I relented to be polite. I was so tired I really didn’t need another drink. Then again, I couldn’t leave the party early because my car was going no further than its current spot out front and I couldn’t let every person I worked with plus Cherie’s extended family see me sleeping in my car. I was stuck. May as well be stuck with good champagne.
Of course, the champagne got me talking, and in no time, I had managed to spill my guts to Cherie and poor Piper who cornered me in the kitchen. “So did you hear that Lucy had a fiancé, Piper?”
“Really?”
“No not really, but she made one up on the phone a little while ago.”
“High school nemesis?” Piper asked.
“Yep, you guessed it. Cheerleader, class president, old best friend, and now wife of my ex-boyfriend.”
“Ouch,” Cherie said, filling a platter with canapés.
“Yeah. And that’s not the half of it.”
“No wonder you freaked. “ Piper patted my hand reassuringly. “We will simply have to find a fake fiancé for you. When’s the reunion?”
“Two weeks.” I plonked myself down on one of the stools at the island” It’s impossible to find someone by then. I’ll just cancel.”
“Oh I don’t know. I only knew Aaron two weeks when we got married.” Her face was all dreamy and soft with love.
“First of all Piper, I think you were the exception and secondly I really don’t actually want to marry anyone. I simply need a warm body to show up and smile.”
“I have a warm body.” Chase’s voice filled the space behind me, his warm breath on my neck. Clearly, the girls had seen him coming and done nothing to warn me. “I can smile on cue.”
“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary.”
For some reason the whole party now seemed to be in the kitchen. Well, not the whole party, but Aaron was there too. “What’s up, Lucy?”
“She needs a fake fiancé for her school reunion in two weeks.” Piper told him, handing him a beer.
“Oh bummer.” Aaron’s arm snaked around Piper’s neck.
“I’ll do it,” Chase said and settled on to the stool beside me.
“You don’t even know me; why would you do that?” I took a proper look at him. He was definitely a good-looking guy. The kind of guy that would make Patty very, very jealous, but still... I didn’t know him and he was way too self-assured for his own good. And mine. No one would buy us as a couple.
“Why not? It’s can’t be that bad to spend a weekend with you.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Yeah, that won’t work,” Piper told him “To pull off a fiancé, you’re going to have to know her or it won’t be believable.”
“You’d need to spend a lot of time together over the next couple of weeks,” Aaron agreed.
“And I kind of don’t really have that kind of time. We’re very busy at work, aren’t we, Piper? Plus, I have other stuff going on?”
Piper’s brow crinkled. “Other stuff?”
“Yes other stuff which I am certainly not discussing now.” I cocked my head toward Chase.
“Well, my schedule’s pretty flexible. And I’d be happy to help,” Chase said.
Why was he being so nice to me?
“Thanks.” I tried to be gracious but it was all rather confusing. “But I’m sure I’ll figure something out. I must know someone already who would do it. I really appreciate the offer, though.” I patted his hand.
Big mistake. There was that zing again. Apparently my head hadn’t told my hormones, no more zinging.
“Well, the offer stands,” he said, wandering off to the other room.
“Go on. He’s perfect.” Cherie loved to egg me on.
“He’s so not perfect, though I’m sure he thinks he is.”
“Come on, Lucy. You don’t even know him,” Piper said.
“Neither do you,” I didn’t want to be argumentative but I was feeling a bit ganged-up- on.
“But I do,” Cherie gave me a pointed stare. “And let’s face it, he’s a smart, successful, good-looking guy, and he’s willing to help. That’s quite a few boxes ticked.”
“And that’s all very nice, but there is no way I’m taking Chase to my reunion so please let it go.”
Chapter 2
I couldn’t believe I was sitting in the kitchen of this amazing brownstone, drinking coffee and nursing my hangover. More than that, I couldn’t believe that this was Piper’s new home. I suppose it should have made me believe there was hope for everyone because if anyone had asked me, or anyone else a month ago, if Piper would be all gooey and in love, let alone married to this very hot guy, I would have said no. If there’d been a bet, I would have lost money.
Yet, here we were. I wouldn’t say I was jealous because that wasn’t it exactly. Piper worked hard for everything she had, and heavens knew, the woman had been like a machine these past few years, so I certainly didn’t begrudge her anything. It was just that her life seemed to be coming together as mine was falling apart, and I was, I suppose, a bit envious.
Of course, I haven’t told Piper, who was both my friend and my boss that all my worldly goods were in the back of my car which broke down on her very fancy new street. I didn’t want to be a buzz kill.
She and Aaron looked disgustingly cute together. I needed more coffee or my negativity would become evident and that wasn’t what I wanted.
And then he appeared again.
I hated that he was extraordinarily good-looking in a preppy, all-American way. He had that young Robert Redford in The Way We Were look about him with a hint of George Clooney thrown in, so he looked like he had a secret or a joke or something. Too pretty and way too spoiled for my taste.
Still, when he smiled at me with those perfect teeth, his hair still tousled from bed, I couldn’t help getting a little tingle of lust. Which was a normal reaction—not that I’d been in a position to experience it of late, but I did recall what it felt like and it was harmless. Feel the tingle and move on, I reminded myself.
“Morning, all,” He made a bee line towards Piper.
“Coffee?” She handed him a cup before waiting for an answer.
“Always.” He took the stool next to mine and his leg brushed mine.
The tingle grew.
“Sleep well?”
“Yes, thanks. You?”
He nodded. He didn’t need to know I had slept in my car the night before that, so any bed was an improvement. Too much information, and. I thought he’d think a three-star hotel was slumming it.
“Piper tells me your car broke down. Bummer.”
I nodded. “I’m going to call AAA, just as soon as the caffeine kicks in.”
“No need. I can fix it. I’ll need some tools.”
“You?”
“Yes, me, and don’t laugh. I happen to love tinkering with cars.” He ripped open three sugars and added them to his coffee.
“You don’t need to do that.” There he was, being helpful again.
Aaron interjected. “You’d be doing him a favor, Lucy. He really loves playing under the hood of a car. It’s his happy place.”
I wasn’t comfortable with being beholden to Pretty-Boy here, but I also don’t have lots of options. “If you don’t mind taking a look, I’d appreciate it if you can find the problem.”
“Sure.”
An hour later, he had worked out that the car was an easy fix but it’d need a tow. I tried to call AAA, but he stopped me, pulled out his phone, and made a call. “I’m having it towed to my place. I’ve got the tools there, and I can fix it.”
This was awkward because my whole life was in that car. I couldn’t let it out of my sight. We went inside to wait for the truck.
I pulled Piper aside for a chat. “I have a situation.”
“Beyond the car?”
I nodded. “Way beyond the car.”
I didn’t want to go on. I didn’t want to tell her about the huge fight I had with my sister. I didn’t want to tell her I mo
ved out. I really didn’t want to tell her how upset my nieces and nephew were and I especially didn’t want to tell her I was homeless. Partly because I was embarrassed, but mainly because if I said it out loud it would be true. And the tears I’ve held back--just held back—would start flowing, and I knew myself; I’m not too sure they’d ever stop.
“Come on tell me, Lucy. It can’t be that bad.” She patted my hand.
“I moved out.”
“Out of Minnie’s?”
I nodded. “It’s a very long story.”
“I bet. Where are you staying?”
“Car.” I squeezed the words out as a large lonely tear rolled down my face.
She did the worst thing possible and pulled me into a big hug. “Oh, Lucy. After all you’ve done for her.”
That was it. After all I’d done. How could this happen? But it had.
She pulled back and looked at me. “Stay above the kitchen at the pie factory in my old place. I’m living here. It’s empty and that’s perfect.”
“Really?” I hadn’t even thought of that. Piper had a cute studio above the commercial kitchen where we worked, and of course, she was living here with Aaron since they were married. I just hadn’t pieced the puzzle together. “Are you sure?’
“Of course I’m sure, silly. Now you’ll never be late for work again,” she teased. “Plus you can be the one to put on the coffee pot.”
Problem solved. For now. “Well, only ’til I find somewhere.”
“As long as you need. My stuff is all still there; move what you don’t need. I loved it there. You will, too.” She hugged me then held me back and looked at my face. “You need some time off, too. Take a few days. Stacey will cover for you or someone. You need a break.”
“Maybe a day or two.”
“Take as long as you need. I’ll work it out. I’ll need you at capacity when the franchise agreement hits full throttle in a couple of weeks.”
“Thanks. It looks like I’m going to need a weekend for that flipping school reunion as well. Oh yeah, and a fiancé.”
“I know you’re not ready to talk about it, you and Minnie, I mean, but I’m here when you are, okay?” She gave me another hug.
I hugged her back. She was a great boss and, truth be told, she was a good friend. I was only just beginning to realize how few of those I had.
Chase came in. “Sorry to interrupt, but the tow truck is here.”
“I’ll call you,” she said. “You have a key so when you’re ready.”
“Thanks, Piper.”
***
Chase drove a Hummer and I felt a gangster in it. It was a ridiculous car, but then, he was kind of an over-the-top guy... He was helping me with my car.
I eyed him from my vantage point in the passenger seat, and had to admit he was a good-looking guy if one looked past the arrogance. His dark hair fell across his forehead and he was wearing a Yale t-shirt that his well-defined arms nearly burst out of. Yep, good-looking and he knew it.
“So, Chase, where do you live?”
“Marblehead.”
I’d never been to Marblehead. It was a seaside community on Boston’s North Shore. I’d heard it was pretty, and fairly affluent, but I hadn’t had much chance to explore a lot of Boston. Now that I thought about it, I’d seen very little beyond our neighborhood and the downtown area. I spent so much time helping Minnie with the kids and working, I hadn’t done much else.
“Have you always lived there?”
“My parents have.”
“Do they live nearby?”
“My mom lives in the same place I do.”
“You live with your mom?” He didn’t seem like a momma’s boy.
“It’s a long story, but actually, she lives with me.”
“Same thing, isn’t it?”
He shook his head and his voice got a hard edge I hadn’t heard before. “It isn’t the same thing at all.”
“Calm down, Manhattan. It’s none of my business.”
“I’m calm. Well, not when you call me Manhattan, but I’m calm otherwise.”
It was a pleasant drive along the Lynn beach, through Swampscott and around to Marblehead. We stopped outside a rather impressive set of gates built in to a stone wall. Chase pushed a button and the gates opened to reveal his house. Except it was so much more than a house.
“You live in a castle.”
“It’s not a castle.”
“It has turrets; it’s a castle.”
“But it doesn’t have a moat, or a drawbridge, so it’s not a castle.”
“It has a tower, though. And a parapet or two.”
“No dragon, though.” He grinned at me. “So definitely not a castle.”
“I don’t think the Queen of England has a dragon.”
A thoughtful expression crossed his face. “She might.”
I returned my attention to the castle. It was amazing. A manicured lawn led to the sea and with Marblehead Harbor in the distance. It had arched windows and freaking turrets. It also had the world’s biggest detached garage off to the right.
“How many cars does that hold?” It was bigger than a normal house.
“At the moment, there are six in there. Seven when we tow yours in.”
I didn’t even want to think about what those cars might be. My beat-up twelve-year-old Nissan was definitely not going to be of the same caliber.
How had I let myself get into this situation? Where had I thought he would fix my car, on his front lawn by a chainmail fence? He wasn’t that guy either, but this, this was crazy. How had Aaron let me come here?
I sent Lucy a text. Ask Aaron if he knew Chase lived in a castle?
No answer. They were probably off having newlywed sex. Sex with Chase would be interesting. Whoa Nelly. I needed to stop that train of thought. I was not a princess, he was no prince, and this was not a fairy tale.
Chase opened the garage with the push of a button and was out of the car directing the tow truck where to deposit my poor sad vehicle. If I thought it was sad before, it looked even more tragic next to the fleet of shiny European imports in Chase’s garage.
I hopped out of the Hummer and tried not to look too out of place.
Chase talked to the tow-truck guy and even tipped him. Crap. I didn’t want him paying for stuff.
As he walked past me, I asked what I owed.
“It’s all taken care of, honey.”
“Chase, I can pay.”
“I know. We’ll work it out later.”
“Listen, I appreciate you helping me, but don’t dismiss me like I’m some dumb schmuck. It’s my car and my problem and I can pay for it.”
He loped an arm around my shoulders and turned me toward the house. “I don’t think you’re a schmuck, Lucy. I have an account with him, so I put it on the account. I will let you know how much it costs when I know, okay?”
“Definitely.” Somehow I didn’t believe him.
“Now let’s go inside and I’ll introduce you.”
“To?”
“My family.”
I didn’t want to meet his family. I looked tired and ratty, and I felt even worse. My life was a disaster. I wasn’t quite ready to enter the castle.
“Are you sure there are no dragons in there, Manhattan?”
“If there are, I’ll slay them for you.”
Chapter 3
The front door opened into a large foyer with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out onto the sea. It was two stories tall and had a sweeping staircase that could be entered from either side. I wasn’t sure if I’d wandered onto the set of a movie or a parallel universe.
“Mom, are you home?”
“Can she even hear you in this place?”
“She’s never far away, trust me she’ll hear me.” I couldn’t see how that was possible. This place was enormous. We turned left into a large living room, and rolling toward us in a wheelchair, was a small, pretty blonde who had the same crooked smile as Chase.
“Hey, Chas
e. Oh you brought a friend home.” She trilled it as if he was twelve.
“Mom, this is Lucy. She’s a friend of Aaron and his wife, Piper. Lucy, this is my mother Cecilia, but everyone calls her CeCe.”
She extended an elegant hand to me. “How lovely to meet you. Welcome.”
“Nice to meet you, too. What a lovely home you have.”
“Oh, this is Chase’s place. I’m just staying for a while.” She gave me a sweet smile. “It is lovely, though, looking out over the water. You never get bored with all the boats coming and going. Always something to see.”
“I imagine so.”
“Lucy had some car trouble, so I’m going to go take a look under the hood and see what’s what.”
“You and your cars,” he said, shaking her head. “Ever since he was a boy, he’s been obsessed with cars. Not sure where he got that from. You come and visit with me while he does that.”
I really didn’t want to sit down with CeCe and chit chat. I knew not one thing about the woman and almost as little about Chase. “Of course.”
I glared at him. “I have a lot of stuff in that car…”
“I noticed that.”
“So, if you need me to unload it or whatever….” I really didn’t want to go into it. This seemed to be a day of doing things I didn’t want to do. Maybe the universe was punishing me for moving out of Minnie’s and leaving the kids.
He patted me reassuringly and whispered in my ear. “I will. And don’t worry, CeCe is harmless; she’s a bit lonely, that’s all.”
I could relate to lonely. We had that in common.
“Let’s go make tea,” she said. “I usually have someone here with me, but Agnes came this morning, and then her son, who was with a friend, started vomiting and the friend has four kids, so I guess she wanted him out of there quick. You wouldn’t mind making us some tea, would you?”
I dutifully followed her down a hallway to a kitchen that had an equally spectacular view of the Atlantic. There were a lot of windows. I wondered who cleaned them. They were spotless.
I found the kettle and put it on the stove to boil. She indicated where the cups were and the tea bags. It occurred to me that, with a little bit of reorganization, she could do this herself. I didn’t know what her condition was, but her hands seemed fine. I couldn’t imagine waiting around for someone to make me a cup of tea if I wanted one. Still, maybe she was merely visiting.
Any Way You Dream It: An Upper Crust Novel - Book 2 (Upper Crust Series) Page 2
