Page 44 of All Bets Are Off

I choked on a laugh. “You’re making that up.”

“I’m not. One of the bartenders didn’t realize who I was and mistakenly told me. Apparently, because you’re the boss’s son—and will one day be the boss—you’re the biggest prize in the claw grabber.”

“Claw grabber?”

“You know, those machines you feed quarters in and guide the claw over to try and snag a stuffed animal. I used to spend hours with those machines because my parents didn’t like buying stuffed animals—they said they were a waste of money and caused clutter—but if I won one, I figured I could bring it home and they couldn’t say anything.”

My heart pinged at the thought of Olivia pining for a stuffed animal only to be told no. That seemed somehow unfair. “Howam I a prize in the claw grabber?” I asked finally. I was still unsure of what she meant by that.

“Just that they all thought they were going to have a turn seducing you. They thought they would get to use the machine once and you would be the stuffed animal prize.”

“Huh.” How was I supposed to feel about that?

“Now they spend all their time staring at me wondering how I snagged you,” she continued.

“Did you tell them you clubbed me over the head and dragged me to a Batman wedding?” I grinned at her to let her know I was joking.

“No. That’s what they assume. I mean … look at you and look at me.”

My smile disappeared in an instant. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Just that you look as if you stepped off the pages of GQ, and I look as if I’m the woman who should be following you around with a lint roller to keep your suit pristine.”

“That’s not true. Also, that’s not a job. If it was, my father would definitely have someone like that working for him.”

She laughed as she pushed herself away from the counter. “It is true,” she said. “It’s fine. I don’t have low self-esteem or anything. I’m cute. You’re gorgeous. I’m boring. You’re fun. On paper, we’re not a predictable match. It’s understandable all the women here who thought they had a chance with you would be jealous. It’s not as if they know we have a fake marriage.”

I felt as if I should say something here. I had no idea what that something should be, though.

“Don’t worry about it.” She patted my arm as she passed. “I can handle it. I pretty much ignore them, which means they think I’m snotty on top of not being good enough for you.”

I caught her wrist before she could move too far away. “Olivia.” That’s all I said. Just her name.

“What?” Her eyes brimmed with curiosity as she regarded me.

“You are beautiful.” I didn’t know I was going to say it until it was already out of my mouth. I meant it, though. “When you smile, it lights up a room. When you laugh, it sounds like harps playing.”

Surprise registered on her features. “That was corny.” Her breath was shaky despite her obvious determination to keep things light.

“It’s the truth. Even when you were a kid with a mouthful of braces?—”

“Oh, did you have to bring that up?”

My grin was lightning fast. “I need you to understand that you’re beautiful. It’s very important.”

Her expression was blank. “Where did that come from?” she asked finally.

“I just worry that because your brother and I were friends—and it’s a brother’s job to make his little sister’s life hell—that maybe you look at me through a discolored lens. I’ve always thought you were beautiful, though.”

She sighed. “Thank you for that. I appreciate it.”

Even though there was sexual tension buzzing between us—something I didn’t want to spend too much time thinking on—I released her wrist. “Have fun being proactive.”

“And you have fun … doing whatever it is that you do.”

I nodded. “You have no idea what my job is, do you?”

“Not even a little.”

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