Page 34 of Maid For Each Other

“I’m always cool,” he said, then asked, “So how did you convince her? Or did sparks fly and this fake relationship is morphing into something real?”

“Hell, no,” I said, picturing her face when she told the story of how we met.Smug little shit.“I paid her.”

“Youpaidher? Like, with money? You gave hermoneyto be your girlfriend?”

“Roman—”

“I’m pretty sure that means she’s—”

“A nice girl who is doing me a favor,” I interrupted, not sure why I felt the need to defend her. But I did. “And being compensated for her time.”

“Whatever you say,” he said, his tone conveying everything I hadn’t let him say. “Well, I for one think this is great. It sounds like fun and I can’t wait to meet her. You said she’s cute, right?”

For some reason, her messy hair and stupid pajamas popped into my head. “Very. A very cute pain in the ass.”

“She sounds perfect,” he said.

“Far from it, but we’re moving forward anyway. Listen, I have to run because I’m in a drive-through and it’s moving.”

“Okay. Later.”

“Later.” I disconnected the call, got our coffees, and headed for the convention center.

But when I got there, Abi wasn’t in the lobby.

No, she was standing outside on the sidewalk, in the morning sun, waiting for me.

And she was gorgeous.

Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, with a few stray strands curled around her pink cheeks, and her lips were shiny. Sunglasses covered her eyes, big round movie star frames that belonged in a bubblegum commercial, and I knew without a doubt that Edward had handpicked them.

She was wearing a bright yellow sundress that hit just below the knee, showing off calves that definitelydidvisit the treadmill on a regular basis—damn, but I am a leg man—and she was holding a white box with a ribbon tied around it.

I saw the minute she noticed me, because her lips turned up in a grin. Without hesitation, she walked over and grabbed one of the coffee cups from my hands.

“Hey, you,” she said, going up on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. “How was your workout?”

I knew we were pretending to be in a relationship, but the move managed to shock the shit out of me. I guess I hadn’t been ready for it. Her soft perfume swirled around me as she pulled back and smiled like she actually cared about my workout.

“My ass stayed out of the wall, so I’d say I killed it.”

“Well, then, congratulations on the massive success,” she said with a smart-ass giggle in her voice. “Ready to go in?”

“Let’s do it,” I replied, my fingers finding hers before I turned to head for the door.

I felt her hand squeeze mine as we started walking, and when I gave her a glance, there was a shy smile on her mouth as she reminded me, “I’m the best girlfriend ever, remember?”

“Oh, that’s right,” I said, very aware of the attention we were getting from the attendees we passed on the way to the ballroom.I was used to people in my industry recognizing me, but there was definitely something extra that morning as Abi held my hand. “You’re going towowme this morning, if I recall.”

“I am,” she said. “We are mere moments from my debut, and I don’t think you’re ready.”

“Oh, I’m ready.”

But I wasn’t.

I wasn’tat allready for the upcoming performance.

13

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