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No. She wants me to be her fake boyfriend. And it’s a bad idea. I shook my head. “Let’s not put a label on anything. But I want her to be happy.”
She seemed weak as she said, “Okay, well, I’m glad you came up and talked to me. I feel better about accepting your charity.”
I stood. “Honestly, I’ll earn more by making a donation from my foundation than I would by just keeping it, so don’t worry about anything. And I’m having a doctor flown in from Switzerland that my brothers hold in high regard. My brother Evan died of cancer when he was twelve, so I’m praying you have amazing results.”
She took my hand. “Thank you. I’ll talk to that doctor.” Then she pointed me back to the chair and had me sit down again, and we talked for a few hours. She’d been a nurse until she got cancer.
When the doctors came in to check on her and move her to another room, I excused myself. My limo was waiting for me. As I was driven back to my penthouse near the park, I decided it was time to tell Avril that I wasn’t going to actively be her fake boyfriend. Faking wasn’t me.
I wouldn't correct the people she worked with, but I wouldn’t lie either. When she answered the phone, my heart beat faster. “Avril, can you meet me after work today?”
“I’m glad you called. Absolutely.”
I closed my eyes as the car stopped. I would find a place to tell her gently about my decision. I opened my eyes and scooted out. “Great. I’ll send the limo for you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“It’s for the best.” I directed my driver to her work, since she would be done soon. As I walked into the main lobby of my building, I nodded at the doorman who held my door, the guys behind the desk, and the one who called the elevator for me.
Avril asked, “Did you go see my sister today?”
Heat rose in my cheeks. I stepped in. “How did you know?”
“We talk every day. Is that what you want to talk about first?”
In part. I hoped she would understand. As the doors closed, I said, “Yeah, and about what you asked.”
“Perfect. See you at five, then.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” I said as the elevator rose.
If my family thought I was dating Avril, they would be happy for me. And I hated disappointing anyone. But I'd fixed everything I could for Avril. Ideally, it was enough, and she wouldn’t need me as her fake anything anymore.
Chapter Five
Kir
* * *
We met at a restaurant that was designed to resemble a cave. It had decent Mexican food, at least according to my brother Gerard. I had a sense that Avril wouldn’t want to fly away with me for the night when I told her I was absolutely not going to be her fake boyfriend. She deserved better.
When she slipped out of the limo, my heart had slight palpitations. Then she walked closer to me, and all I could see was her. Like a scene in a movie, she approached and kissed my cheeks—she’d learned my family’s customary greeting—and my soul stirred. I couldn’t look away from her.
“Thanks for coming.” She waved to the dark restaurant inside. “What is this?”
I gestured toward the door. “La Caverna. My brother said it was good, and I wanted to treat you to something different.”
She laughed as she walked next to me. “This is definitely different.”
The sound of her happiness settled me. I checked us in, and we were shown to a table that was cornered off and designed like we were alone. I held her seat for her. “If you wanted to fly to Mexico, we can do that too.”
She shook her head. “That’s a little much, and I have work tomorrow.”
My lips curved higher. “Understood, so let’s try the specials.”
The waitress took our orders and walked away. I leaned closer to the table and hoped we would finish our negative discussion first and then be able to enjoy ourselves. I hated disappointing Avril. My heart stirred.
Then a voice from the past called, “Kir!”
