Page 15

Chapter Fourteen

Cat

My pulse is racing, and the heat from his hands, his words, are leaving my limbs weak. My knees give out, and I collapse on the bench.

This can’t be happening. Please tell me he’s not suggesting what I think he’s—

“My agent Finn has a reputation…” David’s words taper off, and he sits slowly on the bench next to me. A lopsided grin on his face.

I’m glad one of us finds this situation amusing. Because I am humiliated beyond belief. My heart is pounding like a relentless drum, making it hard to focus. I shake my head furiously and firmly say, “No. There is no way I’m trapping someone into a loveless marriage.”

My hands shoot up toward my face, but he gently grabs my wrists, leaving me feeling completely exposed.

“Look at me, Cat,” I glance at his hand, trying to ignore the warmth running through me like the summer sun coming out from behind a cloud, sending tingles up my arm.

The gentleness in his voice calms my swirling stomach, cutting through the pain still lingering.

But it’s not until he places his thumb under my chin and gently applies pressure that my eyes flick to his.

“What if it was a mutually beneficial arrangement?”

My eyebrows shoot past my hairline, my mouth falls open, and a gasp escapes me. His eyes are earnest and clear. I don’t see any hesitation or doubt in whatever thoughts are running through his head.

“Mutually beneficial?” I repeat, swallowing hard. My gaze bouncing back and forth to his. Hope, mixed with uncertainty, springing to life in my chest.

What if this situation could kill two birds with one stone? Ugh, bad metaphor.

Marriage isn’t a death sentence—at least, it doesn’t have to be like my parents’. My guarded heart, broken in the past, pulls back at the idea of getting married for convenience—and yet…

David stands up and starts pacing back and forth in front of me interrupting my ramblings. I can almost see what he’s thinking, floating like bubbles over his head. “I can talk to Finn. Get some ideas. I know he helped Duncan and Ava, but that was just dating—”

“Wait! What?” I cut him off, surprise lifting my voice. My rising panic screeches to a halt—gossip about Finn’s matchmaking is a much safer topic. He stops in front of me and grins broadly, his dimple popping. “Duncan and Ava don’t love each other?”

Shock lines his face. “Oh no, they do. Duncan’s been in love with Ava forever, but the reason they started ‘dating’,” he puts air quotes around dating, and chuckles. “Is because of Nathan.”

Movie star Ava Norris’ break-up with famous action star Nathan Vaughn, and the scandal that followed regarding her co-star Sean O’Connell, was all over social media.

Listening to him talk about it so casually is a bit surreal.

But to learn that Duncan and Ava started out ‘faking it’ is mind-blowing.

“So the rumors about Finn are true?” I whisper, breathing in sharply. A slow smirk creeps across my face, completely forgetting why we’re having this conversation in the first place. I need to know more about Finn Mitchell and his matchmaking.

“What about Josh Owens and Adam Daniels? Was he involved in their situations? Oh!” I point at him, all but hopping on my toes. “Is he the reason for #Briosh?”

An excited squeak slips out, and I excitedly reach out, touching his arm.

A spark lights his eyes, making my pulse skitter.

He lifts a shoulder in a shrug; a playful grin slips across his lips.

“I’m not sure. We don’t really talk about his extracurricular activities.

I only know about Duncan and Ava because they told me, but honestly, I wouldn’t doubt if he was. ”

“Extracurricular activities?” I raise a brow questioningly, a giggle breaking free. Heat flows through me as I realize I’m still holding onto his arm. My breath catches, and I rip my hand away.

“How else would you describe setting up your clients?” He narrows his eyes and crosses his arms. Giving me the cutest scowl.

“Ummm… matchmaking?” His brows shoot up and his mouth forms a tiny ‘O’ making me laugh out loud.

Twisting my hands together, I ask, “So you think I should talk to Finn about a match?”

David pulls a hand down his face, holds it on his chin, and moves it around before squishing his mouth, his brow furrowed. He deeply inhales before forcefully pushing it out and slowly nodding. “I do.”

“You really think this is a good idea and not completely far-fetched?” I chew my lip and run my hand through my hair nervously. “I mean, it seems insane.”

“Oh, it’s wild,” he says, my face pulling together and my mouth dropping open, heat creeping up my neck. I blink slowly a few times, staring at him. “Like totally nuts.”

Turning away from him, I wrap both arms around myself, shoulders sagging. The back of my eyes start to burn, and my stomach sinks. I try to swallow past the lump in my throat.

“But I think you should do it,” he says, resting a hand on my shoulder, his touch igniting a warm glow down to my toes.

I whip around to face him, searching his face. “I don’t understand, you just said it was insane…”

“It is.” He nods, his mouth curling up. “Really—”

“Don’t say it.” I point at him, pressing my lips together and narrowing my eyes. “If it’s ‘wild’ then why should I do it?”

Flashing across his eyes are a million emotions I can’t decipher, and my stomach flips. His head drops to his chest, and he lets out a sigh. A minute passes before his head lifts and he meets my gaze. Looking away, he rakes a hand through his hair. “I can’t believe I’m suggesting this.”

“Yeah, join the club,” I spit out, annoyed. Crossing my arms over my chest, I glare at him. This was his idea. Why did he bring it up if he felt this way? I don’t understand.

“No, Cat,” he whispers, placing a hand on both my arms and meeting my gaze. “I think you should do it. Like I said, it would be mutually beneficial.”

Flustered, I blow out a breath while trying to pretend that his hands on my arms aren’t making swarms of butterflies dance in my stomach. “Do you have someone in mind?” I ask, my voice slightly breathless. My heart skips, a flicker of hope catching in my chest.

“Yeah,” he responds softly, his eyes like molten brandy burning into me. “Me.”

Taking a swig of coffee, my hands tremble slightly as I walk through the main doors of the Smokies front office, my breathing uneven. Hope greets me with a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes, which I completely ignore and make a beeline for my office, closing the door behind me.

Staring out the window at the baseball field, I take a slow breath and settle into my chair.

My meeting with Travis and Charles starts in ten minutes, and I need the time to pull myself together.

Rubbing my hands down my dress, I pull in a breath and blow it out in an attempt to calm my pounding heart.

David will talk to Finn, I will talk to my bosses, and later we’ll meet up with Scarlett, Duncan and Ava to let them know about our little arrangement.

To be honest, I’m not sure what I’m more nervous about: losing my job or admitting I’m getting married to David to claim an inheritance.

“This is insane,” I groan, dropping my head to my desk and banging it against it.

“Cat, your meeting—” The door swings open, and I whip my head up from my desk, staring wide-eyed at Hope. Her eyes fill with concern, and she rushes over to the side of my desk. “Are you okay?”

Reaching for my coffee, I take a gulp and nod my head. Unable to trust my voice if I speak. “Uh huh.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yup,” I squeak out, shifting papers around my desk. “What were you going to say?”

Hope searches my face, her gaze skeptical. “Travis and Charles are in the conference room and will be ready for you shortly. Here’s everything we’ve worked on.”

Taking the tablet from her, I flip through the presentation, my chest expanding at the perfect colors and themes we’ve crafted. This is my moment.

My fingers hesitate, and my stomach tightens. If only the entire thing wasn’t overshadowed by me announcing that I’m marrying David James, I would be bouncing out of my chair.

“It’s great!” I force a relaxed smile and swallow hard. “They’re going to love this.”

“I know,” Hope says confidently. Her gaze runs over my face, and her eyes narrow. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine!” My voice cracks, and I try again with a smile. “Great. Just excited and nervous for this meeting.”

What I said is honest, but not for the reason I’m letting her believe. She continues to stand in front of my desk with her brows pulled together. I sip my coffee and bring my gaze back to the presentation.

“Do you mind giving me a few minutes?” When she doesn’t move, I glance up and give her what I hope is a relaxed smile. One of her brows is raised, but she turns around and heads out of the office. “Close the door behind you, please.”

Slowly closing the door, she watches me, her expression still skeptical.

When I hear the click, I blow out the breath I was holding and drop my head to my desk. Fumbling around my purse, I pull out my phone.

Cat:

Are you sure you want to do this?

Maybe he’s changed his mind. Maybe we should change our minds? This is bonkers.

I start to type a message saying exactly that when David responds.

David:

YES! face screaming in fear emoji

I wasn’t exaggerating when I said my life was total chaos.

This morning I woke up to my cleats shredded.

The corner of my mouth lifts as I think about David telling me all the reasons this arrangement would work for him. Between Scarlett and Emmy he’s in over his head.

David:

They were in my duffel bag.

A huff of laughter erupts, and I cover my mouth. I’m not surprised, Emmy was a minx at the rescue.

Cat:

You could always hire a nanny…

David:

I kind of am wink emoji

Cat:

Hey!

David:

But they wouldn’t have your dog wrangling skills.

I need those desperately. prayer hands

I re-read his last text, a smile tugging at my mouth. Just talking with him has my pulse slowing and the queasiness in my stomach settling.

David:

Mutually beneficial, remember?

I exhale heavily and let his calmness wash over me.

Cat:

Mutually beneficial.

“Cat,” Hope pops her head in. My gaze flips to hers, and I see her shoulders drop. A smile crosses her lips. “Travis called. They’re ready for you.”

“Thanks, Hope.” Grabbing the tablet, I get up, tugging my shirt down and rubbing any wrinkles from my pencil skirt.

“You’re gonna do great,” Hope says, beaming at me, and I give her a tight nod. “Do you want me in the meeting with you?”

“No,” I say quickly. “But can you bring me a bottle of water?”

“You got it.”

I watch her walk toward the kitchen as I head toward the conference room. My stomach churns, and my palms start to sweat.

I’m not worried about the presentation, but telling them I’m getting married. My limbs get heavier the closer I get to the conference room door.

When I reach it, I stand frozen, unable to make myself knock on the door.

Breathe, Cat, Breathe. Oh geez, what am I thinking? I’m gonna get fired!

The door pulls open, and Travis’s smile falls into a look of concern as he glimpses my expression. “Cat, are you okay?”

My hand is still in the air, mouth agape, and words nowhere to be found.

He chuckles. “Come in!” Travis sticks his head out the door, looks in both directions, and then guides me into the conference room. Charles is sitting on the opposite side of the table with a broad smile on his face.

Swallowing hard, my stomach flips.

“Cat!” Charles says enthusiastically, standing up from his seat. “We’re excited to hear about Bark In The Park…and your news.”

“M—My news?” I stammer, letting Travis guide me to a seat across from Charles. Resting in the chair, I swallow past the lump in my throat.

“David and his ‘mystery woman’ have been causing ripples of conversation throughout the office, but we didn’t realize it was you until a tiny bit ago,” Travis says from behind me.

“Me?” My head is spinning. This isn’t how I intended things to go. Is it safe to believe from their reactions that I’m not going to get fired?

That they might actually be excited about this?

“Yes,” Charles chuckles, turning his laptop around so I can see the screen. “That is you and David, yes?”

Pulling the laptop closer I look at the pictures of the two of us in the park. David’s arms wrapped around me, us laughing and the moment he told me he volunteers as tribute.

Hunger Games? Really, Cat?! It’s just marriage for goodness' sake. Why all the drama?

“I guess the cat’s out of the bag!” I say with a shaky grin, ducking my head. A knock on the door interrupts, and Hope walks in carrying a water bottle. Her eyes dancing with excitement. “Thanks, Hope,” I mumble, as she walks out.

“This is brilliant marketing. It alone will fill seats,” Travis says once the door clicks shut. “Did you know David before you started working here?”

“Yes and no,” I answer, a wave of nausea rolling through me as I lift a shaky water bottle to my lips and gulp. “It’s a long story…”

“Relax Cat,” Charles says easily. “The Smokies don’t have any policies against dating co-workers.”

Keeping my attention focused on the bottle in my hand, I slowly turn the cap and breathe in deeply. “Well, that’s a relief!”

I glance up, my gaze moving back and forth between their easy smiles, and my gut churns. “How do the Smokies feel about marriage?”