Page 4 of My Hired Valentine

Ipark my Jeep in front of Louie’s and check my bowtie in the rearview mirror one last time. It’s straight, but I adjust it anyway, just to keep my hands busy. I dab a little extra Pinaud on my neck for good measure, then climb out onto the curb. It’s 6:45 p.m. There’s no way I’m going to be late.

I want this fake date with Violet.

And I also want to know who this jackass is that’s making her life miserable. No woman should ever feel uncomfortable at work, at an event, or anywhere for that matter because of some idiot who doesn’t know how to keep his hands to himself or his tongue in his mouth.

Granted, Violet is gorgeous. Any man would be crazy not to look. But to make her so uncomfortable that she has to hire a date, the guy has to be a lech.

My breath comes out in small white puffs as I rock back and forth on my heels to keep warm, clutching a single rose in my hand. It is Valentine’s Day, after all, and there was no way I was showing up empty-handed.

A red Mazda screeches to a halt in front of me, and the passenger door flies open. “Get in,” Violet’s voice cuts through the bass pounding from her speakers.

I don’t even have my seatbelt fully clipped when she punches the gas, sending me lurching back into the seat. She smells amazing—something floral and spicy. It suits her.

“Look,” she says, keeping her eyes on the road. “To make things easy, we’re going to stick with your real name and your real occupation. Your profile says you’re a doctor. What are you really? An EMT?”

“No,” I say, amused. “I’m a doctor.”

She shoots me a look, one eyebrow arched. “You’re not.”

“I am.”

“Fine, whatever. Be a doctor, then. So, we can’t say we met in college because I definitely didn’t go to med school,” she says with a laugh. “How about we met at a wedding?”

“How about we stick to the truth?” I suggest. “I find telling the truth makes things a heck of a lot easier. We met on a dating app. It’s how the rest of the world meets people these days.”

“Nothing says loser like a dating app,” she whines, her voice tinged with self-deprecation.

Wow. Someone has really done a number on her.

“It doesn’t mean you’re a loser or that I’m a loser,” I say gently. “It’s just how we met. Please don’t read too much into it. I promise I will not embarrass you. I told you I’d be the best fake boyfriend you ever had, and I meant it.”

“Humph,” she mutters, taking a sharp turn into the parking lot of The Wharf.

I stare out the windshield, taking in the grandeur of the place. “This place is fancy. The company you work for must make a lot of money. What kind of company is it?”

“A law firm. They’re filthy rich.”

“Are you an attorney?” I ask.

“No, I’m just a paralegal,” she says, putting the car in park.

Before she can open her door, I reach over and touch her hand. “Hey, you should never say you’rejusta paralegal. You should say you’re a paralegal with pride. Don’t put yourself down. Ever.”

She looks at me for a heartbeat, and I can’t tell if she wants to sock me in the jaw or thank me. But she doesn’t say a word. She pulls her hand away, gets out of the car, and shuts the door. “Come on, Dex. Let’s get this night over with.”

As I follow her toward the building, the rose still in my hand, one thought sticks in my mind: I don’t want this night to end.

CHAPTER 5

Violet

We step inside The Wharf and Dex rests his hand along the small of my back as we make our way to the coat check. His cologne is divine. And him in a tuxedo? My blood is singing, and my sad, lonely vagina is roaring to life. I’ve never in my life been drawn to a man the way I’m drawn to Dex. And it’s not just because of how outrageously handsome he is. He’s genuinely kind. I can see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice. I mean, when he told me to be proud of what I am? I almost cried.

I’ve never felt good enough. Dex makes me feel as though I might be perfect just the way I am, which is crazy. We just met, and he doesn’t even know me.

We reach the coat check, and Dex helps me out of my coat. When I turn to him, he does a low whistle. “You are stunning, Violet. Absolutely stunning.”

Heat burns my cheeks as I blush under his gaze. “This is for you,” he says, handing me a red rose. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

---