“What are you going to do with the dog when we’re in the Hamptons?”

“The dog? His name is Baxter. And we’ll bring him with us.”

“What? We can’t bring him.”

“Why not? You said Fred has dogs. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

“I mind.”

Chloe’s eyes light up. “Having Baxter there will give you another commonality. Isn’t that the whole point of all this? Why you needed a fake girlfriend? And getting a dog is one of the most legitimate couple things.”

I scowl, but I see her point.

“Is that why you signed up for the dog fostering program?” I ask. “To be helpful?”

Chloe smiles sweetly. “I just want my fake boyfriend to succeed in his business endeavors so I can break up with him.”

I glance at the dog—Baxter—and the mess he’s made around his bowl.

This better be worth it.

15. Barrett

CHAPTER 15

Barrett

We’re just outside of Southampton when I get the text. I read it in disbelief.

“Fuck.” My hand clenches around my phone. It’s impossible to keep the frustration I feel inside.

Chloe flinches from where she’s reading a book beside me in the car. Between us, Baxter sits up, his open mouth turns in my direction and I get a whiff of doggy breath.

After my efforts to make him sit on the floor of the car failed, I gave up. He’s had his head in Chloe’s lap the entire drive until now. I put my hand out to guide his face away from mine, but he thinks I’m offering to pet him and moves closer.

“What?” Chloe asks.

“Frankie got lip injections and is having a bad reaction so Fred cancelled. They’re not coming.”

“Oh, no. Is she okay?” Chloe turns in my direction, her eyes wide with concern.

We both look forward as Marcus turns left to pull the SUV through the gate and into the circle drive of Fred’s Southampton estate.

Knowing the chance to talk business with Fred this weekend won’t be happening now puts me in a bad mood. That was the whole fucking point of this trip.

“I think so.” I shake my head. I didn’t ask.

Shit. Now, I feel like I’ve somehow made my position with Fred worse. How could I forget to ask how his girlfriend was doing? Leave it to Chloe to remind me I’m a self-centered asshole. My first thought when I read his text was my lost opportunity. I didn’t think about Frankie and what she might be going through. I didn’t know you could have bad reactions to lip injections.

I stare at Chloe, the way she’s nervously chewing on her bottom lip.

“What should we do?” she asks, reaching over to offer Baxter the affection that I denied him.