“Did I say anything embarrassing while he was here?”

“Embarrassing? No.” His lips curved into a smirk. “Highly inappropriate? Yes.”

“What the hell did I say?”

“Nothing he’ll ever know.”

“Do you think he’ll ever call since I got smashed on our first date?”

“He didn’t seem to be put off by it when he tried to kiss you.”

“Well, good.” I let out a breath. “What did you think of him? Honestly.”

“He needs to hire a better tailor.”

“I’m serious, Hayden.” I punched his shoulder.

“We didn’t talk much, but he seems decent.”

“Great. I need to ask you about a few things he mentioned while we were—”

“I don’t think so.” He pressed a finger against my lips, and my heart skipped a beat at his touch.

The alcohol must be coursing through my veins still.

“We’re talking about my letters for the next few hours.” He looked into my eyes. “And then I’ll let you waste my time by talking about Prince Charming. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Eight (B)

PRESENT DAY

Penelope

A few hours later, I circled a typo and looked up at Hayden.

“So, you trashed a penthouse suite at Marriott when we weren’t talking … So badly that the manager had to replace everything except the drapes?” I made sure I was reading his “Reasons I Need to Apologize” list correctly. “Why would you do something like that?”

“It’s a long story.” He handed me a check. “Put this in there before you seal it.”

“Will do. You know, I think it may be best if I just write a set of templates that you can adjust so you won’t have to spend so much time coming up with new things to say.”

“If two people get the same letter, they’ll get even more upset than they already are.”

“I’ll set it up so the words won’t repeat.” I opened my laptop. “I learned how to do this in a motivational speaking class. Trust me.”

“As long as Lawrence never finds out.”

“He won’t.”

Before I could start a fresh pot of coffee, my phone sounded with a new call. Simon.

I stared at the screen as it buzzed against the table. “Should I answer it?”

“Depends.” He crossed his arms. “Will you promise to accept my suggestion?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He picked up my phone and tossed it onto the couch. “No. You don’t answer the phone the first time he calls you. You can answer it if he calls you a second time, though.”

“Why wouldn’t he just wait for me to call him back?”

He shot me a pointed look.

“Fine.” I held up my hands in a surrender. “I won’t pick up unless he calls a second time.”

“Good girl.” He pointed to his list. “Back to work.”

I crafted forty different templates, and downed an entire pot of coffee over the next couple of hours. I didn’t look at my phone or dare to pick it up—even when Hayden disappeared a few times to take phone calls.

It wasn’t until Sarah arrived with lunch that my impatience nearly got the best of me.

“Simon Gaines is a pretty hot guy,” she said, handing me a covered tray. “But you know, you can’t have two hot guys swooning all over you at the same time. It’s really unfair, now that I think about it. You’re pretty, but you’re not that pretty.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Sarah?”

“Nothing.” She smiled. “I’m just enjoying how I get to spend my weekend getting a custom lunch order for my boss and his best friend. It’s not like I have a life of my own.”

“You can have the rest of the day off.” Hayden looked up at her. “Thank you for complaining about your easy-ass job as always.”

“My pleasure, Mr. Hunter.” She rushed out of the room.

“You really need to fire her,” “I really need to fire her,” we said in unison, laughing.

As I was picking up a fork, my phone buzzed against the sofa.

Without thinking, I stood up and rushed over to see who it was. Simon, again.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hey there, gorgeous.” There was a smile in his voice. “Are you still recovering from your hangover?”

“Maybe.”

He laughed. “Well, in that case, I’m calling to beg you for a second date.”

“Really?” Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. “When?”

“Tomorrow, if you can,” he said. “I’m hosting a second welcome party in the Hamptons. Would you be able to make it?”

“Um …” I looked over at Hayden. “Hold on a second, let me check something.”

“Sure.”

I made sure to hit the mute button. “He wants to take me on a second date in the Hamptons tomorrow. What should I say?”

“That normal people have jobs and can’t party with their blast from the past every night.”

“You know that’s super hypocritical coming from you, Mr. Untamed Playboy of Manhattan, right?”

He leaned back in his chair and laughed. “You should go with him. Tell him yes.”

I un-muted the call. “Sorry about that. I can come.”

“Great. I’d offer to pick you up, but I already promised my guys I would drive. Can I arrange for a town car to pick you up instead?”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll have Hayden bring me.”

“Hmmm.” He paused. “Okay, then. I’ll text you the address and start time.”

“I had a great time with you on the yacht,” I said, hoping that his “Hmmm” wasn’t bound to lead down a familiar road I didn’t want to travel.

“Me too,” he said. “Although, I have to warn you. Once word gets out that my firm is completely here, you may see a few photogs trailing us here or there. I mean, if you’re still going out on dates with me, that is.”

“They won’t bother me at all.” I bit my tongue before I said, ‘I’m used to photogs with Hayden.’ “Trust me.”

“Tell me why your last relationship didn’t work,” he said suddenly, catching me off guard.

“What?”

“Your last relationship,” he repeated. “I’m curious as to why any sane guy would ever let you go.”

“It’s complicated,” I said, blushing. “It’s also a long story.”

“I have all day.”

I blushed again. “He just wasn’t right for me. We dated six months and he was harboring resentment over something stupid the entire time. Something that he knew about from the beginning.”

“You mean, the fact that your best male friend is a super successful CEO with a bad-boy reputation?”

“Yes.” I smiled. “That.”

“Well, so you know, that doesn’t bother me in the slightest.”