Million-Dollar Consequences

Four

You mean like the fact that she doesn’t exist?

He’d been impressed during the podcast interview both by Meghan’s professionalism and the way she gave him ample room to answer her questions. She hadn’t overprepared, either, letting them go off on miniature tangents if the topic warranted. She also hadn’t pried.

This off-the-record question, however, had gone for his jugular.

“I want to know for me,” she insisted. “This might be awkward to admit, but I feel like I’ve known you my whole life. I have followed you on the show, beyond the show and now for the reunion of the show. I know I’m not the only fan who wants Isaac Dunn to have a happily-ever-after. People are rooting for you.”

While she talked, an idea took root. It was so perfect; he couldn’t believe it hadn’t occurred to him before. He needed a pretend girlfriend to introduce to the fans and paparazzi in town, and to his grouchy producer and curious director. He’d been stalling until he found a candidate to stand in as that woman. Right about now, he thought he could be looking right at her.

Why not Meghan? The press didn’t know her—even with her moderate podcast success. Plus, given that she recorded podcasts for a living, who’s to say she hadn’t been recording her show from his private island? In theory, anyway.

Plus, she was his agent’s sister, which was looking less like a reason not to pursue her and more like the perfect reason to do it. Him being introduced to Meghan wasn’t far-fetched, and Kendall fake-dating him to cover for her own sister made complete sense. And, he continued mentally building his case, Meghan was in Dunn at the same time as him. She could pop by the studio and meet Cecil and Ashley, who would no doubt fall in love with her the way they’d believed Isaac had.

Meghan Squire was bright and fun and sweet. She was the perfect fake girlfriend. If she agreed to step in, his search would be over. Better yet, there would be nothing to distract him from what mattered: his second big career break. He was ready to have complete control over his life again. It’d been a long time coming.

“Anyway, I’ll stop rambling. I’ve made my plea. Tell me or don’t tell me.” She squinted one eye, looking as cute as ever. “But if you do tell me, I swear I won’t tell a soul.”

“I have a proposition for you, Squire.”

Honey-brown eyebrows met over innocent hazel eyes. “I beg your pardon?”

He lowered his voice to make the offer, though his brother and Kendall would find out about it soon enough. “The truth is, there is no mystery woman. I didn’t fall in love with anyone on my island. I was there, alone, prepping for my role. When I came home, I found out that the world thought Kendall and I were an item. What else was I supposed to do?”

“You...you lied about having a girlfriend?”

“I distracted Wendi Watts on her gossip-rag talk show by saying I had a girlfriend. You saw Max storm onto her show to claim your sister. I had to think fast and divert attention somehow.”

“Oh.” Meghan’s face fell. Disappointment washed over her features. He could expect a similar reaction if he admitted the truth to the very large Brooks Knows Best fan base. He couldn’t admit he’d lied to them twice. His reputation, the show’s reputation and his very future depended on him finding a woman to fake it with him. Someone who understood his motivation and who believed the best of him. Someone like Meghan Squire.

“What about you?”

Her eyes widened. “What about me what?”

“Why don’t you pretend to be my girlfriend while you’re in Dunn? We like spending time together, and it would make sense how we met. Our siblings are living together. Plus—”

“Oh, hell no,” Max boomed as the back door slid open. He stood, a tray balanced on one hand and a pair of tongs pointing at Isaac with the other. “Do not involve her in your bullshit.”

“What’s going on?” Kendall stepped onto the patio with a plate of vegetables destined for the grill.

“Nothing.” Max’s glare was a warning that Isaac ignored. He loved his brother, but Max was partially responsible for this fiasco.

“Meghan?” Kendall addressed her sister.

“Um...” Meghan looked from Kendall to Isaac, a question in her eyes.

“Kendall and Max know the truth,” he told her, liking very much that she was willing to protect him.

“Isaac needs a girlfriend. I’m single, and I’m here. I can use my podcast to make the announcement.” Meghan shrugged in no-big-deal fashion.

Well, he’d be damned. She actually sounded like she was on board. Kendall narrowed her gaze on him, and Isaac stopped grinning.

“Are you crazy? You and I admitted to the public that we were lying, and now you want to fake-date my sister?”

“No one would blink,” Isaac assured her. “We could say you were protecting her, keeping her out of the limelight until she was ready.”

“I’m blinking as we speak,” Max grumbled while arranging meat and veggies on the flattop grill.

“You were the one who barged onto a television studio stage to claim Kendall like a caveman,” Isaac reminded his brother.

Max and Kendall sent longing looks at each other. God help him. How did Meghan stand being in the constant shadow of their adoration for each other?

“What’s the harm?” Meghan spoke up. “It sounds fun.”

“Fun?”Kendall made a choking sound in the back of her throat.

“Yes. And I don’t recall asking for your approval.” Meghan included Max when she added, “Either of you.”

Then she shot out an arm, offering Isaac her hand. “Sign me up to be your temporary girlfriend, Isaac Dunn. I won’t let you down.”

He clasped her hand, amused when she gave his palm a hardy pump. Looked like his girlfriend problems were officially over. And if he was really lucky, maybe they could add some very real affection to the list. The paparazzi and fans in town would expect him and Meghan to hold hands, or kiss. Maybe a few public displays of affection were in order.

Oh, yes, she was right. This was going to be fun.