Home > The Fix Up(7)

The Fix Up(7)
Author: Kendall Ryan

When I’m around Sterling, I feel unsure and uncomfortable. Off-kilter. Definitely off my game. With his chiseled jaw and perfect, full lips that are designed for long, sensual kisses, and hair just long enough on top to pull, it takes me a moment to pull myself together. He shouldn’t affect me this way, but it’s obvious he does.

Aiming to regain some of the upper hand, I square my shoulders and lean in. “So, what are your intentions?”

“My intentions?” His mouth twitches with the beginning of a smile.

It’s beguiling. Dammit.

“Yes.” I stiffen. “Are we talking Busty Bimbo Barbie who will stick around only long enough to get a piece of your inheritance, and then you annul the marriage and forget the whole thing ever happened? Or true love happily ever after?”

He chuckles, the sound warm and silky. Sensual, even. “It’s improper to talk business before we’ve even had our first cocktail.”

He lifts the chilled bottle of champagne from its resting place and pours us each a glass. The golden bubbles fizz and fade quickly as I lift the elegant flute to my lips.

“To working together. Cheers.” He raises his glass toward mine before taking a sip.

I nod, acknowledging his toast. Swallowing a sip of the cool champagne, I appreciate the crisp taste. “This has got to be the most unique project I’ve ever worked on.”

“It’ll be fun,” Sterling says.

The server swings by our table, and after a brief glance at the menu, we order the exact same thing, which seems odd given the vast number of choices. Steak, cooked medium-well, with green salad and a glass of red wine.

Once we’re alone again, I ask, “So, are you going to answer my question?”

“About my intentions, wasn’t it?”

I take another sip of champagne and give him a slight nod.

Sterling folds his hands on the table in front of him and leans in. I have no idea what he can possibly be thinking as his expression remains impassive, so as not to give anything away. “I want to answer that I don’t believe in true love. I want to tell you that it’s a crock of shit.”

“But you’re not going to?”

With a shake of his head, he leans back. “No. Given what I do for a living, and the fact that I see couples and families ripped apart and the pain it causes, the last thing I want to do is make a hypocrisy out of this.”

That’s not necessarily what I was expecting, but it’s admirable to hear him say that he’s open to this process. I figured it would be just about the money, and he’d only want the woman around long enough to get his cash in hand. Then he’d be free to continue his no-strings lifestyle.

“So you’re going to take it seriously?”

“Yes.” His tone is unequivocally confident and leaves no room for doubt.

I don’t know his motivations, whether they’re for love or money, but if he wants to do this, then I’ll be here to help him. I have a big job ahead of me, and suddenly I want to do it well, to help him as best I can, unconventional as it may be. It gives me a small measure of peace that I haven’t had over this whole situation, and I’m grateful.

Our meal arrives, and as we eat, I find the small talk flows easily between us.

Between bites of tender steak, Sterling fills me in on the basics. He moved to America when he was fourteen. His father had been relocated for work, and so off they set for the good old US of A. He met Noah in boarding school in Connecticut, and they’ve been best friends ever since. He’s close to his mother, but makes a sour face when I bring up his father, so we move along, avoiding that topic.

I wipe the corners of my mouth with my cloth napkin, careful not to wreck my berry-colored lipstick. “I’d love to hear more about what you’re looking for in a wife.”

Sterling coughs into his napkin as though the word is a shock. “That’s a good question.” He sets down his knife and fork and pushes his plate away. “And I’ll answer it as long as you agree to play along.”

“Meaning?”

“This will be an even exchange. If you want me to open up and share, you’re going to have to do the same, love.”

“And why would I do that?”

He smiles wryly at me.

“And don’t say because I said so,” I add, pointing my fork in his direction.

“Trust goes both ways,” he says in that cheerful accent of his. “If we’ll be spending time together, working together, I want to know what makes you tick. I need to know that you’re not just in this for the bonus money that was promised.”

My cheeks heat because that’s exactly why I initially agreed to take on this assignment. But I’m hoping Sterling can’t see through me.

“I’m a professional in everything I do. I’ve taken on your assignment, and you can rest assured, I will not back out.”

“I didn’t say you would. But as long as we’re discussing it, if you’d like to know what I want in a mate, I think you should have to disclose the same.”

I roll my eyes at him.

“Humor me,” he says.

“Fine.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I lean back in my seat. “I want someone driven, motivated, and hardworking. Someone who’s easy to talk to. Reliable. Trustworthy and honest.”

I take another sip of wine. It’s all true, even if I didn’t admit the most important, yet secret quality I hold in my heart.

   
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