e in front of me; my cell phone screen

was

general. Now I was staring at the empty seat ac

nd topped off my tea. "Sir, would yo

and left the table. Where was she? Had she changed her mind? No, she wou

he was in a dress that she didn't seem comfortable in, but she looked

stepped into the restaurant. The host spoke to her while she nerv

d she politely pointed my way. The host led her over, and I reluctantly

y is here," our host

yes. She cleared her throat at my staring and tucked a pie

not have a GPS

ave been nice," I said, ge

es narrowed a bit f

anded her a menu. "What can

tea, p

ulders were tense, and she looked oddly

ual,"

fer a smile. In fact, she looked about two seconds away fro

k in my chai

y feminine. A soft heart shape with lips that looked kissable. H

vestock was not what I had in mind while picking out

id. "That's

you do, C

rinks and she nervously took

ready to orde

d hurriedly scanned over

handed it to Stephanie. "We'll

Hines. We'll ha

then she glanced back at me. "What if

thigh. "If you don't like it,

ms across her stomach. This was not going how I imagined it wo

do you do?

urious face. "I own this

ulders slumped and she sat back against

asked, lean

Charlot

seen all over Google when I looked her up. "

er cell phone, and showed me the screen. On h

h lifted and I almost

own soon and didn't want you to wait on her. Can you please just give her a second date when you get back? Then she can woo you herself? This is stre

her lack of etiquette and her unintere

gave me her first au

Ava, there is no reason to waste the

it tables to make ends meet. I don't have the money or the class tha

them into her clutch. Stephanie brought over our food and slipped it in f

luscious lips op

ll. Someone I could mold into the wife I needed. Not someone with tons of money. Someone who wasn't used to money. Someone that would care for it, admire

she was desperate. Someone who wou

d me to do this, which is embarrassing, but I needed the money. She has the flu and should

iece of food. "Do you know

face closely.

ct from the pocket of my shirt. "I di

, Charlotte is going to

wly slid it across the table. "I'm not offering

t marry you, Fletcher. What is this?" she asked, looking around the restaurant. "Some kind of prank

of contract. Arranged marriages weren't a common th

pped in the door frame. He eyed Ava with a

it was going. It was going, but I wasn't sure where we

reaching across the t

asp. "No, you listen. I'm here for my sister who has this

n my blood. "You don't thin

m not the person you're looking for. I don't know why you need to sudden

hear me out," I said softly, uncharacteristically. "Read the contract, Ava. Don't tell yo

o her clutch. "The answer is no, but out

late. "Can I t

meal? I won't hold you down and force you to m

and she took a slow bit

reen eyes were intently staring at me when I looked back. "No offense, bu

ickly, and the auction was a go

ith money?

h cl

she said with a shrug

eed to have Ava. Even if she did get her sister to agree to look at the contract

fered her my hand. Reluctantly, she took it and let me guide her out of the resta

to marry you,"

. I'll speak with

r shoulder, turning her back to fac

et out of ther

person for the job. Though as Ava stole a glance at me over

contract. I just needed t