Page 6 of Miami Ice

“Paid?” I croak.

“Of course, this would be work for you. Beckham will be a complete grump about it, and if I get paid merely to organize his life down here, you will absolutely get paid to spend lots of your free time with him.”

“You have to pay Elsa,” one of the twins says.

Sofia makes a face. “I forget they are sponges at this age. Yes, Mommy is going to pay for some of these pretty jars. Should I get pink?”

“Pink!” the other twin cries cheerfully. “All of the pink ones!”

Sofia turns back to me. “You’re going to have to go out with this grump, infuse some Christmas cheer into him, and give Miami a view of a whole new Beckham with a girlfriend. You’d get publicity for Georgie’s Jars and a substantial paycheck for your time. It will be some of the hardest work you’ve ever done. You will earn every penny of this. The offer will be generous, because I know what you’re in for.”

My head is spinning. Is this even happening?

“Does Beckham know you’re going to craft shows looking for fake girlfriends for him?”

Sofia smiles knowingly at me. “Beckham told me he knows he has to make a change and begged me to help him. That’s why my family is spending this month in Miami. My husband works remotely, so it was easy enough to do. I told Beckham I wanted no arguments with my suggestions. He’s upended by this move. He’s still in shock. I’m dealing with getting him a list of houses to look at, picking out his furniture, et cetera. I also had a fake girlfriend on the list, but nobody I’ve run across has ticked every box like you have.”

She takes out her phone and begins typing. “I’m going to show you the number you will be paid. Then if you’re interested, perhaps you can have dinner with us this evening? Beckham just had practice today. They don’t play again until tomorrow.”

“I need time to think,” I say. This is the craziest thing I’ve ever been asked to do. Is this family completely mad? Who does this? Really, isn’t fake dating only in books or some kind of Netflix movie?

Sofia turns her phone around and shows me a number. I’m so caught off guard by it, my hand slips and knocks over my big red Mason jar, sending peppermint sticks flying all over the floor. I gasp and my hand flies to my mouth.

Because the number is … the number is…

One hundred thousand dollars.

I’m speechless. Beyond speechless.

Sofia reaches for a business card out of the holder and retrieves a pen. She flips it over and scribbles on the back of it. “Think about it and then text me if you’re interested in having a further conversation about it tonight. If you’re available for dinner, we can meet at Hotel Fredrico.”

I take the card and stare at it.

“Oh, and I will take all the pink jars you have,” she says cheerfully.

I glance down at the pink Mason jars. I have ten of them.

“All?”

“Yes,” she says, flashing me a mischievous smile. “I didn’t know Pinkmas was a thing, but now that I do? I think I’m hoping for a veryPinkmasChristmas this year. For meandmy brother.”

With shaking hands, I wrap up all ten jars and ring up the sale. Sofia and the girls say goodbye, and I watch them leave. I can’t help but think I feel the same shell shock that Beckham felt when he was traded to Miami. A move out of the blue that changed his life.

If I say yes to fake dating Beckham Bailey, I’ll be doing the exact same thing.

Making a move that will completely change the course of my life.

If I decide to do it, that is.

And right now, I don’t know what my answer will be.

Chapter Three

“Are youmad? Of course you’re going to say yes!” Ella declares.

I groan as I rub Winston’s belly from my position on the living room floor. My corgi looks up at me, and I swear this dog legit grins when his belly is being rubbed.

I stare down at him, distracted for a moment. I wish my life were as simple as Winston’s. Get affection. Chase tennis balls. Eat. Go for walks. Nap. Repeat. Winston doesn’t have to think about crazy things like dating a hockey player to save a business.

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