I frown, meeting Blake’s stare. “I’m not following.”
Blake sits up straighter, pressing his upper thigh into mine. I repress a shiver at the feel of his body heat seeping through the thin material of my gym shorts.
“Find somebody to parade in Tommy boy’s face. That way he might finally fuck off and leave you alone.”
“That’s stu—Hm.” I stop myself from shooting the idea down completely.
Maybe it’s the beer settling upon my empty stomach, entering my bloodstream and widening my boundaries of what is a good idea and what’s a bad idea, but for some strange reason…
“You know, that actually isn’t a bad idea.”
Blake grins boyishly and I get the strange urge to lean forward and kiss his smile straight off his lips. “See. Problem solved.”
“Sort of,” I huff. “Where on earth am I going to find somebody?”
“Any male friends?”
I shake my head.
“Roommates?”
I shake my head.
“Co-worker?”
“Absolutely not.”
A heartbeat of silence falls upon us like a blanket, until Blake speaks again.
“I’ll do it.”
It’s my turn to frown. “You’ll do what?”
“Be your fake date. Your fake boyfriend.”
I’m rarely speechless but right now, Blake has stolen most of my words. Every. Single. One of them.
Except for… um…
What the fuck?
My eyes must be as wide as saucers, as I scratch at my hairline wondering how on earth I got here.
One minute I was coming over to check Blake was alright, the next growing hot and bothered under his intense stare, picturing his sweaty body writhing above mine, tangled up in his sheets and now I’ve somehow snagged myself a faux boyfriend in order to get my boss’ sleazy nephew off my back.
I mean… it’s not a terrible idea. After all, Carmen and I were the ones who came up with it in the first place.
But I’m just surprised is all – or perhaps suffering from whiplash – because I wasn’t even aware that therewasa real position as my fake boyfriend, let alone find a willing applicant.
Huh.
“You okay, Calla?” Blake cups my shoulder. “You’ve gone white.”
“I’m fine,” I choke out. “Just surprised is all.”
With my eyes closed, I feel rather than see, Blake’s hand come to rest on my bare knee.
“You don’t have to say yes, Calla, I just—”
