Scandalous Engagement

“I just finished my article,” she told him, trying to have what should be a normal conversation. “It’s not where I want it, but I can’t think anymore today.”

Reese reached for her glass. “Let’s go have dinner and you can bounce your problems off of me.”

Her problems? That was quite laughable considering he was the problem. Well, not him physically. No, physically he was the answer, but that was the problem.

Ugh. She was such a mess with her mixed emotions and wayward thoughts. She knew what she meant, but trying to categorize all of her views was proving to be impossible. Josie didn’t care for this out-of-control feeling or not being able to maintain some regulation over her own life.

“I’d rather you tell me what’s going on tomorrow,” she countered, coming down off that last step.

Reese laughed as he started guiding her toward the back of the house. That hand on the small of her back seemed too intimate, but just days ago that would’ve merely been his friendly gesture. Now she questioned everything...including these newfound emotions.

“We’re doing the thing for your magazine and then I have a surprise.”

Josie rolled her eyes as she came to a stop. Turning to face him, she crossed her arms over her chest.

“That thing?” she repeated. “You can’t be that relaxed about an interview and photo shoot for this fake engagement.”

“I’m not relaxed,” he amended. “But it’s scheduled and there’s nothing we can do to change that.”

She could call the whole thing off. She could come clean to her boss, just tell her it’s a farce, but that would only damage her credibility. If she were going to reveal the truth, she should’ve done so right off the bat.

“Oh, my mom and dad are thrilled, by the way,” Reese added.

Josie gasped. “You told your parents?”

“You know my mother reads your Cocktails & Classy blog every single day. I didn’t think to warn them off ahead of time.”

Guilt overwhelmed her. Josie closed her eyes, pulling in a much-needed deep breath. This lie was spiraling out of control faster than she could keep up. She truly loved and respected Martin and Laura Conrad. What would they think of her after she and Reese “broke up”?

“Hey,” Reese said in that calming tone of his. “This is all going to work out. We just need a couple weeks of make-believe and then we’re back to being friends and nobody has to know otherwise.”

Two weeks might as well be two years or two decades. With the way she was feeling right now, the end result of this charade would be that she’d possibly get intimately attached; her heart might get even more involved, because she didn’t know if she’d have the willpower to put a stop to this madness.

Josie focused back on Reese. “Two weeks,” she sighed. “We can do this.”

The smile that spread across his face packed a punch and she forced herself to return the gesture. Who knew one kiss could cause so many emotions?

“I believe you said something about refilling my wine?”

He nodded and gestured for her to go ahead. “I had my chef make all of your favorites for dinner, so I hope you didn’t have a big lunch.”

Josie laughed. “He tried to feed me a five-course meal at noon.”

“I told him to make sure you were well-fed and taken care of.”

Taken care of. That’s exactly what Reese lived for. He was always taking care of his parents, taking care of his staff of hundreds, taking care of her. He was the most selfless, giving man.

Before that kiss, those selfless traits were just part of what she’d loved about him as her friend. But now...well, she couldn’t help but wonder how that generosity would carry over into the bedroom.

The instant mental image had her stilling, fantasizing for just a moment. Then she crashed back to reality as she refocused on Reese’s gaze.

“I would’ve been fine with a banana or a smoothie,” she told him. “But I appreciate it.”

They stepped into the vast kitchen with views of the ocean through the windows, which stretched across the entire back wall. The sun was starting to set, casting an orange glow over the horizon and making the bright blue water sparkle like diamonds.

A million-dollar view.

Josie turned her attention to the long island and nearly gasped. “What is all of this?”