Would that work? Would such an agreement satisfy Oscar? Satisfy the Shanahans?
“A courtship wouldn’t be as serious as an actual match,” she continued, “and we wouldn’t have to lie so badly, would we?”
A lie was a lie, no matter how big or little.
“Actually, what if we really do court each other?” she asked. “Just temporarily. We’ll know it won’t last forever, but we won’t tell them that.”
“It’s still deceptive.”
“Not if we act like a courting couple.”
He stiffened. He hadn’t liked the original plan to form a pretend match, and he didn’t like the direction this new scheme was taking. “What exactly do courting couples act like?”
“If you need me to explain that to you, then you should abdicate your role as the matchmaker right here and now.”
“I know how couples should act when they’re in love with each other. But we’re not.”
“We don’t need to be in love, not if we’re telling everyone we just want to get to know one another better. But we have to make a show of acting interested in each other.”
He palmed the back of his neck and the tightening muscles there. “Let’s set some rules for what ‘acting interested’ looks like.”
“You’ll need to come visit me on occasion.”
Fine. He could do that. They would have a chaperone, and he wouldn’t have to stay long. “Anything else?”
“You’ll have to be nice to me around other people.”
“I’m nice to you already.”
“No, you make it obvious you don’t like me.”
“If everyone assumes I don’t like you, then whyever would they believe we want to start courting?”
“Because we kissed, and we want to explore if we have feelings for each other after all.”
“That’s a reasonable excuse.” And it made sense.
“You’ll have to talk to me without sounding irritated.”
Was he really that much of a cad whenever he was with her? “’Twill be difficult”—he tried for humor—“but I’ll try a wee bit.”
“And maybe a gift or two?” This time her voice hinted at humor.
“That may be asking too much,” he teased back. “But I’ll see what I can do.”
“See that you compliment me often.”
“The same goes for you.”
She paused. “Depending on how long this transpires, we may need another kiss—”
“I draw the line there.” His heartbeat tumbled over itselfat just the thought of sharing another kiss. As tempting as the idea was, he couldn’t let himself get carried away.
“Very well. I prohibit you from kissing me again.”
Prohibit? Once more, he tried to see through the darkness to read her expression, but that pretty face of hers was too shadowed. Was she serious? Surely not. She couldn’t go from suggesting it one moment and then objecting to it the next. But did that mean she’d liked the kiss and wanted another?
He gave a curt shake of his head. It didn’t matter. “We won’t be having any physical contact during our courtship.”
