I shake my head. “Look, it’s not like that. Right now it’s nothing more than a crush.” Then I think about it. “It’s not even that, really.”
“So, you’re trying to tell us that this not-a-crush guy got to see the red bikini?” Fi asks. “I’m not buying it. Let’s bring it to a vote. All who believe this story raise your hand.” They stare right at me and don’t raise their hands. I raise mine in defiance.
“You lost,” Fi says with a smile. “But you can keep your secrets. For now. I’m just glad you’re back in the game.” She elbows Angie. “Looks like our little love intervention worked as planned.”
We all zone out for a few minutes and stare at the crowds while waiting for our food. Angie finally breaks the relative silence. “I wonder if these billionaires are hot? Kaylee, forget your kitchen crush, you should use that bikini on one of the Covingtons.”
“Maybe I will,” I say, playing coy and also wondering if giving in to this entire conversation topic might pay off later and help my friends feel less lied to if it all blows up in my face. “I hear they have a sweet tooth.”
They both look at me again, and this time their expressions are more suspicious. Fortunately, I’m ready for it.
“What? You guys are right. I literally work right there where they’re staying. People talk. And besides, I didn’t know anything until I got the daily scoop during the morning update in the kitchen. You guys know how those morning meetings go with Ralph. We got the whole spiel.”
I clear my throat and do my best gravelly, old-man Ralph voice: This exclusive Covington family visit is the cornerstone of our weekend. And by the way, they all have a sweet tooth, Kaylee. Get your ass in gear because you’ll have to crank out more pudding.
Luckily, that performance brings a round of raucous laughter from the table.
“They don’t appreciate you enough, Kaylee,” Fi chimes in.
I notice our drinks have come and I’m thirsty. “I’ll drink to that. To us underappreciated workers of the world.” I hold my glass high and we all clink our glasses before continuing.
Then I look around. “You really think they need this many photographers for a few members of a boring family?”
“For the Covingtons? Yes,” Angie says, leaning forward. “Are you kidding?”
“Boring,” I say. “Those Covington guys are probably old and pasty. Who needs them?”
“No,” Angie says. “Hang on. I found some pics on my phone. One of them’s all right I guess, for a billionaire. But the other one is gorgeous. Look.”
We all stare at Angie’s phone. At pictures of a shirtless Chase, as he works out. On a beach in some exotic location. The pics look recent, although there’s less stubble on his face. The familiar dimple is there as he smirks through a weight rep, and the rippling muscles are unmistakable.
“Oh no,” Angie says, taking her phone back.
“Is he not hot?” Fi asks. “Did you do the search wrong again?”
“I did the search right,” Angie snaps. “And I’m right, he’s super-hot. Only now it says he’s engaged. I swear, just last night it said he was one of the most eligible and hottest bachelors in North America. He’s here for one night and now he’s engaged? No fair. How is that even possible?”
“You’re right,” I jump in eagerly. “It sounds fishy. And he’s not that hot.” Then I realize something. “Hey, with the better-looking billionaire bachelor taken now, do you think the paparazzi will move on and give us some peace and quiet?”
Fi squeals. She’s not paying attention to me, though. She’s looking down at her phone. “It’s a mystery woman. Apparently, he’s been hiding her away only to reveal her this weekend.”
I force a smile but I’m screaming inside. That’s obviously not going to make any of the paparazzi go away at all. It will only intensify the hunt.
“Oh come on,” I say. “A secret fiancé? That sounds like a soap opera.”
“No really,” Fi answers. “It’s right here in this article. And I heard those photographer guys over there talking about it earlier. It’s crazy, but they believe it’s true. Hey, maybe you’ll run into him, Kaylee.”
“Who?” I ask?
Fi giggles. “What do you mean, who? The billionaire bachelor. The hot one. Well, former bachelor. But hey, I’m guessing you could take out that fiancé. My money’s on you any day of the week.”
“I’m good,” I say.
Angie shakes her head. “Oh yeah, you and your rule about tourists. You should lighten up a little.”
If she only knew. For a very brief moment I consider telling them. That train of thought goes off the rails quickly.
I hook up with a tourist, against my number one rule. That’s bad enough. There was supposed to be no names, no complications. It was the perfect plan. But then he turns out to be famous.
Then I make a crazy deal in his bathroom to be his fake fiancé, and now I’m putting my job in jeopardy by calling in sick and pissing off Ralph. All to help him get his company back. And now on top of everything, the paparazzi are after him.
The paparazzi aren’t just after him. They’re after me. I stare for a moment at the crazed group of photographers preparing to swarm. Then I guzzle my drink in one giant sip.
“Are you okay?” Fi asks. She and Angie are staring at me again.
Think, Kaylee. Even better, maybe change the subject away from Covingtons. “Um, crushes and shit. Am I right?”
“You seem a little distracted,” Fi says, a worried look on her face. She exaggerates the word little. “Are you sure you don’t need help with anything?”
I fake my best smile. “Nope. I’m totally good.”
“Okay, then” Fi says. “How about if we help you with the fact that you’re due back at work in six minutes and you still have to change out of that fabulous red bikini? Unless your crush is at work? Because trust me, if
