Page 56 of Win Big

“What does that mean?”

“If we’re going to do this, we have to be seen somewhere for maximum exposure.”

I open my mouth, and she holds up a hand. “Don’t make this about something dirty. Exposure doesn’t mean nudity.”

I have to laugh. “You know me so well already.”

“I don’t know what’s coming up...” She scoots her chair forward and clicks the mouse on the desk. I peer over at her computer and see she’s brought up her calendar. “We don’t have any big events planned.” Her eyes rove over the screen. “Oh... there is something next weekend.”

“Nextweekend?” Disappointment settles like a rock my gut. “That’s too far away.”

“Hmm. Maybe so. Well, we could just do something really public like... Hey, I know. My dad has courtside tickets to the Cougars.” One of the local pro basketball teams. “We could go to a basketball game. We’ll let it leak to the media that you’re there, and they’ll put us on camera for sure.”

“Excellent.” I rub my hands together.

She’s already checking the basketball schedule. “Perfect. Saturday night there’s a game.”

“The stars are aligning.”

She frowns at my flippant comment.

“What?” I give her an innocent look.

A sharp knock sounds on the door.

She gives me a shove to move me off her desk. I take a few steps away as she calls out, “Come in!”

Bob enters. His face is still ruddy, his lips turned down. He eyes me like I’m something that fell out of a dog’s ass. Eeesh. Clearly he blames me for involving his princess in this mess.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Everly immediately says to her father. “Relax, Dad.”

“Your mother’s going to shit a brick,” he says in that famously gruff voice.

I do like a man who’s blunt.

“Do you want me to talk to her?” Everly asks.

“I should go...” I edge toward the door.

“No, it’s okay!” Everly waves me back. “We should, uh, go out for lunch!”

“You don’t have to do this, Evvie,” Bob growls. “Murray’s lost his mind. I’m going to fire him.”

“No, you’re not.” She stands and pats her dad’s shoulder. “It was a reasonable suggestion.”

I’m watching, agape.

“It’s crazy.” Bob shoots me a cutting look that I swear I can feel slicing across my skin.

Okay, enough of this shit. I straighten my shoulders. “Mr. Wynn, I know Everly and I aren’t really dating, but you can rest assured that I will treat her with the utmost respect.”

“You’re a ladies’ man,” Bob says.

I want to smile at the old-fashioned term, despite the contempt in his voice. “I’m a single guy, and yes, I like ladies.” I put on my most guileless face. “But I’m a good guy.” I lay my palm on my chest.

He still scowls. “You don’t date anyone else until this whole thing is done. I sure as hell don’t want rumors about you cheating on Evvie. And no more shenanigans in sex stores.”

“Of course not.”

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