He shook his head, and I could tell he believed what he was saying with his whole being. “No. Love isn’t real. Companionship, sure. Having another human to talk to thatmatches your overall social vibe, status, and desires? Yeah, that’s real and people take great joy in it. But love? The magical, overwhelming, makes-you-do-stupid-things kind of love? That’s fiction. It’s what we sell because it’s what people want to believe in, but it’s not actually what makes relationships work.”
I felt disappointment settle in my chest like a stone.
This was the man I was going to pretend to date? The man who thought love was a fairy tale. He reduced human connection to a business transaction, and looked at the world through spreadsheets and algorithms?
“I don’t believe that,” I said quietly. “Not for a second. There’s a neon pink heart beating in that chest of yours.”
“You don’t have to believe it. But I’m the one who built a billion-dollar company on understanding how relationships actually work, so…” He shrugged, and the gesture felt defensive somehow. “What do you know?”
It stung more than it should have.
I slid off the table, suddenly desperate to leave this room and this conversation and the way Dane was looking at me like I was naive for believing in something as fundamental as love.
“You’re right,” I said, heading for the door. “What do I know? I’m just a small-town girl with a theater degree who thinks love is magic. Clearly I have no idea how the world actually works.”
I made it exactly two steps when his hand closed around my elbow.
My entire body reacted in a way that felt highly inappropriate and extremely dangerous. I had to actively resist the urge to lean into the contact.
This was bad.
This was so, so bad.
“Wait,” he said in a gravelly voice.
I stood there frozen with his hand on my elbow and my heart trying to beat its way out of my chest.
“Heidi’s right,” he said finally. “This marketing opportunity is something I can’t ignore. A good idea is a good idea. I have to do this campaign regardless of what I want. I can find someone else to play the role—hire a model, pay an actress, whatever—or I can make this worth your while.”
I turned to face him, and he dropped his hand from my elbow. I immediately missed the contact.
“By giving me a fully free Cupid’s Arrow membership?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
He frowned. “Until the day you get married, sure.”
“And?”
“And what? What else is there?”
“The health insurance thing for Abby.”
“Your non-family member you want insured?”
I nodded. “My roommate.”
“Talk to Norma,” he said. “If there’s a way to make it work, she’ll know.”
I grinned despite myself. “So let me get this straight. You’re offering me a raise, a premium Cupid’s Arrow membership with no restrictions, and help getting my roommate on my health insurance plan. In exchange for pretending to be your girlfriend for a few weeks?”
“That’s the deal.”
“Okay.”
He blinked. “Okay?”
“Sure, I’ll be your girlfriend.” I was already moving toward the door again, suddenly needing space before I changed my mind. “But you could have asked in a more romantic way. I hope you’re better at this in public.”
I didn’t wait for his response. I left the conference room as quickly as my legs would carry me without actually running, my face burning and my heart racing and little red flags bouncing around in my brain.
