Chapter 2
The kitchen was her favorite place in Loaves of Love. She got to whip up all kinds of baked goods and test them out on her customers. Between locals and tourists she did good business. Really good and now she would lose the edge she’d gained. She stayed in the kitchen all day, sure she would howl at the sun if another customer stopped in to give her sad faces and condolences. She appreciated how much they cared but she didn’t want to talk about because she couldn’t change it.
Yes you can, her conscience niggled. Yes, she could, if she were hit on the head with a cartoon anvil and were actually considering Amir’s proposal. She went back and forth all morning on the decision. It wouldn’t be anything harmful because they would both get what they needed. Well, she would because he would give her bakery a permanent home. But Amir would miss out because he was afraid to fall in love. A shame really. With his good looks, confidence and charm, he would be a good man to fall for. Not for me, but for someone.
Could she pretend to be in love with him without actually falling for him? Of course I can. Amir was a means to an end. He was not her soul mate.
“You have a visitor Libby.”
She frowned and looked at the digital clock on the wall. “Dammit!” The time had gotten away from her. Again. “Who is it,” she asked, but she knew the answer even before the six foot four hottie stepped into her kitchen.
“It’s me.”
She grinned. “Obviously.” Her eyes stayed on him as he took in her small kitchen, covered in stainless steel tables and shelving units, six ovens and baking ingredients and supplies scattered everywhere.
“You missed lunch,” he said without preamble.
Libby felt her face flush pink with embarrassment. “I know and I’m so sorry. Normally I respect other people’s time better, but with everything that’s been going on I thought I’d lose myself in baking,” she told him as she continued to knead the dough one handed.
“Hiding out?”
“Yes.”
“That I do understand. And I’ve come bearing gifts.” He held out a bag and she peeked inside hesitantly.
“Amir, you didn’t have to do this. I’ve been thinking of nothing but your offer since yesterday.” Inside were cacao nibs and so many high end baking supplies she gasped. “This is too much.”
His handsome face morphed into a scowl. “You don’t like it?”
Was he kidding? “No, I love it, really I do. I mean I could never afford this stuff, but I love it. I just meant that if I agree to do this you’ll already be doing so much that this wasn’t necessary.” Libby snapped her mouth closed before another minute of rambling ensued. “But very much appreciated.” She smiled again, giving him her brightest smile that made most men smile back even if that was it. It had zero affect on Amir, who’s own face seemed to darken. “Right. So should we do a late lunch or just get down to business?”
While she waited for his answer, Libby removed a batch of cupcakes and shoved one into his hand. “Have you eaten?”
“I eat all day long Amir. Quality control,” she said, nudging her head towards the treat in his hand. He took one bite and moaned, chewing for a long time before finishing it one more bite. “It seems as if you’re hungry though.”
Amir flashed a smile so powerful she had to lock her knees to keep them from buckling. Holy wow the man packed a punch when he wanted to. “That was delicious. And yes, I’m hungry.”
She laughed and boxed up a couple before handing them over. “Enjoy.” She placed loaves of bread in the ovens, wiped the excess flour off her person and herded him out of the kitchen. “Grandpa, Amir and I are headed out for a while. Timers are set on the bread. Want anything?”
He gave Amir a long, assessing look before shaking his head. “No. Lola promised to swing by with a late lunch,” he wiggled his eyebrows at the mention of his latest sweetheart.
“Just keep off my tables and we’re good.” He chuckled and waved them off.
“Young man, do I need to worry about you?”
Amir looked taken aback. She would guess not many people spoke to him that way. Everything about him screamed power and influence so she braced herself for his response. “No sir, you don’t. Liberty is in perfectly safe hands, I promise.”
“That’s good enough for me. You kids have a good time.”
Libby pecked a kiss on his cheek. “You too. But not too good until four, yeah?”
“Get on outta here.”
They did and climbed into the black limo waiting at the curb. “Um, I’m not quite dressed for all this,” she said, motioning to the all black leather interior.
“You look good. Don’t worry about it.”
Except she couldn’t not worry about it. “Can we just go someplace simple?”
He sighed. “I’ve reserved a private room so that we can speak freely. Your attire is fine. More than.”
“If you say so, all right then.”
* * *
If the bloody woman smiled at him one more time Amir wouldn’t be responsible for his actions. Yesterday he’d thought her nothing more than a flighty baker with money problems, but today he could see that she was more than that. A smart businesswoman with a great smile and a great rack, she was too damn tempting by half. “I do say so,” he told her once they were seated in the dining room.
Damn, she smiled again and he had to fist his hands in his pockets to keep from touching her. “Okay then. This is great, thank you Amir.”
“No problem.” He held out her seat and took his own across from her. She nervously tapped her fingers on the edge of the table. “Why are you nervous?”
Her hand stopped immediately and he had to suppress the urge to smile. “I don’t know. This is weird, isn’t it?”
“Having lunch with a man?” This time he did smile when her cheeks stained pink.
“That too, but no. The circumstances under which we met,” she offered and lifted her injured arm. “It all seems surreal, that’s all.”
“I suppose it does, but it doesn’t change what we both need. For you a bakery location that you own and for me it will get my parents off my back.”
“Can I ask you something?” He nodded and she nibbled on her lip while she figured out how to ask it. “Why don’t you find someone you actually want to marry?”
He shrugged. It was a good question, a fair one even. “I have not yet found a woman intriguing enough to hold my attention.” Her big blue eyes widened and those rosebud lips twitched before her head fell forward and her shoulders shook. “Are you laughing at me?”
Libby shook her head and flicked some of her wild mass of hair behind her shoulders with one hand and covered her mouth with the other. “Absolutely not. I just find it funny that guys like you always talk about how difficult is to find a good woman.”
His black brows furrowed and he leaned forward. “Guys like me?”
Her delicate waved in his direction. “Yep, like you. Gorgeous, rich and connected. Women throw themselves at you, probably in the hundreds, which means you, more than most men have dated or slept with a wider selection of women. Somehow,” she leaned back with a shrug and crossed her arms, “none of them are up to snuff. Pretty unbelievable.”
Amir laughed, feeling more amused than he had with a woman in a long time. A very long time. “It’s not that, smart ass.” He smiled when she laughed at his words. “Most women are who they think I want them to be so I never get to know them before I get bored.”
“And who am I supposed to be?”
“Just you,” he answered honestly moments before a waiter came to take their orders.
She frowned once they were alone again. “Just me? This is some kind of joke, right?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Don’t you? The way I see it, is that I’m nothing like the women you probably go for, which means no one you know will believe this. So Amir tell me why did you really choose me?”
Damn, she was smart too. “Precisely because you’re nothing like those women. Like you said if any of them were going to hold my interest they would have done it by now. It would only work with someone completely different.” She looked at him for a very long time, studying him. Those big blue eyes taking in more than he would have liked. “Liberty, does my reasoning matter?”
“Yes, it does.” She nodded, causing those long strawberry blonde waves. “I know you’re offering to help me out in a huge way, but if that help comes by humiliating or compromising myself, I’m not sure I can help you.”
Damn, she’d gone and shocked him again. “Really?”
“Yes. I have to be able to live with myself when this is all over. I’ve worked too hard to end up with my dream being my prison.”
He could understand that so he wouldn’t mention that it was her inappropriateness that made her so perfect for the role of fake fiancée. “I promise that you will not be humiliated or compromised in any way.”
“I hope I can trust you Amir.” She held a hand out to him which he accepted.
“You can.”
“Then I look forward to being your fake fiancée.” She gave his hand a firm shake and picked up her glass. “To a new friendship.”
“To getting what we both want,” he answered in return and promptly felt like an ass when her smile dimmed.
“Right.” She took a sip of wine and grinned. “So Amir, tell me all about the man I’m falling in love with.”
He loosened the collar at his throat with an uncomfortable grin and told her a little about himself. By the end of dinner, he realized he didn’t know anything about her.