Fake Engagement, Nashville Style

by Jules Bennett

  No matter. She was immune to his charms now. She’d known when she’d decided to ask for this favor that Luke would be handsome and successful. He’d been both of those things when she’d left. The hurt he’d left her with had trumped any physical attraction.

  “Would you have taken my call?” she asked.

  Luke shrugged. “Sure, why not? We’ve both moved on.”

  His eyes dropped to her lips and that flair of arousal shot up again. She’d only been in the office for all of two minutes and already she wanted him. Maybe it was the memories creeping up. She had to keep reminding herself to stay in the present and focus on the real reason for her visit back to the Bay. Luke owed her for the years she’d spent with him, when she’d waited on him to commit, and all the hurt he’d caused in the end. Cassandra was ready to cash in his debt.

  And yet, who could blame her for getting sidetracked by Luke Sutherland? Even if they hadn’t had an intimate past, the man would have demanded attention, with his dark gaze, his strong jawline, and those broad shoulders. When he crossed his arms and widened his stance, Cassandra swallowed the lump of arousal in her throat.

  The man knew exactly what he was doing to her. How dare he stand there and look so, so...

  Ugh. Frustration was taking hold of her.

  A shrink would have a field day in her head, considering her past heartbreak when it came to a man who’d refused to marry her, along with her current line of work helping happy couples walk down the aisle. Maybe she was just a hopeless romantic who still believed in the miracle of happy endings.

  Just because things hadn’t worked out for her didn’t mean she didn’t believe in love. She saw the reality of it every day as a wedding coordinator. Maybe one day she would find the man she was meant to be with.

  Once upon a time, she’d thought for sure that man was Luke. Now she was glad she hadn’t hung around any longer waiting for him. She’d seen that Country Beat article. Apparently, he still wasn’t in the market for a wife.

  “What makes you think I have any pull with Hannah?” he asked, jerking her attention to his low, gravelly tone. “She’s a superstar. She’s got her own entourage of people. I’m sure she has found her own wedding coordinator since they want to do something quick and small.”

  Cassandra smiled. “Do you think I would have come all this way if I hadn’t done my research? She has no coordinator as of yesterday, which is why you need to get on the phone now and make an appointment with her for me.”

  The muscles in Luke’s jaw clenched as he continued to stare at her. Cassandra really didn’t want to pull the past into this moment, but she would do it if she needed to. She wasn’t leaving this office without an appointment.

  “What makes you think you’ll get the job?” he asked.

  “You get me the in-person meeting and I’ll get the job.”

  Luke rested his hip on the edge of his desk and seemed to study her...and he also seemed to be considering her idea.

  “Why is this job so important for you?” he asked.

  “I started my own company,” she told him. “It’s only six months old. I worked for Brides and Belles for almost eight years and it was time to go out on my own. I need a celebrity wedding to push my business and put my name at the top of other celebrity lists.”

  Even if that meant swallowing her pride and begging.

  Again, Luke landed that intense stare on her and she forced herself to remain calm and not fidget. He had to agree to this. He absolutely had to. Launching her own service, Be My Guest, had taken most of her savings and every ounce of her courage. She would fight with everything in her being to make this next career move a huge success...even if that meant putting her heart and sanity on the line once again and facing Luke Sutherland.

  “I’ll help you.”

  Cassandra nearly threw her arms around him, but then remembered touching him would be a terrible idea. Still, she couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face.

  She’d always believed in love, always wanted to see other couples be happy and help them create the most perfect day. She’d even envisioned her own perfect day with Luke way back when. But now...well, now she wouldn’t allow herself to even mentally walk down the aisle—not until she found a man worthy of her. Now, all her energy was on making Be My Guest a success. And Luke was helping her do it.

  “Luke, you don’t even—”

  “On one condition,” he added, straightening and leveling his gaze on her.

  Her excitement was short-lived as she heard his stern tone. “A condition?”

  “You will help me in return.”

  He circled around the other side of the desk and pulled a magazine from a drawer. He slapped the magazine on the desktop, the harsh sound echoing throughout the office, and angled the article for her to see.

  “That is ruining my life.” He pointed to the open pages. “I’ll get you that appointment if you pretend to be my very doting, very public fiancée until Will’s wedding is over.”

  Cassandra waited for the punch line of this sick joke. She’d waited so long for him to ask her to marry him. He’d been working toward opening his first bar, and she’d been trying to break in to planning weddings. But the longer she’d waited, the more he’d become involved in his work. One bar turned into another and he’d reached a point where he’d been too busy for her. Between bar openings, hiring of employees, and finding bands and artists to keep the stages full and the customers coming back, a solid wedge had formed between them. And, one day, Cassandra had realized she would never be able to compete for his affection.

  The realization had stung because she’d supported him, had wanted him to fulfill his dreams as she chased her own. Unfortunately, he chased them so far, he forgot to take her along.

  And now he was asking her to fake the one thing he’d never been willing to give her?

  “You’re not serious,” she finally said, anger bubbling deep within her.

  His stern face and steady stare told her he was quite serious. Now she just had to think about how badly she wanted this job. Planning a celebrity wedding would be invaluable. It would open doors she wouldn’t be able to get close to on her own. She’d been willing to see Luke again, to put her pride on the line, to beg. But he was asking for much more than that.

  “Is there any other way around this?” she asked hopefully.

  “Not if you want that appointment.”

  “What all would this pretending entail?” she asked, still quite skeptical and not at all amused.

  Was she seriously considering this craziness? Pretending to be engaged would require much more emotional work than she’d been willing to do when she first came in here. She actually hadn’t even thought that Luke would require something in return, but he hadn’t become a successful businessman by giving everything away.

  Luke shrugged. “A few social-media posts, public appearances. You’d need to be here a few nights with me so everything seems authentic. Some PDA wouldn’t hurt, either.”

  Public displays of affection? They wouldn’t hurt? Kissing, touching, pretending would hurt. There was no way she could be in that type of situation and not recall everything she’d once dreamed of having with him and ultimately lost.

  Damn it, he’d gotten shrewd since she’d left...

  Okay, fine. She wanted this wedding. So she could play the game. She’d loved him once, so pretending to love him shouldn’t be difficult. At least now, she knew how things would end. There wouldn’t be naive stars in her eyes. She wouldn’t lose her heart this time and she would stay in control. Besides, she’d be too busy planning the celebrity wedding of the year to get wrapped up with her ex, right?

  “Fine.” She moved closer to him and held out her hand. “It’s a deal. And after the wedding, we’re over. For good this time.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  H
e took her hand and her heart began pounding. Her stomach knotted once again, and she knew in that instant that she was in trouble.

  Playing her ex’s pretend fiancée.

  What the hell had she just gotten herself into?

  Two

  His brothers would no doubt give him hell over this, but the deal was done. Luke now had something he’d never wanted—a fiancée. Oh, when he and Cassandra had been together before, he’d bought the ring as a stepping stone, but he had never gotten up the courage to take that final step and actually propose. He just hadn’t been sure, and then she’d left and he knew not asking her had been the right decision.

  And now she was back and he was giving her everything she’d wanted before that he couldn’t give. Well, pretending they had what she’d wanted. The entire situation was too ironic. Luke couldn’t even wrap his mind around where the hell he’d come up with the idea, where the hell he’d lost control. Cassandra had swept in and presented her demands, and he’d been caught off guard so completely that he’d reacted without thinking.

  Luke eased back in his leather desk chair and stared at the door that had slid closed after Cassandra’s departure. She’d made one hell of an impact in such a short time, but Luke refused to admit he was anything but immune at this point. He’d been in love with her at one time, yes, but he hadn’t been ready for a walk down the aisle. He still wasn’t. She’d always wanted more than he could give.

  Now, well... Who knew why he’d caved in to her demands. Or why he’d asked her to pretend to be his fiancée. True, he’d wanted the swarm of women to ease up ever since that damn article had been released. But, on the other hand, maybe he was trying to prove to himself that he had gotten over her, that she was nothing more than a memory from his past.

  He sent Jake a text, asking him to find out where Cassandra was staying, how long she planned to be in town and everything else about her that he could find. Luke wanted to know all he could about his fiancée.

  Within minutes, Luke’s bodyguard informed him that she was staying just one floor below his bar, in the penthouse suite of The Beaumont. Fantastic. She was practically within touching distance. He sent a message to her room to be at The Cheshire tomorrow evening to play the role of his doting girlfriend.

  And once everyone’s initial shock wore off, they could discuss when and how to announce their...

  Luke swallowed and pushed aside his frustrations.

  Their engagement.

  * * *

  “Thank you so much for agreeing to meet with me.”

  Cassandra stepped inside Hannah Banks’s lakeside three-story mansion and couldn’t believe she was actually here. She’d listened to Hannah’s music for years and the superstar was just as stunning in person as she was on television. Her smile seemed genuine and all the makeup and bling seemed to suit her over-the-top personality.

  “Of course.” Hannah closed the door and turned to face Cassandra and Luke. “I’m thrilled someone who knows Will is interested in taking part in our special day. I’ve been so swamped with work and with the new record, I haven’t been able to zero in on anyone who really sees my vision. I know I want something quaint and quick, but I didn’t think planning this would be so difficult.”

  There wasn’t a doubt in Cassandra’s mind that she would land this job. This would be her biggest undertaking, but the most rewarding and the most thrilling of her entire career.

  “Sorry. I start chatting and can’t stop. Come on out to the patio,” Hannah stated as she started down a hallway leading to the back of the house. “I’ve got some drinks and Will is out there. I think he’s on the phone, but he needs to finish up. I swear that man is always working.”

  “That’s what we Sutherlands do,” Luke chimed in. “I’m sure he’ll be excited to take a break and discuss flowers and seating charts.”

  Cassandra smacked his abs as they walked through the home. “Hush. The groom should be part of the special day just as much as the bride.”

  “I agree.” Hannah approached the patio doors and gestured for Cassandra and Luke to go first. “Looks like he’s off the phone now.”

  Luke placed his hand on Cassandra’s back and ushered her outside. Just that simple, dominating gesture had her shivering...and pulling away. She didn’t want him to touch her. Not because she didn’t enjoy it—she did, too much—but because she didn’t want to get used to his strength or his affection. She didn’t want to enjoy this.

  True, they were going to pretend to be engaged, but they didn’t have to start the show just yet. She wasn’t sure what Luke was going to tell his brothers or his parents, but now wasn’t the time to get in to that. First things first—land this dream job.

  They hadn’t exactly discussed when the faux engagement would begin, though he’d sent a message to her room that she should be at his bar tonight posing as his girlfriend.

  Nothing like being summoned for affection. All of this was just as romantic and warm as the ending of their first go-round.

  For now, though, she wasn’t going to be overly doting on her ex. They would just have to speak in private later about the exact details of their in-public relationship.

  “Will,” Hannah said as she came around the furniture to stand beside her fiancé. “You know Cassandra.”

  Will’s smile widened as he closed the gap between them and pulled her in for an embrace. She hadn’t seen him in years, and he was still just as kind and handsome as she remembered. All of the Sutherland men were known for their Southern manners and sexy good looks, and a couple of the brothers had a reputation with the ladies, Gavin in particular. She wondered if he’d ever settled down or want some family life.

  She’d wondered about all of them over the years and if the brothers had remained as close as they had been when she was around. Being an only child, Cassandra had always envied the bond these brothers shared. She’d been welcomed into the Sutherland fold just as if she’d always belonged there.

  A twinge pinged at her heart and she had to ignore the yearning. This was not meant to be her family. That had been decided long ago and there was no turning back now.

  “So great to see you again,” Will said as he eased back. “You look great and you have a brand-new business. Sounds like life is treating you well.”

  Cassandra shifted her portfolio under her other arm and nodded as she stepped back. “I’m doing quite well. It seems so strange to be back in Beaumont Bay. It’s grown even more since I left.”

  The shops, the bars, the homes—everything seemed to be on a bigger, grander scale than she remembered. Then again, the celebrities that had moved to this area had definitely made upgrades and they had certain expectations. Nashville was no longer the hottest spot or where the high-society folks went to play. There was no city that could compare to the nightlife and homes in Beaumont Bay around the lake and up into the hills.

  “Please, sit.” Hannah gestured to the large sectional. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  Cassandra took a seat and the fact that Luke sat right next to her did nothing to help squash those growing nerves. They hadn’t even gotten to the point of pretending to be a couple and he was already getting under her skin.

  For now, she had a deal to seal and nothing else could bother her or get inside her head.

  “I can’t wait to see what you brought,” Hannah said, beaming. “I have a few ideas of my own, but I haven’t found anyone who shares the same vision.”

  “Well, I’m sure you will love what I’ve come up with and everything is negotiable. This is your wedding and I insist that all my clients be happy.”

  Cassandra placed the portfolio in her lap and flipped open the cover. She turned to show Will and Hannah, who were sitting across from her on another matching outdoor sofa. The glass table between them provided a perfect area to spread out the images and sam
ples Cassandra had brought with her.

  “The most important thing is for you both to enjoy your day and feel as if everything is flawless,” Cassandra went on. “You should have no worries except how long you want to hold that kiss after you say ‘I do.’”

  Will laughed. “Oh, that will be all up to me.”

  Hannah elbowed him in the side and Cassandra saw how these two were made for each other. The way they looked into one another’s eyes had her heart melting. She loved working with a couple in love, and sometimes, there were people that Cassandra could tell would actually make their marriage work. She could already see that Will and Hannah would definitely have their happily-ever-after.

  “That is just about the only area I don’t get involved in,” Cassandra assured them. “I would like to start with the general overview. After doing some research, I understand the importance of privacy and I don’t blame you one bit. I know Will values family, so I’m thinking something small, private yet stunning. I’ve drawn up two options for you to look at.”

  Cassandra slid easily into work mode. This was what she lived for, what kept her smiling and moving forward. Just because she’d lost the man she thought had been the love of her life didn’t mean she’d stopped being a hopeless romantic. Seeing people found their soul mates, and knowing she had a part in making their dreams come true really was the best part of her life. She never felt like this was work; she was living out her own dream...even though she was going home alone at night after seeing happy couples getting started on their lives together.

  As she flipped through the sample portfolio, Cassandra managed to push aside the fact that Luke was still sitting right next to her with his hip resting against hers.

  Her emotions, their past, their current situation—none of those things mattered right now. All that mattered was wowing Hannah and Will with her ideas. Luke sat silently, but she knew he was listening and taking everything in.

  She would have been fine had he not tagged along. She didn’t trust him. She didn’t want to spend more time with him than absolutely necessary. Considering this was his brother’s wedding and the meeting had been set up through Luke, she supposed he deemed himself a vital part today.