Page 65 of Charming Deception

Something she can’t say no to.

Something she wants so badly, she’d be crazy not to say yes.

Chapter 15

Megan

“Something’s wrong with me.” I slump across the high-top bar table, sucking mango margarita through a straw. “Maybe I’m crazy or something.”

“You may be right about that.” Nicole leans on her elbows against the table, wearing the cleavage-revealing black tank top worn by every female staff member in Champagne nightclub. “What did he offer you this time? The Pink Star diamond ring?”

I laugh uneasily, not even knowing what that is. Though it does sound outrageously expensive.

It’s been a week since Jameson Vance “proposed” to me, and I’ve been questioning my answer ever since. Maybe especially so since I’m ninety-nine-percent sure most single women, and many men, would’ve said yes to him.

Nicole included.

“Well, last night he sent me this.” I pull up his texts to read it to her. “What if I bought a garden center like the one you worked at in Crooks Creek and you could manage it for me?”

Nicole gapes. “Well, what did you say?”

“I didn’t say anything. Do you think he’s serious?”

“He asked you to be his fiancée, right? That seems pretty serious. Did you even ask to see a ring?”

“Of course not. And I could never agree to the garden center thing. I can’t be indebted to a man I barely know over something like that. What if it doesn’t work out? Would I owe him money? I mean, I can’t even afford a lawyer to review a contract for me.” My voice is getting squeaky. “I’m not a businesswoman.”

“So, talk to your brother about it. He’ll make sure you’re protected. Cole must have a lawyer. And also, just so you know, I don’t think he wants you to owe him money, if you know what I mean.”

I frown. “Then he’s trying to buy my loyalty?”

“No, Megz. He’s trying to warm up your coochie by being nice to you.”

“I don’t think it’s like that.” I didn’t actually tell her this part yet; I lean toward her for more privacy, but it’s loud in the nightclub, and we’re alone at this table. “He said we wouldn’t have sex.”

She snorts. “Yeah, right. He’s coming on way too strong for you to believe that. He’s just trying not to scare you away by telling you whatever he thinks you need to hear.”

“You think?”

“What does he need to do, show up with a glass slipper?”

“I… I don’t think he’s trying to charm me.”

“Billions, Megan. The man has billions of dollars. He doesn’t even have to charm women. He’s rich and motherfucking beautiful and you’re cockblocking him. Look around you. This is the big city. There are beautiful women all over the place. Beautiful, hungry women who would be quick to get naked with that man and try to lock him down. And yet he’s laser focused on you.”

“Because of my brother.”

“Honey. No guy cares that much about his best friend’s sister unless he wants to rail her.”

My eyes go wide, and she just shrugs.

Does Jameson Vance want to rail me?

She’s not wrong about the beautiful women. It’s not as if they’re streaming down the streets, but Vancouverites are decidedly more appearance conscious than people are in Crooks Creek, that’s for sure. The women here at Champagne are all dressed to the nines, and the women employed here are invariably beautiful and/or voluptuous.

“Speaking of beautiful women…” I cringe. “I hope I didn’t embarrass you in front of your boss. I don’t think she’ll be calling me. She literally glazed over when I described my work experience.”

“Maybe when someone quits, she’ll call you,” Nicole says easily. “We’re so busy in summer, but we just did all our extra hiring for the season. It’s bad timing.”

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