couldnât understand the way I live in a million years.â She opened her door, got out and walked over to Zaneâs car. Naturally it was one of the most costly cars on the market, and repairing its back end was not going to be cheap. She heaved a sigh, which she cut short when Zane walked up.
Her gaze flicked over his custom-made suit, shirt and shoes. But it didnât matter that the clothes on his back today had probably cost more than every stitch in her closet. Sheâd run into his car, and the repairs were her responsibility.
âGet it fixed,â she said flatly. âSend me the bill. Now, if youâll move your car so I can get into my garage, I have a table to pick up and deliver.â
Zane narrowed his eyes on her. She had a way of asserting her independence that grated on his nerves. It was almost as though she was daring him to step on her pride. Fine, he thought, he wouldnât argue about who was going to pay for the repairs to his car. She would never know which body shop had done the work, and therefore she couldnât pay any part of the bill.
Signs of her way of life were everywhere he lookedâher old beat-up van, her small house, and even the harried look in her eyes. Money was probably a constant worry. No wonder sheâd taken him up on his offer of two-thousand dollars for spending the weekend at the ranch and pretending that she was his girlfriend.
âIâll move my car in a minute. Thereâs something I have to ask you first. I would have done this on the phone, but you never answer the phone.â
âI canât sit around the house waiting for the phone to ring. I have to earn a living.â
âI know that.â Zane found himself speaking gently. Any previous anger heâd felt was gone. There was nothing heâd like more than to write Gwen a large check on the spot. She shouldnât have to struggle to earn a living when he had ten times, twenty times, more money than he could spend in his lifetime. He could well afford to help a friend.
But something told him that the quickest way to forever end his and Gwenâs relationship was to try to give her money. He would mull it over; there had to be a way to help her out financially.
âGwen, my sister Vanessa called and invited you and me to dinner at her house on Wednesday.â
Gwen gasped. âI couldnât!â
âDonât forget that she believes youâre my special lady friend.â
âSurely youâre not intending to prolong that charade.â Gwen was shocked and couldnât help showing it.
âActually, it sort of backfired on me,â Zane admitted. âI didnât think ahead to what could happen if my family liked you.â Or if I liked you. Gwen stirred him in unique ways. She was pretty and sexy, and he never would forget how sheâd looked in that wet T-shirt. If only she would invite him into her house so they could talk in private. He really felt that they were on display for the whole neighborhood to see while they talked in her driveway.
âA rather crucial oversight, donât you think?â Gwen said dryly.
âA damn stupid oversight is more like it. Anyhow, I seem to be up the creek without a paddle. Wouldyou go to Vanessa and Devinâs with me on Wednesday?â
Frowning, Gwen paced a small circle. Then she stopped and shook her head. âIâm sorry, but I have to say no. I told you I donât date, and you really should have believed me because itâs the truth. And I agreed to the charade as a one-time deal only. Iâm sure you can come up with some kind of story for your sister about you and me not seeing each other anymore.â
Zane cleared his throat. âI probably can. Gwen, my throat feels dry as dust. Could I have a drink of water?â Thinking fast, realizing that she could go into the house and bring a glass of water out to him, he added, âAnd also use your