The knot in Kayleigh’s stomach tightened. “Are we talking about a couple of get-to-know-you sessions?”
“Sorry, babe.” Savannah pushed her plate aside. Her grin indicated she wasn’t sorry at all. “I’m talking full-on dating...on steroids.”
“What’s Option Two?” Kayleigh slumped in her seat. Her mouth went dry and her palms felt clammy.
“Tell your friend the truth. There is no fiancé and there never was one.”
“Fine.” Kayleigh dragged a hand across her forehead. “If you can convince Parker to do this, I’m in, too.”
“Perfect.” Savannah’s Cheshire Cat grin faded. She placed a hand to her mouth. “I’m going to be sick.”
Me, too. Kayleigh buried her forehead in her hand as her best friend made a beeline to the restroom.
Her saving grace was knowing Parker would never go for it.
“Now you expect me to date Kayleigh Jemison, too? Have you all lost your freaking minds?” Parker paced the floor in the conference room. “It’s bad enough I have to spend a week pretending to be her fiancé.”
“You know this plan will never work the way things stand between you and Kayleigh now,” Savannah said calmly. “Besides, it’ll give you two a chance to finally hash things out.”
“Your sister-in-law is right, son,” Duke piped up. “This feud between you two has gone on for too long.”
“It isn’t a feud,” Parker clarified. “She hates my guts. End of story.”
“You hurt her, Parker, and you never even apologized,” his sister pointed out. “What do you expect?”
“For the hundredth time... I didn’t say anything she hadn’t said herself.”
“I love you, Park,” his sister said. “But you can be an asshole sometimes. You’re so determined to prove yourself right that you’re not giving the slightest consideration to Kayleigh’s feelings.”
“Let’s not stoop to name-calling, baby girl,” their father said sternly, glancing around the room at all of them.
He came to stand beside Parker in front of the conference room windows and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Son, I realize that I’m asking a lot of you, but this is important to me because it’s important to your mother. She’s put her heart and soul into supporting my father’s dream and into raising this family. This is our chance to help her revive her father’s legacy. It’s something she’s dreamed about for years, and now we finally have the opportunity to make it happen. I’m sorry that the bulk of the load will fall to you. But this is important, Parker. Not just for your mother, but for King’s Finest, too.”
Parker groaned as he stared out the window. They had no idea what they were asking of him.
Kayleigh Jemison loathed him, but despite what his family believed, he didn’t despise her. He was angry with Kayleigh. Maybe even hurt by her unrelenting disdain. But spending time with her at Blake and Savannah’s wedding had made it clear that he was still very fond of her.
Being forced to spend a week with Kayleigh would test his will in more ways than they knew.
“I’ll do it for Mom.” Parker nodded. “And for the sake of this deal.”
His father clapped a hand on his back and smiled. “Thank you, son. This means a lot to all of us.”
His father was counting on him. Hell, his entire family was counting on him to make this deal happen. He’d been given a gift. He wanted to prove that when it was time to name a successor to the King’s Finest throne, he was the obvious choice. What better way to show his fitness for the role of CEO than by proving that he’d go beyond the call of duty to ensure the company’s success?
Their receptionist, Lianna, called the conference room to announce the arrivals of Kayleigh and their attorney, Lane Dennings.
“Speak now or forever hold your peace.” Max could barely contain his grin as Blake and Zora dissolved into laughter in response to his marriage pun.
Parker wouldn’t give his siblings the satisfaction of reacting. He simply ignored them.
“Ready, son?” His father held back a smile.
Parker nodded and sat at the table.
“I’ll clear the room. Go ahead and send them up, Lianna,” his father said. “I’ll meet them at the elevator.”
“You’re putting us out?” Zora groused.
“We don’t want to intimidate her. Parker, Lane and I have to be here, and Kayleigh requested that Savannah stay.”
“Well, I’m going down to the day care to spend some time with Davis before I go back to work.” Blake looked especially happy. He leaned down and gave his wife a quick kiss before exiting on the heels of Max, Zora and their father.
“Right this way, ladies,” his father was saying.
Parker’s eyes met Kayleigh’s as she entered the room. His pulse quickened and his mouth went dry.
He’d expected her to show up in tattered jeans and a T-shirt, with her hair a mess. But she hadn’t.
Kayleigh was stunning in a simple white blouse and a plain black skirt with a hemline that hovered just above her knees. Her hair fell below her shoulders in bouncy curls that swayed with every movement.
He’d barely managed spending a single day with her when he’d been charged with escorting her down the aisle at Blake and Savannah’s wedding.
Ten weeks and ten dates?
He was an absolute goner.
* * *
Kayleigh Jemison was not easily intimidated. But there was something unnerving about Parker Abbott’s appraisal as she entered the conference room.
His eyes widened with surprise as his gaze met hers and then slowly trailed down the length of her body.
Savannah had been right. Dressing the part was a good choice. It’d thrown Parker for a loop.
What she hadn’t expected was that she’d find his reaction unsettling. Her cheeks felt warm and there was a fluttering low in her belly.
Parker scrambled to his feet and buttoned the heather-gray suit jacket that fit him so well. He offered a stern nod.
Kayleigh returned the gesture before turning her attention to Duke Abbott, who stood beside his son.
“Ladies, please have a seat.” Duke gestured toward the chair beside Savannah. “Kayleigh, thank you for agreeing to meet us here.”
She smoothed down the black A-line skirt that skimmed her thighs before taking her seat next to her friend, who squeezed her arm reassuringly. “Thank you for agreeing to my price and terms.”
Kayleigh insisted that the purchase agreement for her building clearly spell out that the deal was contingent on Parker fulfilling his end of the bargain. Duke agreed readily, assuring her that he was a man of his word, as was Parker.
In her experience, neither Duke nor his son were trustworthy. But she needed both of them for now, so she’d play nice.
“I appreciate your willingness to accommodate my unusual request.” Kayleigh tucked her hair behind her ears to keep it from falling forward.
Parker cleared his throat. “Ready to sign the contract?”
“My attorney went over the agreement thoroughly, but I’d prefer to schedule the