The Weekend Proposition (2 page)

Lauren took the tray of drinks from Coda. “I’ll deliver these.”

“Thanks.”

“Who’s the guy?”

“Spencer Cannon. I work over at his place at night. I don’t know why he’s looking for me.”

“Go find out.”

“I intend to.”

She walked out of the kitchen and over to where Cannon stood. He stuck out like a sore thumb in the small, greasy diner. His well-tailored, black suit hung perfectly from his body. He removed his jacket and draped it on the back of his chair while he waited for her. His gray tie accentuated his ice-blue eyes. Despite the windy autumn day, not a particle of his thick, dark hair seemed out of place. Lauren’s assessment of him was spot on. He did look like a sophisticated cover model.

“Mr. Cannon,” she said as she approached his table. “What brings you here?”

“Ms. Vercelli.” He pulled out a chair for her. “Please, join me.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” He tapped the table with his long fingers.

“I’m working.” She looked around as her lunch customers took in Cannon. Men like him didn’t frequent dives like this. He’d be the talk of the diner for weeks.

He glanced over at Tony, the owner, and waved. “I asked your boss for a few minutes of your time, so please, have a seat.”

She debated whether to do as he asked. What could he possibly want from her? If she screwed something up while cleaning his office building she seriously doubted the head guy would deal with that.

“Please.”

“Just for a few minutes.” She sat down because he had piqued her curiosity and she couldn’t afford to lose the cleaning gig for aggravating the owner of the building.

“Thank you.” He took a seat and stared at her for a few moments.

His intense gaze unnerved her. He made her feel like he was shopping, looking for flaws in the merchandise he was about to purchase.

“I’m guessing you’re not here for the grilled cheese. What brings you to Brooklyn?”

“I’ve never had grilled cheese before but maybe I’ll try it, Dakota.” Obviously he had checked her file to use her given name.

“Everyone calls me Coda, Mr. Cannon.”

“Why don’t you call me Spencer?”

“Okay,
Spencer
, what can I do for you?”

“A ‘to the point’ kind of girl. I like that.” The right side of his lips rose slightly, creating a sexy, crooked smile. “I’m a businessman and I need something.”

From me?

“I think you may benefit from my offer.” He continued to stare directly into her eyes causing her to cower from the influence she found there. She’d never backed away from a guy before but there was something different about him.

“What makes you think that? You don’t know anything about me.”

“I overheard your conversation with your mother last night.” He stopped for a second, but before she could open her mouth to protest, he continued. “You were in my private kitchen. I did try to make my presence known but you didn’t hear me.”

“How much did you hear?” She fidgeted with her hands, trying hard to break the Italian habit of using them when she talked. She had a tendency to get loud when she felt stressed. The conversation with her mother had caused her some anxiety.

“Enough to know you’re in need of financial assistance.”

“I’ll figure it out. I always do.” She didn’t like discussing her finances, or lack thereof, with a stranger. She didn’t care how rich and good-looking he was. It was none of his business.

“I have a proposition for you.”

“A proposition?” What could he possibly have to offer her?

“I have to attend my cousin’s wedding this weekend. Actually, I have to leave tomorrow afternoon. I don’t want to go alone for reasons I don’t wish to discuss right now. I need someone to accompany me. I’m offering that to you.”

“And you think I’m ‘to the point’?”

He smiled but didn’t say anything. She couldn’t stand the silence. She wanted to figure out his game. There had to be some sort of catch.

“You want me to go to a wedding with you?”

“It’s in Connecticut. I would require your services until Sunday afternoon. All of your expenses would be paid, including a wardrobe which would be yours to keep after the weekend.”

“You need a date?”

“I would need you to appear as my girlfriend.”

“Is this a joke?”

“I wouldn’t joke about something like this. I’ve thought the entire thing through.”

“A man who looks like you should have no problem finding a real girlfriend to buy clothes for and flaunt in front of his family.” She thought for a moment. “Unless there’s something wrong with you.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me.” He raised his voice a bit. “I had planned on attending alone but circumstances have changed. I’m in a bind and from what I gather, you are too.”

Her instincts screamed to run in the opposite direction. She’d never been the type to fall for a scam. “I’m not interested in—”

“I’ll pay you two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for your time.”

“What?” Apparently a side of crazy came with those good looks.

“One hundred and twenty-five thousand today, if you agree.” He pulled out a check from the inside pocket of the jacket he had draped on the back of the chair. He slipped the mint green paper across the table. “You’ll get the rest on Sunday afternoon.”

“That’s fifty grand a day.” She studied the check. It would take her years to make that kind of money working these shit-end jobs.

“I’m aware.” He nodded as if the money meant nothing. “I’m asking for your time, a commodity I believe should be well compensated.”

Too good to be true.

“Do you make it a habit of paying women to be your girlfriend?”

“Pretend girlfriend,” he reminded her. “You would be the first.”

“Why me?”

“Does it matter?”

“What exactly do you expect me to do for that money?”

“I told you.” He narrowed his eyes. “I need a date for a long weekend. Everyone needs to think we’re a couple.”

“You’re willing to pay me to go away with you for four days. I’m supposed to take your word we’re going to a wedding in Connecticut? How do I know you won’t kidnap me and want to do all sorts of kinky stuff to me? You could be some sex-obsessed lunatic.”

“Kinky stuff?”

“Yeah, you know, like bondage and blindfolds.”

“Do you like that sort of thing?” He tried to conceal his smirk.

Her heart rate increased at the thought of this totally hot guy tying her to a bed. He looked like a man who was good at being in control. The kind of control a girl wouldn’t mind relinquishing for a few hours or even a weekend.

“I can assure you sex will not be part of this deal. My cousin is marrying the governor’s son on Saturday.” He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a file. “All of the details are in here, including what time my car will pick you up tomorrow to take you to my friend’s boutique in the city. She’ll help you with everything you’ll need for the weekend. I’ll meet you there and we’ll leave for New Haven.”

“Do you know how crazy this sounds?”

“I do.”

“Two hundred and fifty thousand?” She glanced at the check. Another opportunity like this one would never present itself again. The money could help pay off her bills and fund better drugs and treatment for her mother’s illness. “How do I know this won’t bounce?”

“Bounce?” His voice was softer as his lips curled into a smile. “Are you serious?”

“I don’t kid about money.”

“Neither do I, Ms. Vercelli. That gives us some common ground to start with.”

“I don’t know.” How could she be expected to take this offer seriously?

“I can accompany you to the bank right now and we can cash that check. What do you say? Will you take my offer more seriously then?”

His aggressive side piqued her interest. What was it about her that captivated him? Why her?

“I need some time to think about it.”

“I don’t have time. I need your answer now. I’ll make sure your shifts are covered here. Do we have a deal?”

She didn’t answer him. Instead she studied his expression. Would four days away with a gorgeous billionaire be so bad? She’d never had a vacation before unless she counted the long weekends to Sea Side Heights when she was a kid. The benefits of what that money could pay for outweighed the cons. No one would have to know she had accepted his offer. She could tell her mom she needed to go on a job interview and explain everything later. Their problems would be solved.

Cannon looked at his watch as he cleared his throat. “Have you made your decision?”

“You’re not a patient man, are you?”

“I’m afraid not.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’m a busy man.”

“Is that why you can’t find a real girlfriend?”

He ignored her question. “I’m a closer. I negotiate until both sides get what they want. What do you want to close this deal?”

He really did want to treat this as a business arrangement.

“You have to tell me why you need a date.”

“It’s not important.”

“It is to your potential weekend girlfriend.”

He opened his mouth but before he could speak she corrected herself.

“Your potential
pretend
weekend girlfriend. You asked what my terms were and now I’m telling you.” She arched a brow at him. “I’ll walk.”

She had him. He’d already stated he didn’t have time. He must have been pretty desperate to seek out a waitress from Brooklyn.

He stared her down for a few moments with that intimating glare of his but what did she have to lose? If he really needed her, he’d have to answer her question.

“You’re a bit of a negotiator yourself, I see.”

“The ball’s in your court.”

“My ex-girlfriend is in the wedding party. We had a messy breakup but I thought she’d moved on. Apparently, she’s looking to rekindle our relationship this weekend.” He sighed. “I have no interest in that. However, her family owns half of my company so there’s a lot of pressure for us to get together. It’s a delicate situation.”

“Ava Carrington?” She blurted out.

“How did you know that?”

“I follow the tabloids and the social magazines. I’ve seen the two of you in there.”

Coda had also had the pleasure of meeting the stuck-up woman one night when she was in the art department at Cannon and Carrington Advertising. Coda hung around some of the graphic artists who worked late meeting deadlines. A few of them helped her with her portfolio and taught her some new computer programs. Ava had cracked some snide comment about them fraternizing with the housekeeper. There was no way a woman like Ava Carrington would remember someone like Coda but Coda never forgot her.

“If Ava and I were to get married, it would be beneficial to both families. I do not want to marry this woman, and I don’t want to lead her on. Most importantly, I want my family, especially my grandfather, to see that my bachelorhood is not on the auction block. I need you to convince them of that.”

His gaze softened, making him appear genuine and not as scary as he first seemed. How bad could a man who didn’t want to hurt an ex-girlfriend be?

“I’ll do it.”

“You will?”

“Like you said, we both need something. You’re willing to compensate me for my time and I’ll do whatever it takes to make your ex see you’ve moved on.” Coda thought it might be interesting to see that snob’s reaction at Spencer walking in with a date. “With me.”

“Good.” He rested his chin on his fingers, appearing more relaxed than a few moments ago. “I’m hoping this will be the motivation everyone needs to see I’m not marrying her.”

“I can be a pretty good actress.” She held up the check. “You’ve given me my inspiration.”

“I’ll speak with your boss about you needing some days off.”

“That won’t be necessary. The girls around here owe me for picking up shifts for them. I’ll take care of it. I’ll have to call out from the cleaning service the next few days though.”

“Consider it done.” He extended his hand. “I take it we have a deal?”

“We do, Spencer.” She shook his strong hand but when she went to pull away he didn’t let go.

“Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He brought her knuckles to his mouth and brushed his lips across them.

“Yeah, tomorrow.” She watched his lips graze along her hand. She could feel his hot breath on her fingers.

Shit!

“Bye, Coda.” He stood, put his jacket on, grabbed his briefcase, and strolled out of the restaurant as if this were some ordinary business transaction.

Coda watched his every action wondering what she’d just gotten herself into.

Chapter 2

Coda must have been out of her mind to accept a proposal like this. Being paid to accompany a billionaire on a weekend getaway was like something out of a movie. Things like this didn’t happen to girls like her. But she found herself in the upscale Manhattan boutique trying on every designer dress in the place anyway. In an hour she’d be headed to Connecticut with a complete stranger.

What choice did she have? She and her mother were one month away from being evicted. The bills had piled up and her mother needed physical therapy for her back. The insurance company only paid a percentage and without the therapy her mom wouldn’t be able to go back to work. Coda saw an opportunity and she took it. She knew how to survive.

“Here, sweetie.” Kendal Mason, the owner of the boutique came into the dressing room and handed her six matching bra and panty sets. “You’ll need these too.”

“Um, underwear? I don’t need those.” She did have some of her own clothes. She didn’t need Cannon paying for her unmentionables too.

“No offense.” Kendal glanced down at the cheap bra she wore. “You could use some new underwear. Trust me, Spencer will love these on you.”

“No, it’s not like that.” Heat crept up the back of her neck.

“Don’t be embarrassed. Spencer’s discreet. He didn’t tell me anything, but when a man is willing to drop fifteen grand in an hour so you have everything you need for the weekend, I’m betting he’s going to see your panties.”

“Fifteen thousand dollars?” Coda needed to sit down. She was aware that Cannon had tons of money but she never imagined she’d ever see so much.