Page 11 of Heartsmashed
“Like you. You’re…you know. All confident and attractive and intimidating in a way that’s like, ‘don’t mess with him’ but also ‘he probably opens doors for everyone.’ It’s a very specific vibe.”
That did it. The corner of his mouth curved, just enough to tell me I hadn’t completely gone off the deep end and embarrassed myself.
His steepled fingers ran along the scruff of his jaw. It was wild how my eyes were like a magnet, glued to every little movement he made.
“And what does this very specific vibe require?” he asked.
“Just the basics. Hand-holding.” I ticked them off on my fingers. “Smiling as if you actually like me. Maybe an arm around me if my ex is around. Some light flirting. Nothing too insane, just enough to sell it.”
“Just enough,” he repeated.
“Exactly.”
Beckett leaned back, taking his whiskey with him, studying me, and I had the distinct and alarming realization that I was being thoroughly assessed. Maybe he was wondering if this job was worth it, if he could deal with a week of what my brother Rome called “the hot mess express.”
I needed him to say yes.
“Obviously I’ll compensate you,” I said quickly. “I agree to the rates you posted, that’s no problem, but if money is the issue I can?—”
“I’m not worried about that.”
Oh. Okay. That was…hot.
“Right,” I said, and cleared my throat. “Okay, good. That’s…great.”
God, pull it together.
“Um, logistics, just so you know,” I added. “We’d leave Sunday, drive up there, stay the week. There are a bunch of events planned—dinners, activities, probably some sort of theme night, because my moms love a theme. So I’d need you for all of that, but we’d also have downtime too, obviously, and?—”
“Stop.”
I blinked. “What?”
He reached out, his hand covering mine where I was still holding on to my drink like my life depended on it. “Breathe,” he said.
Oh. Right.
When he inhaled, slow and steady, I did the same, matching his breaths. In and out, three times, letting him lead me—and for some reason, when I let it all out, it actually helped.
“There you go,” he said. He drew back his hand, and I immediately missed the heat of his touch, but I couldn’t deny I felt better for it.
I nodded, doing my absolute best to pretend my stomach hadn’t completely flipped on itself. “So, um. Those are the basics.”
Beckett nodded once. “Anything else?”
“I don’t think so? Well, I mean, just don’t let me make a complete fool out of myself, I guess.”
“That won’t happen.”
Something in the way he said it made me believe him, which felt…dangerous.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “So…you’re in?”
He held my gaze for a long moment before nodding. “I’m in.”
The weight lifted from my shoulders, and I sat back in my chair, a chuckle slipping out as I shook my head. “Wow. Sorry, I guess I’m just more than a little relieved at how well this is going.”
Beckett’s expression didn’t change much, but there was something there. Something knowing.
