Faking It with the Frenemy

Kim hasn’t failed her extremely fickle boss in five years and made him happy enough to give her a huge bonus. If she wanted, she could’ve found some other way. Or at least, she would have tried.

But she went straight to marriage. Which means…

Ugh. I’m an idiot. And Yuna’s right. I didn’t want to risk my heart, and I excused myself by deciding I’m not marrying for convenience again. But I didn’t even try to make Kim fall in love with me. I just said no, telling myself I was being noble by giving her a chance to find love with someone else. But why shouldn’t that love be with me?

It isn’t like Kim has an issue with Vi. She likes Vi, and vice versa. I’ve seen them together. They’ve bonded. Most important, I trust her with Vi.

I screwed up. I let what happened with Geneva take away a chance at happiness with the woman I love. So I need to fix this. Pronto. I owe it to myself, and to Kim and Vi.

I grab my keys and leave for Kim’s office. She’s at work, I’m sure of it. Ever since high school, she’s always thrown herself into work when she’s upset.

Besides, nobody could put up with the racket Yuna is making on that piano.

As I drive, anxiety and fear lap at me like waves. Those tight, uncomfortable emotions aren’t about the heart I’m about to risk, but the need to make sure I don’t hurt Kim anymore…and to see how badly I messed up and how much work I need to do to fix it. I need to put the smile back on her face, feel the warmth of her skin.

On my way in, Salazar waves at me in the lobby. He’s looking cheerful, like a man in love, his step light in a crisp outfit that was probably custom-made for him. The urge to go straight to Kim is very strong, but I stop to say hello for form’s sake.

“There he is!” he says. “The one behind my lovely assistant’s bad mood.”

“Jesus, Salazar. Good morning to you, too.” Kim’s too professional to complain about me to Salazar. For him to have noticed…

“I can always tell. We’ve been working together a long time.” He’s staring at me expectantly like he’s waiting for me to agree with him.

“Right. Sure.” Stop looking at me like that.

“And I can just tell it’s a relationship problem. Nothing escapes me. I’m Cupid, remember?”

A very old and ugly Cupid. Who is, thankfully, not naked…or carrying a bow and arrow.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say, If you’re so good at romance, how come you’re divorced? But I keep it to myself.

“Lemme give you some advice, son. You need to grovel.”

I try not to make a face. I know I have to grovel, and I’m here to do exactly that. Why is he saying it like it’s some novel enlightenment only he can think of?

“And as a prelude to groveling, you need the right present. I recommend crème brûlée from Éternité. That’s her favorite. One regular and one chocolate. The chocolate one is new, and she Hoovered it up like… Well, I don’t want to say. This is a G-rated lobby.”

Thank God he didn’t go there. But he’s right about the present, and I’m realizing I probably should’ve brought something. It’s hard to snarl at a guy who’s carrying chocolate crème brûlée.

He adds, “Éternité doesn’t do takeout, but if you give them my name, they might. It’s kind of like saying, ‘Open sesame.’” He leans in slightly. “The name’s magic.”

“Thanks,” I say. “Really.” Despite his flamboyance, I know he’s trying to help.

“Happy to be of service. But if I were you, I’d rent a yacht and arrange for some fireworks, too.”

That extravagant? Not that I don’t think Kim deserves it, but the time it would take to arrange…

Salazar checks his fingernails. “Just sayin’.”

“Got it. Hey, I have to go.”

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Wyatt

Regular crème brûlée. Check.

Chocolate crème brûlée. Check.