Page 8 of Fiancé for Hire

“Wait. I’m having trouble keeping up,” Tamera said. “His mother paired you guys? Dang, you actually met his mother. Most women don’t meet the potential in-laws until long after they’ve been dating. And you—”

“We’re not dating,” Antika growled as she searched her memory trying to recall if Mrs. Ross said anything about Drevon being her son. “No way was that his mother. It couldn’t have been. They didn’t look anything alike, and they didn’t act like mother and son, though they were friendly. I don’t think she’s his mother,” Antika said quietly, but didn’t know for sure.

“Well, then they must be related somehow. That’s too much of a coincident that he’d have the same last name as the woman who owns the company.” Tamera tapped her fingers against the arm of the sofa. “Just think, you should be flattered. If this woman is his mother or a close relative, she must’ve been really impressed by you to set you two up.”

“Don’t you think that’s a little creepy?” Antika said, laying her head against the sofa as she stared at the ceiling. “Why would he agree to be in their database? Surely a supermodel wouldn’t need to be escorting women.”

“Nah, that brother doesn’t have problems getting dates. I’m sure there are plenty of women dropping their panties for him. Which reminds me…he had a bad breakup like eight or nine months ago. He was dating that actress, Kendall Monroe, and things didn’t end well. I think he even got arrested, but it turned out that she had lied and then, trying to make herself look like the victim, she warned women to stay away from him. I think Drevon ended up suing her for defamation of character or something.”

Oh, yeah, this just keeps getting better, Antika thought.

Antika listened as Tamera told her that before that incident, there was never any negative publicity regarding him. That he did a lot of charity work and collaborated on numerous projects with people in the entertainment industry, while the actress was always caught up in some drama. According to rumors, the two had dated for months, and she was mad that he didn’t want to marry her. She accused him of having commitment issues and had even attacked his manhood.

“Considering how successful she is, I don’t understand why she’s always going after these guys. She’s been seen with so many A-list actors, and it seems the relationships always end badly,” Tamera explained. “Clearly, she’s the one with the problem since she’s the common denominator in the situations.”

Antika sighed. “I don’t want any drama in my life, and this guy sounds like he’s surrounded by drama. I think it’ll be best if I cancel my request with At Your Service.”

“Nope. I’m not letting you do that. Think about Edward. Do you really want to go to your work event by yourself while your ex is there with some hoochie? Because I doubt he’ll show up alone,” Tamera said with confidence. “And it would be sweet revenge if you were there with one of the hottest guys on the face of the planet.”

She had a point, but Antika needed to think about all of this.

Then again, what would it be like to go out with a famous model?

ChapterFive

Drevon left his Range Rover with the valet and jogged up the few stairs to Canoe, one of his favorite restaurants located in Vinings—a neighborhood in Atlanta along the banks of the Chattahoochee River. It was a good thing he had made a reservation, because based on the number of cars in the lot, the place was packed.

He was meeting Antika Wilcox for lunch.

To say she had shocked him when she called last night and asked him to meet her for lunch would be an understatement. He had considered declining since he planned to tell his aunt he couldn’t take the assignment—mainly because he and Antika’s initial encounter the day before hadn’t gone well.

Besides that, the idea of being someone’s hired date didn’t appeal to him.

But his curiosity had gotten the best of him. He hadn’t stopped thinking about Antika since walking out of his aunt’s office. So much so, that he had reviewed her profile and intake formthat his aunt had given him. He could admit that she was a nice-looking woman, and he was physically attracted to her. But the fact that she used to play professional basketball had piqued his interest.

“Good afternoon, welcome to Canoe,” the hostess greeted as he entered the restaurant. “Do you have a reservation?”

He removed his sunglasses, and though her bright smile was still plastered on her pink lips, her perfectly arched eyebrows dipped slightly into a frown. Drevon recognized the look. She was trying to figure out where she knew him from.

“Yes, I do. It should be under Ross,” he said, and it was as if a lightbulb went on inside her head, and then her eyebrows shot up.

“Ahh, yes, Mr. Ross. Welcome!” Her smile broadened as she flipped her long auburn hair over one shoulder as she glanced at the computer screen in front of her. “Has your guest arrived yet?”

“No. I’m a little early, but she should be here shortly.” He didn’t know that for sure, but he hoped Antika wasn’t one of those women who liked to befashionablylate. Or worse—one who would stand him up.

“No problem. If you’d like, I can seat you now and then show your guest to the table once she arrives.”

“That sounds good.” Drevon slipped his aviator sunglasses back on and followed the woman into the main dining room.

Once he was seated near the window, he looked out and admired the nice view—lush flowers and trees in a park-like setting and the peaceful Chattahoochee River as the backdrop. It was just as nice inside. The upscale restaurant, with a ceiling shaped like a canoe, tables covered with white tablecloths, and soft jazz playing in the background, had a warm and inviting ambiance. That, along with the excellent food, was why he had suggested the place.

As Drevon glanced around, a few women were staring at him. One even nodded and smiled, and he returned the gesture. Used to the attention, he took it in stride and was glad none of them approached the table. He hated when that happened. Most people showed respect when it came to letting him eat in peace, but there had been a few bold women over the years who didn’t give a damn.

Lifting his menu from the table, he skimmed it while wondering if Antika would show up. Especially since she claimed he wasn’t what she wanted. He wasn’t her type.

A smile spread across his face. He had never heard those words come out of a woman’s mouth before—ever. Knowing that he wasn’t her type gave him another reason to say yes to lunch. He wanted to show her what she’d be missing since he probably still wouldn’t agree to be herdate.

Antika didn’t even know him. Yet, she had dismissed him within five minutes of meeting, and Drevon could admit that his ego had taken a hit. Clearly, she hadn’t realized he wasDrevon Ross, one of the top twenty male models of all time.

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