âI know this is out of nowhere,â Nigel stated, raking a hand through his hair, clearly stressed.
Sheâd only known him a short time, but sheâd never seen him this flustered. Clearly he was in a bind and wasnât any more comfortable asking her than she was being invited. She also had to assume that he wouldnât have come to her had heâd had another choice.
âMy grandmother is quite persistent,â he added, his dark eyes pleading with her.
âBut, what about my job here?â she asked, still reeling from the out-of-the-blue request. âI mean, what will everyone think? First Iâm hired as a consultant, then Iâm put in charge of heading up the marketing for the wedding episode that may or may not happen, then I go to an award ceremony with you and now a family wedding back at your home?â
Her mind was spinning just saying all of this out loud. Talk about a whirlwind experience. But the biggest issue for her was the thing she didnât dare say aloudâbetween getting swept up with Nigel and his charm and sex appeal, and her inability to deny him anything, she was running out of time to uncover information on Miranda. Every angle sheâd tried ended up a dead end. Everyone she spoke to absolutely loved the woman.
âI know it looks crazy... It is crazy,â he amended, reaching for her hands. âNobody here has to know about where weâre actually going. I can say I have you going on a trip to scout potential locations for the show.â
More lying. For someone who used to pride herself on honesty, sheâd fallen down the rabbit hole of deceit and she wasnât sure sheâd find her way back out anytime soon.
If she went away with him, Sophie knew theyâd pick up where theyâd left off the other night... That both thrilled and terrified her. Sheâd never wanted anyone the way she wanted Nigel and that was what scared her most. How could she ever let him go?
Nigelâs strong hands held hers as he continued to stare at her, imploring her with his eyes.
âHow long will we be gone?â she asked.
A toe-curling smile spread across his face. âFive days.â
Five days in an English countryside estate with a man she was quickly falling for, during which sheâd have to pretend to be his girlfriend so his family would get off his back. Seriously, what could go wrong?
Sophie had lied to get to this point and now she was taking this acting skill on an international tour.
What would her brothers think when she told them about this venture?
Maybe she should keep this part to herself. She didnât want to use Nigel. That part kept niggling at her.
She may be lying in her position here, but she wasnât lying about her growing feelings or attraction. She wasnât that good of an actress. But all of these emotions were completely unexpected and causing issues she hadnât planned on.
âI donât want to pressure you,â he told her. âI just didnât want to ask anyone else.â
The fact he trusted her with meeting his family and only added to her shame. He was being so transparent with his life with her, as far as she knew, and she was a complete phony.
Yet she couldnât say no. She wanted to spend more time with the man who made her wish this were all real. He made her daydream about a real relationship, a real attraction...a real affair instead of one based on lies.
âIâll do it,â she told him. âIâll go to England.â
Nigelâs shoulders relaxed as he stepped closer her and gripped her hands to his chest. âYou will love my home and my family. Dame Claire can be overwhelming at times, but she does everything out of love.â
Sophie wasnât sure how sheâd deal with a large, loving family and a doting grandmother...especially one with a title. Sure, she and her brothers were close, and sheâd loved her her mother, but the relationship with her father just left her feeling broken.
What would her life be like if she had a close relationship with her father? Maybe the outcome of the will wouldâve been different and Sophie and her brothers would have had their legacy given to them.
She only had her brothers now and they were depending on her. Even though Kellan had said she could come home, she didnât want to let them down. She wanted to be the one to make everything right. She wanted to give them back what had been taken away.
âWhat should I pack for this wedding?â Sophie asked, ignoring the blaring horns and red flags in her head.
Nigel quirked a brow. âIâve got everything covered. My jet will be ready to go Wednesday morning and your dresses and jewelry will be on board.â
And Sophie fell just a little deeper into this Pretty Woman scenario.
* * *
Central Park was absolutely gorgeous in the winter. Freezing, but breathtaking and so picturesque.
Sophie huddled deeper into her coat as she walked along the curved path through the park. The brisk air gave her a freshness that she didnât find in Texas heat. Besides, sheâd wanted to get out of the office and take a much-needed break.
Sheâd tried calling Vaughn, but sheâd only gotten his voice mail. She stopped at a park bench that had been cleaned off and took a seat, pulling out her phone to call Kellan.