Page 6

When Timothy lifts his head, he appears blurry through the tears building in my eyes. I wipe them away quickly.

Gage clears his throat. “Fuck, my aunt was a piece of work.”

Timothy nods. “Yes, she was.”

Gage shakes his head. “She’s giving us a guilt trip from beyond the grave.” He turns to me, and this time, I meet his gaze. “Don’t you think?”

When our eyes lock, something in my chest tightens.

How does he not remember me?

How can I still feel this pull toward him now that I know who he is?

And how the hell am I supposed to make this decision right now?

I clear my throat and turn back to face Timothy. “Do we have time to think about it?”

Timothy drops his eyes to the paperwork. “Yes. She said you have one week to decide.”

Gage straightens. “And if we don’t do it? ”

“The money goes to COPD research.”

Gage claps his hands once and then throws them up in the air. “Done! Let them have it.” He moves to stand, but I reach out and grab his forearm. This money could be life-changing for both of us, and I can’t just let the possibility of changing mine and my family’s futures slip away that easily.

“Wait!” Our eyes lock again.

“Come on. It’s an easy decision, Spitfire.”

My nose wrinkles. “Spitfire?”

Gage slowly returns to his seat with a smirk on his lips. “Yeah, that’s what my aunt always called you.”

I don’t get a chance to respond because Timothy cuts me off. “What if you got married, survived the six months, and then still donated to the COPD research?”

I turn back to him. “You honestly think we should do this?”

He shrugs. “Look, like you said, it’s life-changing money. Plus, Diane was insistent that you two actually think about this before making a rash decision.”

Gage pinches the bridge of his nose. “I swear to God…”

“There’s one more condition,” Timothy adds hesitantly. “You two would have to live together for the duration of the marriage.”

Gage lets out a slow exhale, staring at the ceiling like he’s praying for patience.

“I need time,” I say quietly. “I know this is crazy, but I really do feel we should think about this.”

He turns to me, eyes narrowing slightly. “We’re talking about getting married here, Spitfire.”

“It’s only six months. Hell, I’ve endured much worse than you .” I straighten my spine. “I know I can handle it for five million dollars, but if you’re too scared… ”

Gage scoffs. “You think I’m the one who’s gonna be the pain in the ass?”

Leaning in, I lower my voice, “I’m positive that you’ll be the worst part of it, especially given this act you’re putting on. But we owe it to your aunt.”

I sit back, watching how Gage’s eyes dip to my lips. Addressing Timothy again, I say, “You’re right. We can still donate to COPD research in her honor. That amount of money is insane, Gage…”

“You could open up your own tattoo shop,” Timothy interjects, pulling Gage’s attention to him.

“Huh?”

Timothy taps the desk in front of him. “I was supposed to say that to help convince you.” He winks. “Diane said you’ve always dreamed of owning your own shop.”

She told me he was a tattoo artist, and now our first encounter makes a little more sense. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.

Needing space from him and the enormity of this meeting, I grab my purse from the floor and stand. “Look, I’m going to take the week to think. Can we meet back here then?” I look down at Gage. “Does that sound good to you?”

His eyes narrow, but he nods curtly. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Why don’t you two exchange phone numbers in case you have questions?” Timothy suggests.

Gage sighs, pulls his phone from his pocket, and opens up to add a new contact, handing it to me.

I quickly type in my number and, just to fuck with him, I save my name as Spitfire ??.

“There. Now you know how to reach me, if you must,” I say to Gage with a bit too much snark in my voice.

He glances at the screen, one brow lifting, but doesn’t say anything.

I t urn back to Timothy and flash him the best smile I can muster. “Thanks, Tim. I know this isn’t your fault. You’re doing what Diane asked… I just need some time.”

“Understandable. Have a good day, Hazel.”

I twist, push through the door, and race to my car, reeling from what just happened.

Me? Get married to a perfect stranger? For money?

Well, he’s not a complete stranger, Hazel…

“Ugh. Stupid Hummingbird Guy,” I mutter to myself, racing back to Blueberry and wishing my life wasn’t turned upside down by this monumental decision that I now have to make.

***

“5.1 million dollars?!” Laney screeches through the phone.

I wince, pulling it away from my ear. “I know, right? I mean, that’s a lot of fucking money.” I continue to stroke the top of Blueberry’s head as he lies in my lap on the couch, his red cape curled around his back.

“Exactly. Can you imagine how you could expand your business with that? The trips you could go on, the house you could build for yourself…” Her voice trails off. “Why on earth would Gage be so quick to give that up?”

That’s the same thought that’s been going through my mind all afternoon since the meeting. It’s currently after eight, and I’m ready to call it a day, go to sleep, and see if I wake up and convince myself that today was just a dream. But I know better.

I know I tried convincing myself that Hummingbird Guy wasn’t real, but after today, I think it’s safe to say that my imagination is shit.

I c hew my lip, considering. “Maybe he’s just one of those men that’s afraid of commitment. That would explain why he turned it down without a second thought.”

“That’s a possibility, but I think there’s more to it than that. What exactly had Diane told you about him?”

I think back over the numerous times she brought him up in conversation. “Only that he lived in Florida, was a tattoo artist, and she thought he was the perfect man for me. But after how he acted today? I’m beginning to wonder if Diane was losing it long before she died.”

Laney huffs out a laugh. “Don’t say that.”

“I mean it. You should’ve seen him in that meeting. He acted like the idea of being married to me was repulsive.” I groan. “And he doesn’t even remember me, Laney.”

“Oh my God! What?” She’s offended on my behalf.

“I know. I know.” I sigh. “But even if he did remember, there’s no way he’s agreeing to this. He probably cycles through women like underwear, and this would throw a wrench in his promiscuous lifestyle.”

Laney laughs but then grows serious again. “Is the only reason you want to do this is for the money?”

“I mean, it’s a huge selling point…”

“What about the fact that Diane thought you two belong together?”

“I’ve already told you. She was going crazy.

That’s the only explanation for her thought process.

And besides, she knew about my vow of celibacy and life of loneliness.

I thought of all people, she would understand why I felt being alone was better than settling for someone not meant for me.

But according to her letter, she had some regrets about giving up on love. ”

“ And maybe she doesn’t want you to have those same regrets,” Laney says, and I hate that her words hit me so hard.

“But if you’re not interested in him romantically, then convince him to do it for the money.

Make a freaking poster board presentation for crying out loud, but don’t let this opportunity pass you by. You’ll definitely regret that .”

She’s right. I know she’s right. But is it possible that Diane could be right too?

I know what I felt that day in the coffee shop when he approached me. I know the dreams my mind has conjured up since that interaction as well.

But if we’re going to do this, I have to let that go. I have to accept that this is nothing more than a business transaction. There have to be rules we both agree to. And if I can convince myself of that, perhaps I can convince him too.

“It’s worth a shot,” I admit.

“Exactly. And I’ll be here every step of the way, you know that.”

“I do. Thank you.”

“Have you told your mom yet?”

I slap a hand to my forehead. “God, no. But she’s not the one I’m concerned about. It’s my brothers.”

“I know if I told my brother I was getting married to a complete stranger, he’d have some choice words, for sure.”

“Parker won’t have any place to judge, seeing as he was only pretending to be engaged to Cashlynn at first. But Dallas and Penn?

They’re going to want to drill Gage, probably do a background check, threaten him and…

” As I’m speaking, a notification comes through on my phone.

I hold the phone away from my ear and see a text message from an unknown number.

Unknown : I guess you do like the nickname after all .

Gro aning, I put the phone back up to my ear.

“Hello? Hazel?”

“Sorry, I got a text.”

“I was wondering why you went silent.”

“It’s Gage.”

Laney’s volume increases. “Oh my God! What did he say?”

“Did I tell you that he called me ‘Spitfire’ in the office today?”

“What? No. He’s already giving you a nickname?”

“Apparently Diane used to refer to me that way…”

“Aw, that’s kind of cute.”

I instantly grow irritated. “No, Laney. It’s not cute. Nothing Gage does is cute, all right?”

She clears her throat. “Yes ma’am. Sorry. Getting back to hating his guts right this second,” she jokes.

“We don’t have to hate him, but we don’t need to like him either, okay? I need you on my side in this…”

“You know I am, but—”

Another text comes in before I hear what else she has to say.

Unknown : I think we should meet up and talk about this .

I stare at it, my heart pounding. “Oh my God, he wants to meet up.”

“That’s a good sign!”

“Or it’s a setup so he can formally reject me to my face.”

“Or,” Laney says, “he’s actually considering it.”

My chest tightens. “Am I really going to do this, Laney?”

Her voice turns gentle. “Hazel, it’s only six months…”

“Yeah, but when it ends, I’ll be a divorcée. I’ll have to tell every man I date that I was married before. And when they ask what happened, I’ll have to admit that it was for money.” I slap a hand to my forehead. “Oh God. They’re going to think I’m a gold digger and— ”

“I thought you were going to be alone for the rest of your life? Unless that’s not really what you want…” Laney says, calling me on my own slip up.

“You know, I’m beginning to rethink our friendship.”

Laney laughs. “Girl, the second you told me you were swearing off men, I knew you were full of shit. There’s no way that the girl I’ve come to know over the years is going to give up on love. And you know your father would have some choice words to say about that if he were still here.”

My eyes begin to sting. “Why are you trying to make me cry tonight?”

“It’s not my intention, but my duty as one of your best friends is to ask the hard questions, call you out on your bullshit, and make sure that you’re thinking this all the way through. If you didn’t have reservations, I’d be more concerned.”

Laney knows exactly what I can’t say— I’m scared .

I’m scared to trust this guy. I’m scared to trust myself. I’m scared of what will happen if I go through with this arrangement.

But most of all—I’m scared that Diane could be right. That the two of us could be good for each other. And then what?

I swipe a tear from under my eye and adjust myself on the couch. “I don’t want to live with regrets,” I finally say.

“So…”

“So, I’m going to do this for Diane, for me, and for Gage. He deserves this money too. If I go into it with that mentality—that I’m only doing this for the money—then I think I’ll be fine.”

“Okay. Then get off the phone with me and set up a time to meet with your future husband.”

“Oh God…don’t call him that.”

“What should I call him? Your future Dom? Daddy? Boy toy?”

“ He will be my husband of convenience, Laney. Nothing more than a title. There will be no feelings, sex, or…”

Laney scoffs. “Yeah, okay. Whatever you say, Hazel. Because if he’s half as hot as you’ve made him out to be over the past year, I’m just counting the days until you call me and tell me his dick magically fell into your vagina.”

I snort. “Jesus, that sounds like something I would say.”

“That’s why we’re friends. By the way, when’s your next passion party?”

I first hosted one a few years ago, and it was such a hit that I’ve made it a tradition, throwing at least two a year ever since, and Laney always comes into town for them since they’re such a blast. The ladies of Carrington Cove love getting to shop for toys without trekking out of town or gambling on a mystery purchase from the internet.

“Next month. Adeline is bringing a few new gadgets she thinks everyone will go nuts over.”

“Hell yes. My vibrator is on its last leg. Although I am getting off more now than I was with Seth, so that’s something.”

“Glad to see you have found the silver lining."

After we hang up, I open Gage’s text message, save his number, and text him back.

Me : I thought you were opposed to this idea. Your reaction sure said so .

Hummingbird Guy: When are you available?

I blink at the screen. That’s it? No snarky comeback?

Me : I can meet up tomorrow morning. I have photo shoots the rest of the week.

Hummingbird Guy : Tomorrow morning it is then . Meet me at Keely’s Caffeine Kick at eight. Don’t be late.

I roll my eyes.

Me : Says the guy who kept us waiting today .

Hummingbird Guy : Don’t worry, Spitfire. That was just a fluke. You’ll learn soon enough.

It almost sounds like he’s daring me to stick around long enough to find out just how wrong my assumptions about him are.

Which could only mean one thing—he’s not as dead set against this as I thought.

I guess I’ll find out tomorrow just how much convincing he really needs.