I let go of her hair and run my thumb along her lower lip that still retains a faint stain of red lipstick.
Her lips part and her breath hitches.
“You know what just occurred to me?”
She shakes her head.
“We didn’t practice kissing. That’s irresponsible of us. People in relationships kiss.”
“There are rules to fake dating,” she says. “In all the books I’ve read, practicing the kiss is a pivotal moment in the story.”
“Is that so?”
She responds with an enthusiastic nod.
“So, if I wanted to extend our arrangement, we’d have to practice. It’s part of the rules of fake dating.”
Curiosity glimmers in her eyes. “Why would you want to extend our arrangement?”
“Active Kids holds a charity lunch the day after the evening gala to sponsor kids from lower income homes who have a chance at the Olympics.”
“And you want me to show up as your fake girlfriend?”
“Yes. That’s why I’m attempting to renegotiate our arrangement.”
“Will the press be there?”
“Of course.”
“Why would there be PDA?”
“Remember, it’s an image makeover. I’m supposed to be more approachable.”
“I dunno, mister. Sounds to me like this urgent need to practice kissing is more self-serving than to sway the press’s opinion to see Kaz Lindström no longer as the beast on and off the ice, but rather Kaz Lindström, the man so taken by his fake girlfriend, he can’t keep his hands off her.”
“Can’t it be both?”
“You’re kinda greedy, mister.”
“I’ve been called worse, Goldilocks.”
She smiles. “Did you select my nickname because I’m a book girlie?”
“I selected your nickname because you’re the naive, blonde who moves in with the big bad bear—the big bad bear and Goldilocks.”
She places the back of her hand against her forehead. “Save me. Please, save me from the big bad bear. And oh, if someone could tell me what happened to the other two bears, I’d appreciate it.”
“Drama queen.”
She drops out of her pose, doe eyes trained on me. “As your fake girlfriend, it’s important for me to have a range of emotions at the ready.”
“Are you saying yes to accompanying me tomorrow?”
“I’m saying yes to helping a good cause.”
She’s full of shit, but I’ll play along. “The altruism in you is remarkable.”
“Altruism is easy when the big donations are coming fromyourpocket, big guy.”
