Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (68 page)

“All my life I had these goals I had to meet. My father actually has a checklist and every time I meet one of the milestones his personal assistant notarizes the list.” He seemed to be speaking more to himself than her.

“What kind of goals?” She balled her hand in a fist not wanting to become engaged in his tale.

“Valedictorian in high school, charity work.” He counted the items off on his fingers. “Summa cum laude graduate in college. I had a 4.0 average.”

“Ask a banker a question and he gives you his numbers.” She bit her own tongue to stop the laughter.

“I had one more item on my list, something my father added and then I was done.” He straightened up. “One more and my trust fund, the business, everything would be mine. My life would be mine.”

“One more thing?” She crossed her arms. His gaze intense, those green eyes darkened turning almost black as if they wanted to absorb everything and give nothing in return.

“I had to get married by my thirty-third birthday. Stay married for at least a year, and on my thirty-fourth birthday I would be free.” He turned to the ground.

For a moment they didn’t speak, only the music from inside the art gallery interrupted their silence.

“Now who is living in the alternate universe?”

“I wish it were me.” He repeated his action of walking around in a circle.

“You’re not kidding about this list are you?” She stepped toward him.

He shook his head. “I’m completely serious.”

“So what happens if you don’t make it?” Fairytale or not, she wanted to know the end. At least the story was an amazing distraction from her issues.

He rubbed his hand over his face. “I don’t lose. I can’t lose. I won’t lose.”

“Do you have a bride in your pocket and a Justice of the Peace around the corner?”

“I have a charter plane at my beck and call.” He lifted his head. “And I have you.”

Everyone had their certain moments in life they would always remember. Some of these moments were shared with the world such as man landing on the moon. Other moments like special birthdays or life changing events one was supposed to keep forever. Then there were the moments, little flashes that stuck with someone for the rest of their lives but would be meaningless to anyone else.

Randolph mentioning her, marriage, and a charter plane together qualified as one of those moments in her life.

She forced herself to take a breath, move, react in any sort of way to his idiocy. “I think the fever is getting to you. Maybe you need to go home.”

“Actually, I feel surprisingly better. I think what you gave me worked.” He tilted his head, his curls tumbling off to one side with the motion.

“So says the naysayer.” No one was ever surprised when a prescription worked, but everyone was amazed when what nature doled out did the job. Actually, she was amazed he gave her remedy a shot.

“Maybe you’re on to something.” He pointed at her. “At last my head isn’t pounding. You did that.”

“Then I need to go home. I think I’m going to be sick.” She needed to go anywhere deemed a Randolph-free zone. She walked down the alley toward her store, the gravel digging into the bottom of her sandals.

“Lest you forget you don’t have a home.” He called after her.

“Don’t let him get to you,” she mumbled and forced herself forward. He must have continued to eavesdrop on her and Jade.

“How much longer are you going to be able to put off not paying your landlord?”

His words hit her, and nearly knocked her over.

“You know you may have something I need, but the street goes both ways.” He followed her down the alley.

Not wanting to hear whatever argument he spewed, she continued her trek.

“What is it you want Willow? What if I told you I could make it happen?”

“I just want to be happy.” Her steps slowed.

“You know, if you married me I would get the rent current within three seconds of saying yes and you would never fall behind again.” The man continued. “I could also make sure you never had to buy anything but the best ingredients for your store. If your headache remedy is any indication, they work.”

Her mind yelled for her to keep walking. At the end of the alley she would be at her shop, go up the flight of stairs, make a cup of tea and get rid of his bad vibes.

“I can make you happy. I have the money and the connections. You would be set, all for only three hundred and sixty-five days of your life.”

Some force beyond her control made her turn to him.

“You know, I’m thinking that living in mansion may be a better alternative to your cramped quarters above your store.” He inched toward her. “Think about it, all your expenses paid, time to concentrate on anything you like, luxury living, and at the end…”

Once again she found herself face to face with him.

“This time next year, your own business is perfectly set up and you’ll have seven figures to do with what you please.”

Seven figures? Images of stacks of money, stacks and stacks of money like a cartoon appeared in her mind. She barely ever had three figures to her name let alone seven. Still, she opened her mouth, inhaling to get the power to tell him exactly what she thought of his offer, how she couldn’t be bought and sold.

“Don’t give me the line about money not buying happiness.” He leaned forward. “It may not buy happiness, but it buys security, wellbeing and potential.”

Maybe the man should have been an attorney instead. She almost believed him. Almost. “I am sure if you have all that money you could find a different girl much better suited for your needs.” She pointed toward the street. “Hollywood and Vine may have what you’re looking for.”

He held his hands out as if tossing the ball into her court.

Curiosity alone made her ask the next question. At least she told herself it was curiosity and not consideration. “What would this marriage entail?”

“Funny you should ask. I happen to have a prenuptial agreement I can tweak rather easily.” He reached into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out a folded paper. “For the duration of the year we would need to live at my family’s mansion. We would have our own wing.”

“Of course, and I’m assuming a chef, maid and butler as well.” The minute she returned home she needed one heck of a cleansing to make everything she heard go away.

“Five maids, maybe six, one butler, several various assistants, a chef, and a chauffeur.” He flicked the paper. “We need to be in the same bed every night. We must be together by midnight.”

“What happens if we’re not? Will you turn into a monster?” She tapped her foot. “Actually, I think you’re already a monster, so maybe we’ll all turn into pumpkins.”

“I never want us to appear anything other than happily married.” He went on without a hitch. “We spend the holidays up with my grandparents in Vermont.”

“You have grandparents?”

“We all have our shortcomings.” He shrugged. “I am not to compensate you for your year of service.”

“But…” She swore before this conversation finished she would slap him or herself for thinking about the monetary gain and she forced the visions of those perfect piles of money out of her consciousness.

“However, there’s a loophole even my father didn’t consider.” He raised one finger. “I am allowed to be involved in your line of work, and every decent husband gives his wife a monthly allowance. How else can you do all the things that make you a good wife?”

“I don’t think anyone could make you a good wife, least of all me.” She curtseyed. A long forgotten tingle in the back of her nose indicated tears might be on the way. “I bid you goodnight Mr. Van Ayers, and thank you for my bedtime story.”

“You know, until I saw you tonight I gave up. I never give up.”

A nuance in his voice, a small shake, a fault in the perfect timbre made her pause. Nan always told her to look for the subtle signs. The truth and the beauty would be found in what most people overlooked. She lifted her head. Any semblance of amusement or a smile vanished from his face. “Why me? Just because I don’t wear a suit doesn’t make me your fool.”

“I don’t think you’re a fool.” He held his hand out as if to stop her. “I thought above anyone else on the planet you would be open-minded to helping us both out.”

A breeze whispered through the alley. Chills ran through her and she hugged herself since no one would be around to do it for her. “You’re serious.”

He remained silent.

“The story, the list, the marriage, the money, you’re not joking.” She stomped her foot. “Swear to me you’re not joking.”

He put his hand over his heart. “I would take an oath if I could. You can notarize my words.”

She closed her eyes needing to block out everything and think. The answers to her problems couldn’t be as easy as a year penance with some snarky, albeit gorgeous, banker.

“Starting the second after you sign the marriage license you will never have to worry again about any of your so-called material things again. You will be set for life.” Randolph’s words vibrated through her. “So will your Nan.”

At the mention of her only family, she opened her eyes. A life where Nan could relax, do her work, teach her and never have to scrimp for the little she needed. An opportunity to give back a small bit what Nan gave to her. Their future would be assured, and they could buy a house, a real house. “I’m not sleeping with you.” What was she saying?

He cleared his throat. “You must sleep with me, but you don’t have to
sleep
with me. I will have you know there will be a fidelity clause in the contract.”

She decided not to mention there was no need for such a thing. Her life was a fidelity clause.

“If you agree, I will draw up your official contract on the plane. We will spend the night in Las Vegas and tomorrow you will need to move.” He returned the paper back to the secret pocket in his jacket.

“Nan needs to come with me.” Was she saying yes? Her heart stopped, skidded to a halt. “She gets full use of the kitchen.”

He narrowed his eyes and stared off as if thinking.

“Nan comes or you are out your business, your trust fund and your sleeping only partner.” Though she knew she should walk away and forget this whole deal, she stood her ground, unsure if she wanted the deal or only wanted to win. Randolph the third brought out Willow the terrible.

“You’re a tough negotiator.” He put his hand out for a shake. “If Miss Nan moves in and creates havoc in Chef’s kitchen, do we leave now to get married?”

She stared at his offering, a large hand with long fingers and perfectly manicured nails. Karma and prayer wouldn’t provide for her or Nan, they were days away from not being able to afford food. They needed a miracle, and as Nan would say, sometimes miracles happened in the most unexpected places. One year for the rest of her life.

She glanced up at the stars, took a breath and put her hand in his.

Acknowledgements

To my husby who lets me live my dream.

To my sons and fur children who never mind sharing me with my characters.

To Tamara Eaton, my amazing editor, my best friend, without you these stories wouldn’t be half of what they are. You are my beacon of sanity.

To Julia Clare, my amazing PA, you are always there to support me, it’s now time to hand this one over to you and let you bring it to the world.

To Teresa Neeley-Martin, oh, comma whisperer, do your best, thank you for everything.

To Traci Hyland and my amazing street team, thank you for always being there to mention me on social media!

To JR, MV, AM, without you in my other life, I wouldn’t be able to be Kim Carmichael!

To Roxy, William, Steven and Charles, no one ever had a better supporting cast.

Mostly to Logan, Ivy, Erin, Drew, Ryder and Cora, thank you for letting me have you and tell your story.

About the Author

Kim Carmichael

Kim Carmichael began writing nine years ago when her love of happy endings inspired her to create her own.

A Southern California native, Kim's contemporary romance combines Hollywood magic with pop culture to create quirky characters set against some of most unique and colorful settings in the world.

With a weakness for designer purses, bad boys and techno geeks, Kim married her own computer whiz after he proved he could keep her all her gadgets running and finally admitted handbags were an investment.

Kim is a PAN member of the Romance Writers of America, as well as some small specialty chapters. A multi-published author, Kim's books can be found on Amazon as well as Barnes & Noble.

When not writing, she can usually be found slathered in sunscreen trolling Los Angeles and helping top doctors build their practices.

To find out more about Kim Carmichael visit:

Website:
www.kimcarmichaelnovels.com

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/kimcarmichaelnovels

Twitter: @kimcarmichael4

Amazon
Author Page

Novels:

The Indelibly Marked Series – Follow The Loves and Lives of Hollywood’s Hottest Tattoo Studio

Permanent

Temporary

Trifecta – A typical Romance that just happens to have three people

On the Dotted Line

Novellas:

Closure – There’s always the one

Predictions – A weathergirl tries to change her forecast with a younger cameraman

Eternity – His choice – eternal salvation or eternal damnation

Shorts:

Interchangeable – Two men have one night to show the woman they love they are not interchangeable