“I didn’t say that, but I’m considering it.”
Relief poured through him. “What more do you need to say yes?”
“We need to talk about what happened tonight first.”
Blaise’s throat tightened. That was the last conversation he wanted to have, but he had no choice. “Do you want an apology?”
“Are you sorry you let people think we’re dating?” she said at the same time.
He opened his mouth but then pressed his lips together. There were two answers—the truth and what she wanted to hear. But she had said no lies. Her being called his girlfriend and them pretending to date were enough. He couldn’t add to that. “I’m not sorry.”
“I had a feeling that would be your answer.”
“It made things easier.”
“Tonight, maybe.”
At least she acknowledged that.
“What happens now that people believe we’re together?” she asked. “We live in different states. People will soon realize we spend no time together.”
“Lots of people have long-distance relationships. Texts, calls, video chats. It’s no big deal. Besides, San Francisco isn’t that far away.”
“True, but don’t forget I alternate weeks between my two offices. I have to catch a red-eye to New York in a few hours.”
He straightened. “You’re going tonight?”
She nodded. “I have a meeting tomorrow morning.”
Which offered further explained why she couldn’t be here to have dinner with Laurel and Brett on Thursday. But Blaise didn’t like Hadley being so far away.
Wait. What was he thinking? None of this was real.
“We don’t have to explain the time we spend apart. No one will know or care.” His friends were too busy to keep track of him. “If anything, your job means we have a built-in reason why we’re not together much. The only time any of them would see us is if you need to find out more about Wes or Dash.”
“So we’re dating in name only.”
That brought a laugh. “Yes, tonight was the first of a limited number of appearances, depending on how much you need to see Wes and Dash in person.”
She tilted her head as if considering everything. That frustrated him because he made decisions quickly, but he knew most people weren’t like him. And Hadley had slow and steady written all over her.
She tapped her finger against her chin. “What about the kiss?”
Here we go.Blaise swallowed. He should have known she wouldn’t forget that. “Kissing provided evidence that we’re together.”
Her gaze narrowed, but that didn’t hide the wariness in her eyes. “So the kiss was for show?”
His palms sweated. The kiss hadn’t been premeditated. He didn’t like that she thought it was. “The kiss just sort of happened when I found you in my arms, but it worked out well.”
“Because others saw us.”
It wasn’t a question. “I’m sorry for not asking you first.”
But he wasn’t sorry for the kiss itself.
“No apology required,” she said to his relief. “I will need access to Wes and Dash. As long as you downplay the girlfriend angle to your friends and we don’t kiss again, it should be okay.”
He blew out a breath, except…
