by Jamie Knight
The best of the best still wasn’t very good. The women were beautiful, but that was part of the problem. None of them looked like someone I would actually be with. Something Carl and the other guys from the unit would sniff out immediately, knowing me as well as anyone.
Just then, a video call came up.
“Speak of the devil,” I said as I clicked accept, and Carl appeared on the screen. “What’s that, sir?” Carl asked, looking confused.
“Never mind, and how many times have I told you to call me Liam?”
“I’m not sure, sir, sorry, force of habit.”
I grinned at him. “It’s fine, what’s up?”
“I just wanted to make sure you are coming to the wedding. You haven’t RSVPed, and I want to make sure there is a place for you at the table. I really want you there. I mean, let’s be honest, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be getting married right now or doing anything else for that matter.”
“Anyone could have spotted that sniper,” I said with a shrug.
“But anyone didn’t. You did and took him out before he gave my brains some air.” “You’d do the same for me,” I said, “besides, you got me behind the vehicle after the IED. I mean, I wasn’t exactly useful at the time.”
“Okay then, you owe me,” Carl said with a smirk, clearly joking.
“For giving you a job?” I asked, kidding right back. We both had a bit of a weird sense of humor.
“Among other things,” Carl said.
“I’ll see what I can do, okay?”
“Okay.”
We killed the call, and I got back to looking for an escort, more convinced than ever before that I would be at Carl’s wedding. We may not have been brothers, made clear by the fact that Carl was black, but it felt like we were. We also had a life bond, which in some ways was even stronger.
When I set my mind to something, it happened. Or, at least I had yet to fail.
Sadly, there was a first time for everything, and I simply couldn’t find a woman among the pages upon pages of profiles that seemed like she would be appropriate for the occasion.
Seeing the parade of beauty and fashion made me think again about Hayley. Partly because she was just so opposite. Not that she wasn’t pretty. She defiantly was but in a more natural, unpretentious way. I doubted she even wore makeup. I didn’t see any, and I was really good when it came to attention to detail. Her clothes, while not expensive, were still nice and close enough to the current fashion as not to stand out. Besides which, I could buy her something to wear to the wedding if it really came down to it. Heaven knew I could afford it.
Maybe I had been a bit too quick in dismissing her. It wasn’t like she knew what I had planned. The only fair thing would be to see her again and explain the situation, so at least she had all the facts. Then we would see.
Chapter Six
Hayley
Meeting Mr. Adams, Liam, had left me shaken. I wasn’t sure if it was his looks — he was so easy to fantasize about — or because of what he said to me before he left the café. He thought I was too quiet. True, I had been frozen in fear, intimidated by his fortune and presence, but I should have found a way to push through it. It ached inside me that I had come off as rude.
All night, I kept replaying the trip to the café over and over in my head, constantly finding one tidbit after another to be embarrassed over. So, in the morning, I could barely function again. I tried to keep my head down once I got to work. I did exactly what I was told when I was told and hoped like hell that no one would ask me what was wrong or yell at me for bumbling.
When the clock hit 4:55pm, I started to breathe a sigh of relief. That, of course, was when Ms. Howell called me into her office. I hoped she intended to give me another task. Staying late at work was fine. Getting fired for being unintentionally rude or not doing my job right was not.
As I walked towards her door, my typical nerves started to act up again. My hands shook just as badly as the day before. Clasping them before me didn’t help much.
I knocked lightly on her open door.
“Hayley! Please, sit down.” Ann smiled at me and waved her hand to the chair in front of her desk.
“Okay,” I said, feeling slightly lightheaded with worry.
Ms. Howell acting so nice actually made me more nervous. Was she just being polite before she told me what an awful worker I was?
I sat down and watched as she organized a few papers on her desk — finishing up whatever she had to do for the day. Waiting to know why I was there was killing me.
She looked up at me, smiled again, and started to open her mouth.
“I’m sorry for being in a haze today.” The words burst from my mouth, cutting off whatever my boss was going to say. “It won’t happen again. Really!”
Ann tilted her head to the side, making her black chin-length bob swing slightly. She looked thoughtful for a moment but then smiled brightly.
“Honestly, Hayley, I didn’t even notice that you were in a haze, as you say. All I saw today was efficient and focused work.”
“Oh. Thank you, I think?”
She laughed just a little, it made me relax some. “Actually, that was why I called you in here. I just wanted to tell you I think you are doing a great job,” Ms. Howell said, taking me completely off guard.
“Oh, th-thanks,” I repeated. “Um. Is there anything you would like me to work on? My father always used to say that one could always improve on good.”
She thought about that for a second, while tapping a pen on her desk in a fast rhythm. “There is one thing…”
My heart sank, but I waited. I had asked for this.
“You’re so quiet,” Ann continued. “That’s usually a good thing in a worker, but here at Howell and Howell, we try to be more like family — honestly, most of us are.” She laughed. “I think you might be more comfortable if you opened up a little. Make friends with your coworkers. Okay?”
I nodded. I wasn’t sure what to say back. That wasn’t really what I was expecting at all.
Ann tilted her head to the side again, giving me a quizzical look. “Do you think you could try that? I really think it would help you.”
There was something about her words that echoed what Liam had said the day before. I wasn’t quite sure what it all meant, but I would think about it. At least I knew that my job wasn’t in question.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow, Hayley.”
I left her office feeling both elated and shocked at the same time. I also felt a bit of guilt, having judged everyone so harshly. Maybe Ms. Howell was fine and had seemed a bit brusque because she was busy and didn’t have much time for pleasantries That didn’t quite explain the other girls in the office but I wasn’t exactly a social butterfly, and it was more than possible that I didn’t really come off as being approachable.
I decided then to try and be more social. I hadn’t met most of the people in the office, not really, and was in no position to be judging them. They could be absolutely lovely, or just trying to be professional, which I also understood and respected.
I was going to do something nice for the people at the office. At first, I thought of bringing donuts, but that seemed a bit too impersonal. Then I had the idea of baking cookies. I had always liked baking and was really good at it, having so much practice.
I would often get up early and bake a batch of cookies and take them out to the treehouse in our yard for the other kids in our neighborhood or to school, depending on if it was a weekday. My family, and particularly my twin brother, had always loved what I baked. I bet my coworkers would too.
Happy to have a plan, I got my purse from the desk and went to the elevators, with a particular spring in my step that I could feel whether or not it actually showed. On par with the surprise of Ms. Howell telling me that I was doing a good job was the vision of Mr. Adams coming in through the lobby.
I was sure he must have been there to see someone else, but he was
coming right toward me. Perhaps this was the right moment to practice being more social? I took a deep breath, looked up at him, and smiled.
Chapter Seven
Liam
I wasn’t sure about asking Hayley out again, but nothing ventured nothing gained. I didn’t have her phone number and figured the best way to see her again was to turn up at her work around quitting time — despite how stalkerish this might have seemed, particularly to one of a more suspicious disposition.
However, when I got in the doors to the lobby of Howell and Howell, saw her get out of the elevator, and walked towards her, Hayley looked at me and smiled. It was warm and inviting. So very different than the frozen girl the day before.
“Hi,” I started.
“Hi,” she replied, seeming surprised but receptive.
I loved the way her smile made her roundish face brighter. There was just a little pink on her cheekbones — from emotion, not blush — and that was charming. She really did have the innocence of an angel.
Taking a deep breath first, I gave things another go. “I was wondering if you might like to go for a drink, Hayley. You know, give it another shot.”
Something hot passed through her eyes as she pursed her lips slightly to the side. It was a coy look that sent a jolt of electricity throughout my body.
“Sure!” Hayley replied, bouncing on her heels a bit. She was so different from the day before.
“Really?” I asked, not expecting this at all.
“Sure. I would like that very much. There was so much I wanted to ask you yesterday, about yourself, but I got tongue-tied. That happens when I get shy. I apologize if that came off as rude. I’ll try better this time.”
I was a little taken aback by her admission, but the fact that she wanted to overcome her shyness really touched me. “Uh, okay, how about McGinty’s tonight at eight?” I asked, thinking of the first bar that came to me. “I’ll pick you up.”
“Great!”
I could hardly believe the change. She was so much more open and positive than when we had gone for coffee when she had seemed so cold and closed off. Maybe I had just caught her at a bad time or on a bad day. She had said she was nervous because I was rich but certainly seemed to have changed her mind about that too. Maybe she had thought about what I had said about gaining a fortune hadn’t really changed me.
The fortune had come as something of a surprise if I was honest. I had, of course, hoped that Black Flag Security would be successful but had no idea how far it would go. Some of the richest companies in the country and even some lower levels of government were contracting with us.
“What kind of cookies do you like?” Hayley asked, seemingly out of nowhere, as we walked together out of the building and headed towards our cars in the parking lot.
“Chocolate chip, why?”
“Oh, I’m great at baking. I could make you cookies that will make you fall in love with me!”
“Metaphorically?”
“Um, yeah,” Hayley said, catching herself, unable to keep from blushing.
****
A few hours later, I eased the Hummer up to the corner outside her tenement. I was hardly one to judge, having come from similar roots. If anything, it just made me a bit sad that anyone had to live like that.
Hayley came out as soon as I was parked. The sight of her made me sit back in my seat and catch my breath. She had put her golden-blonde hair up into a bun with a few pieces draped around her face. The dress she chose was clinging to her delicious curves with a slight V-neck that showed just a hint of her cleavage. Somehow, she managed to look modest and sexy at the same time.
“Hey,” she said, climbing up into the passenger seat, unknowingly giving me a generous view of her breasts as she leaned forward. It was a sight that made my cock harden.
There was something about this girl, and the way she looked, that made me want to take her right then and there on the front seat of the hummer. But that was not what this evening was about, so I told myself to calm down and got onto the road.
We arrived at McGinty’s before the usual crowd showed up, so getting parking wasn’t too difficult. I helped Hayley out of the admittedly enormous vehicle and locked up the Hummer. On a whim, very similar to the one that had driven me to kiss the back of her hand when we first met in Ann’s office, I crooked my elbow and escorted her toward the bar.
McGinty’s was a typical pub, low lighting, and tons of wood. Tonight, a jazz band was playing. We took a tall table next to the bar and waited for our waitress.
“What can I get you?” asked the waitress who wandered over. Her name tag said Katie.
“White Russian please, Katie,” I said.
“And for you, miss?” Katie asked, indicating Hayley with her head.
“Um, what’s good?” Hayley asked.
“The gin and tonic is passable,” Katie said.
“Excellent,” Hayley said, after a brief pause.
“You’ve never had a drink before, have you?” I asked when Katie was out of earshot. “Yeah, of course,” Hayley said, but she wouldn’t look me in the eyes again, so I figured she was lying.
“Really?”
She blew out a breath, giggled slightly, and then looked at me. “No, how did you know?”
“Something about the way you ordered,” I told her. “Most women I date already have a go-to cocktail.” Her shoulders dropped slightly, and I figured out that was the wrong thing to say. “Not that being new to drinking is bad. If you would rather have a soda or something, just tell me.” I didn’t want a repeat of the hot chocolate incident.
“No.” She shook her head slightly. “I want to try new things…new things with you.”
Was she flirting?
The way she looked at me from under her lashes made my heart speed up. Hayley really was making an effort to come out of her shell. She had changed from our first encounter and was coming across as sexy. I was suddenly glad I had given her a second chance.
“Gin and tonic and a White Russian,” Katie said, putting our drinks down before us.
I took a sip and watched Hayley do the same. At first, her eyes went wide, but then after a second sip, she nodded like she was coming to enjoy her drink. I was glad. Maybe I could get her to try a White Russian next. She might like something creamier.
“I have a confession,” I said after a minute or so had past, and I felt it was the right time to be honest about everything.
“Do tell!” Hayley said. Her face was a little red.
“I need your help,” I admitted.
“Oh, with what?” she asked and took a few more sips of her drink.
“I need a fiancée,” I said.
Hayley turned bright red and almost fell out of her chair. “I, um, don’t think we know each other well enough. I mean I like you but -”
“That’s not quite what I mean,” I explained with a laugh.
“Oh, good, I mean, what were you thinking?” Hayley asked, trying to play it cool.
“I’ve been invited to the wedding of one of my oldest friends. We’ve known each other for years, including being in the same unit in the army, and I’m the only one who isn’t even engaged.”
She nodded and thought it over. “And you need someone to pretend to be your bride-to-be?”
“Yeah, basically,” I admitted.
Her eyes went distant as she thought it over. “Oh, I see. That makes sense. This is a business arrangement, then?”
“Yeah.” I nodded.
Hayley took in a big gulp of air then slammed the rest of her drink. She waved for the waiter to come over. “I’ll have one of whatever he has,” she instructed, then she looked at me. Her stare was different this time, there was a little bit of ice in her eyes, and her skin was tinted white. “Want to know something about me?”
“Of course,” I said, not sure about where this was going.
“I’ve never been a date before either. Not before the coffee shop, which is why I was a bit like a deer in the h
eadlights. If I had known that this was a business arrangement, it would have been easier on me.”
“Oh,” I said.
That was really all I could say, not really knowing how to respond, being taken by surprise.
I really didn’t understand how someone as attractive as Hayley could never have been on a date. Then I realized, it may not have been my wealth that had led to her discomfort during our first date. It wasn’t because of my money but the fact I was a man.
I looked at the very innocent girl before me. She had agreed to be my fake fiancée. The deal was done, but was a fake date all that I really wanted? Hayley was probably a virgin, and the idea thrilled me.
Chapter Eight
Hayley
It was my first ever hangover. I had heard that they were bad but really had no idea. Nausea would have been bad enough without the pounding headache. Making a noise like something freshly risen from the grave, I sleepwalked into the kitchen and started up the burner for the teakettle, going more by muscle memory than anything conscious.
After a few minutes, I tiptoed into the living room to see if Jacob, my twin was awake. He had been staying on my couch for the last month or so since he had been released from the army. The TV was on, the volume low, but I couldn’t tell if he was up or not. It was best not to bother him, so I went back to the kitchen and poured myself a cup of hot chocolate.
Perking up a bit, I was able to fully appreciate the extent of my embarrassment. Not about basically agreeing to pretend to be Liam’s fiancée. I really understood where he was coming from with that and was willing to do it to help him out. It was my confession that I had never ever dated before, except for my two dates with him, that is — which were apparently not dates. The fact that I had assumed that they were haunted me. It was stupid to think that an attractive man like Liam would ever be interested in a girl like me.
Mr. Adams was the closest thing to a boyfriend I had ever had. Which, if anything, gave even more credence to the fiancée idea. We weren’t even close to that, at least not yet. Though it had started to seem like we could be friends. It wasn’t the worst basis I could think of to build an engagement — even if it was a fake one. I had heard of long-lasting marriages based on a lot less. Not in the present century, but still, the principle was the same.
