand and pulled the engagement ring up for a closer inspection. “Wow.”
It really was beautiful. “It’s just for—”
Maddy dropped my hand. “You can fill me in at the salon. Go get dressed.”
I gave her a little salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
***
I sank my feet into the pedicure tub and leaned back. My eyes closed automatically while the manicurist began her work on my fingernails. It felt wonderful to sit back and be pampered. Immediately, all my stress melted from my body, and I felt more relaxed than I had in months. Everything with my mother, money, and now Talen, had been wearing on my body without me even realizing it. I needed a break from it all.
“So,” Madison said, snapping me back to reality. I opened my eyes and turned my head toward her. “Tell me everything.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Start with the art supplies and go from there,” she demanded. “I feel like I’ve missed so much.”
“You haven’t missed anything,” I said with a soft laugh. “I just woke up this morning and found all my stuff in the living room. It was a wonderful surprise. I’ve been really worried about my art suffering while I’m staying at Talen’s, and this way, I don’t have to stress about it anymore. I can paint whenever I want to.”
“That’s great,” Madison said with a nod. “But that’s not exactly what I meant.”
“What did you mean then?”
“You slept with this guy,” Madison said bluntly. I rolled my eyes. Sometimes her bold nature was disconcerting. In that moment, I wanted to focus on relaxing. I didn’t want to spend any time analyzing my confusing relationship with Talen Gaston.
“Yeah, we slept together,” I admitted. “But that’s not why he brought my supplies over.”
“It’s not?” Madison asked skeptically.
“No. He was just being nice. He knew I was worried so he was being a good friend.”
She cocked a brow. “Don’t you mean husband?”
“Friend,” I snapped. “Just friends. That’s all.”
“Technically, he is your husband,” Madison argued. She was right. I couldn’t fight her on that. Talen was my husband, no matter how I tried to spin it. Still, I didn’t like the insinuation in her voice.
“What are you trying to say?” I asked, trying and failing to keep the annoyance out of my tone.
“I think you have feelings for him,” Madison said, staring into my eyes boldly. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. It felt like I would be agreeing with her if I did, which I wasn’t ready to do.
“Madison, that’s insane,” I said. “Why on Earth would I have feelings for someone like Talen Gaston?”
“Because he’s handsome,” Madison said simply. “And rich. And sexy. And he’s clearly being sweet to you. Hence, bringing over your art supplies as a special surprise and putting a ginormous ring on it. It would make total sense that you would fall for him. Trust me, I don’t blame you.”
“I am not falling for him,” I said firmly. More to myself than to her. “I’ll admit that he isn’t a dick like I once thought. At least, not all the time. Sometimes, he can be very kind and generous. I do like him as a person, but that’s all there is between us. We’re becoming friends, and I’m glad. It would be impossible to keep up this marriage sham if I hated him.”
“Which you don’t,” Madison said.
“No, I don’t.” I sighed. “I don’t hate him.”
“Exactly. Because you have feelings for him.”
“Oh my god,” I said, throwing my head back against the seat. “You’re impossible.”
She shrugged. “I just call it like I see it. And I think you need to be careful.”
“Careful of what?”
“Him. Talen. This whole situation is crazy. I don’t even know how you’re putting up with all of it, but I admire your determination. I sure as hell couldn’t do it. Still, you can’t fall in lov
e with him, Dani. You just can’t.”
“Trust me, I won’t,” I promised.
“Whatever you say,” Madison said with another shrug. “I’m just saying, watch out for yourself. You could end up getting really hurt by all this. Like, heartbroken hurt.”
I opened my mouth to argue but quickly closed it again. No matter what I said, Madison wouldn’t believe me. She had it in her mind that I was falling for Talen. She wouldn’t hear anything to the contrary, and I wasn’t going to argue my point any further.
She was right about one thing though, falling for Talen wasn’t an option. Not only would it complicate our arrangement, but it would open up a door that neither one of us wanted open. Casual sex was one thing. Love was something else entirely. I knew that developing feelings for Talen wasn’t something I could afford to do. Madison didn’t need to tell me that.
Still, as I thought more about Madison’s words, I remembered the painting sitting in Talen’s guest room. If Madison saw it, she would have more than a few opinions to share. I was suddenly glad she hadn’t followed me into the room earlier that day. It would have been much harder to convince her that I didn’t have feelings for him.
I thought about that painting for the rest of the day. I couldn’t get it off my mind. No matter how hard I tried, I pictured it in my mind’s eye over and over again.
And I couldn’t help but wonder… what did it mean?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Talen
I woke up on Sunday morning to a soft knock on my bedroom door. Still half asleep, I stumbled across the room to find Dani standing in the doorway with a shy smile on her face. She glanced behind me at my still messy bed, then turned around and looked toward the kitchen nervously.
“I made a little breakfast,” she said, her fingers twisting together. “Just muffins and stuff. If you’re interested.”
She was beautiful when she was nervous.
“Sure. I’ll be out in a second.”
Dani nodded and turned around while I grabbed a robe. I could’ve eaten breakfast in just my boxers. Dani had already seen me completely naked so it wouldn’t have been awkward, but I felt more comfortable like this. The boundaries between Dani and I were already blurred to the point of almost being nonexistent. I didn’t want to make things even more confusing for either of us.
