I’ve seen photos of him and his brother—they were in the file I received—and both are good-looking dudes, but Diarmuid’s picture has not done him justice. His blue eyes are a deep navy with vast swirling depths, and his thick hair is darker in real life. If it was sunny, I’d no doubt see the evidence of reddish undertones. He’s tall and broad but not quite as tall or broad as Joshua.
“There is no need to apologize, Ms. Bianchi. Calling my brother a prick is a kindness he doesn’t deserve.”
“Wow. I really can’t wait to meet him now,” I joke, extending my hand. “And please call me Gia.”
“Only if you call me Diarmuid.” He lifts my hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss on my skin. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Joshua clenching his jaw. “You are very beautiful, Gia,” Diarmuid says in that singsong voice, smiling as he casts a quickrespectful glance over me. “My brother will be tripping over himself to get to you.”
“That’s the plan,” Joshua says in a voice devoid of warmth and emotion. “We’re all set to go on our side.”
“As are we.” O’Hara sends a curious gaze Joshua’s way.
“You can let go of her hand now.”
Diarmuid’s eyes widen as he releases me. “Apologies, Gia. I didn’t realize I was still holding your hand.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t mind.” I flash him a flirty grin.
What the hell, Gia?
“So, um, how will the introduction work?” I ask, my gaze bouncing between both men as they appear to size one another up. I thought they were friends as much as work partners, so I don’t understand where this masculine bullshit is coming from.
“You’re to act as the date of one of my men,” Diarmuid explains. “He’s a regular at the club Liam is attending tonight. You’ll dance and flirt in front of my brother. He won’t be able to resist when he sees you on the arm of one of my guys. He’ll enjoy stealing you from him.”
“I read your report in the files I was given. How does this strategy fit the play-hard-to-get suggestion?”
“Liam’s ego exists on its own planet. He’ll expect you to be attracted to him and to be unable to resist ditching your date for him. Once he knows you’re into it, then you keep him dangling. If you give in too easily, he’ll lose interest fast. He loves the chase.”
“We don’t have time to let this play out long-term,” Joshua says. “Gia needs to gain his trust quickly.”
“I didn’t say the chase had to be long. Just don’t give in the first few times he asks you out, and make him wait to bed you. The more worked up you can get him, the more he might slip up and give something away. Liam is thirty-one in a few weeks, and he’s been talking about finding a bride. Show him you’remarriage material, and you’ll have him eating out of the palm of your hand.”
“Okay. I can do that.”
“I have a couple guys watching out for you. They are close with some of Liam’s men. I won’t introduce you because it’s better you don’t know. But they’ll be keeping their eyes and ears to the ground and protecting you as best they can.”
“I appreciate it. Don’t worry about me. I’m trained and resourceful.”
“I’ve seen your credentials. You’re a very impressive young woman, Gia, and no one is taking you down on my watch.”
“Call me when you’re on your way home,” Joshua says as we linger by the taxi. “And we expect regular reports, as long as it’s safe to submit them.”
“I know the score, Joshua. And I’m a computer science major. I’ll leave no trace.”
“We have faith in you. Watch your back.” He walks off, and I admire the view of his broad shoulders, trim waist, and toned ass before I get a grip and climb into the back seat where my fake date is waiting.
Owen is a nice guy, and we chat casually on the way to the club, and it helps to keep my nerves at bay.
Owen helps me out of the car when we arrive, keeping a firm hold of my hand as we bypass the long line and head straight toward the VIP entrance. He gives our names to the beefcake at the door, and we’re escorted inside.
The club is bustling as you’d expect from one of the most popular hangouts in The Big Apple. It’s been on Elisa’s list andmine to check out and a pang of sadness slaps me in the face that I’m not experiencing it with my bestie.
Owen gets us drinks. A virgin mojito for me and a beer for him. He steers me toward the VIP entrance with one hand on my lower back. “Stick by my side at all times until you’ve snared Liam,” he says into my ear as we climb the stairs to the upper level.
“Got it.”
He stops at the top, turning to face me. “We’ll have to get a bit handsy, maybe kiss a bit. That okay with you?”
Owen is cute, so flirting with him won’t be a chore. I grin as I plant my hand on his chest. “Not a problem, Owen. We’ve both got jobs to do, and this isn’t the hard part.” I brush my lips against his mouth. “We should both act how we would on a real date.”
