Page 13 of Three Bossy Boyfriends
That has me curious. “Why law school then?” I ask her. “You definitely don’t seem to be a rule follower.”
“Because it’s easier to work within the law to create change than it is to argue with people on social media. I know it sounds idealistic, but I want to make a difference in the world.Social justice is important to me and my plan is to work for a nonprofit.”
“That’s very admirable.”
“I can’t decide if you actually mean that.” She studies me with a healthy dose of skepticism.
“Hey, I mean it,” I protest. “With power comes great responsibility.”
Finley laughs. “You do have a touch of Peter Parker about you.”
“I could think of worse comparisons.” Leaning closer to her, I raise my bourbon glass a little and give her a charming smile. “Care to be my Mary Jane?”
“Are you flirting with me?” she asks, sounding and looking absolutely incredulous at the very thought.
It’s my turn to laugh. “Yes, I am. Is that so terrible to imagine?”
She shrugs. “What’s a little harmless flirting between colleagues? Sounds completely inappropriate and right up my alley.”
“The firm has tickets to a charitable fundraiser this weekend for affordable housing. You should go with me.”
“Is this an attempt to make Christopher jealous? Because I feel weird about that.”
Loosening my tie, I decide that honesty is my best policy. I am not a deceptive person—well, aside from pretending to the entire world that I don’t fucking have feelings for Christopher—and my gut is telling me that I can trust Finley.
“Not at all. Christopher wants me to date a woman in order to convince Charles I should be made a partner. Then he and I can be free to date.”
Her eyes widen. “That’s…nuts. Why would that convince Charles to make you a partner?”
“According to Christopher, Charles loves love. He loves his wife and family, and there has never been any hint of infidelity. He sees a family man as stable.”
Finley snorts. “I repeat, that’s nuts. But okay, for argument’s sake, let’s say it works. You’re just supposed to lie to some unsuspecting woman and then break her heart when you make partner and subsequently dump her for Christopher?”
“Of course not. I’m being honest and upfront with you about it. That way, it’s an…arrangement. A mutually beneficial one.”
“Me?” Finley puts her hand on her chest. “You want to fake dateme?”
I actually kind of want to real date her because there is something so vibrant and alive and casually sexy about her that I really want to spend more time with her. Maybe get her naked and do dirty fucking things to that gorgeous body. But that’s not something Christopher and I have discussed. I feel like I need to have that conversation with him first—before I have it with Finley.
“Yes. Why wouldn't I want to fake date an intelligent and passionate and gorgeous woman?”
“Because I’m more liability than asset when it comes to convincing Charles I would make a good little wifey. You should meet my sister, Fiona. She’d be perfect for this assignment.”
Before I can protest, she pulls her phone out and starts texting rapidly.
“She’s a pastry chef, you know. She’s working right now, so I’m going to have her come out and say hi. My other sister, Frannie, would be even better for the corporate wife role, but she has a new beau, some hottie FBI agent. Fiona is good, though. She rocks a cocktail dress hard and still manages to project future-mother-of-your-children vibes.” Finley sets her phone down on the table and looks up at me. “She can go to the charity event with you.”
Is she pushing me off onto her sister? Well, hell, obviously she is.
I’m just really fucking disappointed.
Sure, that is what Christopher wanted in the first place, but I haven’t met Fiona. I have met Finley and, damn it, Iwantto fake date her. I want to spend more time with her.
“You want to matchmake me with your sister?” I ask, like it isn’t already the most obvious fucking thing on the planet. “Why? Are you in a relationship?”
“No. In New York, I was too busy studying and getting stuck on trains to date. And everyone here is someone I went to high school with, and they all remember me as the creepy goth girl.”
“You did say something about black eyeliner and a nose ring.” In a beach town, that would definitely stand out. “I bet you were cute though.”
