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I turned in my chair, and my eyes widened. “Bernadette.”
“Have you seen Michael?” she asked in her British accent.
I shook my head. She was the last person I’d ever expected to see. “No. Bernadette, this is Avril.”
The short brunette came over and said to Avril. “Hi. I’m looking for my brother, and Kir and Charlie both went to college with him.”
Years before, I’d been told that she was perfect for me, but Bernadette left me cold. She and Maman still acted like we could be an item. Even last year, she’d asked about me.
I lifted my chin and smiled. “We’re on a date.”
She winced but then waved. “Well, have fun.”
As she walked away, I turned back toward Avril. Unlike Bernadette, Avril reminded me that there were good people in the world.
“We’re on a date? And was she talking about Michael, Charlie’s butler?” she asked.
I pressed my finger to my lips and craned my neck back. Then I nodded and faced Avril. “I don’t think she heard you. We’re fine.”
Her lips curved higher, and her eyes had a sparkle in them. “I’m confused. Let’s focus. Are you going to help me?”
My heart twisted. “We need to talk.”
“We do.” She folded her hands on the table. “My sister filled me in on her new room and how she’s fully funded for her treatments.”
The waitress brought over a cheese-dip appetizer made with salsa and some handmade chips. I waited for us to be alone and then said, “I can’t have you worrying about money.”
She dipped one of the chips in the dip. “That’s sweet. So instead of a loan, I can work to pay you back with biweekly checks?—”
“That’s not necessary,” I interrupted. She took a bite of her appetizer. “I couldn’t live with myself if you lost your only family the way I lost my brother.”
She put her food down on her plate and took my hand. “Kir… thank you.”
Her simple touch sent a spark up my arm. Part of me wished for a second chance to meet her. If I could do it again, I would kiss her on the beach instead of listening to her talk about how she wished to fall in love.
My heart pounded. “So you don’t need to prove anything to anyone at work and can just apply for a new position.”
She let me go and shook her head. “I want to see this through. I should have been promoted months ago.”
My body grew warm, and I realized she wasn’t going to be talked out of it. I picked up a chip. “Why aren’t you letting go?”
She finished her bite. “It’s what I deserve, and I’m hoping you’ll agree.”
My body was tingling. I met her gaze and realized if I said no, she’d never speak to me. We’d never have another dinner. And my family might try to push Bernadette at me again.
I picked up a nacho. “I… how long do you need this fake relationship?”
She bounced in her seat. “A few weeks, a month at most.”
The waitress came with two arroz con carnes and took the dip. We waited till she was gone, and then I decided I was absolutely all in on seeing Avril again. “And you’ll come to my brother’s wedding as my date.”
She picked up her fork, and her face had a glow to it. “Absolutely.”
I followed suit but realized I was on a slippery slope, and I hated gray areas, so I said, “And let’s discuss rules.”
She cut her meat. “Rules. Of course. No kissing unless we’re in public, and we keep it as friendly as possible.” Her face pinkened.
“Exactly.”
