“A more approachable Kazimir Lindström would be a great selling point for that brewery in Montana that’s been giving you the runaround.”
That has my attention.
Erik said the same thing.
A beat of silence passes between us.
“The Active Kids charity gala is coming up this Saturday, right?”
“Yes, and I’m going solo.”
“What if you didn’t?”
I grumble.
“Kaz, you have the power to decide what the press is going to focus on when you step on that red carpet on Saturday night.”
I blow out a breath. “I’m a lousy actor, Alina. My threshold for pointless small talk is nonexistent. I’d never be able to pull off fake dating a woman I don’t know.”
“I never said it had to be a woman you didn’t know.”
My eyes shift to the two pairs of Converse.
Chapter 10
Let me be your ride or die
Harley
Alarge hand shakes me. “Harley.”
I open one eye and pull the blanket over my head.
“If you need a little more sleep,” Kaz says, “I’ll let you be, but FYI, you’ve been sleeping for five hours.”
I push the blanket off my face and stare up bleary-eyed at my new roommate. “What do you mean, five hours? That’s not possible.”
“You sat on the couch, and the time it took me to bring your belongings to the guestroom and come back downstairs, you were out like a light. I laid you across the couch so you would be comfortable, placed a blanket over you, and went downstairs to my office. After a string of calls, I went out to run some errands. When I got back, I had time to have a long conversation with my publicist.”
I rub my eyes and sit up. “I haven’t been sleeping very well.”
“It’s understandable. You’ve been through a lot.”
He’s traded the navy-blue suit he was wearing for a casual look. Even in his designer black hoodie and matching color jeans, he’s still badass.
Conscious of the presence of this gorgeous man, I tuck a few loose strands in the elastic holding my messy top bun and wipemy chin, in case there’s drool left from my nap. I’m sure I won’t win any beauty contest, but at least I won’t scare him.
“I have, but I’m certain I slept that long because your couch is a million times more comfortable than my lumpy secondhand futon.”
“Speaking of your old place of residency, I returned to your building and using the key you gave me, I let in a team of private investigators.”
My head rears back. “Why would you do that?”
“I wanted a team of professionals to document what had taken place. Also, I wanted them to sweep the apartment to determine if there were other cameras or listening devices.”
“Were there?”
He shakes his head. “No. Your superintendent wasn’t that sophisticated.”
