10
This was crazy. Kinsley looked at the bed covered with four types of dresses, some borrowed from Rachel, and wished that she could just back out of this whole deal. She couldn’t do this. Mr. Maloney was never going to believe that she was Jarred’s fiancée.
“I like the yellow one,” Rachel said as she sat on the bed, fingering the soft silk of the yellow wrap around Kinsley had just tried on. “It really makes your features pop.”
“I can’t do this,” Kinsley blurted out, overwhelmed. “He’s going to see right through this farce of an engagement and I’ll lose my job.”
Rachel gave her a sympathetic look. “Oh Kinsley, if anyone can do this, you can. Besides, think about the money. If I could do it, I would. It’s Jarred Maloney.”
Kinsley fell on the bed, rubbing her hand over her face. The diamond ring glittered in the light and she paused to look at it. Never in her life would she have thought she would be wearing a diamond like this. Or be engaged to Jarred Maloney of all people. She had thought about the day when she would meet someone special and wear a ring to signify their love but this ring, it didn’t feel the same for obvious reasons. With a sigh, she picked up the yellow dress. “I think it’s going to be this one.”
“Kinsley,” Rachel said softly, laying a hand on her arm. “I know this is going to be difficult and I’m here for you, regardless of what you decide. Maybe the money isn’t worth it. Maybe you should back out.”
Kinsley thought about the things she could do with that kind of money and shook her head. It would get her out of debt, help her never to worry about paying rent or whether she was going to finish her degree. With the money that Jarred was offering, she could forget it all. The weight would be lifted off her shoulders and maybe she could concentrate on her future, including her love life. Why was she having such a conscience about this? After all, it was Jarred that was deceiving his father and if she were sacked because of this, well, she was going to have enough money to float her until she could find another job. She could keep her carefully built life, the life she was comfortable with, by helping Jarred Maloney. It was far more than just money to her. It was her life, her future, and Kinsley was determined to ensure it all.
“Well I’m off,” Rachel announced as she climbed off the bed and grabbed her purse. “Don’t forget to pick up your bridesmaid dress from the tailor.”
“I won’t,” Kinsley replied, looking at the clock. She had two hours to get ready for the night of her life. “I’ll call you.”
“You so better,” Rachel said, giving her a little wave before disappearing down the hall. Kinsley waited until she heard the front door close before she climbed off the bed as well, picking up the yellow dress with a frown. It was too cheery. She wanted to look sleek, sophisticated and more importantly, look like she belonged on the arm of a billionaire. Putting the dress down, she picked up the black one instead. It was very unlike anything she would wear, one of the dresses that Rachel had brought over with her. Kinsley had dismissed it immediately, but now she knew she would wear it. With the right heels and jewelry, she could achieve the look she wanted.
Two hours later, Kinsley smoothed down the front of the dress, grateful for the shawl she had draped around her shoulders as she knocked on Jarred’s door. Tomorrow she would go back to her own flat as the fumigation was complete and hopefully own the place before the end of the month. But first, she had get through this night.
The door opened and she took in the dressy attire of Jarred, glad that she went with the black. “Wow,” he said as he stared. Leaning against the doorway with a grin on his handsome face, he muttered “You look great.”
“I—thanks,” she said nervously, feeling more exposed than great. The dress was a decent length, but the scoop neck had her boobs on display and no matter how much she adjusted, they were just there. She had left her hair down and applied minimal makeup, the shawl more of a cover-up than an accessory. “You look nice.”
He gave her a grin and pulled his door shut. “You ready?”
“As ready as I am going to be,” she admitted. They walked down the hall to the lift, Jarred pressing the button to call it to their floor before turning toward her. “You will be fine Kinsley. You’re a natural. My father will love you. I mean, he already does. You just have to convince him you love me too.”
“I hope he remembers that when he’s evaluating my job,” she joked. Jarred reached down and took her hand in his, the air sizzling around them as their bare palms connected. “Just breathe Kinsley,” he said right above her ear, his breath ruffling her hair. “And trust me.”
She nodded jerkily, her pulse pounding in her ears as the doors to the lift opened and they walked in. Jarred let go of her hand and she forced herself to breathe as he pushed for the garage and the lift started down. She could do this.
The doors opened and he led her to a sleek car parked in the garage. “Is this yours?” she asked as he opened the door for her. The car itself probably cost more than she would make in her lifetime.
“It is,” he said as Kinsley climbed into the leather interior and he shut the door. She rearranged her dress and fumbled with her seatbelt as Jarred climbed in, shutting his own door and gunning the engine. He looked over at her and she gave him a smile, a flutter of nerves in her stomach. “Let’s do this.”
He nodded and they shot out of the garage and onto the dark streets of London. “Is there anything else I need to know about your father?” Kinsley asked, figuring she would use the ride time to prepare.
“Other than he’s a bastard?” Jarred asked with a chuckle. “No, you probably know him better than I even know him.”
Kinsley shook her head. “We rarely talk personally. Your father is all business, all the time.” He was a good employer though, giving her a nice bonus around the holiday time and time off when she needed it.
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Jarred said as he turned down a long, winding road heading out of the city. “He’s not a very touchy feely type person.”
Kinsley wanted to say the same for the man next to her but kept her mouth shut. After all, they were to be a couple in love, not one that was fighting. “If you could be anything in the world, what would it be?” she asked instead.
Jarred’s jaw clenched as he sped up the car. “You mean besides the loser my father and everyone else thinks I am?”
“Well you haven’t helped out your cause,” she reminded him gently. “Come on, humor me. What would you do?”
He sighed loudly. “I don’t know, maybe be a professional rugby player. Honestly, I’d probably be a driver for the racing team.”
Kinsley tried to picture Jarred as one of the brawny players she liked to watch on TV and shook her head. Well, he was handsome enough to be one. Or even more likely she could see him as a driver for the company’s team.
“What about you?” he asked, his eyes on the road. “What would you be?”
“I think a world traveler,” Kinsley replied with a heartfelt sigh. She would love to have enough money to go on holidays all the time. “You know, see other places, other cultures and blog about them. I think that would be the ultimate job.”