After Grant's world comes tumbling down he needs help to keep his loving yet nosey family off his case. When Tripp makes a suggestion of someone who can help him Grant sees the benefit of it. Skye needs money to help her father. Accepting an offer from Tripp's friend seems the best way to make it happen. Will this stay as a simple business transaction or will it lead to more? AU

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. When looking back he wondered how he'd never seen it coming. It'd been a normal day; his company had kept him busy, meetings all day had tired him out. However, he'd actually managed to get finished earlier in normal. Heading back to his apartment he looked forward to seeing Lorelei, she'd been nagging him for a while to spend more time with her. Today he could. Maybe they could go see a movie, go out for a meal, or just stay in and cuddle on the sofa. When was the last time they'd just sat and talked?

Slipping quietly into the apartment, he glanced around the open plan living room that Lorelei insisted improved everything. Apparently it was the in thing and made life so much easier. To him it looked lifeless, but keeping Lorelei happy made his life quieter. One thing about the open plan rooms was that it made it easier to locate people and Lorelei wasn't in sight. Grinning slightly he headed to the bedroom, he couldn't wait to surprise her.

Pausing on the threshold he took in the scene before him. Scattered across the room were the dark green cushions and pillows that Lorelei insisted made the room more peaceful. The bed didn't give off the vibe at the moment. Sprawled on the bed, her hair like a wave of fire beneath her, Lorelei gasped in shock.

"Grant! You're early!"

"Yeah I thought I'd surprise you. Guess it's you that had a surprise for me." He spat, glaring at the body entwined with hers. Smirking up at him, Miles didn't bother to back away. Stretching languorously he wiped a trickle of sweat running across Lorelei's shoulder.

"Sorry Bro." He smirked up at Grant.

Turning on his heel Grant stalked out of the room, stumbling into the low table as he fled. When he left work this afternoon he never thought his world would come tumbling down, losing his girlfriend and his best friend.

4 months later

"Skye. Honey. You need to get up. You're going to be late!"

Jerking up her hair like a bird's nest, she glanced at the clock beside her bed. Groaning she stumbled out of bed, grabbing her towel on reflex. Reaching the bathroom it took her fog-addled brain a few minutes to release that the sound she could hear was someone singing badly in the shower.

"Get out of the shower!"

"Sorry Skye. You need to get up earlier!"

"Lance, get your ass out of the shower. I'm going to be late for work."

"I'm sorry. What was that? I can't hear you over this lovely hot water that keeps running down my body."

"Ass!" She yelled, ignoring the sniggers that came from the other side of the door.

"Here." Lance's twin, Lincoln passed her a slice of toast as she stomped back to her room. "Raina has done downstairs if that helps."

"Linc, I love you." Kissing him on the cheek she rushed downstairs, she could not afford to lose this job. Her brothers were about to go off to college and Raina was in her second year of college constantly needing money for new experiments she was running. Without Skye's job her parents wouldn't be able to support any of them. Her job in data entry wasn't exactly the most exciting job in the world but it paid well. Her siblings didn't know about their money troubles, their parents hadn't wanted to worry them. As far as they knew things were tense around the home due to their father's condition. He'd been diagnosed with a heart condition, his only hope a new heart, something they couldn't afford right now. Skye had been working all sorts of hours just to try and raise the money they needed, but it barely made a dent in the total she needed.

"Dude, that's tough." Grant watched as Tripp leant back in his chair sipping his beer.

"What am I going to do about it?"

"You can't miss your sister's wedding man. So you don't have a girlfriend anymore? So what?"

"You've never met Victoria otherwise you'd know exactly why that is not an option!" He knew Tripp wouldn't understand, he deliberately kept him away from Victoria, his aunt had certain opinions about the people he associated with. Turning up to his sister's wedding without the girlfriend he'd been seeing for five years and had promised could finally meet the family was not a good idea. Victoria had ideas about what people should do in their lives, what he was doing now was not one of them.

The past few months had passed in a blur; Tripp had picked up and helped him try to forget. Reverting back to their adrenaline junkie pasts might not have been the smartest move but it was a hell of a way to forget. Skiing, base-jumping, motor racing all raised the heart rate but did nothing to help heal the heart.

"What am I going to do man? I can't let Jemma down."

"Of course not. Just ask someone."

"No! They have to be believable. My family need to think I've been with her for years."

"Well you could hire someone."

"No Tripp. I'm not hiring an escort!"

"That's not what I meant. I think I know someone who might help, but it will cost you."

"Whatever the cost I'll pay it!"

"Fine, drink up. Let's go and give you a look at my friend then you can decide whether you want to lie to your family or just tell them the truth."

The place was small, almost intimate. How Tripp knew about this place he would never know. It seemed to be part of a company building, settled in between a trio of buildings overlooking a small courtyard. Normally Grant would be examining the scenery but now he was just impatient to meet this girl.

"Tell me about her." Accepting a drink from Tripp he settled into the deep armchair, glad he'd passed on the coffee. He was practically bouncing of the walls without adding caffeine to the mix.

"Oh I think she'll be prefect for you." Tripp grinned. Rolling his eyes at Tripp's taciturn act. Normally he couldn't get him to shut up. Keeping his eyes peeled Ward scanned the café hoping to find some sort of sign of Tripp's friend. Catching the eye of a beautiful blonde woman nearby, he discretely motioned towards her.

"No man. She's nothing like your normal type."

"I have a normal type?" Grant wondered if he should be offended.

"Blonde/red head, model type with little in the way of brains." Oh yes he should definitely be offended.

"So, this woman?"

"She's smart and beautiful. Though, not your normal type." Taking a sip from his cup, Tripp surveyed Grant over the rim as he took in what he'd just revealed about the mystery woman.

Perching on a free stool Skye couldn't stop herself surveying the nearby table. She considered going over and joining Tripp but the guy he was sat with made her pause. She wasn't sure what it was about him, he seemed to ooze power and was heartbreakingly attractive. His cheekbones looked sharp enough to cut. He'd caught the eye of everyone in the café, male and female. From this distance she couldn't make out the colour of his eyes but his short brown hair fell across his face, not styled like most men his age. She would guess he was slightly older than her maybe the same age as Tripp. Mr. Cheekbones certainly knew how to catch the eye. She knew his kind, beautiful but remote, they dated supermodels, certainly not nobody's like her.

Sipping her hot chocolate she bit down a sigh. She'd never been the one guys went after; she was a geek who spent all her time with her computer. Tripp frequently dragged her out with his friends but she clearly wasn't there type. She'd never seen before though. Although they came from very different backgrounds they'd grown up together, Tripp's family always being supportive of her and her family. It was Tripp's father who had diagnosed her dad's heart condition, providing whatever support they could. Tripp had been her rock throughout all the recent trouble, understanding and listening to all her worries. Knowing her need for money but reluctance to accept it from him or his family Tripp had promised to keep his eye out for opportunities for her. Which had led her to be sitting in the café instead of hiding out with her computer as she normally did on her lunch break. He had something to tell her, a new opportunity for her. Just in time. Though outwardly he appeared fine, she suspected her father was getting worse. It was getting to the stage where she would do anything to get the money she needed.

Finishing her drink with a final glance at the table she dismissed the idea of going over. Tripp seemed engrossed with his friend and she didn't want to interrupt. He could always ring her later and let her know whatever it was. Besides if she sat here any longer she'd have to start doing the awkward phone dance. She hated the fact she was one of the herd with that but her phone could see her through any social situation. When people let her down, technology never did. Technology was safe.

Sliding to her feet, she concentrated on separating the recycling preventing her from sneaking another glance at the table. Ploughing forward she didn't look up until she bumped straight into a hard body.

'Holy Cow he's tall' her first thought as she blinked up at the body. 'Shit. It's .'

"Hey are you ok? I'm sorry I knocked into you."

"I'm fine. I'm sorry. I walked straight into you." Focusing on his chest instead of looking into his eyes, which she now knew were a deep brown, she had to catch herself from swearing again. Fumbling for her napkin she began patting down his shirt, making little difference to the chocolate stain decorating the front.

"I'm so sorry." She stammered.

"Hey don't worry. It will wash. Did any of it spill on you?"

Shaking her head slowly she was amazed by her own speechlessness. Though not a chatterbox around strangers she'd always managed to hold her own in a conversation, but it was when she was with friends that she came to life.

"I'm glad. Anyway I'm sorry for knocking you." Turning to leave he flashed a small smile, rooting her to the spot. Damn. With a smile like that he could get anyone to do anything, hell she'd even describe it as a panty-busting smile. Rolling her eyes at her own thoughts, she ordered her legs to move. It was time to get back to work and forget about guys with hard chests and cheekbones to die for.

Sat in an uptown bar, Grant sipped the beer in front of him and considered the day. When Tripp had mentioned that he had a friend that could help him, he'd never expected to literally bump into them. Skye had surprised him, as Tripp had mentioned she wasn't his usual type. Long brown hair that curled at her shoulders framed a face absent of make-up. Hell that was enough of a change, most of the women he'd dated he'd never seen without make up on. A shapeless top that seemed two sizes too big engulfed her frame, yet when he'd steadied her he could have sworn he'd felt a great figure. Unlike most women of his acquaintance she didn't seem to want to show off her figure.

"Tell me about her. Why would she accept the deal?" He inquired, trying to understand this enigma of a woman.

"She's sweet, has a bit of a temper if you cross her though. She's the kind of woman your family will love." Tripp stretched before turning his gaze back to his friend. "As to why, she needs the money. Her father needs a new heart, but the family can't afford it. Cal's tried everything to raise the money but he doesn't have much time left. She'd do anything for the money for the operation."

Grant nodded slightly, thinking of all the things he would do if his family needed him.

"Listen man, she's like a sister to me. If you hurt her…" Tripp trailed off not needing to finish the sentence.

"I understand. I promise I'm not going to hurt her. If she doesn't want a part of this I'll figure something else out."

"Good. She's here."

Turning in his seat he saw the brunette from earlier striding towards them. He knew the moment she recognized him, fumbling slightly before recovering to reach them.

"Hey girl."

"Hey Tripp"

"Skye this is Grant. He's the person who has an offer for you."

"Hello." He smiled at her drawing out a chair at the table. Seeing her sat comfortably he took his own seat, nodding at the waiter that had appeared at his side.

"Would you like a drink?"

"Sure. I'll have a glass of wine." The tip of the tongue slowly darted across her lips entrancing him. "I'm sorry about the hot chocolate."

"Don't worry it will wash."

Tripp made small talk while they waited for the drinks to arrive. As she grasped the glass a silence fell signaling it was time for him to begin.

"As Tripp said I have a proposal for you. I'll pay you whatever you want and pick up any expenses. You are of course free to refuse."

"Ok."

Taking a deep breath he paused before laying out his proposal for her.

"Skye, I was hoping I could hire you to be my girlfriend."

So this idea came from a book I read recently and thought it would work well here. Some small changes thanks to Nathyfaith : )