“You have my permission to gloat and tell me you told me so.” I nodded. “Deal?”
My old friend grinned. “Now we’re talking. Deal. Just think about it, okay? Taking Ina would make sense for the narrative we’re trying to establish, and it would give you a reason to see her outside of work before this whole thing ends.”
“I’ll think about it,” I lied.
Lucas gave me a knowing smile. “Sure you will. Oh, and before I forget. Keith’s assistant had something delivered for his Secret Cupid. I need to go distribute it.”
“Don’t bother. Whatever it is, throw it away. I have Ina’s gift covered.”
The smile widened into a full grin. “Well, isn’t that interesting?”
I realized I just confirmed his suspicions and he was not going to let me forget it.
He opened the door and gestured for me to exit first, and there was a glint of mischief in his eyes that made me deeply suspicious. But I didn’t have time to interrogate him about it because the moment I stepped out of his office, I saw her.
Ina was standing near the IT department, talking to two of our senior developers. She was gesturing animatedly, probably explaining something about scheduling or priorities. She was wearing a dark blue dress that was pretty basic, but on her it just highlighted her classic beauty. Her toned legs looked extra-long in the nude heels she wore.
I’d barely seen her all week. A few brief moments in the mornings when I grabbed coffee before my first meeting. A handful of Slack messages about rescheduling things. And casual glimpses from my chair.
But now she was right there. I felt the same pull I’d been fighting since the moment I kissed her in my office.
She looked up, and our eyes met across the open floor plan. For a second, everything else fell away. It was just her and me and the memory of Saturday hanging between us like a live wire. A carousel of fantasies flashed through my mind in vivid color.
Then she broke eye contact and turned back to her conversation, her cheeks slightly flushed.
I forced myself to keep walking toward my office. I had to pretend I wasn’t hyperaware of her presence just thirty feet away. My steps faltered like I had forgotten how to walk. Like the sight of Ina had knocked that ability out of my skull. And what did I normally do with my hands while I walked?
Muscle memory, don’t fail me now.
One look from Ina had scrambled my eggs. The effect she had on me was too powerful. That was why it was better to keep her away from tonight’s gala.
It was the event I’d been dreading for weeks, the one where I’d be paraded around as New York City’s Most Eligible Bachelor. Reporters would ask about my mystery girlfriend and I’d have to smile and deflect and play coy.
Lucas had been correct that I should take Ina. She was who they all wanted to see. It would be one more controlled appearance before the campaign ended. The other women in the room would back off. I wouldn’t be stuck fending off questions or advances all night.
And it would give me an excuse to see her and just be with her.
But I’d promised myself I was going to protect her from extra attention she had never agreed to. Even if it meant going alone. Even if it meant spending the entire evening wishing she was there.
I grabbed my laptop bag and coat, intending to head home early for once to get ready for the gala. Ina was at her desk. I paused, tempted one more time to ask her to join me, but I stopped myself.
“Have a good night,” she said with a polite smile.
“It’s unlikely but I’ll try.”
CHAPTER 23
INA
Ipoured myself a second glass of wine, which I had dubbed the “feeling sorry for myself” Pinot Grigio. I had picked it up from the corner store on my way home, so the quality was questionable. It was better than box wine but that was about all it had going for it.
I was pouting and sulking. I couldn’t even really explain why I was pouting. There were just too many emotions running through me to put my finger on just one.
Disappointment. Sadness. Hurt.
All because my fake boyfriend didn’t actually like me.
It was the most ridiculous emotional breakdown ever. I had zero reason to feel bad. Zero. None. He never promised me anything. In fact, it was made very clear from the start that there would never be anything between us.
