The Engagement Game (Engaged to a Billionaire) (7 page)

"Come on."
 
He grabs my hand again.
 
"Let me show you the inside."
 
He pulls a ring of keys from his pocket and studies each one.
 
The sleeve of his t-shirt slips, revealing the edge of a tattoo I had yet to see the whole of.

"How long have you had it?"

Jack's eyes follow mine to his shoulder.
 
His expression turns sour.
 
He quickly resumes searching for the key.

"You know that feeling you sometimes get when something reminds you of the past . . . in bad way?"

"Actually yes," I reply.
 
I still had a funny feeling whenever I spotted a red pickup truck.
 
The car Chad used to drive.

"Yeah, I normally try not to look down."

"That bad huh?"
 
I watch as he unlocks the door to the first unit.
 
He steps inside without explaining any further.
 
"Now that's not fair.
 
I have to tell you every little detail of my life and you can't tell me yours?"
 
Jack takes a long breath and runs a hand through his hair.
 
His thick fingers rest on the scruff of his chin.

"A couple years ago I met a girl," he answers.
 
"Cindy.
 
We moved in together too fast."
 
He looks down at his shoulder.
 
"I got this when we were together."

"And . . . what happened?"
 
I move closer, pretending to casually survey the stained carpets and broken cabinets.

"She uhh . . . things were great at first until I realized that our relationship was . . . well fake."

"It was all about sex," I added.
 
Jack looks shocked.

"NO," he argues.
 
"Not that it was uh . . . no.
 
She was really superficial."
 
I giggle when I see the color of Jack's cheeks change to a rosy pink.

"Let me guess.
 
Blond hair, big boobs, and a habit of shamelessly mooching?"

"Close," he grins.

"Yeah," I sigh.
 
"I had a Cindy once."

"Cindys," he laughs.
 
"I bet you met yours in high school.
 
Am I right?"

"
Too
right," I answer.
 
Jack gives me a friendly nod.
 
His imperfect grin is suddenly tolerable.
 
Actually refreshing.

"Now."
 
He interrupts my train of thought.
 
"Dinner."

"Right.
 
I forgot about that."

"Then my plan worked."
 
Jack looks pleased with himself.
 
Being forced to think about worse times when I was with Chad made me realize how far I'd come.
 
I'd made a promise to myself and I was inches from finally fulfilling that promise.
 
My life would never be the same.
 
Unless Holly had stooped as low as slipping something into Rex's coffee.

"I gotta go."

"But," he adds.
 
"Do you know what you're making tonight?"
 
I nod.
 
More sure of the answer than I was fifteen minutes ago.
 
I had to bring out the big tricks and lucky for me Holly was a horrible cook.

"Oh yeah."
 
And for what I planned on wearing, I needed to get a quick workout in.
 
Or five.

*         *          *

I wipe my counter for the tenth time and take the lid off my tomato basil pasta with seared scallops.
 
Steam rises and the smell of fresh herb fills my nose.
 
It is perfect.
 
I check the clock.
 
It's already eight.
 
I run to the mirror in my bedroom and get a last look at my outfit.
 
Heels and an apron.
 
I'd spent ages wondering if the dress underneath was needed or not.
 
Yes!
 
You're not a slut!

The oven timer beeps and I rush to take out my chocolate cupcakes before they burn.
 
My mom's recipe.
 
Chocolate and cayenne.
 
It gives the cakes a nice little kick.
 
I impatiently make myself comfortable on the sofa.
 
If this wasn't enough to keep Rex's attention, I didn't know what was.
 
Well . . . maybe one thing.
 
I hope Holly at least learns his middle name before jumping to that one.

Holly and I were on the same soccer team in sixth grade.
 
Soccer wasn't Holly's strong point.
 
She later moved on to dance and decided that was where she belonged.
 
We used to taunt our competition before every game.
 
Holly had mastered the art of the dirty look.
 
She tried to teach me but it involved swallowing your conscious.

One Saturday I attempted to make Holly proud by stepping on a girl's shoelace.
 
I didn't expect her to fall over, break her nose and scream bloody murder.
 
I remember my heart pounding so violently I thought it might burst from my chest.
 
I could barely swallow.
 
The sound of her shrieking tore me apart.
 
Never again!
 
I promise!
 
Never again!

I remember hardly being able to speak when my coach walked towards me.
 
I literally thought my life was over.
 
But Holly stepped in.
 
She knew exactly what to say.
 
I never needed to explain.
 
With a sigh of relief, I was off the hook.
 
It was right then and there that I knew Holly and I made a good team though I carried around a dirty conscious for the next year.

Now Holly and I were contenders.
 
How was I ever going to survive?

My eyelids feel heavy.
 
It feels good to close my eyes especially after a night of constant cooking on my sore feet.
 
I try to relax, thinking about Rex.
 
About our kiss.
 
About the way his hand stroked the small of my back and how his scent seemed to encapsulate me.
 
In that moment, I couldn't think of anything else but being with him.

I take a deep breath.
 
Then another.
 
And then another.
 
My heart rate finally slows, allowing my tense arms and legs to loosen themselves.
 
I sink deeper into the cushions, thinking more about Rex.
 
Fantasizing about our night together - playing out every step in my head.

He walks through the door, takes one look at me and wraps his arms around my waist.
 
His kiss puts me under his spell.
 
I enjoy the burst of heat and the tingles each kiss sends through my legs.
 
I tell Rex he's the only one for me and tilt my head back.
 
His lips move to my neck, exploring every inch of my fiery skin until he reaches the heaving rim of my cleavage and-

BUZZ!
 
BUZZ!
 
BUZZ!

My eyes open to a bright living room and a moving phone.
 
I rub my eyes, completely confused.
 
It was morning.
 
Time to for another tiresome shift at Harrison Memorial.
 
My eyes go wide and I stare at a single unopened message on my cell.
 
It was from Rex.
 
Sent around midnight.
 
Something came up.
 
Promise I'll make it up to you.

"Holly," I say through my teeth.

Chapter Five

"We need to set some ground rules."
 
I barge into Holly's studio, making a scene amongst the waiting room of yoga moms and weathered nannies.
 
Holly sits behind the front desk with an innocent look on her face.

"Ground rules?"

"With Rex," I continue.
 
"I think we should set some rules."

"Is this about last night?
 
Because-"

"How could you guess?"
 
My frustration only deepens as Holly gives my outfit a once-over.
 
Scrubs and sneakers hardly accentuated the muscle tone in my thighs.

"Chill out," she whispers.
 
Her pink sweater and matching leg warmers bring out the pink in her lips.

"Rex and I were supposed to have a date last night," I mutter, looking at gawking eyes around the waiting room.
 
"And you ruined it."

"Sorry," she says quietly.
 
"How was I supposed to know that?
 
He didn't mention it."

"He didn't?"

"No."
 
She smiles at a woman in a paisley scarf.
 
"Morning, Mrs. Newman."
 
She nods reassuringly.
 
I glance at my watch.

"Look I have to go but we're not finished with
this.
"
 
I was fuming, resisting the urge to ask Holly what had happened last night.
 
What did she say?
 
What did
he
say?
 
Did they kiss . . . or more?
 
I try to shake that image from my thoughts.

"Honestly Kat.
 
I had no idea."

"Sure."
 
I stare at the glass doors next to me, secretly hoping they'd spontaneously shatter and Holly would have to spend all morning on her hands and knees picking up shards.

"Holly, can I talk to you about Becca's performance last week?"
 
Mrs. Newman stands up.
 
Her perfume fills the room as she moves.
 
I instantly recognize it.
 
Chanel.

"Oh of course," Holly replies.
 
"Just a sec, Kat."
 
I heave as she leaves reception.
 
This wasn't the first time Holly and I had issues.
 
Usually they blew over quickly.
 
A buzzing behind the desk interrupts my thoughts.
 
I look behind the desk and see Holly's phone.
 
The screen displays the author of a text message.
 
Rex.

My head is flaming and I'm overwhelmed with a tightening my throat.
 
I grab the cell phone and look to Holly.
 
She is worlds away in conversation.
 
Before I can talk myself out of it my fingers touch the screen and my eyes wander to an ongoing conversation between Rex and Holly.

Holly: i had a good time last night.
 
when can i c u again?

Rex: Thanks for stopping by & thanks for the drink.

Holly: drinks. lol!
 
r u free later?

Rex: My free time will be spent at the gym.

Holly: perfect.
 
i'll meet u for a quick

Rex: A quick what?

Swim
my mind finished.
 
She better have meant swim or run or spin class or something.
 
She must have been texting that last one as I walked in.
 
My eyes dart to Holly again.
 
That sneaky little . . .

a game of tennis,
my fingers type.
 
In a rush, I hit send.
 
My stomach churns.
 
What the hell did I just do?
 
The reply comes instantly.
 
Excellent.
 
Shall I bring a partner to play doubles?

ya!

Holly was going to be pissed.
 
Tennis was the one sport she hated.
 
She couldn't even manage to skate by with enough finesse to fool a dog.
 
Anything with a racket made her look like a ravenous monkey.
 
Another response comes again.
 
See you there.

I hurriedly erase the texts up to Holly's last one and drop the phone back in its place.
 
Holly finishes her chat with Mrs. Newman and jogs back over.

"I have to go to work," I say, checking my watch.
 
All I wanted to do was rush out before she figured out what I'd done.

"Yeah," she sighs.
 
"I'll call you after work."

"Uh-huh."
 
I jog through the doors, taking in a gulp of fresh air.
 
Oh yeah.
 
She was definitely going to call me.

*          *          *

"You spent how long cooking your ass off and Prince Charming didn't show?
 
Gasp."
 
Sadie was one of the reasons I still worked at Harrison Memorial.
 
We both had been hired at the same time, went through orientation together, and the rest is obvious.
 
She made me laugh and sometimes I found myself questioning how on earth she had a boyfriend.

"I'm sure he has a good excuse," I mumble.
 
I dig my toes into the soles of my shoes.
 
Sadie would yell like a crazy person if I told her Rex had been with Holly.

"A good excuse would be nothing short of a diamond necklace and some serious smoozing."

"Yeah well I'm trying not to think about that."
 
I sort through a tray of medications.
 
"First, I need to bust through this shift."
 
And pray that the sound of Holly's dance shoes never thumped down the hallway.

"Perv boy at one o'clock," Sadie says under her breath.

"Ladies," Dr. Saxten chimes in.
 
I hate the way appeared out of nowhere.
 
"You two attending the company fundraiser this weekend?"
 
I completely forgot about that.
 
Mostly because I had no money to donate.

"Of course."
 
Sadie was an expert at fake smiles.

"Kat," he continues.
 
When Dr. P said my name I had to refrain from flaring my nostrils.
 
"You going?"

"Uh-"

"Who with?"

"You'll probably stop by with the boyfriend," Sadie butts in.
 
"Right?"
 
I nod.

"Oh right.
 
Well, I look forward to meeting him.
 
His shiny forehead strolls out of view.

"You owe me," Sadie quietly remarks.
 
"I just saved you from an awkie convo."

"What would I do without you?" I joke.

"We've covered that."
 
She rolls her eyes.
 
"You'd be in splitsville with Dr. Creep over there, and stuck with graveyards."
 
I laugh and grab Earl's chart.
 
My eyes keep checking the time.
 
Any minute I was expecting an angry phone call or a thousand text messages.
 
I lightly knock on the door to Earl's hospital room.
 
A quiet voice tells me to come in.
 
Jack was visiting.

"How's he doing?" I whisper.
 
Earl's head is straight back on his pillow.
 
His eyes are closed and a dab of drool is trickling down the corner of his mouth.

"He's had better days."
 
Jack's sitting so the muscles in his arms are perfectly displayed.
 
His hair is messy like he just climbed out of bed, but his soft blue eyes compliment the sharpness of his face.
 
I check the monitor.

"You look like you've had better days as well," I comment.

"I didn't get much sleep last night.
 
How was your date?"

"Well-"

"Let me guess," he interrupts.
 
"Perfect?"
 
He raises his eyebrows as I shake my head, staring down at papers.

"The date was canceled."

"Why?"
 
Jack leans back looking bewildered.

"Something came up I guess.
 
He wasn't able to make it."
 
I hold my breath and wait for the teasing, the lectures, a rant about how Jack would never do that to me so I should agree to go out with him.

"Huh."
 
That's his response?
 
Huh?

"That's all you've got to say?"

"Things happen," he continues.
 
"You can't help that."
 
I suddenly realize my jaw is hanging wide open.
 
I shift my focus back to Earl.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.
 
With wide eyes I check the screen, expecting to see Holly's name.
 
I'd been trying to prepare for this moment but the right thing to say never came to me.
 
My heart leaps when I see Rex's name.

"I got to take this," I mention, stepping outside faster than Sadie could send out a bulk text invitation.
 
My palms are sweaty as I hold the phone to my ear.
 
"Hello?"

"Kat, I'm glad I caught you."
 
The sound of his voice makes me forget he'd stood me up just hours ago.
 
Okay . . . I didn't
forget.
 
But he was calling me during office hours which meant he really did feel bad about it.
 
And had a horrible time playing doubles with Holly?
 
"About last night.
 
I'm so sorry."

"You have a lot of making up to do," I reply.
 
"What kept you?"
 
The wheels in my head start spinning, wondering if he was going to lie to me.

"I'll tell you all about it tonight."

"What's tonight?"
 
I adjust a strand of hair hanging from my ponytail.

"I'm making it up to you," he slyly replies.
 
"Charles will collect you at eight."

"I'll be ready."
 
I hold back a squeal.
 
Now I knew how Leah must have felt when she saw that guy from
True Blood
at Union Square.

"I look forward to it," he says before he hangs up.
 
I walk back into Earl's room with a gigantic smile on my face.

"What?"
 
Jack notices my expression has changed.

"That was him."
 
I refrain from blurting out hundreds of things at once.
 
"He's going to make it up to me."

"See," Jack nods.
 
"You'll get to see him this week after all."
 
His compliance confuses me, but I go with it.
 
It was nice to have another person on my side.
 
Earl starts to stir.
 
He sits up, wiping the saliva from his lips.
 
An instant smile crosses his face when he sees me.

"What did I miss?" he inquires.

"Kat has a date," Jack answers, speaking a little louder.
 
Earl rubs his thinning hair, looking down at the IV in his arm.
 
It bothered him to be hooked up to "computers and nonsense".