Boyfriend for Hire

Chapter Two

Chapter TwoNic

Last night’s activities wore me out more than usual, and I’m running a couple of minutes behind, which isn’t like me. I generally like to arrive to a date early, to give myself time to scope everything out and best plan how to approach things.

But this isn’t technically a date, I remind myself. Just some woman who wants to prescreen me before agreeing to fake-date me.

I park my car and glance at the coffee shop, wondering if she’s already inside. I try to recall what Case told me about my date today, and realize he didn’t tell me much at all. Just the name Christine, which was printed on the sheet he gave me, along with the time and location of the appointment.

Here goes nothing.

I stroll into the coffee shop and find it mostly deserted, given that it’s early afternoon and the morning caffeine rush is over. It makes spotting Christine very easy. There are a few tables containing couples, and one with a group of elderly women, but only one with a single woman seated by herself.

She looks up when she hears the chimes over the door, and when our eyes lock, her mouth softens in a smile. As I approach the table where she’s seated, I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised. She’s close to my own age of twenty-eight, and she looks nice. Normal. That’s always a positive in my line of work.

“Christine?” I ask, pulling out the chair across from her. She’s attractive with dark hair, brown eyes, and straight white teeth.

She gives me a shy smile and a quick nod. “And you’re Nic?”

“It’s nice to meet you. May I sit?”

She gestures to the chair across from her. “Of course. Please do. Thank you for meeting me. I’m not sure if this is how it normally goes, or . . .”

I offer her a polite smile. “This can go however you want it to. My goal is to make sure you’re comfortable. And there’s not just one way to approach it.”

This seems to relax her, and she takes a deep breath.

I can’t help but notice the rather large engagement ring sparkling on her ring finger. Engagement, not wedding ring. Hmm . . .

“Would you like something to drink,” she asks. “Coffee, or . . .”

I shake my head. “I’m good. If I drink coffee at this time of day, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.” I don’t tell her that I usually sleep like s**t anyway, so it probably wouldn’t matter much.

“Right.” She nods, her face going serious. “I guess let’s just get on with this.”

Leaning closer, I offer her another smile. “Why don’t you tell me what it is I can help you with. My clients come to me for a variety of reasons, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. I’m more than happy to help in any way I can. It’s my job. But if you don’t like what you hear from me and decide this isn’t for you, then no harm, no foul. Okay?”

She smiles again, brighter this time. “Oh, you’ll be perfect. I have no doubt about that.” Her gaze wanders from mine to my left dimple, and then down to my broad shoulders and the muscular biceps visible below the short sleeves of my T-shirt.

I still have no f*****g idea what we’re talking about when she grabs her phone and pulls up a picture of a girl and holds it up for me to see. The girl is f*****g stunning with long red hair, a full pouty mouth, and curves for days.

“This is my friend Elle. Well, my soon-to-be sister-in-law, actually.” Christine’s gaze falls to her engagement ring, and her smile brightens. “I love her like a sister, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”

“I’m sorry, what? Is the date for you or for her?”

“Oh, it’s for her. My wedding is next weekend, and . . .” Christine puts her phone away and her smile falters. “Her dickhead ex recently broke up with her, leaving her without a date. But worse than that, he’s still planning on coming to the wedding, and bringing the new girlfriend he started dating about three seconds after he and Elle broke up.”

“He sounds like a twat.”

Christine giggles. “Oh, he is. But he and my fiancé grew up together, and it’s not like we can uninvite him now without making it a big thing.”

“So, you want me to escort Elle to the wedding?”

She nods. “Yes. Only, I don’t want her to know you’re a . . . that you . . . I told her I have a friend from college I can set her up with.”

“I see.” So she won’t know I’m an escort. A little unusual, but I can work with that.

“And it’s just to accompany her. I’m not paying extra for the . . . you know.” She leans closer and whispers, “Sex.”

I chuckle and place one hand on the table, not bothering to explain to her that I don’t always have s*x with clients. It does happen on occasion, but I’m not a p********e, for f**k’s sake. Plenty of times it’s just a night out. “No worries. I understand. So, the wedding is next Saturday?”

Christine nods. “Yes, but there’s also a cocktail reception for out-of-town guests on Friday that Elle will be expected to attend. I was hoping to have you for Friday and Saturday nights.”

“That will cost extra, but it can be arranged.”

Christine nods. “I’m aware of your fees. That’s not an issue. But you’ll need a suit for Friday and a tux for Saturday . . .”

I hold up one hand, stopping her. “It’s not a problem. I’ll be dressed appropriately.”

“Thank you so much for agreeing to do this.” Christine’s posture relaxes for the first time since I sat down.

“I’m happy to do it. I love weddings.” Cake. Dancing. Everyone in a happy mood. It’ll be the easiest money I’ve ever made.

Christine hands me a sleek white wedding invitation embossed with gold script and rises to her feet. “Oh, and since I told Elle that you’re a friend of mine from college, I went, um, I mean we went to the University of Indiana.”

I lift one eyebrow. I’ve never been to Indiana and I certainly never went to college, something I still regret, but I nod. “Sounds good. Anything else?”

She shakes her head. “I kept it simple. We fell out of touch but recently connected again on social media when we saw we both lived here now.”

I stand and face Christine, glancing briefly at the invitation. “I’ll see you Friday at six.”

She nods. “One last thing. Do you mind if I take a picture of you on my phone to show Elle? You know, to make it seem more normal and get her to agree to the date.”

“Sure.” I smile as Christine poses beside me and snaps a quick selfie of us together.

“Thanks for this, Nic.”

“My pleasure.”

As I stroll out of the coffee shop, I realize that I’m actually looking forward to the wedding next weekend. Sweet young Elle won’t know what hit her.