Million-Dollar Consequences

Twelve

Isaac wasn’t the kind of guy to walk around feeling blessed or spouting cheesy clichés when someone asked how he was doing. But when Helen at Luxury Bean asked how his day was going, he heard himself answer, “Never been better.” That was an improvement from the answer he’d given the boom mic guy, which was, “Too blessed to be stressed.”

Yikes.

He was whistling as he walked up the stairs to his apartment while carrying two cups of coffee. One was Meghan’s French roast with whipped cream on top, the other his double espresso. He’d finished filming a night shoot, sneaking in a catnap around four in the morning. He should be exhausted but was buzzing from an earlier espresso as well as harnessed excitement. Now at eight o’clock, he planned on waking Meghan with a coffee and morning sex, or maybe the other way around depending on her level of alertness.

Life was going according to plan, which was a rarity for him. He’d never known it was possible for a splintered past to heal, but wholeness was peeking around the corner at him. What he had with Meghan was part of it. The show, a bigger part. His brother, another piece of the puzzle. Kendall had even texted to say she was reaching out to inquire about auditions for potential blockbuster movies, which would send Isaac’s career soaring.

Whistling, he opened his apartment door. Meghan was seated behind her laptop, headphones on and microphones hot. Richard and Merilyn were across the table from her, and each offered a silent wave.

Meghan had been midsentence but recovered easily, giving him a smile. “That whistling you just heard belongs to none other than my famous fiancé,” she announced into the mic. “And, oh, what’s this? He brought me a coffee. Is it any wonder why I love him?”

His steps faltered at the pronouncement, so unaccustomed to hearing a woman profess her love for him. Those three words could threaten his stability. If his and Meghan’s relationship exited fake territory, it would be harder for him to keep the balls he was juggling in the air.

He couldn’t deny a part of him longed to hear those words, but he also couldn’t afford to give them any real weight in his life. Not while everything was so tenuous.

Richard and Merilyn were both smiling at him like doting parents and Isaac reminded himself not to jump to conclusions. This was the facade, and Meghan was playacting like he’d asked her to from the beginning. Nothing had changed between them, and he didn’t have anything to worry about. His house of cards still stood.

Bending to kiss Meghan’s cheek, Isaac leaned close to her microphone and said, “I’m a catch, what can I say?”

He quietly vacated the kitchen area for the en suite off the master bedroom. Confident he wouldn’t make too much noise since the bedroom was far enough away from the microphones, he finished his coffee, took a much-needed shower and brushed his teeth. By the time he’d dressed, Meghan’s tone had shifted from live-podcast mode to casual. After three weeks of living together, he could tell the difference between the two.

Despite his crazy schedule and hers, they managed to make time for each other. They had sex regularly, more every other day than every day. Oddly enough he was almost as content with curling her against him on the sofa while watching movies as he was turning her inside out beneath the covers.

She was an ideal partner. She’d transitioned into the role of his fiancée seamlessly, never asked too much of him and didn’t complain about his hours. If all relationships were this simple, he would have been married by now.

The idea of forever gummed up the works. Arguments held more weight when you knew you’d be having them until death-do-you-part. The time and energy they required would mean less time and energy for other important aspects of life, like a career revival in his case.

Her mentioning she loved him had sent a jolt through him that was more panic than longing. Love was the biggest four-letter word there was and required more than he had to give at the moment. But that’d been Meghan’s way of selling the fantasy to the public. Her admission was similar to him reciting lines from a script.

He exited the bedroom in time to say goodbye to his on-screen parents. He shook Richard’s hand and pulled Merilyn close for a hug, promising to see them on set later. They mentioned what an amazing interviewer Meghan was, and Isaac was surprised to see her cheeks grow warm from the flattery.

“Don’t be shy about how talented you are,” he told her as he shut the front door. “Surely you’re not intimidated by them. They’re the sweetest.”

“They are. I’m a little starstruck around them. I can’t help it.”

“Ah, I remember when you used to feel that way about me.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Miss me?”

She answered with a soft kiss. “Thank you for the coffee.”

“You’re welcome.” An idea that’d been forming over the last week or so had gelled in his mind today. The next step in the plan had come along naturally. He had no idea how she’d react until he asked. Here went nothing. “So, we’re almost done filming. Another week or two and Ashley will call a wrap.”

“That went fast.” Her eyebrows rose, but her expression gave nothing away. Did it feel too soon or like a long time coming? Was she ready to go home and leave this experience behind?

He cleared his throat and powered through. “Remember how, when we made this agreement, we decided to part ways once I went back to LA? I told you I’d handle the press and we’d allow them to believe we were carrying on long-distance until the attention surrounding us naturally fizzled out?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Mmm-hmm.”

“I want you to come to California with me instead. Ending what we have in a few weeks’ time is abrupt. It’ll look bad, for one, and two—” he gripped her hips and pulled her close “—I’m not done with you yet, Squire.”

Heat bloomed in her eyes but shuttered a second later. She pushed against his chest. “Isaac...”

“Just until the show actually airs,” he said before she could argue. “Not that I’m superstitious, but it seems like bad luck to stop while things are going well, don’t you think?”

“Until the show airs? In the spring?”

“If it’s a money issue, you don’t have to worry. I’ll cover your expenses.”

“It’s not a money issue.” Her voice hardened. She backed away from him, walking to the windows over downtown Dunn. “That’s six months of my life I didn’t plan on surrendering.”

“Dating awhile longer makes our engagement more believable,” he countered. Everything in his life was falling into place. Losing Meghan too soon would be like removing the bottom card from that house of cards he’d so carefully crafted. “LA will be good for your career, too. I can introduce you to lots of new celebrities for your podcast. I meet them all the time.”

Her eyes darted to him and then away. “I’ve been looking at houses in Dunn. I took on a sizable sponsor a few weeks ago, and requests for ad space have trickled in since. My podcast is gaining in popularity.”

“You’re welcome for that.”

She glared.

“I’m not being an ass, Meghan. I’m trying to show you that this is what it means to be affiliated with me. More attention for the career you’re building. For both of us. This has always been about us in this together. If you stay here, how’s that us in this together?”

“My sister lives in Dunn. I just got her back.”

He understood staying close to the ones you love, but... “It’s only six months.” He refused to take no for an answer. This was the next logical step. “You’re a free agent, your podcast can be recorded from anywhere. I promise to fly Kendall and Max out to visit us.”

“I like it here. I finally have my sister back, and my parents are close by. What makes you think I want to reacclimate to a strange city and work in a totally new environment while you’re wherever you are doing whatever you’re doing?”

He scratched his head, having no answer for that. He’d assumed she’d agree with him and say yes, and then they could handle wherever he’d be filming next as it came. She’d struck him as the nomadic type, since she rented a house and was suddenly available to stay in Dunn for the time being. Had he been wrong?

“I don’t want to fight.” He stroked her arms with his palms. “Take some time to think about it, okay? You’d like Los Angeles. We can attend the show’s red-carpet premiere together. Imagine the publicity for your podcast. You’ll be set for life. Then you can buy a giant house in Dunn, or anywhere in the world.”

“You’re not listening to me. I don’t need to think about it,” she clipped.

“Do it for me.”