A man like Mason Reed didn't simply volunteer to play someone's boyfriend.
Especially not for free.
“What's your actual job?” she asked.
“Investments.”
“That vague?”
“Private capital. Acquisitions. Logistics.”
Maya narrowed her eyes.
“Criminal record?”
Mason paused.
Just slightly.
But long enough.
Maya pointed at him.
“That pause was way too long.”
For the first time, something resembling amusement appeared in his eyes.
“No criminal convictions.”
“That's not the same as saying you're innocent.”
“No.”
“You're not making this better.”
“I wasn't trying to.”
Maya sighed.
“Mr. Reed, I appreciate the offer, but I don't know you.”
“You know enough.”
“I know you drink double espresso without sugar.”
“Yes.”
“You sit alone.”
“Yes.”
“You wear suits that probably cost more than my monthly rent.”
“Yes.”
“And apparently you listen to private conversations.”
“Sometimes.”
“That isn't enough to introduce you to my grandmother.”
“I like grandmothers.”
Maya almost smiled.
She hated that.
“You really want to do this?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Mason leaned slightly closer.
“Tell your family you're bringing me.”
Maya stared at him.
Something about the certainty in his voice made the strange proposal suddenly feel real.
She glanced toward the rain-streaked window.
Tomorrow was going to be a disaster anyway.
Maybe she could choose the kind of disaster.
“Twenty-four hours,” she said.
Mason nodded.
“Twenty-four hours.”
“No kissing.”
“Agreed.”
“No embarrassing me.”
“I won't.”
“No making jokes about my family.”
“That may be difficult.”
“Mason.”
His eyebrow lifted.
She realized she had used his first name.
He didn't seem bothered.
“No jokes,” she corrected.
“Agreed.”
“And no disappearing.”
“I don't disappear.”
Maya extended her hand.
“Then we have a deal.”
Mason looked at her hand.
Then shook it.
His grip was warm, firm, controlled.
Maya suddenly felt something she hadn't expected.
Safety.
Which was ridiculous.
Because she knew nothing about him.
Nothing at all.
She didn't know that the man standing in front of her controlled a private security empire stretching from Seattle to New York.
She didn't know that his logistics companies moved billions of dollars in legitimate cargo every year.
She didn't know that three of Seattle's most powerful criminal families avoided saying his name aloud.
And she certainly didn't know that Mason Reed was not merely a billionaire investor.
He was the man who had inherited the Reed organization at twenty-six.
The man who had dismantled two rival syndicates without starting a public war.
The man whose enemies called him the Gray Wolf.
And tomorrow, for the first time in years, he was going to walk into a family wedding as someone's boyfriend.
Maya Bennett had no idea what she had just agreed to.
Neither did her family.
But by tomorrow night, everyone would know.
Meet My Boyfriend
Maya spent the next three hours regretting her decision.
She regretted it while closing the café.
She regretted it while riding the bus home.
She regretted it while standing in front of her closet.
And she especially regretted it when she realized she had no idea what Mason Reed's relationship status was supposed to be.
She called Tessa.
“I did it.”
“You did what?”
“I found someone.”
“Who?”
“The man from the café.”
Silence.
Then—
“The mysterious espresso man?”
“Yes.”
“You asked him?”
“Yes.”
“And he said yes?”
“Yes.”
Tessa's voice became suspicious.
“Maya, what exactly does this man do?”
“Investments.”
“That's not a job. That's a category.”
“He owns a company.”
“How big?”
“I don't know.”
“What's his name?”
“Mason Reed.”
Another silence.
Then Tessa said quietly, “Maya.”
“What?”
“Are you sure?”
“Sure about what?”
“I've heard that name.”
Maya sat on the edge of her bed.
“Where?”
“I don't know. Business news. Maybe.”
“That's not helpful.”
“Does he have dark hair?”
“Yes.”
“Always wears expensive suits?”
“Yes.”
“Looks like he could ruin someone's life without raising his voice?”
Maya paused.
“Yes.”
Tessa exhaled.
“Oh, no.”
“What?”
“I think you just hired a billionaire.”
Maya stared at the wall.
“That's impossible.”
“Maya, Mason Reed is worth—”
Her phone beeped.
A message.
Unknown number.
Mason: I will pick you up at 10:00 tomorrow.
Maya stared.
“How did he get my number?”
Tessa heard the silence.
“What happened?”
“He texted me.”
“What did he say?”
Maya read the message.
Tessa groaned.
“That is either incredibly romantic or the beginning of a documentary.”
“Helpful.”
“I'm serious. Google him.”
Maya did.
The results appeared.
Reed Capital.
Reed Maritime Logistics.
Reed Security Group.
Real estate.
Private equity.
Hotels.
Nightclubs.
A profile in a financial magazine described Mason as one of Seattle's youngest self-made billionaires.
Maya's mouth fell open.
“What?”
“What?”
“He's rich.”
“How rich?”
“I don't know.”
“Rich enough to have his own island?”
“I don't know.”
“Rich enough to buy our café?”
Maya looked at the screen.
“Probably.”
Tessa made a noise.
“Oh, my God.”
Maya swallowed.
“This is a mistake.”
“You can cancel.”
Maya thought about Aunt Judith.
She imagined the questions.
Why are you still single?
When will you settle down?
Your cousin has a fiancé.
Don't you want children?
You spend too much time working.
You're becoming difficult.
Maya closed her eyes.
“No.”
“You're still doing it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't want them to win.”
Tessa laughed softly.