Page 66 of Reluctantly Yours

“Why not? You said Fred has dogs. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

“I mind.”

Chloe’s eyes light up. “Having Baxter there will give you another commonality. Isn’t that the whole point of all this? Why you needed a fake girlfriend? And getting a dog is one of the most legitimate couple things.”

I scowl, but I see her point.

“Is that why you signed up for the dog fostering program?” I ask. “To be helpful?”

Chloe smiles sweetly. “I just want my fake boyfriend to succeed in his business endeavors so I can break up with him.”

I glance at the dog—Baxter—and the mess he’s made around his bowl.

This better be worth it.

CHAPTER15

Barrett

We’re just outside of Southampton when I get the text. I read it in disbelief.

“Fuck.” My hand clenches around my phone. It’s impossible to keep the frustration I feel inside.

Chloe flinches from where she’s reading a book beside me in the car. Between us, Baxter sits up, his open mouth turns in my direction and I get a whiff of doggy breath.

After my efforts to make him sit on the floor of the car failed, I gave up. He’s had his head in Chloe’s lap the entire drive until now. I put my hand out to guide his face away from mine, but he thinks I’m offering to pet him and moves closer.

“What?” Chloe asks.

“Frankie got lip injections and is having a bad reaction so Fred cancelled. They’re not coming.”

“Oh, no. Is she okay?” Chloe turns in my direction, her eyes wide with concern.

We both look forward as Marcus turns left to pull the SUV through the gate and into the circle drive of Fred’s Southampton estate.

Knowing the chance to talk business with Fred this weekend won’t be happening now puts me in a bad mood. That was the whole fucking point of this trip.

“I think so.” I shake my head. I didn’t ask.

Shit. Now, I feel like I’ve somehow made my position with Fred worse. How could I forget to ask how his girlfriend was doing? Leave it to Chloe to remind me I’m a self-centered asshole. My first thought when I read his text was my lost opportunity. I didn’t think about Frankie and what she might be going through. I didn’t know you could have bad reactions to lip injections.

I stare at Chloe, the way she’s nervously chewing on her bottom lip.

“What should we do?” she asks, reaching over to offer Baxter the affection that I denied him.

“Fred insisted we stay.” I note the direction in Fred’s text. He wants us to stay and while my opportunity to discuss our deal is gone, the next best thing to gaining his support would be to honor his request. It will be a reason to follow up with him next week. “They had meals prepared and staff is here.”

“Okay,” Chloe says simply.

Now, not only am I losing the opportunity to talk with Fred, but I’m stuck in the Hamptons with Chloe. And the dog.

We file out of the car while Marcus pulls our bags from the trunk and Fred’s housekeeper, Lucy, shows us inside.

“Here is the room I’ve prepared for you. I hope you find everything to your liking,” she says, leading the way into a large master suite. It’s nautical-themed. Paintings of boats. Anchor and rope wall décor. Navy and white bedding. There’s even a dog bed on the floor next to the window.

Chloe was right, Fred was elated to hear that we had a dog. I failed to mention that he’s temporary, but none of it will matter in the end.

Chloe sets her bag down on the striped bench at the foot of the bed.