Page 21 of Blue Line

“Weston, you’re making me nervous.”

I suck in another breath, coming to a stop and meeting her eyes.

“Hadley Jane, I just talked to my agent …” She tilts her head, studying me, but remains silent, so I carry on. Might as well rip the Band-Aid off. “He called to congratulate me on my engagement.”

I watch as she registers my words, her eyes getting wider and her mouth dropping open.

“What the fuck did you do, Weston Reynolds?” Her voice pitches up at the end.

Chapter nine

Hadley

Weston winces at my question, and I know it came out harsher than I meant it, but then again, he’s standing here telling me his agent knows about our fake engagement.

“I didn’t do anything, Hadley Jane.”

“What’s going on in here?” Holt asks, walking into the kitchen, Becca trailing behind him.

I cringe.

Great.

Wonderful.

I plaster on what I hope is a convincing smile. That’s all I seem to be doing these days.

“Weston here”—I point at him—“was telling me his agent congratulated him on his engagement.”

Holt sucks in a breath. I catch Becca’s eye, and I swear she looks as if she’s holding in a laugh. To her credit, she puts a hand on Holt’s arm and guides him into a chair.

“Breathe,” I hear her whisper, and I whirl around to face Weston, who is once again pacing the room.

“It’s not like I did it on purpose. Turns out someone at the party last night leaked pictures of us to, well, I don’t really know who, and now it’s all over the internet. My agent called to tell me he’s had a few companies express interest in endorsing me now. Apparently, all I needed to do was get engaged for them to come out of the woodwork.” He throws up his hands. “Who the fuck knew?” He barks out a laugh, and my anger softens. “Guess being a great hockey player isn’t enough.” He roughly runs his hands through his hair.

“What if we kept up this ruse?” The words tumble out of my mouth, and someone, probably Holt, gasps behind me. Weston pauses, turns, and takes a few steps closer to me. “What more can it hurt? Besides, you helped me. Maybe I can help you.”

“Well, see, here’s the thing.” He rocks back on his heels. “One of the companies wants both of us to appear in their photos for their winter line of pajamas.” I start to ask him what kind of pajamas, but he puts up a hand. “John says it’s tasteful. I didn’t get all the details, but I can say no. I’m sure the pay is going to be significant, or so I think, and of course I’ll split it with you.”

“Well …”

Wait until I tell Callie this turn of events. I don’t know if she’s going to believe me. Scratch that, of course she’ll believe me. She’s Team Make It Real.

“Hads, this is crazy. Wes, what the hell are you thinking, man?” Holt says from behind me.

“This is between the two of them,” Becca murmurs. “We’re not going to interfere or give our opinions unless they ask for them.”

“If you’re game for it, I think we should at least hear what they have to say. Not like I’m rushing out to date anyone. We could pretend to still be engaged.” I shrug. “Besides, what the hell else am I doing with my life? Now that my gig as a nanny is up, I don’t have anything to do except figure out my next job.”

Weston studies me for a few seconds. “You’d have to come back to Orlando with me when I leave next week.”

“You can stay at the house,” Holt says.

“It would be suspicious if she wasn’t living with me,” Weston argues.

Holt groans but doesn’t say anything.

“It’s fine.” I sound calm and collected, but on the inside, my stomach is churning, and I’m trying not to panic.