CHAPTER FOUR
This had to be a joke. Ashton was going to jump out of a closet any moment and tell her she was being punked, because none of this could actually be real.
There was a contract.
Helen and Nate’s representative had put the fake relationship parameters down in writing. On paper and everything. With very little legalese but it was still a contract that they expected her to sign. She was completely out of her depth.
“It looks…interesting.”
The first page was fairly simple. As long as she didn’t have any conflicts, she’d be expected to be there for any of Nate’s social engagements and vice versa. It designated which publicity team would be responsible for making statements at certain times. Paparazzi walks, etc. Nothing earthshattering.
It was the second page that almost made her gasp and want to run screaming from the hotel room. They’d put this shit in writing.
First was the statement that if she was caught by the press with another man Nate would have the right to basically ruin her reputation. He could say anything he wanted whether true or not to make himself look better. How sweet. Of course she could do the same to him if he was caught dipping his wick where it didn’t belong so it was at least fair.
Of course Nate had a better chance of finding a frisky playmate than she did. Even at this insane moment, he looked good. Oh so good. It looked like he’d put on some muscle for his last role and his sweater strained at the seams over his shoulders. His abs were disgustingly flat and taut, his runner’s thighs powerful in the tailored trousers he wore. And those cheekbones. Shit, photos didn’t do them justice. He was a good-looking man and she was…ordinary.
“Do you honestly believe anyone is going to buy us as a couple? Where are we going to tell them we met? Do we even have anything in common?”
She sounded sarcastic and she didn’t care. This was ridiculous. She was a grown ass woman talking about a game of make believe that no one was going to buy.
Nate’s gaze flickered to Garrett. “Mate, can you…”
The man smiled and stood. “Of course, Nate. Helen, how about you and I get a drink down in the bar and let these two get to know one another a little bit?”
Don’t leave me!
Helen may have noted Paige’s panic but she simply patted her shoulder and followed Garrett out the door.
Skippy wanted them to get to know one another. Okey dokey.
First lesson. She was blisteringly honest and blunt.
“All three of you have lost your fucking minds. Give me one good reason not to walk out of here.”
She may have gone too far with that last part. Instead of replying Nate stood and went behind the bar, pulling out a bottle of wine and uncorking it. Fucker was taking his time, making her cool her heels.
“Darling–”
“Just stop that shit,” she broke in, her nerves making her more brusque than she’d normally be. “I barely know you so I think calling me darling is overkill. Yeah, I get that you’re a charming bastard but I’m not one of your young Barbie dolls. I won’t fall backward with my legs open when you speak with that smooth British accent. I’m a little past all that.”
He poured them two glasses of red. She thought she saw his cheeks flush but she might have been imagining it. “Fine. Although I think every woman deserves endearments. Women should be treated like queens.”
Queens? Yep, she was the royal highness of laundry day at her house.
“Dear Lord, what kind of woman do you usually date?” Paige asked in wonderment, studying him from head to toe. He looked serious about what he’d said but there was no way he could be. “Do they fall for this shit?”
His brows rose and he smiled. “Yes, they usually do but it’s charming that you don’t. Now let me speak for a moment about the contract. It’s for our protection, honestly. I know some parts of it are personal and rather distasteful but a year from now I think you’ll be glad this was all addressed in the beginning.”
“You sound so sure.”
“I am sure.” Nate sat down next to her, his thigh brushing her own, the tang of his body wash tickling her nostrils. He smelled damn good. “Paige, we are going to be one another’s almost constant companion for twelve to eighteen months. Maybe more. We’re bound to become close friends, confidants. I want to make sure we finish this contract as friends no matter what happens.”
“You really think we could pull this off?”
She couldn’t believe she was having this conversation.
He nodded. “I think we can. We have enough in common that the relationship is believable. I think we can become good friends as well.”
Friends? Was she looking for more friends? She might not be the most social being in the world, but she had several. Good ones, too. Adding Nate Mason, movie star to that list was an interesting proposition. But she still wasn’t sure this was a good idea. In her entire life she’d never thought of herself as a fake romance type of person. It seemed phony and that was one thing she tried to never be.
And this contract brought up more questions than it answered.
“What if you fall in love with someone else during this contract?”
Shaking his head, he took a sip of his wine. “Highly doubtful. I’d barely have any time to date a woman, let alone fall in love. Of course if I do meet someone I want to date I promise that no one will ever know. I would never embarrass you that way.”
“So we can date other people?”
“We can, although it won’t be easy or recommended. That’s why I said what I did about us. We’ll be spending most of our time together.”
She picked up the contract and pointed to one of the paragraphs. “Apparently I’m not to mention marriage, children, or love of any kind. Wow, you must have a king-sized commitment phobia. You should see someone about that.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “It doesn’t say we can’t mention love. Personally I think it would be wonderful to be in love.”
So did she, but she was surprised to hear it from him.
Her long-term marriage hadn’t always been the happiest but they’d managed to keep it together. Then Noah got sick and any marital issues they’d had were put on the back burner; permanently, it turned out. For a long time after he’d passed away, she couldn’t even think about another man and relationship but lately she had to admit it had crossed her mind. Was there a second chance out there for her?
Sadly, the odds weren’t in her favor. She’d have to make do with a great career and that’s why she was so determined to have this movie made.
“But,” she prompted. “I hear a but in that sentence. You think it would be wonderful to be in love but…”
Nate grimaced. “But I don’t fancy the idea of marriage or children. I’m very career focused and it would be selfish to marry and have a family at this point in my life. I just feel I need to be up front about that as some women haven’t believed me in the past and that can get very ugly.”
She tossed the contract onto the coffee table. “You needn’t worry about me. Been there, done that, worn the t-shirt. I’m not looking to get married again and I just sent my kid to college. I don’t need to go back to diapers and formula so you can relax. But I do have a question for you, Nate, and I want you to be brutally honest.”
He nodded, his expression sober. “I can do that.”
She was terrified of the answer but she couldn’t stop herself. “I know what I’m getting in this deal. I get my name in the press along with yours. I get you to hold my hand when I want to have an anxiety attack. I get someone who has been there and knows what to do. What do you get? What do I have that you want?”
His smile widened and his blue eyes flared with life. Whatever he wanted, he was damn excited about it.
“I get to play Flynn and direct as well. That’s our bargain.”
He wanted to play the main character from her books? He wanted to become a director?
That she hadn’t expected.