Page 35 of Manhattan Bossholes

She collapsed into giggles.

“You’re going to be obnoxious, aren’t you?”

“Snookums, whatever do you mean?” She batted her eyelashes so hard, it looked like she was trying to start a breeze.

“This,” I gestured to her. “You’re going to try to embarrass me.”

“Try?” Piper’s eyes went wide. “Oh Vincy-poo, just you wait. I’m going to be the clingiest, sappiest, most devoted fake girlfriend to walk the earth! By the end of it, you’re going to be convinced it’s for real.”

I could only imagine how corny she was going to be, and how much fun she was going to have trying to make me squirm.

Ridiculous.

So why did my heart trip out of rhythm at the thought of it?

Looking at the world through Piper’s eyes was a revelation.

I was used to women who acted like they were owed everything they received and then some. Piper, on the other hand, was open and expressive in her enjoyment of every single luxury I’d long since gotten in the habit of taking for granted. She was having the time of her life, and we were only two hours into the flight. Everything delighted her, from the personalized toiletry set waiting for her in her seat on my plane to the snacks hand selected just for her.

Little things that would barely warrant a “thank you” from my former companions made Piper beam with pleasure.

“I can’t believe I’m getting paid to do this,” she sighed as she settled into the buttery leather chair. “I keep pinching myself!”

I felt the same way. I didn’t like admitting just how much I enjoyed having Piper around, because our time together had a hard stop. I had to keep reminding myself of that fact.

“I’m glad you’re already having fun. I’m sure we’ll be able to make the most of the trip, so long as we keep our eyes on the prize.”

“I can’t remember the last time I traveled,” she continued like she hadn’t heard me. “I mean, I get to go places for photography jobs every now and then, but it’s not like I’ve had much of a chance to travel for fun.”

“Piper, this is still work,” I reminded her gently. “You need to take photos for the web site and social media posts in addition to getting that contract signed.”

“And play the part of your adoring girlfriend,” she said with a cheesy grin. “Doesn’t matter, it’s still a good time!”

She got a chuckle out of me. Her ability to find positivity in every scenario, even when I was trying to level-set her with reality, was ridiculously adorable.

“Where’s the last place you went for fun?” Piper asked.

I paused to consider her question, trying to ignore her bare leg just inches from mine. It made my mind wander. Were we going to be forced to go to the beach? Did she pack a bikini? Would we have to be lovey-dovey in swimwear?

I felt myself getting hard at the thought of it. Getting that contract signed was going to be enough of a task without having to fight my attraction to my fake girlfriend.

“Well?” Piper demanded, startling me out of my sexy daydream. “Last vacation spot?”

“Uh,” I squinted as I tried to remember. “I think it was Spain with my ex.”

“Ooh,” Piper exhaled. “I would love to go there!”

I’d assumed Maya would be equally excited to explore Spain with me, but she preferred tipping off the paparazzi so we had an audience no matter where we went. She spent the entire trip posing and pretending to eat.

It was miserable, and we’d barely done any sightseeing.

“Did I send you the itinerary from Jean and Joe?” Piper asked.

“You did, but I was too busy to look at it before we left. Let me pull it up now.”

I scrolled through my endless inbox to the message. “Okay, here it is.”

I opened the document on their farm letterhead, which featured a heliotrope blossom woven into the font. I was so close to getting what I wanted. What I needed. I couldn’t let the temptation Piper presented derail me from my work.