"What?" Noah said.As if his day wasn't going downhill. Yes, he was on a plane with a beautiful woman, but the beautiful woman wanted something from him. They always did. She wanted an interview and he wanted peace of mind. Neither of those things was going to happen. Noah took the phone from her as the pilot came onto the intercom. "We're about to take off. Please put your phones in airplane mode.""I can connect to the Wifi as soon as the plane is in the air," Noah said. "Where is this? What social media?""Instagram," she said as he handed her phone back to her. She did as the pilot instructed and then tucked her phone away. Noah had seen the picture long enough to know what it looked like. They looked as if they were having an intimate moment. From the outside, he could see how reporters thought he'd dropped into the airport to pick up his love. He'd been holding her hand and looking down at her with a curious, but a delighted expression. That hadn't been what he'd been feeling
Hailey blinked. "What?""You heard me. Neither of us wants a relationship. You pretend to be my girlfriend," Noah said. "This is nuts, Noah."But then again, was it? She shook her head. No. No one would believe that she was Noah's girlfriend. "What reservations are you having?" he asked. "I don't even know where to begin. We don't even know each other.""We can figure that part out," Noah said. He looked at her with earnestness in his eyes. He reminded her of a puppy dog looking for a treat. He was more handsome than she'd originally thought. He had eyes that were ice blue with dark lashes fringing them. Women would kill for those lashes. Women would kill to be in this position. This close to a celebrity and it was her job. "Noah. This is crazy.""I know, but it's a crazy world and this could be the answer to many problems."She wanted to believe him as she searched his face. Was he pranking her? No one would believe this. He seemed serious. "Are you kidding me?"He shook his head
That was not a stipulation that Hailey had expected or wanted. "I can't write about you?""No. Now that you are my girlfriend, pretend or not, I'm off-limits."She had to think about this and she didn't have much time. With the plane landing, she only had a few minutes before it would come to stop where Noah would get out. She could stay on the plane and never see him again. That meant not getting any scoop other than he wasn't dating Cassandra. He could deny anything she wrote about him. Her credibility would be shot. Or she could off the plane with him, as his girlfriend, but never get his story. She could get other stories. Could she sell this to her editor?"Is it that difficult a choice? We can write up a contract and make it all legal. You'll know what I expect and vice versa," he said.Noah sounded so reasonable, but it was her career on the line. This affected her more than him. She could lose her job over this. Unless she could convince her editor that Noah wasn't the great s
They did find something in her size. Hailey guessed that it wasn't all supermodels that used private jets. It was a life she only reported on and didn't live it. The blouse and pants fit her well and it was the nicest material she'd ever worn that wasn't cotton. Silk maybe? She didn't know and she wasn't going to ask and show her ignorance.She intended to fake it until this was all over. She would walk off this plane as if she dated rock stars every day. Noah wasn't better than her. "The coast still looks clear. Just one person is wandering around the tarmac," the pilot said.Noah nodded. "Thanks." He turned his gaze to Hailey. "You ready?""As I'll ever be."They stood as the pilot opened the airstairs. The warmth of the sun hit Hailey and she blinked as she put her foot on the first step. There were no camera flashes. No reporters shouting questions. There were logistical things she had to deal with, like getting back to her car, but that was okay. She felt as if Noah was on her s
Hailey had no idea how she was going to do that with her promise to Noah, but she didn't say anything to her boss. They hung up and Hailey frowned. "Problem?" Noah asked. Hailey shook herself. "No, I don't think so.""Is your boss happy?" he asked.He leaned on a wall inside the hangar, his legs crossed at his ankles. "Happy might be an understatement," Hailey said.The woman wouldn't stay happy if Hailey didn't deliver a scoop on Noah. She'd figure that out later. She couldn't betray him right off. She looked him over. The man could have shoved her out of the plane at any time. Instead, he protected her and then made the situation even better when he found out who she was. She couldn't betray him that easily. Her mind searched for a solution, but she knew she'd come up with one at some point. Not right now that the man in question was staring at her with a bemused smile on his face. He was known for that look and it probably charmed the pants off many women.Not Hailey. She was i
"I wrote the contract, but I still don't like it," Justin Lake, Noah's lawyer, and best friend said. "This is nuts, Noah."Noah let his friend rant, but he wasn't backing down. This was a solution to several of his problems. He'd keep Hailey as his pretend girlfriend while he was filming. She'd get what she wanted and he'd get what he wanted. Noah didn't see the problem. "I think you are making way too big a deal of this, Justin.""No, I'm not. You're entering into a contract with a woman you just met.""At least I had you draft a contract," Noah said.He paced outside the storefront office. Hailey was inside waiting for him. She didn't mention bringing her lawyer. She'd get the first crack at perusing the contract, but Noah did not doubt that Justin made it ironclad. He was second in a class at Harvard Law. The man knew how to write things so they couldn't be broken. "Yes, you did, but you were kind of vague. It may need revisions. We don't know what Hailey's lawyer will want to add
"Hey kiddo," her father said, sounding as if he were in good spirits.Hopefully, today was a good day for him. No bad news. She didn't know if her brain could handle anything else. "How are things?""The nurses are giving me fits," he said. It wasn't a complaint and she knew it wasn't true. Most likely he was giving the nurses at his rehabilitation facility a hard time. He didn't mean it. He was a good man, but he was still adjusting to his circumstances. He'd gone from running his own business to being the victim of a crime to now having health issues. It had been a quick and steep decline for her father, and the man still hadn't grasped it. He wanted to have command of his life the way he always had. She sympathized with him, but the nurses weren't at fault. "Please behave, Dad.""I am behaving. Why do you take their side?""Because I know you."He wasn't angry at her. She had only seen her father angry at her once and she'd deserved it. He could get cranky knowing that he'd lost
Noah's breath went away, but he didn't let Hailey know what he'd heard. She'd told someone that she loved them. He thought she'd said hello to her father, but he wanted to be sure. "Problem?"She sat there for a moment staring off into space. He wanted to comfort her because she was in some distress. Then she shook herself and smiled at him. It didn't reach her eyes. "No problem."Noah didn't believe her, but he let it go. He would investigate further. Was it her father that she'd been talking to? She hadn't mentioned a boyfriend or he wouldn't have suggested what they were about to sign a contract over. He cocked his head, but she rose before he could say anything more. When they were both back in Roland's office, the lawyer looked from one to the other. "I read through this and I find it highly unusual."Noah shrugged. "I'm sure it is, but neither of us is in normal circumstances."Noah suspected that there was more going on with Hailey than she let on. He wondered if she was having