“So do criminals,” he countered. “Kind is equivalent to an easy mark.”
She twisted her lips as if wanting to dive deeper into what he’d said but instead asked another question. “Miles faces several personal conflicts that force him to grow. How did thoseelements contribute to his appeal as a book boyfriend to the heroine?”
“Isn’t that a question you should answer? I don’t know how women think.”
“You know how Daphne, the heroine, thought because you read the book.”
“Yeah, but—”
“There’s no but.”
“I guess, it made him more…”
“More what?”
“Can’t we just eat in peace?”
“Not if you want anyone to believe you’re my authentic boyfriend.”
“Somehow, I don’t think anyone will quiz me about the hero in a book.” He finished his wine, refilled his glass, and topped off hers.
“Of course, they’ll quiz you,” she said, toying with her goblet. “Any guy of mine will be well read and more than happy to discuss book boyfriends.”
“Are you for real?” A wave of irritation washed over him. The kind that happens when a guy realizes he’s not going to get the girl…even though he doesn’t want the girl. It was a male pride thing. “You expect the guys you date to sit around and talk about book boyfriends? That’s like me saying any woman of mine will be expected to sit around and talk about—”
“About what?”
He swallowed, shocked that he’d almost let slip the one thing he couldn’t reveal. The family secret. It was the real reason behind his being out of commission for the time being, the way his injury had caused his magic to glitch. “Nothing. It doesn’t matter. This isn’t about me, it’s about you and keeping you safe.”
“On that note, I have something for you,” Sophie said. “Wait here.” She popped up and hurried out of the room.
While she was gone, Stone pondered how Sophie would respond if she learned of the side gig Clarabelle had set him and his brothers up with when she had come back into their lives. A side gig that made Sophie’s look insignificant by comparison.
Actually, it wasn’t a side gig. It was an equal gig. For every normal case they took, they had to take one abnormal case. Otherwise, as Clarabelle would say, what was the sense in going to all the trouble to get them certified in the field?
His gut told him Sophie would be thrilled.
But when it came to romance, his gut couldn’t be trusted.
Sophie whipped back into the room carrying a gray T-shirt and wearing a smirk.
He stiffened. Damn, he knew that smirk. Had experienced it several times since meeting her. Whatever came next, he wouldn’t like it.
“Here.” She thrust the shirt at him. “This is for you to wear on your first official outing as my boyfriend while I interview potential candidates for my second column.”
He took the shirt by the shoulders, slowly turned it around so he could read the words and groaned.Real Life Book Boyfriend in Training.
“Was that a groan of pure love?” she asked, rubbing her palms together like a foster child who had just been asked if they’d like to be adopted. “I mean, of course it was. What’s not to love about it? It’s absolutely perfect. I sell it in my Etsy store. It’s a huge hit with wedding parties, book clubs, and girl’s night out events.”
He shook off the shock. “I am not wearing this.”
Her confident smile wobbled. “Why? What’s wrong with it? I thought you’d be thrilled to wear it compared to the sweater vests thatNaked Runwaywants you to wear. I heard Ziggy found a black and white striped Beetlejuice cardigan in your size at a vintage shop that he plans to pair with pink trousers designed by Isabella. And Frankie actually approved it withoutargument, which is supremely rare…according to Ziggy, who seems to know a lot of things.”
An image of Beetlejuice popped into Stone’s head. The rambunctious spirit had been extravagantly strange. Stone ran his hand over his jaw and weighed his options. The T-shirt was better. Barely, but better. “If I wear this”—he held up the garment like it contained a man-eating bacterium—“can I ditch the Dockers and loafers and wear my jeans and combat boots, and you’ll back me with the Glam Team?”
Sophie wrinkled her nose. “Do your combat boots have blood on them?”
“Not that you can see.”
