Fridays were always the busiest at the restaurant and it was all hands on deck. We worked our fingers to the bone serving the diners that came in a steady stream. It was nights like this that reminded me how well we were doing. I thought about inviting Zach over for a meal with Blithe. Thanks to my best friend’s investment, all this had become possible, and I wanted him to see for himself how we were thriving

When the dinner rush was finally over it was almost midnight. Every weekend we often closed later than during the week but I didn’t mind. I enjoyed having so many diners to cater to. The Spiced Cow was doing well and the more people that walked through the door, the better I felt about my business.

Harper and I were working our usual routine of packing up the restaurant. We carried dishes to the kitchen to load the dishwasher while Greyson made sure the meat for the weekend was ready before he left on his hiking trip.

“I want to head out tomorrow and grab a couple of things for our trip next week,” I said to Harper. I rinsed the plates before handing it to her to stack in the dishwasher.

“Alright,” she said. She didn’t sound anything but neutral, like we were discussing stock for the restaurant, not a trip to betray the authorities and pretend we were in love. “We can make a space to go shopping.”

I nodded. On Saturdays we didn’t open so early for the business breakfasts, so we could head out without neglecting the restaurant.

“I’ll pick you up at eight-thirty,” I said. Harper agreed and disappeared back into the dining room.

I was looking forward to spending time with Harper, especially since we were going to go to the store to take care of the stunt we were going to pull. It had all been her idea and I had to admit, it was genius. When I’d thought about the possibility of hiring a fake fiancée I hadn’t seen it as something someone might want to do. It would never have worked that way.

But Harper seemed more than happy to help out, and she wanted nothing in return. I wasn’t quite sure what the catch was, but she was a stunner and this was for a fuck load of money, too.

Now that it appeared the plan might work out, I was daring to hope for that money again. There was still a chance it could all blow up in my face, of course, but if Harper was convincing and we made it happen, we could sign those documents and stop Camden’s advances on the cash, buying us a little time. That was all I needed. We only had to take the first step. I had no idea what the next step would be, but we would figure it out when we got there.

“What was that all about?” Greyson asked, stepping out of the pantry. “You’re taking her on a trip with you?”

I nodded.

“Can I come on a trip with you, too? Or is it an exclusive thing?” Greyson asked. “Do we need to get it on if I want to travel with you?” He chuckled at his own stupid joke.

I hesitated for only a second before I decided to tell Greyson what was going on.

“She’s pretending to be my fiancée,” I said. “So I can claim the cash my grandmother left me.”

“Yeah, that sounds perfectly legal,” Greyson said. “Do you want to elaborate, or is this just a way to get in Harper’s pants?”

“It’s real,” I said. “Not Harper’s pants, my grandmother’s pockets.”

Greyson frowned and I explained to him what had happened at the reading of the will. I told him how I had lied and what Camden was planning on doing to get his hands on my inheritance.

“He’s such an asshole. I saw the little prick last when we were kids and I didn’t like him much, then. I like him even less, now. I don’t want him to get his lazy hands on my money. The guy doesn’t even work for a living.”

“Fucked up,” Greyson said in a way that made me wonder if he was being sarcastic or not. I explained the whole situation, ending with Camden’s threat to get more lawyers involved because he didn’t believe I had anyone.

“But you don’t,” Greyson pointed out.

“I do now.”

Greyson raised his eyebrows and whistled through his teeth.

“That’s a hell of a story,” he said. “And Harper agreed to this?”

“It was her idea,” I said.

Greyson folded his arms over his chest and grinned at me. “I see what’s happening here. You’re making a move on my girl.”

I chuckled. “It’s really just one hand washing the other. Or something. She’s not even asking for cash in return, so I guess it’s not even that. But if you want to get technical, your girl is making a move on me.”

Greyson laughed. “Touché. This is about as unbelievable as stories get, I’m not going to lie. And you’re trusting me with this whole story?”

If I could trust anyone, it was Greyson. I didn’t trust a lot of people, but he was a good man. I could tell him anything and I knew he would take it to the grave. Greyson cared enough not to tell anyone what was happening.

“I know you won’t spill,” I said.

You hope,” Greyson said with a grin, but I knew he had my back. Greyson and I were cut from the same cloth and even though he was a bit younger than I was, we had hit it off from the start. I knew he wouldn’t fuck me over because I knew what kind of person he was.

“So, where is it that you’re taking her?” Greyson asked. “Somewhere romantic? A fake honeymoon?”

“We’re headed out to California on Monday. We have to show up at the law office together and sign a statement of some kind that declares we’re engaged to be married. Then he’ll start the litigation process so Camden can’t have my money. It’s just a bunch of paperwork but it has to be done.”

“And what if they ask you all kinds of questions about her the way they test the guys that try to marry for a green card?” Greyson asked. “Do you know the color of her toothbrush?”

I laughed. “This is an inheritance, not a burden on the economy. The money is already waiting for someone to take it. It’s just a formality.”

Greyson shrugged and we laughed about it together. “I hope for your sake it works. That’s a hell of a lot of money to have at our fingertips. Imagine what you could do with it.”

I nodded. “Imagine how much I could do for the restaurant. It’s a lot of money that I can use to expand.”

Greyson nodded. “That is something to keep in mind,” he said, but he was thoughtful.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked.

“I was just wondering, what about Harper and this fake relationship you’re going to be putting together? How do you think it will work out for the two of you? How far are you going to take this?”

“It’s just a fake engagement until the paperwork is taken care of.”

“And if they find out you’re single once you have the cash?”

I shrugged. “People break up all the time, don’t they?”

Greyson shrugged. “Don’t make this something it doesn’t need to be.”

“I’m not planning on being a dick and pulling her over, if that’s what you’re talking about. She works for me and we’re friends. I respect her.”

Greyson shook his head and leaned to the side a little to see if Harper was within ear shot. She was in the restaurant, clearing up, humming to herself. It was endearing.

“It’s not that,” Greyson said, lowering his voice a little. “Harper is the kind of woman that will make you fall for her. You know how she is—you hired her because of that magnetic quality.”

Greyson was right, it was what made me pick her over the rest. I’d had quite a few applicants for the job, people that had more experience and seemed like they’d wanted the job a lot more than Harper. But I hadn’t been able to shake the thought of her.

“But she’s not the relationship type,” Greyson carried on. “I’ve asked her. She doesn’t date, she doesn’t rely on anyone and she’s quick to point it out.”

“This isn’t about needing someone or being dependent on someone,” I said. “It’s about working together to gain something. I’m not really going to date Harper.”

“She’s going to pretend to be in love with you,” Greyson carried on. “I can’t imagine she’ll do a shitty job of it. What if you fall for her?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think I’m in danger.” I was the king of one-night stands and no emotional investment. I was the biggest dick in Seattle and I wasn’t referring to my family jewels. I fucked every woman that was willing, kept my contacts list to an absolute minimum and made sure I never saw the same girl twice if I could help it. If anyone had to worry about falling for me when I wasn’t invested in return, it was Harper.

“Just be careful.” Greyson sounded like he wasn’t so sure I could resist Harper if that was what I wanted. “She can love and leave, I’m sure of it. A woman like her, with walls as high as she’s built them, is that guarded for a reason. And guarded women are trouble because the one that cares the most is the weakest. Somehow I don’t feel like her heart will be the one to break if this goes wrong.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said. “I’m not going to fall for her. It’s like a glorified business transaction. We’ll be fine.”

Greyson shrugged. He had warned me, and I appreciated it, but I knew what I was doing. My eyes were on the prize and nothing else.

What Greyson said was still on my mind when I went home. He had warned me to be careful. Me, of all people. Had he said the same to Harper? Because if anyone had to be careful, it was her. I was the Seattle heartbreaker. It wasn’t my official nickname but it should have been. Harper was the one that should be guarding her heart from me, not the other way around.

I knew I would be fine. Greyson was being nice about it, but he probably had a little boy-crush on Harper. He was preaching to himself, I decided. I wasn’t the type of person that fell for anyone, definitely not someone I had worked with for a year. If I hadn’t fallen for her in the year she had worked for me, I wasn’t in danger of falling for her now.

It was Harper, for God’s sake. I knew her. And I didn’t go for anyone I knew. I didn’t go for anyone who knew me. If they knew me well enough, they would know not to fuck with me or flirt with me. So we were safe on all counts.

Still, when I went to bed, Greyson’s words echoed in my head. Somehow I don’t feel like her heart will be the one to break if this goes wrong. But what could go wrong?

The worst that could happen was that I would end up without my money. And seeing that I had lived my whole life without it, it wouldn’t kill me. I would be fucking pissed, but it wouldn’t kill me.

I would be fine, my heart was not in danger.

I got into bed and closed my eyes and imagined what it would be like for Harper to be my fiancée. It wouldn’t be hard to pull off; two good-looking people arm in arm setting out to get a fuckload of money. It had been a good idea, even if I had been hesitant at first.

Harper said she didn’t want anything in return. I wanted to reward her for what she wanted to do for me, somehow. I would treat her like a queen. I would pay for everything and take her out sightseeing and fine dining.

With my mind made up, I could relax and in no time, I fell asleep.