“Not for long,” I counter. “I have no idea where our company stands.”

  Willow turns me by the shoulders to face the floor-length mirror. Then, she gathers my long blonde hair in her hands and runs her fingers through it. “You have to stop worrying about work. Nate is an asshole. It’s his problem to deal with, not yours.”

  I suck in a deep breath and let it out, staring at Willow in the mirror. “Yeah, but it’s my family’s company, too. One-third of it will belong to me if there’s anything left of it.”

  “You’ve been sulking about it all day. I’m sure your dad will figure something out. Don’t let Nate take this night away from you. You finally met a man you like. I never thought that would happen. I’m starting to wonder if you even have a type. You chase away some serious hotties.”

  “Not everyone cares about looks,” I say with a wicked smirk.

  She flips her black hair over her shoulder and smiles. “Fine, stick with the nerdy ones. You’re probably better off. At least they know how to make money. I could use a sugar daddy at the rate I’m going.”

  “I don’t care about money,” I shoot back. “I want to be with someone who gets me.”

  She sighs. “You’re such a romantic.”

  “I’m still looking for my Mr. Darcy.”

  She glances over at the beat-up copy of Pride and Prejudice on my nightstand. I cracked the spine in half, the hardbound book so bent out of shape it would make any book lover cringe. My favorite scenes and quotes are dog-eared, bookmarked, and highlighted. I fell in love with Jane Austen in high school, and ever since then, I have held out hope that the men she wrote about are real. There has to be a Mr. Darcy for every woman, or at least that’s what I tell myself.

  “It could be worse,” Willow says. “You could be me. I have a fashion degree that couldn’t land me a job to save my life. Now, I’m stuck working for an asshole talent agent who won’t even let me speak to any of the stars.”

  I pat her on the shoulder. “With your personality, you’ll land a client at some point. You have to work your way up to it. Look how long it took my dad to give me a managerial position, when Nate and his brother were handed jobs on silver platters because they’re men.”

  She purses her lips. “Yeah, good point. I’m making friends with assistants at other agencies, so I can see who’s on the market before agents scoop them up. If I buy them enough lattes and sushi to butter them up, it will pay off someday.” Willow’s eyes fall to the floor and then the bed as she takes in the mess I made. “Anyway, we have to get you dressed for this date. But you sure did a number on this place.”

  “I don’t know what to wear.”

  “Everything will work out.” She holds up her hands and shrugs. “And if it doesn’t, you can always use Date Crashers.”

  I narrow my eyes at her. “Date Crashers? No thanks. Nate’s friend from MIT coded that stupid app.”

  Willow steers me away from the mirror. I follow her into the walk-in closet and watch as she flips through the hangers.

  “Red is your color,” she says with her back turned to me. “I think Kevin will like you in red.”

  Willow throws a cranberry-colored dress with lacy cap sleeves at me. I hold it in front of my body to admire its simplistic perfection. The top scoops low enough to show some cleavage and stops a few inches above my knee.

  “Wear this one. I have it in black. If Kevin doesn’t want to rip this off you, I can guarantee other men at the restaurant will be happy to take his place.”

  I smile at myself in the mirror. “This is perfect.”

  Willow opens her palm. “Give me your phone.”

  I fish my cell phone from my pocket and hand it to Willow.

  “If this date sucks, you have to get out of there.” The keys click as she types. “No more losers. You don’t have time for scrubs.”

  “What are you doing? You have a devious look in your eyes. I don’t like it.”

  She laughs as she types at a rapid pace. “Making sure you have a way out if this date goes south.”

  “I’m not using Date Crashers.”

  “This app has saved me so many times. You have no idea.”

  I roll my eyes at her. “When have you ever tried online dating?”

  “Hello, I use Tinder all the time.”

  “But you never go out with any of the guys.”

  “That’s because I almost always swipe left. A girl needs standards when it comes to men. The guys on there are so gross. You would be surprised how many guys ask for tit pics.”

  “What do you write back?”

  “Dick pic?”

  I chuckle. “Do they send it?”

  She stares at me as if I asked the dumbest question in the world. “Are you kidding me? They can’t wait to send that shit. Especially the hung guys. Let me tell you, girl, the face rarely matches the dick. I need the whole package.”

  I laugh so hard my stomach hurts. “You’re crazy.”

  “Crazy awesome,” she counters. “So, this is Date Crashers.” Willow comes up to my side and opens the app. “I can’t believe you haven’t used this yet.” She points at the Crash My Date icon on her phone. “If your date sucks, click here. I’m already a member, so don’t worry about entering your personal information. I logged you in under my account. They’ll track your location using the GPS on your phone. Make sure you have your location services turned on. Otherwise, you could be stuck on the date from hell, up shits creek, and without a paddle.”

  “We’ve gone out twice before. I doubt I’ll need to use this with Kevin.” I take my phone from her and study the icons. “How is this considered a dating app? They pull people apart instead of bringing them together.”

  “Most people meet online now. Not everyone on those sites is who they say they are.” She scrunches her nose and makes a weird face. “You have to be careful of creeps. An app like Date Crashers keeps you from sitting through a shitty dinner with a guy you don’t like.”

  “I know Dylan Banks,” I confess. “He coded Date Crashers while he was living in a Hacker Hostel with Nate. Dylan and Nate were thinking about coding a video game kind of like The Sims, but it would focus on breaking up bad dates.”

  Willow bends down to retrieve a pair of black pumps from one of the built-in shelves at the bottom of the closet. She slides them in front of me and pushes herself up from the floor.

  “Don’t be afraid to use it. A Crasher will get rid of him for you.”

  I bite the inside of my cheek, nerves bubbling inside my chest. “I hope no one ever used Date Crashers on me.”

  She gives me a wicked smile and then winks. “You’d never know.”

  “And this is why I hate dating,” I groan.

  I strip off my shirt and pants and lower the dress over my head.

  Willow stares at me in the mirror and gives me a thumbs up in approval. “You look hot, babe. Check out that ass in this dress.” She gives my backside a hard smack that causes me to jump forward with a yelp. “You’ll knock him dead. Don’t worry about using Date Crashers. After Kevin gets one look at you, he’ll need to call 911.”

  I take a few deep breaths and let them out, hoping I don’t need an exit strategy. But after the day I’ve had, I might.

  * * *

  I search the hotel bar for a man in his mid-thirties, tall with sandy blond hair and gray eyes. We were supposed to meet at the Fountain Bar before dinner. Kevin is not here.

  So, I take a seat at the bar and order a cosmopolitan—Willow’s signature drink. The bartender slides the glass in front of me. I take a sip, and the sweet scent of cranberry and lime fills my nostrils.

  “Excuse me, miss?” Someone taps me on the shoulder, and I glance over. “Are you Harley McQueen?”

  A balding man, dressed in a black suit, white shirt, and purple tie, flashes a closed-mouth smile at me. The name tag on his jacket reads, Chris Swanson, Hotel Manager.

  “Yes,” I say, somewhat nervous. “I’m Harley McQueen.”

  Oh, no, did Kevin use Date Crashers on me?

  “Mr. Fredrick is on his way.” He extends his arm toward the door. “If you could follow me.”

  “How come Kevin isn’t here?” I ask the hotel manager as we walk through the lobby.

  “Mr. Fredrick is running late. He asked me to show you to his usual table.”

  This feels like my childhood all over again. Another workaholic who has other people do his bidding for him. I knew we both were career-driven and wanted similar things, but this side of Kevin reminds me too much of my father. After my mom left, my dad practically lived in his office at Queen Takes King. Without Nate by my side, I would have had a miserable childhood. Nate made the worst days bearable.

  We enter the restaurant located on the south side of the hotel and climb a flight of stairs to the second floor. I stare down at the people below us, taking in the scent of herbs and spices floating in the air. The manager leads me to a large, circular booth at the far corner of the balcony, out of sight from other patrons. The setting is so private, intimate. It’s hands-down the best seat in the house.

  “I’ll send your waitress over,” he says with his hands clasped in front of him. “Mr. Fredrick will arrive shortly.”

  I force a nervous smile, hoping he doesn’t notice my quivering lip. “Thank you.”

  Deep breaths, Harley. I hate that my mind instantly goes to that dark place, where everyone has abandoned me, and I’m stuck here alone and miserable. I dig my cell phone from my purse to text Willow. My best friend always knows what to do in any situation. She’s so calm and confident, I wish some of her energy would rub off on me.

  “Welcome to Pinnacle,” a woman says, her voice so loud it pierces my eardrum.

  I jump, startled by the intrusion, and peek up at a young brunette, who’s standing at my side. She has her hair pulled up into a high ponytail off her heart-shaped face, dressed in a fitted black dress shirt and matching pants that hug her curves.

  She cups my shoulder and laughs. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  I blow out a deep breath. “It’s okay. I didn’t hear you coming.”

  “I’m Karla,” she says, sliding her hand off my shoulder to remove a pad and pen from her pocket. “And I’ll be taking care of you tonight. Can I get you a beverage?”

  “My date isn’t here yet.”

  She waves off my concern. “Our signature drink is the Pinnacletini. It’s our version of an apple martini. If you prefer wine, I can show you the wine list, or if you’re in the mood for something fruity, we also have a strawberry and banana daiquiri that’s incredible.”

  I raise my glass. “I’m still nursing my cosmo.”

  She presses her glossed lips together and smiles. “Sure, let me know if you need anything.”

  Before she turns away, I say, “Do you wait on Mr. Frederick often?” The words fall from my lips before I even realize it.

  “When I’m working, yes. He’s one of our regulars.” She fidgets as if she’s said too much. “Well, I’m sure Mr. Frederick will be here soon.”

  She takes off down the aisle in a hurry. Maybe I’ll need Date Crashers after all. Kevin didn’t strike me as the player type. Not like Nate. But when it comes to men, maybe I’m not the best judge of character.

  Needing a distraction, I text Willow.

  Harley: Can you believe this jerk isn’t here. The hotel manager had to escort me to his “usual” table.

  Willow: Gross. Either cut and run or use Date Crashers.

  Harley: So much for him being one of the good ones.

  Willow: Mr. Darcy doesn’t exist in real life, babe.

  Harley: Yes, he does. I just haven’t found him yet.

  Willow: Tinder is always an option.

  Harley: No way!

  Willow: You could use a proper dicking. It’s been WAY too long.

  I shake my head, blushing ten shades of red at her words. Like I need a reminder of my sexless, loveless life. Willow is a free spirit who wants to experience everything life has to offer, while I want nothing more than to settle down and have some security in my life.

  I’ll never stop believing in true love.

  Jane Austen taught me that men are complicated but also capable of real love, the kind of love my parents never had. I think that’s why I want it so much. When it comes to relationships, I believe there is someone for everyone. Every woman has a Mr. Darcy, and he’s waiting to find her, even if he doesn’t know it yet.

  A shadow appears above me as I send my last text to Willow. I peek up at Kevin, who bends down to press a kiss on my cheek. His spicy aftershave fills my nostrils as his lips brush my ear.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting.” His voice is so smooth and sexy a shiver rolls down my arms.

  I glance up at him, entranced by his beauty. An adorable dimple pops against his golden skin as his eyes lock with mine. He fixes his dark blue tie and takes his place on the bench across from me.

  “My phone call with China went over,” he says, lifting the menu from the table.

  It’s morning in China, so maybe he’s telling the truth.

  “It’s fine,” I lie. “I understand.”

  Is it really, though?

  “The steak here is phenomenal.”

  “I’m not much of a steak eater.”

  Kevin narrows his eyes at me. “You haven’t tasted the right steak, then.”

  I roll my shoulders and glance at the menu. “Yeah, I guess.”

  He removes a roll from the breadbasket at the center of the table. “You should try one. They bake their onion rolls fresh daily.”

  I hope he doesn’t expect a kiss at the end of the night. I don’t have any gum in my purse, and an onion roll will give me dragon breath. But, since he doesn’t seem to care, I butter a roll and stuff half of it into my mouth.

  “You okay?” He slides his hand across the table to cover mine. “Sorry, I was late. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”

  Before tonight, I thought Kevin was different, unlike the men in my life. I must be a human magnet for self-absorbed assholes.

  “I’ve spent most of my life waiting around for important men,” I say without hesitation. “You can’t get more time on this earth, and I don’t like having mine wasted.”

  He lowers his gaze and sighs. “Harley, I can’t promise it won’t happen again. But I swear I will try. My business—”

  “Is more important,” I finish for him. “I get it.”

  My cell phone rings, and I frown when I see DAD flashing on the screen. He never calls me after normal business hours. After the conversation we had this morning, this must be about the future of our company.

  I hold up the phone and slide out of the booth. “I’m sorry, but I have to take this.”

  I walk away before he has the chance to respond, raising the phone to my ear. “Hey, Dad.” I head toward the bathroom at the end of the balcony to get some privacy. “What’s up?”

  “Harley, I need you to come home.” His tone is severe, demanding. “This situation with Nate needs a certain touch, and I need all hands on deck.”

  “How can I help?”

  He breathes loudly into the phone. “I need you on the red-eye tonight.”

  “Sure, whatever you need.”

  “Come straight to my office.” He sounds relieved. “I’ll order breakfast from your favorite place.”

  I’m surprised he remembers what I like to eat. After years of only seeing each other for holidays and company-related events, we barely know each other anymore.

  “Sounds good,” I say after a long pause. “I’ll see you then.”

  He’s never asked me to come back to Philly on short notice. I guess he wants to tell me I’m out of a job in person. Unless we can find another investor to replace Titan Tech, I don’t see a way out of our financial mess.

  After we hang up, I return to the table and lift my purse from the bench. “I have to go. I’m sorry.”

  Kevin stands up, towering over me. “I’m sorry for showing up late.” He cups my shoulder with his big hand and pulls me closer. “I want to make it up to you.”

  “It’s not you.”

  His eyebrows rise. “It’s me.”

  I shake my head. “No, nothing like that. I have a family emergency. My dad needs me in Philly by morning.”

  He nods. “Does it have to do with Nathan King? I read Tech Crunch this morning.”

  “I don’t know,” I lie. “My dad wouldn’t say. I have to pack and get to the airport.”

  “When will you be back? I’d like to take you out again, and next time, I promise nothing will keep me away.”

  I smile at his words. “I’m not sure. Maybe a few days max. I’ll text you when I can. I have a feeling my dad is going to keep me busy.”

  Kevin wraps me in his arms , and I take in his manly scent. He feels so good as his muscles flex around me, holding me in a tight grip. I had hoped tonight we could get closer and that I could blow the cobwebs off my chastity belt, as Nate said earlier. How does Nate know I haven’t had sex in forever? And why am I thinking of him while I’m in Kevin’s arms?

  “Have a safe flight. Good luck,” he says against the shell of my ear.

  When it comes to Nate, I need all the luck I can get.

  Chapter Four

  Nate

  I need a fake bride, and I need one fast. My dad was serious about forcing Harley to marry me. She would do it, too, I know she would. Harley puts her family first, even when it’s to her detriment.

  If I asked, more like begged her, would she say yes? Probably not. I would have to do a lot of groveling to get in her good graces. We hardly know each other anymore. Our relationship is beyond strained, worse than if we were complete strangers. I don’t know how to win this version of Harley over.

  What the fuck am I going to do?

  I blink a few times to clear my vision as I scroll through the women’s names in my cell phone. I don’t even have the phone number of the woman from the pictures. Not like I would ever call her again, even if I had it. Harley would kill me if she knew the truth, leaving us zero chance of rekindling our friendship.