CHAPTER 1

Queenstown, New Zealand

Jayden McCartney raked his long, lean fingers through his thick, blonde hair in frustration and wondered what the hell he was supposed to do. He thought that this was supposed to be his holiday, and holiday supposed to mean stress free, either it be from work or family.

Work - that he knew he could never be free off since he was, after all, a workaholic and a CEO of his own multibillion dollars Real Estate Investment & Development Company, which had recently gone international. He loved what he was doing and what made it even sweeter was the fact that he didn't have to be in the office twenty-four-seven. He basically work whenever and wherever he wanted to, either it be at home in his bed, in a hotel room somewhere in France, or in a restaurant in Asia. His job could be achieved simply with a quick phone call or a flick of an email to his many international mangers in different countries.

Unfortunately the stress he was having at that moment was not from that of work but his family. By that he meant his grandmother specifically.

His mother Gracie, who was married to his father Tom McCartney for thirty-five years, had suggested he bring his girlfriend to his sister's wedding. His grandmother Elizabeth, also known to them as Granny Beth, had not only agreed but further more demanded that she must fit their criteria.

What were those criteria again?

Jay did a mental check list as he stared off at the beautiful snow-covered mountain in the distance not very far from his luxurious hotel room.

Ah yes, the criteria were as follow:

1) Well off: their meaning--her family must own a multimillion dollars business.

2) Good family background: their meaning--family should be as old as time itself, perhaps even dated as far back as Richard the Lion heart himself had became Kind of England and their background must be sparkly clean.

3) Pretty: their meaning--model material.

4) Good manners: their meaning--socialite chick--another word polite with a hint of bitchiness.

If possible, Granny Beth had added, it should be in that particular order but not necessary.

Jay strolled over to the sofa and threw himself on the comfortable seat. Now what? Because of that damn phone call he had just had, he knew he wouldn't be able to enjoy his ski trip any longer. Not that he had been enjoying much of it since the kick off of this so-called holiday anyway.

What the hell was he going to do? He couldn't very well beg his ex-girlfriend Sarah to go with him to his sister's wedding and pretend that nothing had ever happened between them.

The very thought of Sarah caused his heart to jab with a dull pain.

Oh yeah! He should have seen it coming all right. There had been clues that he should have picked up in the early state of their loving relationship.

Loving? The word loving sounded stupid and hallow in his ears now.

He didn't want to remember that night three weeks ago in Sydney. God it hurt!

Women thought guys don't get hurt in this type of things. Well hell! Maybe some don't, but he definitely did.

It hurt like hell, the realisation that your girlfriend was cheating on you.

Sarah had been complaining to him about their trip the whole time, that it was supposed to be their holiday and why had he to meet up with his friend. What she had meant by his friend was that it was a friend only Jay knew, a friend who was not her friend, a friend who didn't rub shoulders with the socialites and millionaires back in New York, a friend who basically didn't belong in their social circle.

'It was unexpected,' he had replied. "Beside, we haven't seen each other for years since London."

Jay shut his eyes and gritted his teeth. The pain in his heart deepened as once again he pictured Sarah, her beautiful naked body intertwining with another man in their bed they had been sharing in the hotel.

The naked man with her that night was none other than his so-called best friend Kyle Shore.

It had been a big blow. His best friend and his girlfriend? He could never have imagined it in a million years. How could that be possible? They hate each others' guts! Or at least he had thought they hated each others' guts.

Jay had known instantly that their relationship was over, and he had told her so right in her face.

He remembered Sarah begging him, telling him that it was not what it seemed.

What the hell had he been seeing then? Jay wondered in disgust, shaking his head once again and grunting loudly.

Once he had refused to listen to her begging and told her to get out of his life, she shouted back at him, telling him that she had never loved him anyway. Then she and Kyle had left him. Jay then had drowned himself in sorrow and had drunk himself almost to death. That had been when his good friend Peter stepped in.

"You need to get over it, mate," he had said in his very Kiwi accent. "She's gone. There's still a hell of a lot of hot fishes out there wanting your net to come 'n catch them." Then he laughed. "Or maybe you just need time out. How about killing yourself in extreme sport?"

Jay had thought about that and unenthusiastically agreed. So the two of them had come down to good old New Zealand and had done some good old extreme sport such as sky diving, water diving, bungee jumping, biking marathon, and skiing.

Jay had managed to forget about Sarah and the break-up, most of time when he had been very tired and busy anyway. But he had known it would take him a long time to actually forget about her, to get her out of his system.

Now Gracie and Granny Beth had asked him to bring his girlfriend to Kelly's wedding. Jay knew if he didn't do what they were asking, they'd start match-making him again--and that he didn't want.

Jay rested his head back against the sofa and his mind started wondering again. He could just see it all. Gracie and Granny Beth would bring in a hundred or so eligible bachelorette for dinner, tea parties, and balls. He could just see himself being swamped up with faceless, beautiful women. Some guy would think they are in heaven. They'd actually enjoy the attention, being surrounded with beautiful women like those in the reality T.V show 'The Bachelor'. But Jay was different. He disliked stuff like that. He disliked bringing attention to himself. He was sure he was going to get a heart attack from the stress of it all. He thought about buying himself a defibrillator and asking Peter how to use it just in case things got nasty.

Jay shot up from the sofa and paced back and forward, deep in thought. Good grief! He was just about having a heart attack right now. No! What he needed was a plan. Think, Jay, think!

He paused. He heard somebody whistling in the hotel corridor. A second later there were knocks at the door. He rushed to open it and saw the man he needed most in this time of crisis.

He grabbed Peter Thompson by the collar and hauled the surprised man into the room.

"Whoa! Jay, mate, what's up?" Peter said, chuckling, his Kiwi accent strong in Jay's American ears.

"I just got a call from Gracie and Beth," Jay said with a dark frown.

Peter raised an eye brow at his friend. "From the look you're wearing it doesn't sound good."

"Of course it's not good, Pete," Jay said.

"What is it?"

Jay glanced at his friend who he had first met years ago in London and then again only recently back in Sydney just before he had found out about Sarah and Kyle.

"They're at it again," Jay said in annoyance.

"What? Match-making?" Pete chuckled.

"Jesus man, it's not funny," Jay snapped. "What the hell am I going to do?"

"I suppose they are getting worried. You're their heir and you're thirty-three. Not getting any younger, mate," Peter said, walking toward the refrigerator and started whistling again. He opened the door and searched for a bottle of Heineken. "What one?" he asked over his shoulder.

"Yeah, sure," Jay replied, still deep in thought and frustration.

Peter took two out and threw one to Jay.

Six bottles of Heineken, two packs of Blue Bird chips, and four packets of Giant Cookies later, they were still contemplating on the dilemma at hand.

"Any suggestion?" Jay asked finally.

Peter glanced sideway at Jay and said, "I suggest you find yourself a new girl, mate, and take her to New York."

Silent. Jay's blue eyes stared intensely into Peter's green ones. Then, "You're kidding?"

"Nope," Pete replied. Then he stuffed some crisps in his mouth, chewed loudly and then took a good gulp of his beer.

Jay thought about the odd suggestion for a moment. "I'm not up for it, Pete. You know I'm not."

"Sarah?"

"It's still new."

Jay nodded. No, he hadn't gotten over Sarah yet. Mean while dating again just seemed wrong, odd, and basically he was just not into it.

"Look," Peter said, "you don't have to do this dating thing yet. I said you just need to find a girl and take her to meet your parents. You don't have to date her."

"Meaning?" Jay asked, looking at his friend in a weird way.

"Meaning you just hire a girl to be your girlfriend and take her to see your parents."

Jay just stared at Peter, his face basically said, 'seriously, dude, can't you come up with a better plan than that?'

No wait. It was supposed to be a joke. He was sure Peter was simply joking with him.

Then on queue Jay started laughing. He laughed and laughed until his stomach hurt. When he had managed to stop, he looked at his friend and said, "You're joking, right?"

Peter's face, however, was all in seriousness. "Nope."

"What?"

"Not at all," Peter said. "Just hire a girl as your girlfriend."

Must be the Kiwi's way of thinking, Jay thought. But he couldn't help stopping himself from blurting out, "Who the hell is desperate enough to do that?"

"Lots," Peter said. "Professionals."

Jay narrowed his eyes and said, "Oh no. I'm not hiring those types of girls. No way, man. Gracie and Beth have criteria."

Peter, who had just taken another big gulp of his beer, nearly choked on the liquid but he managed to swallow it, with a lot of difficulty. His oesophagus was damn sore. Apparently, choking on liquid was a lot sorer than choking on solid like food.

He touched his throat and said, "What? You mean your girlfriend has to fit your grandmother's criteria?" Then he started laughing.

"Stop that and start helping me figure out a way to solve this ludicrous problem," Jay snapped and punched Peter on the arm.

"Ouch!" Peter responded, still chuckling away enthusiastically. When he saw hard glare from Jay, however, he managed to kill his amusement.

"Okay," he said calmly. "You really need a new girlfriend. A fake one. I think I just might know where you can find one."

"She better not be a professional," Jay warned.

"Nope, not a professional at all. In fact, she's the total opposite."

Jay looked about his surrounding in astonishment. They were in the hospital cafeteria in Dunedin.

What the hell?

They had cancelled their full week of fun extreme sports and drove through the snow-covered, dangerous, twisty road for three hours from Queenstown for this? Looking at elderly patients eating their lunch? If this was Peter's way of making a joke, then it was a very bad one. This was beyond him, Jay thought, as he watched an elderly patient sitting across the table from them trying with her shaky, wrinkle hand to pick up her sandwich.

"What the hell are we doing here?" Jay hissed. He felt rather self-conscious even though he had dressed down. It seemed as though the people in this part of the world couldn't care less what they looked like. Most were dressed in baggy clothing. But then again, Jay told himself, they were in the hospital. Who the hell care what they looked like when they were more worried about their health?

"Looking for a new girlfriend for you," Peter said enthusiastically.

"Very funny," Jay snapped, picked up his ham sandwich and took a bite.

Suddenly a large group of young doctors rushed into the cafeteria with trays of food and drinks in their hands. Some were wearing green or blue gown, while other, the younger ones which Jay thought the women looked quite hot, wore semi formal clothing with stethoscopes around their necks.

"Hey, I can tell you like the looks of this," Peter said, his mouth full of food as they watch the doctors taking their seats not far from them.

"Is she a doctor?" Jay asked.

Peter shook his head.

"A nurse?" Jay said as a pack of young and old nurses wearing dark blue uniform filed into the cafeteria.

Again Peter shook his head.

"What does she do? You said you know her," Jay said, watching a pretty, young doctor walking toward them.

She looked very attractive--long legs in heels, medium brown hair that flowed down her back, full lips, and a bedroom eyes. Perfect!

Peter nodded. "Of course I know her," he said. "She's exactly what the criteria are not."

"What? But she's perfect," Jay said, watching the woman eyeing him with a female interest. Then she smiled at him. My God, he thought, she was beautiful. She could be a model if she wanted to only she was a doctor, which was even better. She had the brain and possibly a good family background. What about manner? He had no doubt that she had excellent manner because he couldn't imagine her yelling and screaming insanely at her sick, elderly patients.

Yup, she fitted the criteria all right.

"Really? That's good. I'm glad you agree," Peter said, eyeing the woman coming toward them. He waved and she approached the seat opposite them.

"Hey, you," she said. "I though you're on holiday. What you doing back here?"

Jay liked the sound of her voice. It was soft and sweet. Even better.

"Mary, this is Jayden, a friend of mine," Jay said, nodding toward Jay.

"Hi," Mary said, shaking Jay's hand.

Jay liked her hand too. It was soft and gentle.

"So how is your holiday going?" she asked. "You're not back before you're due, right?"

Peter shook his head. "Not until another week."

She nodded prettily and then turned to Jayden. "So where are you from?" she asked, looking at Jay, her eyes sparkling.

"America," Jay said.

"I like your accent," she said, laughing, delicately brushing her hair over one nice shoulder. "So what brings you down to good old New Zealand?"

"Holiday," Jay said.

"Having fun so far?" she asked, leaning toward him across the table. Then beep, beep, beep. She looked down and said, "Oh damn, my pager. Excuse me for a sec." She got up and rushed to the phone on the far side of the room.

"She fits part of the criteria so far," Jay said, watching Mary. He saw her eyeing him as she was talking into the phone and jotting down notes.

"How do you know when you haven't met her yet?" Peter asked, sipping his coffee.

Jay glanced at Peter and frowned. "Mary," he said.

"Nope," Peter said. "Not Mary. Her." He nodded toward the far entrance of the cafeteria.

Jay glanced that way and his frown darkened into a scowl. This girl who was walking toward them with a satchel over her small shoulder and a cup of tea in one hand was nothing like what he had expected. She didn't fit the criteria. Period!

So let us do the criteria check list then, Jay thought. She was too short. He estimated her no more than five feet and two inches, if she was lucky. She was not pretty. In fact she was very plain. She was also a mess. Those old jeans that had seen better days did not look like they fit her properly at all. Her baggy jersey with an odd, dull grey colour didn't help with her skin tone either. It made her face look pale and ghostly. Her long, dark hair was also a mess. Not to mention that long bangs that was hiding eyes.

As she was walking toward them, Jay couldn't help but stared at her intensely. She looked nervous, like a frighten kitten.

She glanced at them, gave Peter a fleeting smile, and rushed pass them.

"What do you think?" Peter asked.

"Not her," Jay said, his gut retching with dread. "Please tell me it's not her."

"It's her," Peter said, chuckling. "She's exactly the opposite of the criteria. Once your family sees her, they will leave you alone."

"How do you know that for sure?" Jay asked. "How do you know they'll leave me to my bachelor life alone?"

"Because they will give up. If you tell them and show them that she is the type of girl you are in love with, and, mate, I know you don't at the moment, they will give up in the end and they will leave you alone," Peter said, smiling, crossing his arm across his chest as he relaxed back against the chair.

Mary finished her phone call then and joined them.

"How's work?" Peter asked.

"Good," Mary replied. She turned to Jayden. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Jay said, sounded much deflated.

***

Though her eyes were on her book, Alexandra Stewart, known as Alex to close friends and relative, knew he was still watching her. Odd that somehow he had switched seat and was now facing in her direction. Perhaps he wanted to sit next to that pretty young doctor.

She thought that the doctor was really hitting on him. She wasn't surprise of course. The man was super hot what with his blonde hair and trimmed, tall physic. She had never seen the likes of him around in Dunedin. He had that strong, powerful aura about him telling insignificant people like her that he was the leader, the alpha wolf. She could just see the words flashing on top of his head like a sign displaying on a shop window. Don't challenge me or I'll eat you up for breakfast.

Why was he watching her in such an intense way though? Who was he? Why was he sitting with Peter? Were they friends?

None of your business--Alex told herself firmly. She bit her lip and tried to concentrate on her novel.

Her attempt at understanding how Hercules Poirot managed to pick up all the clues with his little grey cells and figured out who the murderer was and what the motive was, however, eluded her because her mind suddenly switched to that of her dad.

Where was she going to get that huge sum of money? Would her dad be able to wait that long? A full year or two for heart surgery?

His heart was getting worst. He needed surgery and fast as Peter, a cardiologist in this hospital and also a long time family friend, had told her. But Dad's condition wasn't severe enough for him to be at the top of the list for surgery in the public hospital. There was simply no fund for such things.

They had agreed that she should get a personal loan from the bank so Dad could get his transplant done privately. But the bank had refused her application because they had calculated that with her modest income as a lab scientist plus her mother's income as a sale person, they wouldn't be able to afford the repayment of the loan because they already had the mortgage to think about. Further more, there was still her student loan and the family living cost. Then there was her younger brother, Timothy, and younger sister, Emma. Tim was just about to finish his high school and uni was just around the corner. Emma still had a couple of years to go, but...

She gritted her teeth in frustration. If that stupid company hadn't given Dad his redundancy because they were closing down the factory here in Dunedin and moving it overseas for cheaper labour, then Dad hadn't gotten so stress trying to find another job to support the family which led to his mild heart attack a year ago. The incident had also led the doctor to find another problem with Dad. They had found that he has an abnormal mitral valve and he needs it replaced--fast.

Oh, how she now wish that Dad had the foresight years ago to take on health insurance. But now it was too late.

She glanced up and found Peter, his friend, and the pretty doctor getting up from their seats and walking toward the exit.

She sighed. Well she supposed she should get going too. Back to work for her.

She tidied up, wrapped the satchel over her shoulder, and picked up her half empty, cold tea.

Once again she was deep in thought, her eyes on her the threat bare floor as she headed toward the conveyer. She was turning the corner and then thump--

She toddled backward. Tea splashed on her and the person she bumped into. The dark, warm liquid drenched her jersey, soaking deep onto her skin.

A pair of strong hands caught her arms before she fell to the floor and embarrasses herself.

Alex could feel his strength and warmness. She had never felt anything like it before. It was very comforting.

"You all right?" she heard him say.

Alex could only stare at the expensive jacket that was now soaking wet with dark, tea stain.

"God, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. Are you okay?" she asked. As she was apologising, her hands were busy cleaning his jacket. "I'm sorry," she repeated, glancing up at him.

Once her eyes met his, she gasped and froze.

It's him. It's Peter's friend.

She was lost in the depth blue of his eyes. The colour reminded her of those lovely summer days years ago at the farm where she had used to work as fruit picker. Suddenly she could smell the sweetness of ripe strawberries. She didn't know where it was from but it was there. She remembered the feel of the long, soft grasses and cool sprinkling water against her skin. How she missed those things. Those wonderful, simple things. Those things that was so carefree.

When she realises that he was also gazing down at her in that disturbing intense way again, she blushed, casted her head down and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I'll just get some napkins and clean your jacket up for you." That said, she picked up the now empty cup on the floor and put it on the conveyer. Then she rushed over to the table stationed near the wall, grabbed a handful of napkins, and started patting his jacket dry.

Jay watched her as she was doing all that. She was fast for such a little thing, he thought.

"That's okay," he finally said and grabbed her hands so she could stop cleaning him.

Alex jumped at the contact. No one had ever touched her in such an intimate way before. Her nerves were jumping with excitement. But she was also very nervous.

"It'll wash out," Jay said, letting her hands go once he had seen that uncomfortable look on her face.

"I'm truly sorry," she said. "I'm not usually that clumsy." She glanced up and saw him raising an eye brow at her. "There. It's kind of dry now. Sorry again."

"Don't worry about it," he said.

"Sorry," she repeated, walked over to the bin and threw the wet napkins in. "Have a good day, sir," she said and strolled down the corridor.

"Hey, you work here?" Jay shouted after her.

She turned and nodded. "Yeah, are you lost or something? Did Peter dessert you?"

"No he didn't. I, err... What's your name?" he asked, rushing toward her. "You a friend of Peter?"

"Yeah, he's a family friend," she replied and then hesitated for a moment. "It's Alexandra," she said finally. "Look I have to go back to work. To get out just go this way and turn right and then down the stairs to the main reception. Got it?"

Jay nodded.

"Sorry again about that tea. As I said I'm not usually that clumsy. Bye now."

And then she was gone.

Jay rushed down the stairs thinking of how pretty her dark brown eyes were. There was something deep in her eyes. Something that affected him in a good way and made him felt warm inside.

He met up with Peter who was waiting for him impatiently near the reception desk.

"What took you so long?" he asked.

"I couldn't find the bathroom after all," Jay said.

As they walked out the door of the hospital, Jay thought--so she's not usually that clumsy, is she?

Alex was very nervous. In fact her inside was shuddering with anxiety as she waited for Peter and his friend to arrive.

Peter had called her last night telling her that he wanted to meet her for coffee and that he'd be bringing his friend. His name was Jay, and Jay, Peter had said, could help her with her problem. Peter had hinted that it was about her dad.

Alex picked up the cup of hot chocolate and took a sip. The warmth and sweetness of the liquid soothed the coldness inside of her being.

Who could Jayden be? She wondered as took another sip. And how could he help her and her dad?

She glanced outside through Starbuck's window and saw that it was raining again with a bitter cold wind. She watched as people wearing thick jackets with scarves around their necks rushed back and forward in a hurry, though it was a Saturday. She supposed they were trying to get away from the bitter, cold wind and rain.

She glanced at the door and saw Peter opening the entrance door. Her heart skipped a beat. It did that when she was nervous. She straightened herself and stood up just a bit to get his attention. That was when she saw him.

It's him. Her heart did a triple skip. Then it started to beat faster and faster...

So he was Jayden. The hot guy she had spilt tea on.

Gosh, she thought, he looked so non-Kiwi, not that she was a full Kiwi herself. She was half-blood after all. Her mom had been a refugee Cambodian who had migrated to New Zealand years ago just after the Pol Pot regime. Then her mom had married her dad who had been one of the many refugees' supporters.

Peter saw her after a quick scan around the coffee shop.

"Hey, Alex," Peter said as he and Jay advanced toward her. "How are you?"

Alex nodded and said, "Fine, thank you." She couldn't help noticing that her voice was shaking just a bit from nervousness.

"Alex, this is Jayden McCartney," Peter said, nodding his head toward the handsome American man.

"Hi," Alex stood slightly, giving him a fleeting smile, avoiding his eyes.

Jay said, "Hey," and offered his large hand in the air.

Alex looked at it as though she had just seen a pig fly. Jay watched her, his hands still in the air. Peter glanced at Alex and then at Jay.

Hesitantly Alex put her small, cold hand into his large, warm ones. They shook.

She had very cold hand, Jay thought, and she was way too thin for his liking. She still looked plain, wearing that skinny jeans and purple jersey. She must be very cold because she still had her pink scarf on that was wrapped around her neck even in this cosy cafe.

As they took their seats, he saw her snuggling her chin deeper into the thick scarf. Was she that cold?

"Did it come of?" she asked him, her vice low, her eyes watching him through her glasses.

Jay had just notice that she was wearing glasses. He didn't remember her wearing one yesterday.

Peter glanced at Jay with raise brows. Jay caught the quizzical glance and said, "It did." Not bothering to enlighten his friend of what did come of.

"Oh good. I was so worried it wouldn't," Alex said. In fact she had been worried about his expensive jacket all that afternoon once she had returned back to the lab that she weren't able to concentrate on her work properly.

That, in actual fact, had not been the only reason. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about him, the way he had touched her and the looks he had given her. And soon, of course, she had started daydreaming about meeting him again. Only she hasn't expected it to be so soon. Of course she had never really daydreamt about a guy before because she had always been too busy dealing with family stuff.

"Don't worry, it came off," Jay confirmed, though he knew not how because he hadn't been the one who had done the cleaning. The washing machine did, and Peter's mom, Mrs. Thompson the judge.

"So, Alex, how's Mom and Dad?" Peter asked.

"They're okay," she replied, avoiding his eyes and playing with her hot chocolate. "Hey, don't you want something to drink?" she changed the subject.

Jay could tell that she didn't like talking about her family. He wondered why. He thought she look hurt. He thought he could sense a hint of pain, sadness, and frustration in her soft, husking voice. Not a singing voice. Just a plain, simple voice. Just like the rest of her. Very plain and very simple.

"Yeah," Peter said, getting up. "What do you want, Jay?"

"Just coffee, thanks," Jay said, leaning back in his chair.

Peter nodded and walked off to the counter to order. Only he wasn't the first in line because there was a bunch of uni students before him.

Alex picked up her cup and started to nervously sip the hot chocolate again.

Jay watched. He thought she suddenly became even more nervous with him studying her.

Alex swallowed the warm liquid hard. It nearly choked her. She tried not to make a scene of herself and calm down.

He is not going to eat you, you ninny--she told herself. Stop acting stupid just because this is the very first time in your twenty five years that a very hot dude is sitting right next to you.

Just as that very thought popped up in her head, she glanced at him and saw him smiling at her, a very hot smile that sent her inside shuddering with excitement.

Firework! There was firework in her being!

She lowered her cup and cleared her throat. "Sorry about that tea stain again," she said, couldn't think of what else to say. "I promise it won't happen again."

"Can you guarantee it?" Jay asked playfully, his eyes twinkling.

She blinked at him. "Say what?"

"Is it guaranteed?" he repeated.

"You mean me promising not to spill tea on you?"

"Yup."

"I don't' know. It's human nature," she said, not sure where this was going. Of course she would never spill tea on him again, ever. She was never going to see him again anyway.

Such an odd conversation, she thought, to have with a very hot dude. She was pretty sure that when a girl goes on a date with a guy like Jay, she'd properly talk about something else. She wasn't sure what, but she was pretty sure it's not about spilling tea.

"Human nature, and therefore, not one hundred percent guaranteed," Jay said, nodding his head and folding his arms across his chest. "Which means there must be some type of compensation."

"A compensation?"

"Yup," he said, leaning toward her, his elbow touching hers.

Alex bit her lip.

Clam down, old girl--she told herself silently. She tried not to notice too much just how good-looking he was, and the fact that he was sitting beside her, very close to her, his elbow touching hers.

"What do you think?"

"All right," she said, glancing at him. "I'll wash the shirt for you if I were to split tea on you again."

Jay chuckled. "You mean with your hands?"

Alex loved the sound of his laughter. Her heart felt light and happy. She felt like the sun was shining again in this miserable day. She flashed him a smile. "What about washing machine?" she asked.

Jay's face suddenly became serious. He simply stared at her. He realised right then that her eyes just kind of lit up when she smile. It was like there was an inner glow that had been waiting for a very long time for the right moment to burst out, through her eyes.

He cleared his throat and said, his gaze still fixed on her face, "What if the washing machine destroyed my shirt?"

"Well," Alex said as she cocked her head to one side. "I'll just have to buy you another one. But I can't guarantee that it'll be the same one. Maybe similar and cheaper."

Jay threw his head back and laughed. "That sounds fine by me."

Alex couldn't help but smile back.

"Sorry, guys," Peter said, taking his seat. "Apparently it's rather busy. It's going to be a little wait."

Alex nodded. Lucky she came in early because there hadn't been a lot of people half an hour before. But now, however, the tables were almost filled and there was a long line of people at the counter, waiting for their turn to order. The majority were university students, coming in in groups and the minority were families. It was a Saturday. Town was always busy on a Saturday, even in winter. The three young women at the counter looked very busy, rushing back and forward taking orders and making drinks.

"So, Pete, how's your holiday so far," Alex said. "Did you enjoy Sydney?"

"Yeah," Peter said. He knew Alex was wondering why he had asked her out for coffee.

Odd that he didn't want to get into that subject just yet. He felt as though he wanted to back out now. He felt unsure because up until that very moment, the solution to Jay's problem seemed fine. But now, however, as Peter watched the independent, stubborn Alexandra, he wondered if their plan was ludicrous after all.

On the other hand, Pete thought, he had to stay put. This was also the only solution he could think of to help his friend who he loved like a sister. He had, after all, known her since she was a wee girl, being seven years older than her. Her family was not well off, not like his. She had been taught to value everything in life as precious, especially money, which they had very little of. She had worked hard all her life.

"What about you, missy?" Peter asked. "Isn't it about time you get yourself a holiday?"

"I have been warned," Alex said. "I have too many annual leave left."

"Sounds like a holiday around the corner," Peter said. "Ah, our coffees."

The waitress placed two small, white cups in front of them and then left again.

"Didn't take long at all," Peter said, handing one to Jay.

Jay lifted the small cup to his lips and took a sip. He grinned and relaxed back in his chair. He straightened, and accidentally, one of his long legs touched Alex's.

"Oh, sorry about that," he said.

"That's okay," Alex said, shifting back. "Pete? Can we like talk?"

"Hmm," Peter said. "Let's get on with it then."

"No wait," Jay said to Pete. "I'll do this." He turned to look at Alex.

Alex glanced from one man to the other, wondering what was going on.

"Alex, may I call you Alex?" Jay asked.

Alex nodded, her eyes on him.

"Alex, I have a proposal for you. Just think of it like a business term. Actually it's more like I'm hiring you, an employee," he said, watching her carefully.

Alex blinked as she listened, not knowing where this was going. "The problem is I already have a job," she said, her eyes questioning.

"Yeah, well, I know that. But this isn't like a real job." Jay sighed as though he found it hard to voice what he was about to say next. "I need your help."

"What kind of help?"

"It's kind of personal. It's family related." Jay leaned toward her, looked deep into her eyes and said, "Can you pretend to be my girlfriend?"

Alex just stared at him. She got the word girlfriend and that was about it. She blinked.

"Sorry?' She had to ask. "I don't get it. I'm lost."

Jay looked at Peter for help.

Pete understood and leaned toward Alex. "Look, Alex, Jay is having a hard time at the moment. His parents, well more like his mom and grandmom are demanding that he bring home a girlfriend. Otherwise they'd start match-making him again,"

"So?" she queried, still not understanding them.

"So? Alex," Jay said, "it's a big deal. I'm simply sick of them trying to sort out my life. I'm thirty-three." That last bit Jay said with an exaggerated frown and a big shrug of his powerful shoulders, which told Alex of how really annoyed he was. "I know we've just met, but..."

Alex looked down at her now almost empty cup. Slowly she began to understand everything. She said, "But what about your real girlfriend?" She did not dare look at him when she asked Jay that question.

"We broke up," he said.

She studied him then, her eyes questioning him.

Jay understood her quizzical gaze. "It's personal." When he saw her hesitation, he said, "Look I'll pay you. Like I said, you're like my employee. I'm hiring you to do this. You just name the price."

Alex blinked. Money! The dollar sign suddenly appeared before her eyes along with the ding, ding, ding sound like Scrooge McDuck.

Was Jay rich? Well, she didn't need to ask him that question. She could tell by his expensive clothing and his powerful aura. He walked and acted like he own the world. Well maybe he did--parts of it anyway.

He did say that he'd pay her and that she just needed to name the price. Suddenly her dad's heart surgery didn't seem so out of reach after all.

Okay, she thought, so what if she agreed?

She licked her lips nervously. "So, err, what do I have to do to pretend to be your girlfriend. Hypothetically that is, if I were to agree with this, err, plan of yours?"

Peter and Jay glance at each other. Jay said, "You know the usual girlfriend stuff. I'll take you back to New York and introduce you to my family. It's my sister's wedding. It'll only be three weeks max. I promise."

"All the way to New York, huh?' she murmured, her eyes large behind her glasses.

"Yeah," Jay said.

Okay, Alex thought, girlfriend stuff. Intimate stuff like going out dating, movies, dinner and all, stuff that she wasn't familiar with. Well considering the fact that she never had a boyfriend before and the fact that she had never dated before, she shouldn't really blame herself for being so ignorance about this boyfriend-girlfriend stuff.

But what if she really fell for him when they were fake dating? And then his ex-girlfriend decided to come back into his life? That would sure be a real big problem.

She glanced at Jay watching her. No, she thought, it wouldn't be that hard for her to fall head over heel in love with him. She thought that she was actually starting to do it right now.

Oh God, she didn't want to get hurt. Yeah, Alex might be a romantic, always dreaming about some hot guy like Jay coming into her life and making a difference, but she was also a realist. Nothing like that ever happens in real life, and if it did, there would sure be a real, big heart-break to follow.

She pushed her cup away from her and put on her jacket.

Jay and Peter eyed each other and then both watched her. Jay thought she was getting colder because she was putting her jacket on. Peter, however, thought differently. He knew she was backing out and there was nothing he could do about it. At least there was nothing he could right then. But later...

She picked up her satchel and said, "I'm sorry, Jay, Peter. I don't think I can help you." She got up and rushed to the door.

Jay shot up and was about to go after her when Peter caught his arm.

"What the hell happened?" Jay asked, confused. It wasn't like he was going to eat her up, for God's sake, he thought. The girl was truly odd. One minute she was sitting there, listening to them, and then the next--poof--she was gone.

"She needs time to think," Peter said. "The offer is too much for her."

"Lubricous more like it. I think she thinks I'm nuts," Jay said, lifting his coffee cup to his lips.

"Maybe," Peter said.

"So tell me about her," Jay said, setting his cup down and relaxed back in his seat. "What is she like?"

"Sweet, innocent, quiet, and loyal," Peter said. "There, I've summed it all up for you."

Jay narrowed his eyes. "Very funny, Pete. Has she had any boyfriend before?"

"Nope," Peter said. "Zippo."

Jay cocked his head to one side in thought. "Maybe that's why she's scared."

"What?" Peter looked at his friend.

"She's afraid of men. That explains her nerves around me. She's probably afraid that I might hurt her. That explains why she has never had a boyfriend. Tell me, has she been abused by any man before?"

Peter had to try very hard not to laugh in front of his friend's face. As far as he knew, Alex had a very loving family. Jacob, Alex's dad, was the best. He loved his wife and children to bits. He was in actual fact very proud of them for the mere fact that they were half-blooded. And Chan, Alex's mom, that woman had lost all of her family and relatives after the war in 1979 back in Cambodia and had been through so much that the mere thought of anyone abusing her children would probably raged her so much she'd kill the bastard herself.

No, Peter thought, Alex had never been abused by anyone. It was probably more the culture of which her mother had taught her, the Cambodian culture which made Alex the way she was. He wasn't sure what was involved in their culture, but he knew that not dating and changing multiple partners was one of their many morals.

Peter said, "No, at least I don't think so."

"You have to convince her to help me, Pete," Jay said.

"Me?"

"You're close to her. She'd probably run away from me again if I approach her," Jay said.

"You're right," Peter agreed.

"Tell her something that'd soften her heart toward me. Anything," Jay said.

"Anything, huh?" Peter said, nodding his head. He smiled. He knew just how to go about it. Oh boy, he thought, this is going to be fun.