Tailored for Trouble: A Romantic Comedy (Happy Pants) (20 page)

“So I paid him for nothing?” Chip laughed. “Slimy son of a bitch. Wait, but doesn’t he let you call him Bennett?”

“He doesn’t let me; I just do,” she replied.

“Then he must be into you.”

“Bennett?” she deflected nervously. “Into me? No.”

“You’re lying. I’m hanging up now.”

“Our relationship is complicated,” she blurted out.

“In that case, you have something I want.”

“I already told you I’m not sleeping with you, but I will help you get your million dollars back.” She wasn’t really sure she could, but maybe Bennett planned to give back the money anyway, given what he’d said about making things right.

“I don’t want it back,” Chip said. “Bennett lost the last three rounds of golf, so I’m still ahead.”

How much do they bet on golf?

“Be my date tonight,” Chip said.

“What? No,” she replied sharply.

“You want to see him?”

“Yes.”

“Then you’ll have to be my date.”

Taylor rolled her eyes. “Why?”

“Because if he’s into you, there’s no greater prize than watching his face when he thinks he’s lost you to me. And you better do a good job, or I’ll tell my mother that Bennett lied about sleeping with you to get a million dollars out of me. I’m sure she would love that.”

“You wouldn’t,” Taylor seethed. It wouldn’t matter to Mary who instigated the bet. She would want nothing to do with Bennett if she found out he had taken part in it.

“I would. And then she won’t sell her company to him. She hates liars.”

Wow
. Chip really was as low as they came.

“Fine. I’ll be your date,” she said.

“Excellent. And maybe you’ll change your mind about the fun after that.”

“No. I won’t.”

“We’ll see about that. I’ll text you the address once I’m on my way to the restaurant so you can meet me out front. And wear something nice.”

Was a hooker red dress from the airport considered nice these days in Paris?

Taylor stood outside the posh restaurant nestled between a very fancy handbag shop and a shoe store she’d never be able to afford in a million years, shivering in the cool evening air. Chip had given her strict instructions to wait out front.

She’d tried to reach Bennett several more times, stopping only to book herself a new flight home, but the calls kept going straight to voicemail. Had the pouty bastard blocked her? Still, she hoped to at least intercept him before he entered the restaurant. But then again, if she did that, Chip might tell his mother about the million-dollar lie, and Bennett would lose the deal. It was a lost cause. She had to go along with Chip.

Well, maybe Bennett won’t care if you show up with Chip.
After all, it wasn’t like she and Bennett were dating. They’d shared two kisses, and he’d had a little sleepy time fun with her privates, but other than that, they were…acquaintances.
No, that’s not exactly right either.
Honestly, she didn’t know what they were.

Well, whatever it is, we’re about to become nothing.
Less than nothing, because Bennett would be furious when he learned about the fake module.

This is the right thing to do, Tay. You’d never live with yourself if he lost his big deal.

Chip pulled up in a sleek black Jaguar and handed the keys to a valet. When he got to the sidewalk, his brown eyes practically shot from his head. “Taylor. Don’t you look…that is one…that dress is so…” He ran his hand self-consciously over the top of his thinning blond hair and then licked his almost nonexistent lips. The man basically had just a hole for a mouth, which made his drooling look worse than it probably was.

She sighed. She knew she looked like a woman ready for some serious action, but she hoped he would remember what she said:
Not getting him happy!

“Thanks,” she said coolly. “So where’s your mother?”

“Oh, she’s inside already. With Bennett.”

Taylor growled under her breath. She’d been standing outside while Bennett had been in there. She should’ve realized.

Chip reached out and tried to pull her close. “Now, how about a little warm-up kiss?”

She winced and pushed away. “I said I’d be your date, not make out with you.”

“You have to make it convincing, or I tell Mother.”

Taylor shook her head. “Why do you always have to be such a pig? And what’s with you, anyway? You and Bennett are supposed to be buddies.”

“Wade and I go way back to college, yes. But I can’t count the number of girlfriends I’ve lost to him.”

“Bennett stole your girlfriends?”

“Technically, they weren’t my girlfriends. Yet. But getting any woman’s attention with Wade around is impossible.”

So how was that his fault? The man couldn’t help that he was smokin’ hot any more than Chip could help not having lips.

He continued, “This is my chance to take someone from him.”

“Bennett and I are not in a relationship. We’re just—”

“Stop. He lets you call him Bennett in public, he’s been seen with you more than once, and he took you on a business trip—”

“As a consultant,” she argued.

“Trust me. I know the man. He doesn’t spend that much time with anyone. Ever,” he added.

His words made her stomach all twisty. She really wished she meant something to Bennett, but it simply didn’t seem to be the case. “You’re wrong. I’m telling you; he won’t care.”

Chip wiggled his brows. “Let’s just see about that.”

This was going to be so horrible. She’d tell him that the materials she “gave” him were not to be used. He’d ask why. She’d say something vague like they weren’t good enough. He’d press for more, and she’d be forced to admit the truth of what she’d done in front of Mary and Chip. Then Bennett would yell at her in front of the entire restaurant and have her thrown out. She would leave with her tail between her legs, having saved Bennett from blowing up his merger, but he’d never speak to her again.

The thought set off all sorts of strange emotions.
Uh, that would be called sadness, Tay.

“Shall we?” Chip extended his arm. “Hope you like sushi.”

She swallowed back her laughter as they entered together.
A French sushi restaurant? Seriously? Please don’t let them serve fugu.

Chip spoke to the host in fluent French, and they followed the man through the upscale restaurant. It wasn’t like any sushi restaurant she’d ever seen—white tablecloths, waiters in tuxedos, and abstract paintings of fish on the walls. No floating sushi boats in this place.

As they passed through the dining room, she caught all sorts of attention with her scandalous red dress. And these were the people who gave the Fifty Shades movie a PG-12 rating. Nothing shocked the French.
Except your revealing, horribly tight outfit, which is now displaying your hard chilly nipples.

When they approached the table, she spotted Mary Rutherford’s short, wavy, white hair and Bennett’s full, thick head of dark hair. He and Mary were leaning toward each other, deep in discussion. Mary was smiling but looked subtly annoyed.
Oh no!
And Bennett was just rattling on, but didn’t seem to be noticing.

Wait. Who’s she?

A stunning redhead with a face, eyes, and body only seen in movies or on the covers of airbrushed magazines sat beside Bennett. She had full lips, ample cleavage pouring from the low-cut neck of her black dress, and she couldn’t be a day over twenty-two.

Bennett brought a date. I think I just might die.

Bennett glanced at Taylor and then back at Mary and then his head snapped back to Taylor, his eyes widening and sweeping over her body.

Mary looked right at Taylor, too, then at Chip.

“Chip, honey,” Mary said, her tone deceptively sweet, “you’re late. And you brought a…date.” Her critical gaze landed back on Taylor and then she lit up. “Well, hello Ms. Reed. I almost didn’t recognize you in that dress. I had no idea you were in town.”

“Nice to see you again, Mary,” Taylor said, trying to keep her body from shaking in a fit of jealousy. And seriously? Did Bennett have to bring someone so hot? She was a perfect ten. Per. Fect. Meanwhile, Taylor was average height and had the sort of body one acquired from a lifestyle dedicated to the pursuit of trying to stay employed and working behind a computer. Totally normal. A solid six.

Chip took Taylor’s hand. “Yes. Sorry about the last-minute headcount.”

A waiter appeared with an extra chair, setting a place for Taylor at the large round table, directly across from Bennett.

Bennett slowly rose from his seat, his eyes bouncing between Chip and Taylor.

“Wade, old boy,” said Chip. “I believe you know my date, Taylor.”

Bennett frowned and dipped his head. “Ms. Reed. So you’re still in Paris.”

“You two know each other?” Mary asked, her eyebrow rising slightly.

“She works for me. Or used to anyway,” Bennett explained.

“I see.” Mary looked at Taylor. Although Mary had to be in her late sixties or early seventies, she didn’t look a day over fifty with her smooth creamy skin. Publicly, she attributed it to her products, but no one could look that good without a little help from a scalpel. “Well, Ms. Reed, it is a pleasure to see you again. I heard you left that headhunter company.”

“I did. I started my own business,” Taylor replied.

“That’s lovely,” said Mary, approvingly. “I am a firm believer in blazing one’s own trail.” That was certainly true. Mary had started Lady Mary when she was in her early twenties after her husband—an older man—ran off with his secretary, leaving her with a new baby and little income. What had started as a door-to-door business, with Mary selling hand-blended perfumes just to make ends meet, had resulted in a global empire. “Life is about living your most beautiful dream” became her company’s slogan, and it made her billions.

“Taylor was waiting outside my apartment,” said Chip, “and I insisted she join us for dinner.”

Mary gave him a harsh look. Chip had made it sound like Taylor had been hoping to seduce him or something.

“I was doing some last-minute shopping before heading home,” Taylor clarified. Or lied.
Whatever. This is awful.
“Just stopped by to say hi.”

“Well, pleased you could join us, dear,” Mary said graciously, although Taylor was sure that crashing a dinner was not on the woman’s list of proper behaviors.

Bennett’s cold eyes burned into Taylor from across the table.

“Um. Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude,” Taylor said, losing her nerve.

Chip put his arm around her and kissed her cheek. “Now, now. I wouldn’t dream of letting you out of my sight, Taylor. It’s been a long few months.” Chip pulled the chair out for her. “You’re always working and too busy for me, but your surprise visit makes up for all that time apart.”

Mary cocked a brow, clearly surprised by the news that they had some kind of relationship. “Well, there you are then. You will have to stay. My Chip insists. Mr. Wade was just explaining how he and Brigitte also happened to bump into each other today.”

“It wasn’t exactly a bump,” Bennett elaborated. “I also stopped by her apartment merely to say hello, but then I thought she might like to join us.”

Taylor felt her stomach knot with devastation. Not only had she been replaced as his date, just like that, but Bennett had gone on a booty call? Seriously?

Brigitte smiled. “I lobe it when my Bennett surprises me wit his bumps,” she said in a perky little voice with her perky little French accent.

Taylor’s heart dissolved right inside her chest. Brigitte had called him Bennett.
Bennett.
Only his mother and women he slept with got to call him that.

You call him that.

Yes, but only because I’m stubborn and he lets it slide.

But this woman—
ugh
—she was sexy and petite and had those full lips men were so into. Taylor had freckles on her nose, wide-ish hips, and plain old everything. She wasn’t ugly, but she wasn’t going to get stopped in the street and asked to model for a Victoria’s Secret catalog either.

Now, now. You sport the flannel animal-themed jammies with the best of ’em.

“It’s nice to meet you, Brigitte. I’m Taylor Reed.”

Brigitte flashed a sour little smile. “Hello,” she said, sounding more like “halo.”

“Yes, lovely to meet you, Brigitte,” Chip agreed, giving her his version of the charming lipless smile. “Any friend of Bennett’s is a friend of mine.”

“Chip, dear,” said Mary, “stop flirting with Mr. Wade’s date. It’s pathetic and I taught you better.”

“Yes, Mother,” Chip replied dejectedly.

“So, Ms. Reed,” Mary said. “Tell me about this new business of yours.”

“Um. Okay.” This was it. Time to come clean and take her licking. “Well, I developed a coaching course for executives to help them connect better with their employees and cut down on turnover. It’s a new way of thinking about leadership—a bottom-up approach versus top-down. It helps foster loyalty.”

“And would you call yourself loyal?” Bennett asked Taylor, his tone as frigid as his gaze.

She lifted her chin. Yes, she would. But Bennett would never see her as that. He’d never understand how sorry she was. “I do. In fact, I needed to tell you that the material I gave you was—”

“Mr. Wade, I’m shocked,” Mary said. “Have you been taking this course from Ms. Reed?”

Keeping his fierce gaze glued to Taylor, Bennett gave a quick nod. “Yes, and I’ve learned quite a lot.” His eyes flickered toward Chip for a moment, making his point clear to Taylor—that he saw her being with Chip as a sign of betrayal. Or maybe he was disappointed? She didn’t know.

Mary let out a little laugh. “Well, that is impressive, Mr. Wade. I never saw you as a man who pursued self-improvement. I thought I noticed something different about you, but couldn’t put my finger on it.”

Mary actually seemed…pleased? Whatever coaching ideas Bennett had exercised today, he must’ve only used them minimally.

Mary added, “And now we know we have you to thank for it, Ms. Reed.” She smiled and it seemed genuine.

Taylor mentally phewed, realizing she’d panicked for no reason. And now that she thought about it, she should’ve known that Bennett’s arrogance would take over and demand he do things his way.
I’m Bennett Fucking Wade. The boss!

Bennett kept his sharp gaze focused on Taylor. “Yes, thank you, Ms. Reed, for enlightening me.”

“And I should thank
you
, old boy,” Chip said, “for getting my beautiful Taylor here to Paris.” Chip brushed Taylor’s cheek lovingly, and she wanted to shrink away, but didn’t. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for her to come around.”

Bennett’s face turned an embittered shade of red.

Oh God.
This was not going well. Or maybe it was? Bennett’s deal with Mary seemed to be moving forward, despite everything.

Taylor needed to take a moment and regroup. “I am going to use the powder room.” She stood, and Chip did the same, pulling out her chair like an attentive boyfriend, a wickedly triumphant smile on his face.

“Don’t keep us waiting long,
mon cherie
,” Chip said.

“I think I weel join her.” Brigitte moved to stand, and Bennett rose to pull back her chair. She leaned forward and kissed Bennett on the cheek. “I’ll be right back, Benny.”

Benny?
Taylor wanted to hurl. Was that the name he let women use when their relationship was more than just fucking? Maybe “Benny” was the next level up, like boyfriend or perhaps serious snuggler and “Ben” was reserved for his future wife.

Taylor swallowed back her jealousy, trying to focus on the positive. She hadn’t ruined Bennett’s life—good—and now she knew the truth: He hadn’t really been interested in her at all. He’d gone on a booty call or snuggly session or whatever Benny did with a beautiful woman like Brigitte.

Yes, I finally understand my place in his world.

Not turning around to look at the supermodel on her heels, Taylor found the bathroom. Once inside, she went to the vanity area next to the sinks to freshen up her makeup and convince herself that she could make it through the night without crying.