Page 61 of Imperfect Arrangement
I snort, unladylike and completely unfiltered. “That’s such a guy thing to say.”
His grin deepens. “Clichés aren’t always bad, Firefly.”
I freeze for a second. I thought that nickname was temporary, but it rolls off his tongue like it belongs there. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to hearing it in the voice of the man who’s far from a cliché. He’s an arrogant businessman alright, but he’s also an amazing dad. Those two sides shouldn’t work, but somehow, they do for him.
And now, I can’t help but wonder…what kind of fiancé would he make?
“But why the sudden interest in tarot?” he presses, pulling me back from my spiraling thoughts.
“Violet invited someone tonight.”
“And what did they say?” His voice is calm, but his eyes are sharp, focused on my face like he’s ready to dissect every word.
Dammit. Yes, I’m that girl who clearly enjoys digging herself into awkward conversational pits. Now, there’s no way I can tell him that Nori claimedhe—Raymond Teager, my fake fiancé—would somehow fill the lonely void in my heart.
Her words, not mine.
“She said a lot of things,” I hedge. “Some true. Some, well, meh.” I gesture vaguely.
“Meh?” he repeats, and there’s something in his tone—amusement, maybe—that makes my cheeks heat. He’s enjoying this way too much. “So did she tell you that agreeing to be my fake fiancée was the biggest mistake of your life?” His words hit me like a slap.
Is that how he sees this?
Rejection stings no matter how you dress it up, even when it’s about something you never asked for in the first place. I wasn’t expecting him to be thrilled about our little arrangement, but hearing him call it the biggest mistake hurts in a way I wasn’t prepared for.
“Is that how you see today?” It takes every ounce of willpower not to let the crack in my chest leak into my words. “One of the biggest mistakes of your life?”
His brows knit together, and he looks genuinely taken aback. He sits up straighter, stubbing out his cigar in an ashtray I’m certain wasn’t here before. He drags a hand down his face, the weight of whatever he’s about to say pressing into the space between us.
“The mistake,” he starts, voice rough, “was not realizing what bringing you into that meeting would mean. When I asked you to do the presentation, it was because I wanted the board to see what I see. Your passion, your vision, the way you’ve carried this dream forward. No one else, not even me, can do a better job at this project than you. As I expected, you nailed the presentation. But I screwed up by not protecting you from everything that came after. And that’s my mistake, Willow.”
I blink, thrown off by the raw honesty in his voice and the sincerity etched in every line of his face. My chest tightens, the weight of his words settling deep in my gut. “I’m not a little girl, Raymond,” I say quietly.
His green eyes meet mine, unwavering. “I never said you were. But we’re in this together. You’re my partner, and it’s my job to protect you.”
“Who’s protecting you?” The words slip out, barely audible, but they hang in the air between us.
He leans forward, his voice dropping to something almost tender. “I’m hoping you are. That’s what partners do, right?”
The wordpartnerlingers, like he’s trying to carve it into my soul, to remind me we’re equals in this arrangement, something I’m having a hard time believing.
“Ever since I accepted your offer, I can’t shake this feeling that all of this—everything happening right now—is just…luck. Like destiny took one look at me fumbling through life and realized I’m too much of a screwup to make Gramps’s dream come true on my own. So now, it’s doing the heavy lifting for me, and I’m…you know…a loser.” My cheeks burn hot enough to light up the pergola. I duck my head so low I might as well burrow into the ground.
Who would’ve thought I’d be confessing my biggest insecurity to the man I once called my mortal enemy? Life sure has a twisted sense of humor.
I hear the subtle shift of fabric and the soft creak of the chair as Raymond rises, but I don’t dare look up until his ridiculously polished Tom Ford loafers plant themselves directly in front of me.
“Willow.” His voice is low, softer than I’ve ever heard it. The kind of tone that makes you want to lean in to catch every word. He doesn’t say anything else right away, just stands there like he’s waiting for me to lift my head. When I finally do, I’m startled by the expression on his face. He’s smiling, but it’s not the sharp, self-assured grin I’ve grown used to. This one is…different. Gentle. Maybe even a little uncertain. It throws me off-balance.
“If there’s a loser in this house tonight, it’s definitely not you. You’re someone brave enough to chase a dream, knowing you’ll have to put your life on pause, uproot everything you know. That takes guts, Firefly. But me?” He gives a humorless laugh. “I’m the guy whose own daughter won’t even speak to him. And instead of admitting I’ve failed her, I invited a stranger into my home—a place I’ve guarded like a fortress—because I’m desperate enough to hope I can hear my Quill through you.” His words land like a punch to the gut, raw and unfiltered.
Suddenly, all the reasons I had for disliking Raymond Teager seem…small. Insignificant. Because sitting here now, looking at this man who’s putting himself out there in a way I never expected, I feel so many emotions for him at once.
My pulse flutters at the raw edge in his voice, and it takes everything I’ve got to drag my gaze away from his face. His features are alive with emotions I’ve never seen on him before—vulnerability, honesty, maybe even a flicker of regret.
“But it’s not just that.” His voice softens further, like he’s peeling back the last layer of armor. “I agreed to this fake engagement, when marriage isn’t something I’ve ever seen for myself. So, if there’s a loser tonight, you’re looking at that person.”
My breath catches. Raymond Teager, the man who exudes so much control it feels like he dictates the rotation of the earth, can be so…bare and vulnerable. And as much as I’ve spent time crafting elaborate mental takedowns of him, I’m realizing something I wasn’t prepared for. I prefer his cocky, insufferable side to this version of him—this is too real.
