Page 92 of Fake it For Good
“Excuse me?”
“Why are you doing this with me?” he asked again.
“Which part?” I asked.
His demeanor told me he was on the defensive, which immediately made me defensive. There was a hardness to him that had me on edge. I had sensed it from the time he picked me up. Something was off about him. He wasn’t as sweet and touchy as usual. Was it because tonight was our last night? My stomach turned at the idea it was all just for show. He never actually felt anything for me. The sex had been a freebie.
“This job,” he finally said. “Why did you go to Faux’s? Why did you allow yourself to be a paid date?”
“You’re making it sound dirty,” I said in a low voice. “I didn’t sell myself to you. I don’t think I debased myself.”
My heart was pounding with a million thoughts running through my head. He was making it sound like I had hit the street corner. The way he was looking at me made me both sick and pissed.
“It wasn’t dirty,” he said and gentled his tone. “I just wanted to know what motivated you to go to the agency. Now that I’ve gotten to know you, I don’t get it. But then I wonder if I do know you.”
I smiled and took his hand. I understood his reservations. He was probably just as confused as I was. “I took the job because I needed money for the nonprofit. I planned on buying toys and other necessities for the kids. When I stumbled across Faux’s, I was searching for work.”
“And the other stuff?” he asked.
I assumed he meant us. “Do you mean me and you?”
He nodded. “What was that?”
“That was something that happened,” I said. “The more time I spent with you, the more I liked being around you. You weren’t the man I expected. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you. I never expected to actually like the man paying me to pretend to be his fiancée. I was just praying for tolerance. Things changed for me. What about you?”
I was expecting flowery words. Maybe a profession of strong like. Nothing too major. Just an affirmation I wasn’t the only one feeling these things. He leaned back in the chair and pulled his hand away. He ran his hand down his face and blew out a breath.
“I just don’t know what to believe,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“I thought maybe we did have something real,” he said. “Then I remembered I hired an actress.”
“I am not an actress!”
“Yes, you really are,” he said. “You’re paid to fake it. I don’t know what’s real and what is just part of the gig. The sex, theeverything. I just can’t figure out what the benefit to you was. I’m not going to give you a bonus because you fucked me. I don’t think I have to pay you for the publicity I got for donating to your orphanage. So, that leads me to believe there was really only one reason.”
My ears were burning. I was furious and hurt. The man had changed. The Cane I thought I knew was gone. Instead, I was dealing with his evil twin. “What would that be?” I hissed.
“Connections. You not only get paid a shitload of money, but you also got to meet all the people you needed to grow your nonprofit. You’ll bring in a bunch of cash and I’m sure you’ll be aptly rewarded. You fucked me to keep me from noticing you were using me. You wanted your money and the connections. Was that your goal all along? Were you using me?”
I hopped up from the chair, prepared to look down on him, but he got up as well.
“Was I using you?” I scoffed. “Are you kidding me right now? Look at me, Cane! I’m dressed as Mrs. Claus. Do you think I normally go around dressing like this? Do you think I had this stashed in my closet? No! I bought this to help you!” My finger stabbed at his chest. “I think what you mean is,youare using me. I went above and beyond to help your image. I paid for this stupid dress out of my own pocket. If anyone is using anyone, it’s you.”
“I told you I would pay for the stupid dress,” he growled. “You went with that elaborate getup to attract attention. And not from me. You wanted to make connections. I was opening doors for you. That’s all you wanted.”
“Uh oh, looks like the bloom is off the rose,” Kelly said as she sauntered over. “Is this a lovers’ quarrel?”
“Shut up,” Cane ordered. “Get out of here.”
“Please leave,” I said in a little nicer tone.
“I guess you’re finally getting to see the real Cane Carver,” she said with a laugh. “Once you look past the charming smile and sexy ass, you see the stink. Everyone blamed me for our divorce, but Mr. Perfect isn’t so perfect. Cane only cares about one thing—his business. He’s never going to be devoted to you. He needed someone cute to smile and shake their ass. You can’t expect him to be anything more than the shallow piece of shit he is.”
I looked at the woman that was obviously very satisfied to see us arguing. “Kelly, put your tits away.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “You’re striking out at the wrong villain, sweetheart. I told you that you’re not his type. You were never going to keep his attention. If I couldn’t keep the man happy, what makes you think you could?”
