“Not at all,” he said with a half-smile. “So take your time, think about what you want.”
“Well, what doyouwant?” she asked him, still trying to get used to the idea of being pretend engaged to a rich man.
“I’d like to keep this going for the holidays,” he said immediately. “And I’d like for it to seem very, very real.”
“Um, what would that entail?” she asked, swallowing hard.
She was willing to play along, but only so far. And a guy with his kind of money might not be used to hearing the wordnovery often.
“We need to be seen together,” he said.
“Like… on a date?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said, his eyes twinkling like he was trying not to laugh at her. “Multiple dates, I hope.”
“My family is kind of freaking out,” she said.
“Then why don’t I meet them first?” he offered. “When can we arrange that?”
“They actually told me to invite you and Maya to dinner tonight,” she remembered, stunned that she wasn’t having to convince him.
“Perfect,” he said.
“But what about Maya?” Allie asked.
“She knows I want to date you,” Ash said. “She likes the idea a lot.”
“She does?” Allie asked.
“In fairness, her main criteria seemed to be that you like to play games,” he said with afunny smile.
“Idolike to play games,” Allie said, smiling. “I’m glad that comes in handy for something.”
Ash gazed down at her and there was such warmth in his dark eyes, almost like he was smiling without smiling.
It made her heart ache and she tore her eyes from his.
“Speaking of games,” she said quickly. “I did promise her that I would play hide-and-go-seek tag.”
“Of course,” Ash said.
“Do you… want to join us?” Allie wasn’t sure what made her ask the question, but she was pretty sure he would decline.
“Do you need another player?” he asked right away. “Or is four too many?”
“More is always better,” she told him.
“Great,” he said, heading for the steps with her.
“You really want to play?” Allie asked him, surprised. Ash seemed so serious. It was funny to think of him running around the park with the kids.
I run around with kids all day,she reminded herself.Among other things.
“Honestly, I don’t even know how to play,” Ash admitted. “But I used to like hide-and-go-seek and tag when I was a kid, so I assume it’s fun. And I know it will make Maya happy.”
He held out his hand to her.
For a moment she hesitated, as if taking it would be crossing a line she couldn’t come back from.
