Page 11 of Forty, Flirty & Framed

Especially if he starts digging too deeply into who I really am.

Because the version of Karina Peters who landed this job?

She looks a lot better on paper than in reality.

4

THE SUMMIT OF SUFFERING

CALLUM

Five days after the #KiltedCasanova catastrophe, Seattle’s evening fog rolls in like a hangover—thick, disorienting, and apparently out for blood.

Inside The Summit—a members-only sanctuary where billionaires bench press trauma and broker dreams over overpriced scotch—I’m flat on my back on a weight bench, questioning every decision that’s led to this moment.

“Another rep, Kilty McGee,” Connor Reeves calls, spotting with the smug energy of a man not currently lifting his bodyweight.“Let’s see those whisky-barrel-crushing thighs in action.”

Luke Sterling, spotting beside him, doesn’t even bother hiding his laughter.

“I hate you both,” I grunt, forcing the barbell up while sweat stings my eyes.“Remind me again why I agreed to this?”

“Because canceling your RSVP to my engagement party would tank your acquisition,” Connor says with infuriating cheer.

I rack the bar with a final push and sit up, toweling off.“Right.Friendship by hostage negotiation.”

“Bonded by the trauma of the Stanford grad programs,” Grayson Dixon adds from a neighboring bench, eyes glued to his phone.“And the mutually-assured destruction of CEO life.”

“I’m just here for the free protein shakes,” Luke says, pushing up his designer glasses.

We’re alone in the club’s private gym—top floor of a high-rise, floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the Seattle skyline through curling fog.

It's quiet, luxe, and exactly the kind of place that makes you hate yourself a little.

“How bad is it, really?”Connor asks, cracking a water bottle.“The Scottish God of Thunder thing.”

I scrub my face, probably harder than necessary.“A woman asked me to sign her kilt yesterday.”

“Her own kilt?”Luke asks.

“Not her kilt-wearing boyfriend’s.Hers.”

“Iconic,” Grayson mutters, still scrolling.

“Duncan MacTavish stopped by to ‘casually’ mention that our valuation might be inflated now that I’m a novelty meme,” I say, moving to the lat pulldown.“Then Gran called to ask why I’m being petitioned for Scotland’s Sexiest Bachelor calendar.”

Luke whistles.“Forty thousand signatures and climbing.I set an alert.”

I blink at him.“Why?”

“Research,” he says flatly.“Also, I bought four shirts.”

“Gray?”I turn to the allegedly responsible one.

“Five shirts,” he confirms.“Monday through Friday.”

I close my eyes.“So this is rock bottom.”

“Please,” Connor says.“You remember Alex’s wedding?When TMZ tried to buy a candid of him mid-pee?That was rock bottom.”