Page 14 of Wilder at Heart
Hold firm, Nora.
Don’t fall at the first hurdle.
This guy eats girls like you for breakfast.
‘What’s the thing you want most in the world?’
He’s good. He’s starting by identifying my problem. Business pitch one-oh-one.
I cross my arms. ‘To get Jonathan back.’
‘Great. And what if I told you I’m extremely confident we can win him back for you together?’
I narrow my eyes. ‘By datingyou? No.’
‘Bypretendingto date me. You saw how livid he was just then when he saw my hands on you. I know he thinks I’m a dick. The feeling’s mutual, by the way. But imagine how he’d react if he thought we were a real-life couple? He’d go fucking mental,as Roy Kent would say. The green-eyed monster would appear, and he’d want to claim you back, partially to save you from my debauched clutches, but mainly because he’d realise what he was missing. What he’d given up.’
My mind is reeling. First things first. ‘How on earth would we get him to think we were a couple?’
He grins. ‘Easy. If everyone else thinks we’re a couple, then he’ll get wind of it. Miles will inevitably mention it at work. So will Mum. And now that he’s fucking well working for my family firm, our paths are bound to cross more often. If not, we can engineer a few run-ins.’
‘So I’d have to spend time with you. Pretend to be your girlfriend.’ Dear Lord. The mere thought of it makes me feel dizzy.
‘Jesus Christ, sweetheart. It’s not that bad. It would just be a few staged appearances together. Maybe a little light cuddling. Don’t worry, it’s not like I’m going to try to fuck you in front of everyone at a Montague Group work function.’
My inner thighs clench together. I swear a lot, but weirdly, I’m not a big fan of the wordfuckas a verb. It’s too… graphic for my tastes. Too aggressive. Put it this way. It’s a very unromantic term for what has always been an act of love for me.
Besides, I’m pretty sure he said it specifically to wind me up.
I hold up my hand. ‘Okay, okay. I get the picture. But tell me this. Why thehellwould you do this for me? I didn’t have you down as the altruistic type.’
He grins like the cat who got the cream, and I have the discomfiting sensation of having been played. Of Theo Montague getting me exactly where he wants me.
‘That’s the beauty of this business deal. Let’s say I’m in the family bad books after my littleCharmed in Chelseastunt. They don’t think I’ve got the maturity or the judgement to pull my weight within the business. But I’m desperate to get my handson our Manhattan portfolio. The Managing Director over there is moving on, and I want in. I know I need to clean up my act, in their eyes, and unfortunately, having a more mature relationship will help improve my perception in my family’s eyes.’
I can’t help myself. ‘Trixie and Dixie aren’t your parents’ idea of a mature relationship?’
His grin widens. ‘Shocking, isn’t it? You can’t please everyone. They said my judgement was non-existent.’
‘You astound me.’
‘But you, with your occasion-appropriate outfit and your Michelle Obama-isms, are fucking perfect. And you’re best friends with Elle, who’s basically the daughter Mum never had. And once Mum sees how well you whip Miles and Saoirse’s wedding into shape, I know she’ll be your biggest fan. Andthen’—he pokes me playfully in the shoulder—‘she’ll be my biggest fan, too.’
I stare at him. I hate to admit it, but there’s a kernel of sense behind this wacko plan. Although I had a go at Theo for groping me in front of Jonathan, I didn’t miss the heat in Jonathan’s eyes. I’ll take his jealousy over his indifference any day.
I could definitely whip Theo into shape while I’m pretending to date him and sorting out his brother’s wedding. Maybe it can be my act of kindness for any future women he dates. If I can instil even an ounce of common sense, judgement and decency into him in his dealings with the female species, it will be worthwhile.
I do love a project.
The only flaw in the plan—the aspect of it that makes me feel really weird in my tummy—is the idea of faking a romantic relationship with Theo. Faking being in love, basically, withthat. That guy standing inches away from me, who’s so bloody gorgeous and dangerous and loose-cannon-ish and depraved(based on his on-screen exploits) that my insides are already in knots thinking about it.
‘It has its merits,’ I tell him now. ‘I mean, I get that it’s mutually beneficial. The timing is weird. Almost serendipitous.’
I really believe in serendipity. I believe the machinations of the universe are crazily intricate and on-point and deliberate, and that we’re oblivious pawns. This interlude with Theo, right after I’ve just seen Jonathan with Lucy for the first time, seems too timely to be coincidental (although, technicallycoincidentalmeansfitting together perfectly, so make of that what you will).
‘And…’ he prompts. The hopeful-little-boy look is still there, at odds with the devastating masculinity of his face. I mean, the guy looks like a Mafia boss and a puppy at the same time. How thefuckdoes he manage it?
‘But,’ I correct him, ‘I can’t help but feel awkward about pretending to date you. Like I’m prostituting myself.’
