by Vivi Holt
Dear Mr. Everett,
We have received your request and, as discussed over the phone, we will be sending one of our delightful Email-Order Dates to your address on 20th December at eleven a.m.
Please make sure to pay the deposit before that date, with the rest of the sum due at the completion of the date.
Please be advised that overnight dates incur an extra charge. This date will require one thousand dollars per day. As well, our dates expect to sleep in a separate room from the client. Any indiscretions on the part of either party will result in the termination of this contract, with no refund available.
Warm regards,
Bianca Fulton
He couldn’t believe he’d done it. When he came home from dinner with Steve two nights earlier, he’d sat at the computer until his eyes crossed, reading through the terms and conditions and considering his options. When he’d sent the email, he’d gone to bed and almost forgotten about it. Until the next morning. Until the phone rang and Bianca’s cheerful voice confirmed his request.
He blinked again and knuckled his eyes. Then he sighed and stood to his feet, stretching his arms over his head.
Too late to back out now. Besides, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. He’d asked for a photograph of his date but hadn’t heard back yet, and it was almost time for her to arrive. Bianca had assured him they’d match him to someone suitable.
He ran a hand through his hair and frowned. Perhaps he should just cancel. The car would be here soon to collect him for the airport. He could travel to Montana on his own.
Granted, he’d already told his folks he was coming and bringing his girlfriend. They were expecting her. But they’d get over it. He sighed and pursed his lips. No, he should go through with it. His heart raced and sweat broke out on his brow. He wiped it away with his sleeve.
Time to finish packing before she arrived. She should be there by now. She was already running late. That didn’t bode well. He couldn’t stand when people wasted his time by not keeping to their appointments. It was inconsiderate and unprofessional.
He limped toward the door, grimaced, and rubbed the place on his thigh where it often ached. After Mia’s accident, he’d had a fall. It’d been broken in three places, but only one of the breaks still gave him trouble. It ached more in cold weather or if he’d been on his feet for too long. Beneath his jeans, a jagged red scar marked the place where the bone had protruded until a young ER doctor had shoved it back into place.
The stiffness faded somewhat as he walked, and his gait strengthened as he made his way from the office to the master suite. He passed Maria in the hall. Her gray-streaked hair was pulled into a tight bun at the back of her head, and her brown eyes flashed as she offered him a wide smile.
“If I don’t see you before you leave, have a wonderful time with your family over Christmas, Maria.”
The housekeeper dipped her head in acknowledgment. “Thank you, Mister Everett. We will. My daughter is coming up from Florida and will be staying with us for two weeks. I am very much looking forward to seeing her and the bambinos.”
“That sounds wonderful. Don’t forget to take that enormous ham with you from the fridge. I won’t be here to eat it. I’m not sure why the office thought that would be a good gift for a single man at Christmas. But there you have it.” He chuckled to himself. “Oh, and could you make sure Bernardo tends to the horses and dogs before he leaves? I usually like to do it myself on days off but haven’t had time this morning.”
She nodded and continued down the hall as Chris turned into his bedroom. “Thank you! Have a wonderful time in Montana, Mister Everett.” Her lilting voice floated back to him down the hallway, and he smiled. Maria had been with him for almost three years, and he couldn’t remember what he’d done before she came. She’d been a godsend at a time when he’d needed help but couldn’t ask for it.
Maria had stepped in, wordlessly, to do anything he needed her to do, to make sure he ate, and to keep his house running smoothly when he couldn’t rouse himself from bed. Those days were behind him now, but still she managed his house in such a way that he didn’t have to think about it. He knew she’d take care of whatever needed doing, and the relief of that was worth its weight in gold to him. He smiled at the thought of her opening the gift he’d had messengered to her house. He knew how much she needed a new car and wished he could be there to see her face when she found the blue Prius that evening.
His suitcase sat open on the bed, and he eyed it, running through in his mind everything he might need. He’d forgotten to pack his boots. He never wore them these days, but he’d need them at the ranch. His family would never let him hear the end of it if he showed up with only loafers and business shoes. He strode into the long closet that joined to his bedroom at one end and searched through the racks of shoes for his boots. They were hidden behind a row of shiny, expensive loafers.
Dry and cracked, the leather could use some loving care. He didn’t have time for that right now. Instead, he shoved them into the suitcase and zipped it shut. Time to go. The car might already be waiting outside to take him to the private airport where the company jet was likely fueling up at that very moment. Every minute of his life was as streamlined as that jet. Every second planned, accounted for, and filled with tasks and activities. If he was late getting into the car, he’d be late to the airport and the jet would be delayed from getting from Montana to Los Angeles where a party of colleagues would be waiting to take it back to Atlanta.
He couldn’t afford to forgo his schedule, else all the careful planning his assistant had done would fall down around him like a shining stack of dominoes flicked by time’s pointer finger.
After carrying his suitcase to the front door, he opened it to peer outside. The car wasn’t there. Neither was his date. Where was she?
He tapped fingertips against the doorframe impatiently. If she wasn’t there soon, he’d just have to leave without her, contract or no contract. Mom would be disappointed, but she’d recover. He had to admit, he’d be deflated as well. For some reason, he’d been looking forward to meeting the woman a computer algorithm at the Email-Order Dates agency deemed a worthy fit for him. Perhaps it was ridiculous, and maybe they were making the whole thing up. Or maybe not. He was curious to find out.
With a push, he shut the door then wandered to the kitchen. He poured himself a glass of water, drank it, then stood in the kitchen staring at the counter. He wasn’t used to having downtime. Perhaps he should log on to his phone and check his emails. Although, his assistant Janet had expressly forbidden him from doing that for the holidays.
“You’re on vacation. Have fun. No email.” She’d pressed her hands to her hips, and her nostrils had flared in that way he knew meant she was serious. She was right. He needed time off. Still, he hated not knowing exactly what was going on with the company, even if it was only for a week. There was no way he could stick to a resolution like that. He couldn’t switch off; it was one of the reasons he’d succeeded in the business world.
The knock at the door startled him in the quiet house. Finally! He hurried to open it and found himself staring at a woman dressed all in green, a bell hanging from the tip of her felt hat.
Why was she dressed like an elf? Perhaps she meant it to be festive. His brow furrowed, he stared at her a moment. She was beautiful. It almost took his breath away. Her white blonde hair hung around her shoulders, and her brown eyes swallowed him in their depths. His heart thudded as her eyes fixed on his. She opened her mouth wide as though she were about to say something or perhaps sing something. He didn’t care which; they were running late, and he didn’t have time to spare. The car he’d been waiting on pulled into the drive behind her, circling around in front of the house.
Kate’s thoughts were fixed on whether or not she’d have enough change in her purse to buy a peppermint latte when she finished up with her last Christmas-Gram. Perhaps he’d be a big tipper. His house was enormous, and he was obviously wealthy. As soon as she
was done with this last job, she was headed to the airport. She’d managed to book a flight to Chicago last minute, though it certainly hadn’t been cheap. She really couldn’t afford it, but the thought of staying home alone in their dingy apartment for the holidays was just too pathetic for her to contemplate.
Her feet ached, her throat tingled as though she might be coming down with something, and a morning of singing hadn’t helped the matter.
The man who’d answered the door must be Chris Everett. That’s what the appointment she’d received via text had said. That and his address in Grayson, along with the requested song: “We Wish you a Merry Christmas.” It wasn’t very original, but she didn’t mind—she loved singing carols. At least it was an up-tempo beat that helped keep her warm while she hung out on people’s front porches in the cold.
Snow still hugged the ground, thin in places where mud and wisps of dry grass showed through. It’d stopped falling, but the air was crisp and cool and her nose was numb.
He was a handsome man—tall with dark hair, stormy blue eyes, and wide shoulders beneath an expensive jacket. The scowl he wore didn’t do him justice, but perhaps the song would wipe it away and replace it with a smile. She opened her mouth to begin when he spoke, his brow still creased with the same angry scowl.
“Finally, you’re here,” he barked. “Get your things. The car’s right behind you, and we’re late.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, her mouth fell shut, and she glanced over her shoulder to see a black limousine crackling along the circular gravel drive and up to the base of the stairs where she stood.
“Uh…sorry?”
He waved to the driver, frustration edging his tone. “It’s fine. There’s nothing we can do about it now. So, just get your bag. I don’t know if the agency told you, but we’re going to Billings, Montana, to spend the holiday with my family. You’re my girlfriend, and I’m paying the agency ten thousand for the privilege of your company, so I hope they haven’t overestimated your value.”
His gaze raked over her from head to toe. “On second thought, perhaps you should change before we go. I’m not sure an elf costume is suitable traveling attire.”
He spun on his heel and disappeared into the house. She frowned. What was he talking about? She’d heard “Billings” and “ten thousand dollars.” That was enough to pique her interest.
She crept through the front door in his wake. The entryway was spectacular, with high raked ceilings and cream-colored tiles. A stunning painting of a mountain vista with snowcapped peaks and a ranch house took up most of the wall to her right. Other pieces, along with vases and stern-looking furniture, filled a hallway that led from the entry to a large, open room.
Chris disappeared down the hall. He walked with a slight limp, and she studied him with her mouth ajar.
“Uh…excuse me?” She jogged to catch up. “You want me to come to Billings with you and pretend to be your girlfriend for the holidays?”
He stopped, rolling his eyes in exasperation. “I was hoping the agency would be more professional than this. I don’t know what I was thinking working with a company I know less than nothing about. They assured me you’d be presentable…” He arched an eyebrow as his gaze traveled over her again. “And ready to go. They didn’t tell you anything?”
“Of course they did,” she replied then swallowed. “I was just confirming the details.” Billings was where Tamera Simpson lived. Her birth mother wanted to see her, and she knew there was no way she’d be able to save the money to go anytime soon after just having purchased a ticket to Chicago.
“Look, I’m supposed to pay you half up front. Do you want me to send a deposit to your account or give you cash now?I know I was meant to send it earlier, but I just haven’t had the time to deal with it, and my assistant has had a thousand other things to do before the holidays…”
Her eyes widened. That cash would go a long way toward fixing her car, and buying new art supplies, and… “Cash would be great.”
“Okay. Come with me. We have to move quickly; the jet is waiting for us.”
She followed him to the kitchen, and he removed an envelope from one of the drawers. He handed it to her without opening it, and she shoved it quickly into a pocket in her elf skirt.
Her heart thudded when she considered just how much money was in her pocket. Five thousand dollars might not have seemed like much to a man like him, but to her, it was six months’ worth of rent. It was life changing. Just what exactly did he expect from her in return? She was supposed to pretend to be his girlfriend? What kind of man needed a pretend girlfriend for Christmas with his family anyway?
She shook her head as he strode toward the front door. Then she scurried after him. “Just making sure we’re on the same page. All I have to do is pretend to be your girlfriend… There’s no hanky-panky or anything involved?”
He sighed, exasperation making his voice hoarse. “Of course not. I understand the terms of the contract. I’m not looking for an escort, just an actress who can pretend well enough to convince my mother that I’m doing fine and don’t need setting up. Got it?”
She nodded, chewing on her lower lip. She could do that. She wasn’t exactly an actress, but she’d done enough singing on stages and front porches over the years to understand how it worked. It wasn’t rocket science. And for ten thousand dollars, she’d be happy to pretend to be the Sultan of Brunei, if that’s what he wanted.
“Got it. I’ll just get changed and meet you out front at the car.”
He dipped his head in a curt nod and followed her through the front door. Thankfully, she’d already packed for her trip to Chicago, and everything she’d need was in the trunk of her car.
Shoot.
She was supposed to be staying with Shanice and her family. Surely Shanice would understand. She couldn’t exactly pass up this sum of money, not to mention the chance to go to Billings, Montana, and see her birth mother.
She inhaled sharply, her pulse racing. She’d message Shanice from the car and let her know what was happening. The ticket to Chicago had tapped her savings account dry, but the ten grand would more than make up for it.
By the time she’d walked back to the Impala, her heart felt as though it might jump from her chest. This was crazy. She didn’t know this man—he could be an axe murderer or a serial killer for all she knew. How could she agree to fly to Montana with him? Not to mention the fact that she had no idea which agency he was talking about and the real email-order girlfriend would likely show up at any moment. What then?
She sighed and opened the trunk with a grunt, retrieving her single suitcase. Then she tugged her pocketbook from the front seat and locked the car. With one last glance at it, she turned back and trudged through the snow up to the house.
Chapter 4
“So, your name is Kate Grant?”
Kate nodded then swallowed hard. What was she doing?
Chris glanced at her then returned his attention to the driver. “Are we gonna make it in time, Stewart?”
Stewart mumbled a response in the affirmative then rolled up the window that separated them from the front of the limousine. Chris relaxed back into his seat.
“It’s a miracle,” he muttered then fixed his gaze on her. “I don’t know why, but I thought your name was Gail or something. I must’ve gotten it wrong.”
She shrugged and offered him a wan smile. “No problem.”
“I noticed your suitcase is small… I hope you’ve packed enough warm things to wear. Montana can get pretty cold.”
He peered at her beneath lowered brows, with what she could only assume must be concern.
“Um… I think I’ll be fine. I have a coat.”
“Good.” He stared out the window. “I guess we should get to know each other a little and align our stories.”
She nodded, pressing her lips together. He was starting to get under her skin—cold, distant, demanding. She could tell all those things about him just by the way he spoke to her. He
was a man accustomed to things going his way and people doing exactly what he told them to.
“As you know, I’m Chris Everett. I run Everett Enterprises, a company headquartered here in Atlanta. My folks live just outside of Billings, Montana, on a ranch. It’s where I grew up. I have a brother, a sister-in-law, two nephews, and a niece, all of whom you’ll meet. Let’s see…hmmm…”
“What does your company do?”
He crossed one leg over the other, his seatbelt cutting a line across his torso and pressing his jacket tight against his muscular body. He obviously worked out. Her cheeks flushed with warmth, and she looked away. She couldn’t be attracted to him. Not with the way things were between them. Not to mention the fact that, from everything she could tell of him in that moment, he was an arrogant jerk.
“We develop software that protects other organizations and government departments against cyberattacks. We have clients all over the world.”
She nodded as though she knew what he was talking about. But in truth, she could barely do more than surf the internet. Computers weren’t her thing. Now give her an easel, canvas, and some oil paints, and she’d be completely at home.
“Oh. That sounds interesting.”
His lips pursed. “What about you? Is it just dates that pay the bills, or do you do something else as well?”
Her cheeks burned. “No. Of course not. I’m an artist.”
“As in paints?”
“Yes, I paint, I do sculptures, and I sell my works at various markets around Georgia and occasionally at galleries when I’m lucky enough to land a showing.”
He smiled, and her heart softened, her nerves calming. He was handsome when he wasn’t scowling. Attractive even. “I love art.”
“I could tell. That piece in your entryway was amazing.”
“Thanks. I had it commissioned—it’s of my family home. The ranch we’re traveling to today.”
Her eyes widened. That was where they were going? It looked beautiful in the painting. Of course, she’d never been outside of the southeast in her life—at least that’s what she’d believed until she read the letter from Tamera. Montana seemed like a world away, and she couldn’t wait to see it. Perhaps it was where she was born, since her birth mother lived there. She had no way of knowing whether or not she might be coming home for the first time since she was a baby. She’d have to ask Tamera when she saw her.
