Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
“Calix Line. I’ve been well. How is your aunt?”
Well, shit. Do she and Aunt Gia know each other? “She’s good.”
”I heard you cancelled a luncheon appointment with her.”
That was the day I saw Harlow and agreed to be her fiancé. “Something important came up. I’ll make it up to her.”
“Hmmm.” Gertie must think I’m mistreating Aunt Gia, which means I’ll have to convince my aunt to make a call on my behalf. I’m racking up favors owed like an out of control drunk at a blackjack machine. ”And your parents? Are they still in Italy?”
”You can’t drag Mom away from Lake Como.” It’s easier for her to feed her addiction there. You can get anything delivered by boat these days.
“Since it’s been five years, maybe we will see you again this year.”
“I’d like to, but I don’t know if the crowd will be friendly.”
“Your donations are always welcome.”
Gertie’s set her price, but she’s for sale, as if I ever doubted it. “I’ll make sure that I make one this year that won’t embarrass Aunt Gia.”
A satisfied smile settles onto Gertie’s face. “Are you here to buy Harlow’s grandmothers unit?” She shifts her gaze around me toward Harlow. “I didn’t realize it was for sale.”
“It’s not.” I draw a silent Harlow to my side. “Harlow and I are engaged.”
Chapter Nine
HARLOW
I’m beginning to think Calix Line isn’t the poor, down on his luck business man he said he was. He and Gertie know each other from a charity ball? He makes donations big enough that she wants him back and is willing to allow him to live here if he makes another one? I want to question him, but I can’t because Gertie’s standing in front of me with a shocked expression.
Asking him questions about his income, his status, his family will have to wait. I paste a smile on my face. “Hi, Gertie. I guess you already know Cal.”
“Where’s your ring?” Mindy interrupts.
My brain freezes. “What?”
“Your ring? If you’re really engaged, where’s your ring?”
”It’s being sized. I gave her Grandma Edith’s wedding ring, but it was too large. Harlow’s hands are very delicate.” He raises my fingers to his mouth and presses a kiss against the tips. I wobble on my feet.
He draws me in tightly, like he did in the apartment, as if he thinks I should get used to having him around, having him to rely on. That kind of thinking will be the ruination of me. I force myself to stand away from him—or as far as he will allow, which is about a hand’s distance from his side.
“I don’t believe you,” Mindy retorts with narrowed eyes and a suspicious tone.
“It’s none of your business,” Cal replies coolly.
“It is if you’re lying about the marriage to get the co-op board’s approval.” Mindy juts out her chin.
“Are you seriously suggesting that I am engaged in a fake romance for an apartment here at The Grand? No offense, Gertie.” Cal shifts his attention toward the president instead of Mindy. “Because while this is a beautiful place, I do own my own home. Several, in fact.”
“Yes, yes. We all know you are Midas here in the city, but the fact that you are marrying actually gives me more concern than granting approval to Harlow as a single woman. You’re both going to live elsewhere, and the apartment will be left unoccupied. Upkeep of the apartment has always been our concern. Obviously Harlow has the means to take care of it now, but if it’s only going to be abandoned, it seems like it should be sold to tenants who would be better suited to live in our community.”
“I’m going to, I mean, we’re going to live here,” I interject. Cal has too much money to be going along with my fraud, and now it’s going to bite me in the ass. I’m going to have to break up with him and find a new fake fiancé, but that’s going to look even worse to the co-op board. How do I get myself into these situations?
“Let’s go inside and you can present your case to the board.” Gertie opens the library door and heads inside. Mindy follows with a triumphant look on her face.
“You’ve got some explaining to do,” I hiss to Calix, who won’t let go of my hand.
“I know. I’ll answer everything after the meeting. Stick with the plan for today. You can always say we broke up later.”
I hate that he makes sense. Calix doesn’t know everyone, but he greets Bob, Gertie’s rival, and talks some baseball with him. He’s at ease in this room while I feel like I’m at a baseball game dressed in glitter pumps and a tulle skirt. Maybe I should sell the apartment and move on. I could take that money and set up my own agency, like Ariel suggested. My stomach lurches at the thought. This place was my safe haven when I was growing up. Selling it would be like selling part of my soul.