It was not a good surprise.

Not a good one at all.

Sophia's mind was working feverishly to process what she was seeing. She would have been less shocked to find the Peters' kitchen invaded by a group of human-sized rodents wearing tap shoes, dancing a jig to "Blurred Lines."

She swallowed. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Surprising you," Kit said, as if this should be obvious.

Sophia held open the door. "Get out."

"Really?"

"Out," Sophia snapped. "I mean it, Kit. You're not welcome here."

"Why?"

She stared. Why? Oh, maybe because Kit had abandoned her drunk cousin in the middle of a crowded bar, leaving her to the mercies of strange men and drug dealers. Maybe because he had indirectly ruined Sophia's career.

Maybe all of that, and more.

She pursed her lips. "Don't play dumb, Kit. What do you want?"

"You," he said.

She laughed humorlessly. "Well, it's a bit late for that."

It was also, Sophia reflected, a lie; she knew Kit's tells. He always shifted his weight to his left foot when he was trying to hide something. Much like she scratched her nose, as the girls had pointed out at the Christmas party.

Kit eyed her warily. "Did you see my Instagram reel?"

"I heard about it," Sophia allowed.

"And?"

She crossed her arms. "And I don't want you back. And honestly, I'm not stupid enough to believe that you really want me, either."

They stared at one another. Tabby was glancing between them, her tea half-raised to her mouth. Even the dog had settled on the carpet, watching them with rapt attention.

"So," Sophia said. "What is it that you really want?"

"I told you," Kit said. "I want you back."

"Why?"

Kit let out a breath. "Sophia..." He glanced at Tabby. "Look, can we have some privacy?"

Tabby glanced at Sophia. Her face said, "I-can-rip-open-this-man-with-my-neon-green-nails-if-you-want-me-to." Sophia gave her a wry smile that said, "I-would-gladly-help-but-that-is-definitely-illegal."

Tabby sighed. "Fine. But I'm only going into the kitchen."

"I'll be fine," Sophia said.

Tabby didn't look convinced. She clicked her fingers, and the dog rose to its feet, looking reluctant to be leaving the party. Sophia waited until Tabby was safely out of firing range before crossing her arms.

"You have five minutes," Sophia said.

Kit fiddled with his cufflinks. "A minute for every month of our relationship. How poetic."

"You could have reached out to me over Christmas, you know, when I was back in Toronto. Saved yourself a trip."

"I was shooting a short film," Kit said.

"Right." She paused. "Well, you could have texted."

She waited for him to say something. But Kit just shoved his hands into his pockets, his watch glinting at his wrist. He looked every part the businessman, except for his socks, which had pink pineapples on them. There was something oddly endearing about them. Or would have been, Sophia reflected, if she wasn't so pissed off.

"Look," Kit said, "I spoke with Callie."

Sophia paused. "Callie?"

"Winthrope," Kit clarified, as if it would be anyone else. "She's offered me a contract with Estrella's new cologne. A very lucrative contract." He met her gaze. "The catch is that I have to be dating you."

Sophia stared. "Me?"

"Yes," Kit said. "Callie was very clear. She wants a couple to be the face of the brand."

Sophia sank onto a bench, her mind reeling. Christ. She hadn't realized how serious Callie was about this whole thing. But it made sense, from a business perspective: fairytale romance sold. She could see the photoshoots now: white horses, red roses, Scottish castles set on sweeping moors...

Still.

There was no way Sophia was doing it.

"Turn it down," she said firmly.

"I can't." Kit's gaze was fixed on the floor. "I need the money."

"Since when do you need money?"

Christopher "Kit" John Edward Addington had been born in a golden cradle. His father had been a successful businessman that raced horses; his mother, a Swedish supermodel. As far as Sophia was aware, he'd never wanted for anything.

She glanced at Kit's feet.

Still stationary. He was telling the truth.

Kit twisted a cufflink. "I haven't been completely honest with you. I'm in debt, Sophia. Massive debt. It started as a bit of fun — gambling trips to Monaco, buying a yacht in Vancouver — but it became a lifestyle. A lifestyle that I can't afford."

She watched his feet. No movement.

"How much debt?" Sophia asked.

His jaw tightened. "Don't make me tell you."

"Fine." Sophia clasped her hands in her lap. "And you think I can help you?"

"I think we can help each other," Kit said. "Please, Sophia." There was an intensity about him that she'd never seen before; an almost desperation. "It doesn't have to be a real relationship if you don't want it to be. We can pretend."

Sophia almost laughed. Pretend. She'd spent the last four months pretending to date a man only to fall in love with him, and now, she'd have to pretend that she wasn't in love with him so she could date someone else. The irony didn't escape her.

"You don't even like me," Sophia said. "You never have."

"I do like you," Kit said, surprising her. "You understand me, Soph. We're the same, you and I." He stared at his splayed fingers. "We're addicted to the attention. To the applause. We don't exist unless other people tell us that we do."

Sophia rubbed her arms. She felt dirty, as if his words were sticking to her skin. Did Kit really think that? That they were the same?

It couldn't be true.

She liked designer handbags, sure. She had a ridiculously long Starbucks order. And deep down, Sophia had to admit that she got a thrill when magazines praised her for her latest eco-friendly shoe collaboration, or a speech she gave for young female entrepreneurs.

But did that make her shallow? Self-absorbed?

God. Maybe it did.

Maybe she didn't deserve Finn, Sophia thought, swallowing hard. Maybe she never had in the first place.

"I can't," Sophia said. "I'm seeing someone else."

Kit dropped his hands. "Keep seeing him, then. I don't care. Just make sure that you're discreet about it."

Sophia shook her head. "He's not like that. He won't understand."

God, just the idea of trying to explain this to Finn made her want to cry. He didn't do pretend. He had done it for her — for Gemma — but he had hated every moment of it. And Sophia wouldn't insult him by asking him to.

Even worse, Finn would probably do it again for her.

No.

If Sophia chose Estrella and her career, then she would lie to him. She'd pretend that she was back together with Kit. Because if she gave Finn the option to be with her in any way, he would take it. Real or fake. In public or in secret.

She couldn't do that to him.

She wouldn't.

"Please, Sophia," Kit said softly. "I need this."

She swallowed. "Kit, I..."

"Sophia!"

Footsteps clattered into the hall. Tabby was wild-eyed, her spiky blond hair sticking up in all directions. The dog was barking at her heels. She skidded to a stop, her peppermint tea sloshing on to the carpet.

"Soph," Tabby panted. "Outside."

Tabby's eyes were fixed on the window. And too late, Sophia heard it: the sound of truck tires crunching in the snow. Her heart plunged.

Oh, no.

No, no, no.

She knew it was Finn even before the door flew open, even before Finn appeared in the doorway, flushed and out of breath. His blond hair was mussed, his cheeks red with cold. Of course he would come looking for her. She should have known.

Finn's eyes landed on her.

Relief flooded his face. "I know." Finn held up a hand. "Before you say anything, I know I'm being ridiculous. But Gemma said you took her car, and I kept picturing you dead in a ditch somewhere. So I thought—"

He broke off, his eyes landing on Kit.

A thousand emotions flitted across his face. Surprise. Confusion. And then a dawning realization, a sort of terrible understanding.

Kit stretched his arms over his head, and Finn stiffened. Sophia could see him drinking in every inch of him: his designer leather shoes, his heavy cologne, his dark hair, slicked back with waxy pomade.

"Hello," Finn said stiffly. "I don't think we've met."

"You must be Finn Hoag," Kit said. "It's nice to finally meet you." He extended a hand. "I'm Kit. Sophia's boyfriend."