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I scooted forward. “I called you to talk to you. Hopefully, you’ll like my plan.”
He raised his eyebrow. “I’m intrigued.”
Fair enough. I wrung my hands. “So, my boss thinks we’re dating now.”
“Because of the guy at the bar?”
Heat rose to my face. I would have to admit I’d lied. “Yeah, and he stopped me from getting a promotion?—”
“He’s the guy you mentioned, then.”
I met his gaze. “I forgot I told you.”
He smiled at me. “I don’t seem to forget anything about you, Avril.”
Every detail about Kir, down to the fact that he loved the color green, was embedded in my memory as well. He’d said he liked being reminded of nature. My lip trembled, but I knew I had to get this out. “Your family is pressuring you to settle down and relax.”
His eyes darkened. “They are.”
A zip rushed through me when he stared at me. I swallowed. “I need a raise at my job, and I was hoping you’d help me out.”
He smiled. “Help? How?”
My hands shook, but I wasn’t going to back down now that I’d started. So I lifted my chin and said, “Well, we could be each other’s significant other for a few weeks so I can get the raise I need.”
He rowed without a word. The nearby songbirds were the only sound other than the oar hitting the water. My heart beat fast.
Then he broke the silence. “You want to pretend we’re dating?”
I nodded, hoping he would agree. I had no backup plan, and it would be better if he at least wasn’t against me. “I get that you’re not into me. It’s fine, and you won’t have to pretend for long.”
He stopped rowing and leaned closer. “Why don’t you just quit and get another job you’re qualified for?”
Right. Neither of us had an idea of who the other was. I only knew that a small thrill rushed through me when I was near him. “That’s a logical question. I have no vacation time and can’t afford to miss a paycheck. I have too much riding on this as it is.”
He stared at me, and it was like he saw right through me. “What’s going on?”
I sucked in my bottom lip. Admitting I wasn’t his equal made my stomach clench, so I stalled by saying, “I don’t want to unload on you.”
He gulped. “It’s fine. I don’t mind.”
I wrung my hands, and my entire body grew goose bumps, but it was time to tell him. I needed to trust him at least a little. “My sister, Abigail, she has lymphoma, and all the treatments have failed. The next idea her doctors have is expensive, and my entire check already goes to the bills…”
He took a deep breath. “What about your parents?”
I prayed he was trustworthy enough to be a true friend and not just a passing fluke. I listened to the rustle of light wind against the water. “They died in a car accident a long time ago. My sister raised me from when I was sixteen, and then six months ago, she got really sick—lost her job and everything.”
“I’m really sorry.”
A laugh escaped my throat. I wiped my eyes. “I’m not asking for your money. If I can get the promotion, I can secure a loan. And I’m moving in with Kelly at the end of the month, so I can pay it all back.”
His phone beeped. He didn’t look at it but continued back toward the boathouse. I hung my head. If he just kept his lips sealed and dated no one else for a week, I’d be able to pull off getting a promotion at work. After we docked, I stepped out. This would be my last chance to convince him.
He turned in the paddles to someone in the boathouse and turned to face me. “Well, the least I can do is buy you dinner, then.”
I jumped and then nodded. I had more time to get myself together and at least ask him not to say anything about what we’d discussed. We walked in Central Park, and I asked, “The idea of pretending to date me offends you?”
He shook his head fast and directed me west. “If Lauglin shows up at the restaurant, I’ll hug you, but give me twenty-four hours to think about whether I want to commit to this.”
