The Arrangement Duet Box Set Page 18

  I force myself to focus on work the remainder of the day, pushing her as far away from my mind as possible. It’s the only thing I can do, because if I sit and think about her much longer, I’m tempted to take the elevator down the few floors that are separating us right now and do something she will hate. For the first time, I understand why Bridget’s contract insists that our addresses remain private; it would be so much easier if I didn’t know she was only a few floors below me…

  “Sir?” Carter pulls me from my thoughts, which have once again become nearly entirely focused on Kenzie.

  “I’ll be ready to leave in five.”

  Thankfully, the ride to my parent’s house is not focused on Kenzie. I have a slew of emails from Alex, providing me with details about several companies requesting our assistance. The fact that Alex and I are both working on a Sunday afternoon doesn’t surprise me—a successful business doesn’t get built by working only Monday through Friday, nine to five. Especially when some of the companies we work with are all over the globe, which means they are in different time zones. Alex knows just as well as I do that our business requires “nontraditional” hours and thankfully he has no problem putting in these hours.

  Before I realize it, Carter has stopped the car in front of my parent’s house. I quickly finish my last email and let Alex know that I will be unavailable for the next couple of hours. My parents hate it when I spend dinner on my phone, so when at all possible, I try to respect their wishes and not respond to emails unless they are urgent. He knows the routine and will call if something comes up and I don’t respond right away to his email.

  “Nicholas!” Cara races out the front door to great me before I reach the door.

  “Cara… One day you’re going to knock me to the ground.” I wrap my arms around her and lift her off the ground.

  “Where’s Kenzie? I was hoping you would bring her tonight.” She pouts

  “I told mom, Kenzie was busy tonight and not able to make it to dinner,” I lie.

  “I know... I was still hoping you would bring her.”

  “Another time, perhaps.”

  “We were just looking at the picture of you two from last night, which is why I was hoping you would bring her.”

  “Picture?”

  “From your date…”

  “Are you sure it’s from last night? It might be from—“

  “The story said it was from last night. You were at Lake View, right?”

  “We were… I didn’t know anyone got a picture of us.”

  “Come inside, I’ll show you.”

  I quickly greet my parents and Austin while Cara grabs her iPad to show me the article that was posted today. I’ve made it a habit of checking the gossip sites every day for anything new written about me but somehow today I forgot.

  Is Nicholas Parker becoming a romantic?

  A source dining at the Lake View Restaurant last night captured Nicholas Parker, billionaire playboy, out to dinner with the woman that PFS has referred to as his romantic interest. Our source captured this grainy picture of the two sharing dinner overlooking the lake at what is one of the most romantic tables in the entire dining room— sought after because of the incredible views.

  According to the source, Nicholas Parker and his date spent several hours at the restaurant apparently lost in their own world. “They barely looked up from each other when the waiter brought their food,” our source says. “They were the last customers to leave; the entire dining room was empty by the time they finally pulled away from each other.

  They’ve obviously known one another for some time; they looked very comfortable together.” According to our source, they walked out of the dining room holding hands and got into the same car. So New York... how long do you think our Playboy will be able to commit to one woman? We all know he hasn’t been seen with the same woman since…

  I immediately stop reading the article, not wanting to taint the night by thinking about what happened the last time I trusted a woman enough to let her into my life. If nothing else, this article is a reminder that I need to be careful, reinforcing the fact that I need to keep the arrangement with Kenzie strictly professional. While it seems like my image transformation is working, this reporter is quick to remind everyone that they still think I’m a playboy at the core. If only the media knew the true story; I was never a playboy… even before her I wasn’t a playboy. She was a mistake; she is the reason I keep my personal life confined. She is the reason I will never again fall for a woman. She is the reason I could never be more than a business transaction to Kenzie.

  Chapter 18

  Kenzie

  I haven’t seen Nicholas in almost a week; tonight will be the first time we’ve seen each other since our dinner at the Lake View Restaurant last weekend. Bridget called to confirm the details of our date tonight for an awards banquet that Nicholas is attending, but she said otherwise he didn’t have anything he needed me for this week. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised; he had mentioned that he was working on several large projects when we had dinner, I’m sure one of those consumed his time.

  I’ve spent most of the week working; one of the girls that usually works weekdays ended up quitting unexpectedly, which meant I had longer hours. I’m looking forward to this weekend, it’s the first entire weekend in probably more than a year at least that I’ve had off. I’m going with Nicholas to the awards dinner tonight, but tomorrow I signed up for a weekend culinary class at the community college. It’s nothing big, but I’m excited to finally do something for myself. I was thrilled when Ginny said I could have the weekend off to take this class and half expected her to change her mind since we’ve been short staffed all week, but she confirmed this morning that she didn’t need me. I can’t remember the last time I was able to do something for me, something that didn’t involve paying for bills or trying to save money just in case I needed to leave suddenly again.

  For tonight’s dinner, Bridget told me the dress code is dressy but not formal. I’m wearing a simple floor-length dress that has a slit up the side to add just a hint of sexiness to it. According to Bridget, the banquet is being hosted by a local community group to thank several of their major sponsors and should have minimal press coverage given the quaintness of this event. Of course she was quick to remind me that even when the press aren’t present, we need to act as if we are a couple since we have been photographed several times already by people who then sell our picture to the gossip websites.

  “Good evening, Kenzie, you look stunning,” Nicholas greets me at the door right on time as always.

  “Thank you.” For some unknown reason. I blush at his complement which surprises me.

  “Shall we?”

  “Just let me set the alarm.” I quickly punch in the code and lock the door behind me.

  “How was your week?” he asks on the drive over.

  “It was good… busy but good.”

  “Oh?”

  “One of the girls quit without warning so I’ve been helping to cover her shifts. I’ve worked every morning this week, but thankfully I’m off this weekend at least.”

  “Do you have plans for the weekend?”

  “Sort of… I signed up for a culinary class at the community college—“

  “That’s really great! I know you mentioned wanting to go back to school.”

  “It’s not much… it’s just a weekend class—not part of a program or anything, but I’m looking forward to it.”

  “It’s all weekend?”

  “Six hours tomorrow and then six hours on Sunday. I was worried that Ginny might say she needed me this weekend, but she said her approval for my time off stands.”

  “Good for you.”

  “Thank you.” Why the hell am I blushing again? I don’t think I’ve ever blushed this much in my entire life! “How was your week?”

  “Busy… I was out of town for a few days. We’ve been working on a long distance deal, and I needed to fly out this week to review som
e things on site.”

  “Is it moving forward?”

  “I believe so.”

  “Wow, that’s wonderful.”

  “Do you have any questions about tonight? I assume Bridget filled you in on the details of the event?”

  “She explained that you were being given an award for some of your charity work around the city by a local community-based organization that is also recognizing several sponsors. She doesn’t expect there to be much press coverage as this is a relatively small event.”

  “I assume you saw the picture of us from the Lake View?”

  “I did… it was obviously taken from a cell phone, the quality wasn’t the greatest.”

  “It’s possible the same thing could happen at tonight’s event, especially now that our picture appears on more of the sites.”

  “Is there anything I should know for tonight?”

  “I don’t think so. I normally don’t attend this dinner; Alex usually handles the smaller awards banquets for PFS, but unfortunately, he is away this weekend, which is why we ended up here tonight. He warned me ahead of time the food isn’t the greatest, so don’t be surprised if we leave and you’re still hungry. We can always stop and grab something on the way home if the food is that bad—“

  “I’m sure it won’t be—“

  “I wouldn’t bet on it,” he chuckles. “From what Alex has told me, there will be a speech by the organization’s founder, we’ll have dinner, and then the awards will be given. I should be one of the first awards, but we’ll stay for a few of the others before making an excuse to leave. I have no desire to stay longer than we need to, but I want it to look like we’ve been there long enough for appearances.”

  “Okay, just let me know when and we’ll go.”

  A short time later, we arrive at a chain hotel where the awards banquet is being held and are ushered into a large conference room with about thirty or so tables set up and a small stage on one side. Nicholas leads me around, introducing me to various people who all seem to be heads of different businesses.

  He keeps me close to him as he walks around the room; his arm is around my waist, his hand set on my hip as we walk. Before we approach anyone, he whispers in my ear who they are so that when he introduces us I know a little about them ahead of time. I’m grateful for this small gesture as it helps me make small talk with some of the guests after introductions are made.

  “Ladies and gentlemen if you would please find your way to your tables we would like to begin in a few minutes,” a voice comes over the speaker system.

  “I think that’s our cue,” Nicholas leads me across the room to a table just off to the side of the stage.

  “Ladies and gentleman, I would like to introduce you to the founder of Children First, Ms. Samantha Richardson.” Everyone rises and claps as an older woman takes the stage.

  “Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend our dinner this evening. As you know, Children First started more than twenty five years ago as a grassroots effort to provide free activities to children in our community in an effort to keep them off the streets after school. Each of you has contributed to our organization over the last year, allowing my dream to continue. As government funding is reduced, we are forced to rely on private donations like yours to keep our mission going.

  “When I almost lost my oldest son to a drug addiction more than twenty five years ago, I knew something needed to change. I was a single parent, struggling to work enough hours to keep a roof over my children’s head and food in their stomachs. I was so busy worrying about these things, I failed to see what was happening to my own child. By age twelve, my son began experimenting with street drugs, and by fourteen he moved onto prescription drugs. By the time I learned about his drug use, he was in deep.

  “It took many months, but I was finally able to get him into a good rehab center, one that focused on children instead of adults. I am proud of the man that my son has become today, but seeing what he went through scarred me for life. I knew in that moment something needed to change. I was a single parent with no family support—I was busting my ass at minimum wage jobs trying to make ends meet. I couldn’t afford after-school programs, so my children were left home alone often late into the evening until I got home from work.

  “Children First aims to help these families… Through your donations, more than seventy-five children have, free of charge, a place to go after school until their parents can pick them up. Through your donations, these children receive a warm meal, help with homework, and socialization with peers their own age. Through your donations, these children are staying off the streets and off drugs! Tonight, we thank you for recognizing our mission as something this community needs!”

  The room erupts once again in applause and everyone stands as the speaker applauds the audience. I was truly moved by the speech and silently vow to look into the organization when I get back to the condo to see if there is some way I can help. Obviously I don’t have money to contribute, but perhaps I can find a few hours to donate time to one of the after-school programs.

  “Chicken or Pasta, miss?” A waiter pulls me from my thoughts.

  “I’ll have the pasta, please,” I answer.

  “Sir?” he asks Nicholas.

  “I’ll have the chicken.”

  As Nicholas talks business with a few of the people at our table, he takes my hand in his. I’m grateful for these small gestures; it reminds me that even though he is discussing business, he hasn’t forgotten that I’m with him tonight. When he shifts in his seat to face someone on the other side of the table, his leg rests against mine and I find that he is leaning closer to me. As I take a breath, I realize just how good he smells. It’s a mix between what I’m sure is a very expensive cologne and probably aftershave or soap from his shower.

  My mind immediately jumps to what Nicholas might look like in the shower, and I feel my face becoming flush. I have no idea why my mind suddenly went there; perhaps it’s because I don’t recall being this close to him before. I quickly try to focus on the conversation that he is having, but with him this close to me, I can’t seem to focus on anything other than him. I try thinking of anything to keep my mind blank, but when his thumb starts rubbing the bare skin of my shoulder, it becomes a lost cause.

  I glance his way, but his attention is entirely focused on the man who is sitting a couple seats away from me. I don’t know if he realizes his hand is on my shoulder, his leg resting against mine, or that he is this close to me, or perhaps he does realize it and this is all part of the image he wants to portray. The reminder that this is only a business transaction is like a bucket of ice being thrown at me… I’m immediately brought back to our contract. I know that everything that Nicholas is doing right now is for appearances only. If it weren’t for Bridget and our contract, Nicholas never would have looked in my direction. He would never be sitting here like this; he wouldn’t be touching me or paying me any attention.

  “Your dinner,” the waiter from earlier once again pulls me from my thoughts.

  We eat our dinner in relative silence; a few of the guests at our table comment about how good the food is. I nod in agreement, although the pasta is incredibly under cooked and the center of the ravioli is cold. It looks as if Nicholas’s dish isn’t much better, he has some type of chicken with what looks like spinach and cheese on top. He hasn’t touched his rice that looks dry and has only eaten half of his chicken.

  “Well… was I right about the food?” he leans in and whispers to me.

  “Definitely.” I grin, remembering our conversation from the car.

  “We’ll go somewhere after this and have a real meal.”

  We both manage to finish about half of our dinners before sitting back in our chairs. A few people at our table have finished their meals, but there are several plates half full like ours.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, as we wrap up dinner I would like present our first award of the evening. Parker Financial Services h
as been a major contributor to Children First for the last five years. They always answer our call for donations and this last year their management team spent an entire Saturday out of their busy schedules to help us clean up our newest community center. Without their generosity, less than half of the children we served would have had a place to go after school. We are fortunate tonight to have the CEO and founder of PFS with us… please join me in thanking Mr. Nicholas Parker for their incredible generosity over the last five years.”

  Nicholas rises, as does everyone at the table and places a quick kiss on my cheek before taking the stage next to Mrs. Richardson who hands him a plaque in recognition.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Richardson. It is your dream and incredible hard work over the last twenty-five years that has made tonight possible. Parker Financial Services is a proud member of this community; we have been incredibly fortunate in that what we do has allowed us to support such incredible, life-changing organizations as yours. I know all too well the impact that a less than ideal living environment can have on one’s life and believe that if we can provide the proper supports to children early on, their adult lives can be different.

  “Children learn coping skills very early in life; if they do not have them by the time they reach adulthood, they will not suddenly develop them. These adults are less likely to seek help because they never had help growing up. These adults are less likely to accept help for the same reason.

  “One of the things that drew me to Children First was that not only do you keep kids off the streets after school but you also strive to surround them with positive role models. I love that your community programs operate 24/7 so that no child is left out because of an odd schedule their parent may work. You obviously recognize the needs of our community; providing a hot meal to children who would likely go without at night has a tremendous impact on them.