Page 38 of A Christmas Bargain

But it’s all fake. We’re pretending.

“Is that inspired by the river near your property?” she whispered, pointing at part of the scenery the theater department had painted on big sections of plywood.

I furrowed my brow, instantly bothered by her question. It served as a reminder that she was only here with me as part of a deal to get land I didn’t intend to let go of. I was lying. I was cheating, all to spare myself the headache of women like Mackenzie.

She’s only here for work. She’s only in this for the end result that won’t be happening.That dampened my mood, and I wanted to kick myself for starting to wonder if she wasn’tonlyfaking it. Just because she handled this so effortlessly, as if she really were my date and the woman I was dating, I had to remember that she was a decoy, all for the purpose of business.

“Sort of.” I cleared my throat, feeling like an ass to enter this deal without honest intentions. “I’ll have to show it to you sometime soon.”

“Oh, I can’t wait.”

I mentally cringed, disappointed in myself that I’d stooped this low. I’d worded my end of the deal so loosely that it would seem like a loophole, a play on words and terms that hadn’t been clearly defined. But now that I had a preview of what it could be like with her in my life, my mood soured more.

We stood, clapping and cheering with the rest of the audience as the recital ended. Outwardly, I made sure to look proud and happy, but internally, I festered in the darkness of shame and regret.

What have I started?

This wouldn’t work if I kept thinking about how I was duping her.

Or if I let myself wonder and muse about how right it was to be next to her.

13

CLAIRE

The following Friday, I walked out of the community rec center to take another call. I hated to step out from activities with Naomi. She was too much fun to be around, and each time I excused myself to take a call, she frowned as though she worried she wasn’t worthy ofallmy attention. Derek handled it in stride, reassuring me that he understood. He was formerly in the investment field, and he commented on how deals could come at any time of the day. Calls were frequent interruptions, but he was understanding.

“I never expected you to put your whole life on hold for me. Or this.”

He’d told me to try a different, slower pace of life. While I stayed in Macomb and came into Preston daily for the holiday events he wanted to be seen with me at, I was trying out a different approach to a work-life balance.

But I was still in charge, despite Grace being back at the offices in Denver. I was in charge of many accounts. I supervised plenty of teams and employees. I had countless acquaintances to keep in touch with. Networking was a critical component of this business.

“Hey, Shawn,” I answered as I stepped outside.

“Are those geese?” he asked as a greeting.

I stepped further away from the entrance space to the rec center. “Carolers down the way,” I replied.

“Oh. Is that supposed to beJingle Bells?”

I giggled. “Be nice.”

“Okay. I’ll try. But why, again, are you staying out in Podunk?”

“To close a deal.” I grimaced, hatinghowI was trying to do so.

“Hmm. Right. Okay, well since I’m here and you’re not, I thought you might want a heads up that your darling sis is asking around about the Grummond properties and?—”

“No!” I squeezed my eyes shut and groaned. “I told her not to mess with that one.”

“Yeah. That’s what I reminded her of.” He sighed. “But she’s super, like super, super, eager to try to figure out a way out of her latest gambling mistake.”

“Thanks. I’ll call her now.”

While I was glad that Grace was trying to help the situation, her poking around with that specific client wouldnotend well. I had Mr. Grummond figured out and he would not like my sister trying to butt in.

I called her, relieved when she picked up right away. “Leave Grummond alone,” I warned.

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