Boyfriend for Hire!

"Here." Holly handed the custom-cut tissue paper to Savannah, who pressed it to her nose, tilting her head slightly forward.

"I can confidently say Ryan's probably thinking about taking back his offer," Holly teased, barely holding back laughter. "Did you know his left knee slammed into the metal chair when you pushed past him? I swear I heard a loud pop. I wouldn't be surprised if he shows up on crutches tomorrow."

"Well, news flash!" Savannah gestured to her nose, bobbing her head. "I'm going through my own thing."

"Yeah, best be careful with how you move your head about. We don't want it getting worse," Holly scolded softly.

"Exactly the point I'm trying to make. Will he take responsibility for this?" Savannah tossed the bloodstained tissue into the trash bin, then bent over the sink to wash her face.

In fairness, Ryan wasn't the reason her nerves had racked up to the point of a nosebleed; she was. She was the one who'd forgotten to delete all her pictures before boyfriend-hunting on social media. Just thinking about her family finding out made her lightheaded, like she might actually pass out.

"Well…" Holly scrunched up her nose, squinting halfway. "I doubt he even knows about this. Besides, from where I'm standing, he was just trying to help."

"Trying to help!?" Savannah exclaimed, towel-drying her face. "I can't believe you'd say that."

"All I'm saying is, if you can't see how Ryan practically saved the day and cleaned up your mess, you've got a lot more going on than I thought," Holly said carefully.

Interesting. Savannah slammed the towel into the sink, then turned to face Holly, arms crossed defensively. "Explain what you mean by that."

"Okay, shoot. Let's say Ryan didn't come up with that brilliant proposal plan and instead agreed to play your fake boyfriend—as you wanted. What would everyone who knows you were trolling for an online boyfriend think?"

"That I'm some desperate old hag hunting for a man to warm my bed?" Savannah relaxed her arms slightly, realization dawning.

"Exactly," Holly said. "So, him proposing out of the blue was the perfect way to make people see you in a different light. Some will think you've been secretly dating, or the social media post was a prank, or maybe someone hacked your account. His proposal gave people something new to talk about, and you have him to thank for that."

Savannah fell silent for a full minute, mentally processing what Holly had just said.

"Look," Holly cut into her thoughts. "All that's expected of you is that you play along. If things don't end in a wedding anytime soon, at least no one will be focused on your ridiculous ad anymore. Think about that."

"So, in other words, you're saying Ryan actually helped me?"

"Yep. And earned a broken knee for doing just that."

Why would he do that, though? Why would he help her? Savannah winced at the thought. She couldn't quite place it, but the idea that Ryan might have genuinely helped her, no strings attached, didn't sit right. There had to be a catch. He didn't even like her enough as a person to start with. So why?

"Your real problem should be figuring out if he has a girlfriend and how you're going to explain this mess to her and apologise if need be."

"Oh, come off it. Ryan can't afford to snag a girlfriend." Savannah glanced back at the mirror, brushing a loose hair strand out of her eyes like someone who had just uncovered a groundbreaking, world-altering secret. "Honestly, I don't think he ever will. Not with that disgusting attitude of his, thinking a woman is always beneath him—unless he changes somewhere along the way."

"Excuse you!" Holly snapped. "What makes you think that? Do you hate him that much, or are you obliviously blind to the fact that half the women here—married or not—have their eyes on him? That man is fine as hell."

Savannah fell out laughing.

Holly continued, "Seriously, just say you don't want him, and I'll gladly take him off your hands. Maybe you want to go alone to your sister's wedding and receive the family genealogy lecture on why you should already be married like all three of your sisters have."

"I never said I wanted that. But then again, looks aren't everything to look out for, Hollisandra" Savannah counselled. "Believe me when I say this: Ryan is the last man on earth any sane woman would want to date."

"That's where you're wrong, darling," Holly said with a playful tilt to her voice. "I'm one of the few who values looks over character. Matter of fact, I'm going over to him right now to ask him out officially."

"Don't be ridiculous." Savannah laughed heartily.

"Oh, I can be Miss Ridiculous for all I care. Well, I see you're all better now. Excuse me while I go shoot my shot."

"Good luck with that."

Holly strutted out of there, leaving Savannah cracking up pretty hard until her ribs ached. For what it was worth, the distraction was a welcomed one. After an emotionally tense day, the laugh felt like a relief—however brief.

"Jesus Christ!" Savannah yelped, clutching her chest. "You scared the shit out of me, Ryan."

"Maybe I should start sneaking up on you more often," Ryan joked. "You shrieked like you just saw a ghost."

Savannah brushed past him in a bid to appear calm. She'd returned to her office in unusually high spirits, ready to knock out the rest of her tasks for the day. But Ryan had other plans.

"Let's talk."

"Oh, great. Let me guess: you came to force a thank-you speech out of me and to brag about how you've single-handedly ruined my life. Which comes first?"

"Neither," Ryan said flatly. "I'm here to address the fact that, like it or not, everyone here now thinks we're a thing."

"That's it?" Savannah flopped back in her chair. "Because, if memory serves, I never accepted your beloved ring."

"You know, for someone who's not interested, you sure do act like you are."

"I beg your finest pardon!" Savannah slapped a hand onto her desk, then fell back in her chair laughing. "What's the colour of your delusion, sir? Just so we're clear on this, I'd never pick someone like you to go out with. Know this and know peace."

Ryan stood there for a beat—still as a mannequin, fit and proper. His sudden shift in mood threw her off. Because how could someone go from rapid-fire banter to complete silence in the blink of an eye? Who raised this man? Aliens?

Savannah flipped open her laptop, hoping to lose herself in the mundane comfort of work, praying he'd read the room and disappear. She was so focused on getting started that she didn't hear him move.

Not until she raised her eyes did she see him, breath-stoppingly close, his hot breath brushing against the curve of her exposed neckbone.