This was the first time I had to get prepared like this. I dolled myself up in the little makeup I had and put on my best dress. And when I meant best, I meant, the dress I rarely wore because it was fancy and I didn’t wanna bring down the worth of what that dress was for.

I stopped in the mirror and looked at myself.

Yeah, I was seriously overthinking this. This was Sam Reign, my high school sweet heart.

Yeah things didn’t turn out the way I had wanted them to. But this was like a fresh restart. In more way than one too.

My phone buzzed on the counter and I picked it up to see what all the buzzing was about.

It was a text from Sam.

Sam: I’m here outside waiting in the car. Ready?

My fingers were a bit shaky and I managed to text back saying that I’d be right out in a second.

Grabbing my purse, I left out of my room and peaked in on my father. He was… reading a book.

“Dad?” I asked.

He looked up and his eyes brightened a little when he saw me all dolled up.

“Going somewhere fancy?” he croaked out.

“Just out to lunch with Sam. I’ll be back soon. I just wanted to check in on you,” I said. He wasn’t usually awake. And if he was, he wasn’t reading.

“Be safe. You look lovely.”

A weak smile crawled onto his face and I returned it with a smile of my own.

“Call me if you need anything, Dad.”

I closed his door and sauntered out to the parking lot where Sam was waiting.

Before I opened the door I smoothed out my little black dress.

“Okay, Wendy, here goes nothing.”

I opened the door and the first thing my eyes fell on was a Gold Lamborghini Aventador.

Holy shit.

“Hey, come on. We’re gonna be late!” Sam called out, waiting ny his car with the doors open. He wore a brilliant smile on his face and his outfit was sexy. He donned a white dress shirt with tan slacks. His leather shoes were buffed nicely and he looked like a million bucks.

According to our little agreement we hashed out, I was sure that he was worth more than a million bucks. After all, anyone who could afford all this…

Damn.

“Hey, nice wrap!” I said, my eyes dancing on the golden reflections on the car.

“Thanks. Gold. Our favorite color.”

It was awkward getting in the car since it was so low, but I managed. And Sam slid in as well, having less of a problem than I did.

“So where are we going today?” I asked him. Sam wanted to keep this a secret. He mentioned that we needed to talk more about this deal.

“A restaurant called Dovoir. It’s a nice place. Not too flashy, but they have good food.”

I sighed. “Please, Dovoir is every bit as flashy as your car. How about Gonzo’s diner?”

Sam stopped at the stop sign. That was an old diner we’d frequent when we were younger. Before all the shit hit the fan.

“Sorry, Dovoir’s fine—”

“No, no. I think you’re right. It’s been a long time since I had a good cheesesteak. Let’s go.”

Sam turned his car around and in no time we hit the freeway. The speed of this car was amazing. Invisible hands pushed me back in the seat as the car gained speed as if it were sliding on butter.

I glance over at his speedometer, we were barely pushing fifty. But the way the suspension and everything worked together in this car… it was truly like we thought it’d be when Sam and I would talk all day about these things…

“How does fifty feel like a hundred?”

“Italian sports cars for the win, huh?”

That smile again. And I made the mistake about looking at his eyes. A lump lodged in my throat and a small tingle ran down to my core.

The entire car smelled like him.

Even though I knew this car was small, it was suffocating me now.

***

We finally pulled up to Gonzo’s diner and got out. Many people had their eyes on the car and took their phones out to take pictures. The familiar scent of Gonzo diner’s philly cheesesteaks emanated out and gave me a smack of nostalgia.

“Let’s sit over here,” Sam suggested, balancing on his cane to a booth to the far right in the corner that still had a nice window view to it.

I scooted into the seat and Sam sat across from me.

‘Okay, Wendy, don’t stare into his eyes, don’t do it…’

I did it. What an idiot I was.

The waitress that came over to take our orders served as a mild distraction and I was greatful for it.

Now that she was gone, that heavy feeling was creeping back in again.

“So, you’re going to marry me.”

“Huh?” I rubbed my forehead and sighed. “Oh, that. Sorry, I was in another world for a second.”

“I can tell.”

The waitress came back with our drinks.

“So, in less than two weeks, an important man, John Gallock, will be coming to meet both of us. He needs to invest in my company and I need to show him that I’m a married man. For now.” Sam took a sip of his drink. Seeing him in business man mode was very sexy.

Yeah sure he was Sam, but this Sam was more refined, mature and smart. My cheeks flushed with heat and I struggled to follow his words.

“So, I guess we have to go to the court to get married,” I said, trying to get my mind off of Sam’s good looks.

“Yes. Wedding and all.”

I choked on my drink. “Wedding?”

“Gotta make it real as possible. Plus, I want to have you move in—”

“Absolutely not.” That’d be going way too far. I still remembered what happened between us. And even though we were young, that was the biggest betrayal of my life.

I folded my arms and leaned back in my booth seat.

“Wendy, I really need your cooperation.”

Plus, I had my father to take care of. I couldn’t just leave him behind or flaunt Sam’s wealth in his face.

Not after he lost so damn much.

“Sam, I… it’s complicated. I can’t just leap like that.”

“IBut it’s part of our agreement,” he said.

The waitress came back with our food and set it down in front of us. Sam didn’t even glance down. He just stared at me.

Eliza’s reminder swept through my mind. I couldn’t say no to Sam and risk one point two million dollars.

“I just… my father. I don’t want to leave him alone. He’s had a rough time.”

Sam finally broke his gaze and looked down at his food.

“We’ll find a way. I want you with me.”

Maybe I was misinterpreting the words that came out of his mouth, but that sounded more than ‘Oh, you need to fullfill your end of the agreement’.

It sounded like, he wanted me… really wanted me to be with him.

“Do you have a boyfriend, Wendy?” he asked, the seriousness in his voice dialed up a notch.

“No!” I squeaked.

“Oh…”

He dug into his philly cheesesteak and ate it with a fork and knife. I giggled and caught his attention.

“What? Eat this and ruin my shirt? I like eating like this.” We both laughed and ate our food.

God, I remembered the times  when Sam and I would huddle up in booths like these and have a good time.

It was all coming back again.

But still…

If there ever were real feelings, then why did he have to take Alice to the prom?

I almost got up the courage to ask him. But keep my mouth shut anyways.

This was just a business arrangement. And I’d have to keep it that way, for my good and his.