Page 47 of Hula Girl

“I think our engagement is over.”

Laughing, he holds up his hands in a pleading gesture. “No, listen. The only reason I didn’t make plans to see you is because this stuff I have to deal with, this work stuff, it’s complicated. But I swear, I was going to reach out to you as soon as I had a handle on it.”

“Yeah, right,” I scoff.

“It’s true. I just didn’t want to make promises when I knew I had this work thing to sort out.”

“And you couldn’t tell me about that? As iflittle old me wouldn’t understand? I have my J.D., just like you.”

“Well, I didn’t know you were a lawyer back in Maui, did I? You said you weren’t one.”

“Because you said you hated lawyers,” I snap back. “Why would I admit to being one?”

He bites his lip and looks at me like he wants to devour me next.

“What?” I ask impatiently.

Squinting at me in that way he does, he says, “It’s our first fight.” Leaning closer, his lips graze the shell of my ear. “It’s fucking turning me on.”

Despite the shiver of arousal running through me, I pull away. “Ford, what is happening?”

“Honey, I don’t know for sure. But I really want to figure it out. With you.”

That’s enough for me to stop resisting and let him pull me to him again. He looks so fine in that suit, but all I want to do is tear it off him.

And then I catch a glimpse of something that makes me freeze. I see Bryce walking back toward us. This time, he’s with an older gentleman who looks a lot like Ford.

17

Ford

I’d been at this insufferable event at the Millennium Biltmore hotel for just over half an hour when I spotted my Hula Girl. I was so happy to see her that I forgot to be shocked for a moment. But there she was, across the main foyer, standing on her own and looking distracted. And beautiful. So incredibly beautiful in her body-hugging black cocktail dress, her lips painted kiss-me-red, and her hair shiny and falling down her back.

Besides happiness and attraction, the next thing I felt was amusement. Shaking my head, I realized there was only one reason she would be here. Turns out she is the thing I have grown to despise: a lawyer. At least it explains the suspicions I’d had those few times the real world came out in our conversations.

But I sure as hell never expected to run into her. I don’t remember ever meeting her when I lived here, either. She must practice a different kind of law. Still, she’s hard to ignore.

And so, I watched the person I recognized as having phoned her back-to-back when we were having breakfast at her hotel approach her. Even from my distance, I could see he was on his way to being drunk. Their body language made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him. I was inordinately relieved by that.

When he kept ignoring her obvious signals to back off, I strode right over and inserted myself. Claiming to be her fiancé was a bit much, but I didn’t think it through. I remembered that she said this guy hadn’t thought she was marriage material, and so it seemed a perfect way to stick it to him. For him to realize he’d make a big mistake by letting her go.

But there is more to consider with this spur-of-the-moment game than I originally thought. I know that now that my father and Bryce are headed our way.

“Ford,” Senior says, “Bryce here was just telling me howsurprisedhe was to learn of your engagement.”

Shit. I recognize the steely look in Senior’s eyes. It’s the same look I came to know all too well as a rebellious twelve year old. With just the hardening of his gaze, he can convey a stern warning that’s basically him saying, “You’d better not test me. Because there will be consequences if you do.” I’m less concerned for myself than I am for Ava. She has no idea how cut-throat he can be. This has just gone from harmless screwing around with Ava’s ex to opening her up to Senior’s wrath.

If I admit that it was all a joke now, Senior would be furious.Appearances mattermight as well be his mantra. That’s why I’m here in the suit he bought for me, after all. Trying to project the image that I’ve returned to the fold, that I’m an active part of McAvoy & Partners again. All to appease my father for as long as it takes to get past the board meeting. Well, that and also to buy myself the time I need to leave on my own terms.

So, if I piss him off now by admitting to this fake fiancé ruse, it’s very likely that he’d be angry enough towantto fire me. But he can’t. Not before the board meeting. And so, if he can’t go after me, he might just go after Ava to get at me. The last thing I want is for her to get caught up in the war I’ve got going on with my dad. In that split second, I decide the best thing to do is let the clock run out on this game I’m playing. The only question is whether Ava will shut it down or go along with me.

“Well,” I say with a forced laugh, as I try to steer this whole thing in a different direction. “I guess Bryce can’t be blamed for being a little jealous. He is Ava’s ex-boyfriend, after all.”

“Is that right?” Senior eyes Bryce with new distaste.

Outing Bryce as a jealous ex was a good move. My father does not like losers, which is exactly how he’ll view Bryce now. And it will remind Ava of the gentle payback this gives her.

“Well, I really just wanted to give you both my congratulations,” Bryce says, fumbling but sober enough to know that he does not want to get on Senior’s bad side.

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