Hazel bit down on her bottom lip. “I don’t even want to think of the implications of this,” she said, at last. “It’s… over the top. You expect me to lie to your father. Your family.”
“That’s right. And you’ll do it convincingly.” I tapped out another message to Cassandra, giving directives that she’d follow through on. Kara would be out of the Hazel’s house within the hour. “I’m surprised you didn’t drive a harder bargain, Hazel. You want your café and your father’s care, and that’s it? No mansion? No car?”
“I can look after myself,” she said, lifting her chin. “I just need capital, that’s all.”
You need to be underneath me.
Dangerous thoughts. I shoved it aside. “Right,” I said. “Then it’s settled. You’re coming with me to the resort this weekend. And you’re going to be convincing.”
She sucked in a deep breath and let it shudder out from between her lips. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
“And you can’t tell anyone about this,” I said. “I’ll be sending over an NDA.”
“I have to tell my father. I can’t lie to him.”
“No. Tell no one.”
“Do you always get what you want?” Hazel asked, folding her arms.
“Yes,” I replied. “This is a contractual agreement. Nothing more and nothing less. You’ll stick to the agreement or you’ll get nothing.”
Anger shone from her gorgeous features.
“Is that understood?” I asked.
“You’re a dickhead.”
“Doesn’t change anything.”
“Yes, it’s understood,” she said, at last. “And you’re still a dickhead.”
“I’ve been called worse.” I took a last swig of my coffee then got up from the table, removing money from my wallet. I dropped it on the table, more than enough to cover whatever she wanted to eat and a tip. “I’ll see you on Friday. Be packed and ready to go by 9am.” And then I walked out, leaving her to stew.
If I didn’t leave now, I’d do something I regretted.
14
Hazel
If I’d wanted him less and hated him more, this would’ve been so much easier.
I shifted the curtains back from my bedroom window and looked out at the road. It was ten minutes to nine, and he wasn’t here yet. Of course he wasn’t. He’d probably be late. Or annoyingly on time.
You’re crazy to be doing this. You’re going to regret it.
But I’d already signed his contract and NDA and told my father that I was going away on a little vacation with Damien. I’d even marched into my manager’s office in the Pieslice and quit. All so I could jet off with the man who had left me in ruins years ago.
God, I had to get over that. Or did I? If I did, I’d be more open to getting to know Damien, and that scared the crap outta me. He wasn’t the type of guy a woman “got to know” without getting hurt as well.
I’d internet stalked the shit out of him over the past week, and the tales of his bachelor behavior were legendary in New York it seemed. He was a serial dater, never staying in one place for long, and he’d been dating a model in France as recently as a month ago.
He was a trap, and I had to remember that.
Yeah, a thirst trap.
This would’ve been so much easier if… well, if he hadn’t been so gorgeous, and if Dad wasn’t sick. If I had the money to get the café back. Or if I’d had the money to pay for Dad’s bills or…
“Knock, knock.” My dad stood in the doorway to my room, trembling on the spot. He was pale and shouldn’t have been out of his chair.
“Dad, what are you doing?” I stepped away from the curtains and walked past my bag, already packed and waiting on the bed. Guilt at leaving him nearly overwhelmed me.
I could still call this off. Tear up the contract and tell Damien to find some other willing participant. He’d surely find another woman to do what he wanted with a snap of his fingers. Begged the question: why me?
I slipped an arm around my father’s shoulders and guided him back down the hall. “Are you OK? You shouldn’t be walking around—”
“I’ve got cancer, Nut. I’m not a cripple.” But he’d grown weaker by the day, and my insides ached at the sight of how thin he was. I settled him back in his chair.
“I know you’re not a cripple,” I said, covering him with a blanket and fluffing his cushion. “But still. You need to take it easy. The doctor said so.”
“I’ve got my first appointment next week.”
Chemotherapy. Tension banded in my chest. “You know what, I should stay. It’s terrible for me to go anywhere right now.”
“Don’t be silly, Nut. You can’t change your whole life because of me.”
“Dad.”
“The last thing I want,” he said, grasping my hand and squeezing it. “Is for you to live less of a life because of me. I’ve already lost your inheritance. I don’t want you to miss out on anything else because of me.”
“Dad, it’s not like that.” I let out the tension in a long breath. “I want to be here with you. I’ll just call Damien and tell him—”
“Hazel Ann McCutcheon,” my father said, sternly. “You’ll do no such thing. You’re going on your little vacation. I can tell that Damien likes you, a lot. I’m happy that you’ll be spending more time with him. He’ll look after you.”
“I don’t need to be looked after,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. “I can take care of myself and you.” Kara had already left the house without so much as a goodbye.
“I know that, Nut, but Damien’s a good man. You need him in your life.”
I grated at the sentiment. Before I could offer up a fitting rebuttal, the doorbell trilled. He was here.
Oh god.
“You go have fun,” my dad said and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He smelled of the same cologne he’d worn for
