Fiance by Fate (16 page)

His father threw his hands up in disgust and walked over to the door. “Jack, I don’t want to fight with you,” he said wearily. “But I already lost my wife and sometimes…sometimes I feel like I’m losing my son as well.”

…

Sabrina chewed on the end of her pen and stared at her computer. She’d been on the same screen for who knew how long, but she hoped she at least
looked
productive. She was having a hard time thinking about anything other than Jack. Thank God he had an appointment this morning and had been gone before she got in. Maybe he’d be out of the office for the whole day—or if she was extremely lucky, the rest of the week. She couldn’t imagine seeing him again so soon after what had happened between them Saturday night. He probably thought she was some kind of tease with all the mixed signals she’d thrown at him. Obviously, spending so much time together outside of work was messing with her brain and she wasn’t acting like herself anymore. She should be concentrating on David. Jack may be a handsome man—she’d even admit he had his moments of humor and kindness as well—but they were completely different people. Different enough to want different things out of their lives. He’d practically said so himself. Jack wanted her, yes, but not for a lifetime. It wasn’t a big deal for someone like Jack to have a casual one-night stand, or whatever he was used to having with a woman. But where would that leave her in the end? Probably much worse off than she was right now and nursing
two
broken hearts to boot. She could never be a loner like Jack, and if she wanted to make sure she didn’t end up like him, she was going to have to put some distance between them.

“Earth to Sabrina.”

She snapped her attention up to Maddie’s smiling face. “Oh. Hey, what are you doing here?”

“We have a lunch date.” Her friend raised an eyebrow. “Remember?”

“Oh, right. Sorry. My mind has been…elsewhere.”
And primarily on a meat-eating Adonis who only wants a pretend relationship with me.

“No apologies necessary.” Maddie grinned. “As long as you’re buying.”

Sabrina glanced at her Hello Kitty clock, surprised that it was twelve-thirty already. She’d been thinking about Jack for longer than she’d thought. “Okay, but I choose where.”

Maddie made a face. “No deal. I want a real lunch. Not just vegetables.”

Sabrina took out her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk and stood. “You’d like vegetarian meals if you’d try them,” she said in a singsong voice.

The door to Mr. Brenner’s office opened and he stepped out. “Hello ladies,” he said, offering them both a sunny smile. “Are you going to lunch now, Sabrina?”

She automatically set her purse back down on her desk. “Yes, but if you want me for something, it can wait.”

He waved her off. “No, no,” he said with a chuckle. “Just wanted to know. When you get back, I’d like to speak with you though.”

“If you want to talk now, I could—”

“No, you have a good lunch, sweetie.” He shot her a wink, then walked back into his office with a spring in his step that made him look almost two decades younger.

Sabrina and Maddie exchanged curious looks.

“What was that all about?” Maddie asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen your boss so happy.”

Sabrina nodded. Mr. Brenner’s actions were perplexing, but that wasn’t what was bothering her. It was because it was the first time he’d ever called her
sweetie
.

…

“Come on. Live a little.”

Sabrina stared hard at the sloppy, cheese-oozing steak sandwich Maddie held out for her, and shook her head. “No thanks. Why are all of my friends trying to slowly kill themselves with either meat or cigarettes?”

“You have other friends?” Maddie took a bite of her sandwich and grinned.

Sabrina held her stomach in a mock laugh. “That’s so funny. You two have the same sense of humor as well.”

“Who does?”

Sabrina hesitated, not wanting to mention Jack because she’d felt she’d been talking—and thinking—about him enough lately. She wiped her fork with her napkin and stalled for time.

“
Who
has the same sense of humor?” Maddie pressed.

She sighed. “Jack.”

“As in the
Boston
magazine article Jack? As in if I were single I’d be all over him like white on rice Jack?”

“You know exactly which Jack I’m talking about, and I had a feeling you’d make a big deal about me mentioning him.”

“Sorry. So I assume you and Jack made nice at work and are BFFs now?”

“Well, I suppose Jack and I have gotten friendlier lately.”

“Oh?” She lifted one brow. “
How
friendly?”

“Friend friendly. We’re kinda sorta helping each other out, so to speak.”

“
Helping
each other? Explain,” she prompted.

Sabrina let out a long sigh. “Jack and I are pretending to be in a relationship. For a short time. He needs to change his image at work, and I figured if David got jealous, he’d realize how much he loves me and come back. It’s a win-win situation when you think about it—and strictly business. No funny stuff is going on whatsoever.”

Maddie looked unconvinced. “Uh-huh.”

“No, it’s true. You know I’m committed to David. All signs point to him as my soul mate. Besides, it’s not like Jack and I are really dating. We’re just fake dating. It would never work between us anyway. Jack is hardly the type who wants to be saddled in a relationship or get married.”

“So you discussed it then?”

“Yes. I mean,
no
.” She shook her head and tried again. “I mean, the point is moot because I’m getting back together with David.”

Maddie gasped. “David proposed again?”

She bit her lip. “Well…not exactly. But I feel it’s imminent. My seeing Jack is driving him nuts.”

“Oh? What does Jack have to say about all this?”

Maddie sounded so accusing that Sabrina automatically grew defensive. “What could Jack possibly say about anything?”

Her friend shrugged. “I just thought Jack would have an opinion on the whole David situation. With the way you’ve been going on and on about Jack lately, I thought he might have taken an interest in you that was beyond friendship. But I guess not, since he hasn’t even put those luscious lips of his on you. Some playboy, huh?”

“Yeah, some playboy,” she said with a chuckle she didn’t feel. She shifted in her seat.
Is it hot in here?

When the silence dragged on, Maddie’s eyes widened. “Oh. My. Goodness!” She pushed her sandwich out of the way, then with a second thought brought it back and took a hearty bite. “Details,” she mumbled, chewing fast.

No house of cards could have folded faster.

“Oh, Maddie, it was terrible,” she blurted.

Maddie’s mouth dropped open. “Jack’s a terrible kisser?”

“Oh, no. He’s a good kisser.”
Incredible kisser
, she mentally corrected. “But the situation is terrible. I love David and there I was, all ready to have sex with another man.”

“Sex?” Maddie choked. “Whoa.” She straightened her shoulders and began fanning her hands in front of her face. “Stop fast forwarding on me. How’d we go from one kiss to sex with Jack?”

“I didn’t have sex with Jack. I
would
have had sex with him. I think. At least, I had some good sense left and stopped it.”

“That doesn’t sound like good sense to me,” Maddie muttered.

“Trust me, it is. Jack hasn’t made it a secret that he’s looking for a brief fling, and David’s at least somewhat interested in a relationship. It’s not such a tough choice once you step back and look at the big picture.”

“Yeah, but right now, you don’t have either.”

Sabrina couldn’t argue with that, and feeling worse than ever, she slumped over her salad with her head held in her hands. Her emotions were jumbled up. She’d thought she had it together going into Jack’s scheme, what she wanted out of life: commitment, marriage, family, stability. With David. But now all she could think about was Jack.

Maddie reached across the table and patted her shoulder. “Take it easy, honey. Maybe you’re overanalyzing this attraction.”

“I don’t know,” she groaned. “I guess I’m trying to protect myself. At this point, there’s no more to think about anyway. Jack and I agreed to just stay friends, which is for the best. I mean, a guy like that hasn’t made the Top Ten Bachelors of New England for five years in a row without good reason. He obviously
wants
to remain a bachelor.”

Maddie didn’t bother hiding the disappointment in her voice. “I suppose that’s true. Lucky for you that you’re aware of all this now.”

“Lucky?”

“Yeah. By knowing everything beforehand, there’s no chance you could let yourself get attached to Jack.”

“Uh, right.” Sabrina felt a knot form in her throat. “Lucky me.”

…

Jack’s door was closed when they got back from lunch. Uh-oh. He was back from his morning appointment, which meant she’d have to face him sometime today. But first she had to face his father. Tossing her purse inside her drawer, she knocked on Mr. Brenner’s door, then took a peek in.

Mr. Brenner looked up, removed his glasses, and gestured to a chair. “Please sit down, Sabrina.”

She did, and for the first time since she was hired, felt some unease. “What did you want to talk to me about, sir?”

“I’ve been seeing good reports on Jack’s traveling and sales numbers for you two, as well as some other things I’m very pleased to see.”

She let out a rush of relieved air. “Oh yes. We’ve been working hard to keep our expenses down, too”

“I have a feeling it’s all because of you.”

She flushed. “I haven’t really been doing much. In fact, Jack has been taking all the initiative himself with the territory.”

He nodded thoughtfully and folded his hands. “Jack’s trying to make a good impression.”

“He wants you to believe in him.”

“I’m not the one he’s trying to impress.”

She cocked her head. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“It’s okay, sweetie. You don’t have to hide it anymore. I know exactly what’s going on here.”

Uh, oh. The jig is up
. He’d figured out Jack was trying to look good to the board by pretending to have a serious relationship with her.

“It wasn’t my idea!” she blurted. “I didn’t want to do it at first.”

“You gave him a fight, did you?” He chuckled. “Well, good for you.”

She blinked. “You’re not upset?”

“Upset? I’m tickled pink. Jack’s used to getting his own way. I’m glad you made him work a little to get what he wanted.”

Several seconds ticked by. “Mr. Brenner, what are we talking about?”

“You and Jack, of course. But don’t think I’m going to go easy on your workload just because you’re dating my son.” He gave her a devilish grin that instantly reminded her of Jack. She went very still.

“Uh, yes, Jack and I are…”
This was part of the agreement. Play along, stupid
. But for some reason she had trouble saying the words out loud. “Mr. Brenner, I would never ever presume to get any special treatment.”

“Now, now, don’t get defensive. I know you. You would never do anything like that. That’s why I’m so pleased Jack saw all those wonderful qualities in you. I have to tell you, you’re exactly the kind of girl I hoped he would start dating. Always seeing those fancy-faced airheads. It’s about time he started noticing someone with beauty
and
brains. It will be especially nice for my daughter Laurie to have a female to talk to on Thanksgiving.”

“Thanksgiving?”

“Yes. Don’t tell me Jack didn’t mention Thanksgiving Day plans with you yet. Laurie always has the family at her house for the holidays.”

The ground shifted beneath her. “Of course he mentioned Thanksgiving to me,” she said with a nervous laugh. “Why wouldn’t he, since I’m his”—she swallowed—“girlfriend.”

“Excellent. We’ll look forward to having you.”

Her stomach clenched tight. She hadn’t counted on this. More lies.

Silence fell between them as Sabrina gazed into the man’s happy face. She didn’t have the heart to tell him she wasn’t coming to dinner, but finally managed a weak, “Was there anything else, Mr. Brenner?”

“No, that’s all,” he said, putting his glasses back on. “You keep an eye on my boy and continue showing him what he’s been missing out on by always putting work first.”

She forced a smile. “Yeah, will do.” Somehow she was able to stand, and although her legs were shaky, they got her through the door with some mode of decorum.

Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh
. She had to talk to Jack. She’d never considered how far their charade might have to go. Now she was expected to go to Jack’s sister’s house for the holidays? No. She couldn’t. She had to draw the line of deceit there. With the steadfastness of a nuclear missile, she dashed across the room and, without knocking, stormed into Jack’s office.

“Typically when a door is closed, you knock first,” he told her matter-of-factly. “But since you’re my adoring fake girlfriend, I’ll let it slide this time.”

“Shut it, Jack. We’ve got trouble.”

Jack leaned against the back of his leather chair. He met her eyes squarely, but there was a trace of a smile on his lips. “
We’ve
got trouble?”

“Yes. Your dad wants me to spend Thanksgiving with you and your family.”

He cocked an eyebrow and waited. “And?”

“No
and
. That’s it. That’s the problem.”

“That is not a problem. That is a deal-making fact.”

She gasped. “You have to change it then. I can’t do it. I thought we would just be pretending in public and around the office. But this… I can’t go to your sister’s home and pretend to be your girlfriend in front of your
family
. I’ll screw it up. I’m a terrible liar one on one.”

Chuckling, Jack stood, then walked over to her. “Calm yourself,” he told her, cupping his palms over her shoulders. “You’ll be fine. Tell you what, I promise to keep the nuzzling to a bare minimum if it makes you feel better.”

“It doesn’t.”