Page 39 of Great Pretender
With my mind shifted from Dad’s recovery, I became aware of the clock ticking over Chad’s head to get back to his father. As far as I knew, he hadn’t yet, even though I told him I’d help. What I knew and saw daily was his constant care for me and mindfulness of Dad. Our focus was entirely on Dad.
I promised myself that no later than today, I would talk about what needed to be done because the ball was clearly in my court.
I woke early, got dressed, and made my way downstairs.
Chad is up like I predicted, but not in the kitchen. It looks and sounds like he’s in the gym. The gym door is open.
Venturing in, I see him running on the treadmill.
Sweat drips down the side of his face, and with his shirtless torso on show, he reminds me of a work of art again. Like Captain America meets Batman, but with sexy tattoos that would make a girl think of hot, sinful things.
The equally sexy smile he flashes me sends a ripple of desire through me. I guess I must be feeling better if I can entertain these reactions. Feeling this way may even help people believe our soon-to-be fake relationship.
Fake relationship….
What will we have to do in public?
Kiss… like before. I’m sure at the very least we’d have to kiss. I’m just not sure what kissing this man again will do to me.
“Morning,” I say first and plaster a smile on my face that will hopefully hide the blush I can feel creeping into my cheeks.
“Good morning,” he replies, slowing his run to a jog then stopping.
I pick up a towel from the rack nearby and hand it to him as he steps off.
“You okay?” he asks.
“I am. I figured I should talk to you about the big plan. I know you’ve been giving me time to focus on my father.”
He gives me an uneasy look. “I have.”
“Have you spoken to your father yet?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I want you to be sure.” He nods.
“You helped me big time, and now I want to help you.”
He dabs at the sweat on his forehead, reaches for a black T-shirt, and pulls it on. “Piper, I don’t want you to feel obligated to help me when saving your dad was something I would have done anyway.”
“You didn’t just save Dad. You saved me too. I’m here in your home, and I’m debt-free.” He paid the debt. Just that alone is enough to make me want to do anything for him. “For the first time in years, all my money will belong to me when I get paid. I don’t have to set aside ninety percent for Scary Larry.” That was the actual name of the guy Dad owed.
I had to ask him what possessed him to take a loan out from someone with a name like that. The name was enough of a warning that things wouldn’t go well at all. That’s what happened when Dad couldn’t pay.
“Don’t even get me started on Scary Larry. You shouldn’t know anybody with a name like that.”
“I’m doing it, Chad. I’ll think about the million dollars and how it would change my life. I could buy a house. Imagine me being the sophisticated divorcee at the age of twenty-nine. I could probably buy a yacht and go vacationing in St. Tropez and do my Bridget Bardot walk.”
That was supposed to make him laugh, but he just gives me a little smile.
“Okay, but only if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
“It would mean a lot to me. Piper,”—he pauses for a second—“I’ve changed. People might not believe it, but I have. I knew I had to if I wanted a shot at owning the team one day. I just slipped up the other week.”
