His Off Limits Best Friend - Vivian Wood Page 0,7

our business arrangement.”

“I like a challenge,” she said. She finished her cocktail and shook his hand. “So I’ll see you tomorrow, my intended?”

“I hate that word,” he said. “In fact, all words that have to do with being engaged are pompous.”

“Well, you are my intended,” she teased. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

He watched her wind through the crowd, all eyes once again on her. Through that nothing of a dress, he could see every swerve of her ass. As she passed by a particularly attractive couple, the woman caught her boyfriend staring at Sam’s tits and shoved him roughly in the chest.

Connor laughed to himself and looked down at his drink. Sam was going to be a handful, that’s for sure. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so impulsive with this plan—or with choosing her. Should I have gone with someone just a touch less attractive? he wondered.

4

Sam

Sam watched as a gleaming white Mercedes pulled into her driveway at six o’clock sharp. She was more nervous than if this had been a real date. Snap out of it! This is just a job. A totally crazy job, but still a job.

She watched Connor step out of the car in an impeccable bespoke suit. He was unnervingly handsome, but such an ass. Well, look at him. I guess he’s earned it.

He carried an envelope in one hand and jogged up the steps of her little clapboard duplex. “Hey,” she said, opening the door. “You’re right on time.”

Connor let his eyes graze over her, unflinching. “And you look presentable enough to meet my family, I suppose.”

She blushed and bit her lip. If he only knew it had taken her two hours to pick her outfit. She’d finally gone with a slim-fitting, tailored business suit with a silky violet blouse underneath. The jacket flared out in a nearly peplum fashion.

“This is for you,” he said, handing her the documents. “You can sign them later if you like, at the end of the month.”

She took the documents, and suddenly the whole thing felt real. Can I really do this? she wondered. The money was good. Really good. But maybe she needed to consider the whole too good to be true warning here.

“And this,” he said, pulling that telltale turquoise ring box out of his pocket. “Size five and a half.”

Her mouth dropped open. In lieu of a traditional diamond, it was a massive sapphire with clusters of diamond accents. “It’s…”

“It’s on loan for now,” he said. “I’ll need it back at the end of the night. Now. Let’s get going.”

He held the door open for her, acting the part of the gentleman. I guess we’re both acting.

All day long, she couldn’t get over it. Sam couldn’t believe he’d had the nerve to propose such an incredible ploy to her—and she was even more surprised that she’d said yes. She sneaked another look at him. He looked good, she had to admit. Every time she saw him, he looked better and better. Why me?

She couldn’t help but stare at the ring on the way to dinner. It fit perfectly.

“It’s like Princess Diana’s,” he told her. She blushed when she realized she’d been caught admiring it.

“It’s gorgeous,” she said.

“Sandra had demanded a so-called traditional diamond, even after I’d explained to her about the blood diamond industry, how De Beers made up the whole a diamond is forever thing, and all. But I realized when I was at Tiffany’s I’d never described her ring to my family. I figured I’d choose a ring I actually thought was beautiful enough for the girl wearing it.”

Sam flushed a deeper red. “So, uh, where are we going for dinner?”

“Pineapple and Pearls,” he said, speeding up on the highway.

“Seriously?” She was shocked. Sam had been to the upscale venue with clients before, but that was to look at spaces—not for dinner herself. It had taken all her professional gumption to not look shocked at the price tag when she was with clients.

“You don’t like it?” he asked.

She looked at him quizzically. Was he being serious or making fun of her?

“So, let me fill you in on the family,” he said. “My mom is harmless. She might get emotional though, fair warning. Let’s hope she took her Zoloft today. My brother, Sean, is a little shit. I guarantee you he’ll drink too much at dinner and might hit on you. But basically he’s harmless.”

“Good to know,” she said, nervously pushing at the ring with her thumb.

“And my dad is just a