Page 38 of Fair Trade

This wasn’t part of the plan. But I find myself telling her anyway. “I have a charity event to attend this weekend. Come with me.”

She stares at me for what feels like an eternity before she starts to shake her head. “What? No. Are you insane?”

“Clinically,” I deadpan.

She tightens her hold on her already secured towel. “How do you think it’s going to go over when I show up to a fancy event with you, arm in arm, huh? The internet is going to go crazy with conspiracies of how I got this job, and the most common ones will involve accusations that I slept with you.”

“You did sleep with me.”

“Shh.” She slaps my bicep. “Not to get the job. And that was before I knew who you were. Or do you still think I’m a conniving liar? If so, we have other hurdles to climb before we can even—”

“I believe you.”

She nods, eyes bouncing between mine. “Good. Right. Well, that’s great and all, but I’m finally starting to get some respect thrown my way with this new trade and winning streak we’re on, so I’d be an idiot to throw it all away by being arm candy.”

I look her up and down. “You do look good in red.”

“Stonehaven.”

“Nick. My name is Nick, Luisa. I thought we’d established this already.” I lean in even closer. As much as I love anything that comes from her lips, I’m waiting with bated breath to hear her call me Nick one more time.

She takes a step back, and I can practically see her placing the bricks up one by one around her. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”

“To what part?”

“All of it,” she whispers as she stares down at her bare feet.

I look away as I try to reel in my frustration. I can be mad all I want, but I’ll never let Luisa feel an ounce directed her way. “Got it. But just a heads-up: I have to take a date to these types of things.” I peel off my wet suit jacket as I speak. “There will be photos in the press.”

She tries to keep her eyes trained away from the wet shirt pressed against my chest and fails spectacularly. “Real mature,Stonehaven. Do you think you’re rubbing something in my face by telling me that?”

I shake my head. “I’m telling you exactly how these things go. And by these things, I mean me making public outings. I will be accompanied by a date. If not, women will badger me to no end.” She scoffs, but I carry on. “At the end of the night, I will have my date dropped off at her apartment and I will go back to my place. Alone.” I start to unbutton my shirt, uncaring that my team is about to see me shirtless. They see much more in these showers anyway.

“Why are you telling me all of this? We’re not… a thing. You’re free to bang as many supermodels as you want. You don’t owe me anything.”

I wonder if the words taste bitter on her tongue since her face scrunches up as she speaks.

“I suppose I could, but I won’t. And I’m telling you all this for the same reason that no other man should ever see the obscene amount of lingerie I’m about to purchase and have delivered to your apartment.”

“Which is?”

“I may be the devil, Luisa, but I amyourdevil. And don’t you forget it.”

seventeen

She’s fucking stunning.

And she’s everything I’ll never be.

Petite. Blond. And rail thin.

Fashion designer Marie Jensen hangs on to the crook of Nick’s arm as if a gust of wind will blow her into oblivion. Her short red dress seems a bit out of place for the charity gala they’re attending.

The adoring puppy dog eyes she aims in his direction are also a bit much, if you ask me.

It’s stupid, really. I should be used to this by now. It’s been over a month since Nick informed me that he would be seen in public with a date on his arm. I guess my silly brain didn’t anticipate that he’d go out so often.

Marie is woman number twelve. Not that I’m keeping count or anything.