“Does she know that’s a possibility?”
“We haven’t spoken about it, but I would assume that she would know.” Though that’s not actually correct. I don’t know Gina very well, but I assume she doesn’t really know how reporters work, especially the paparazzi. How they would do anything to be the first person to get a story. I am one of the most eligible bachelors in the country, and everyone in that world knows that any story about my dating life would command headlines. Shit, it would even be on entertainment news TV shows. I don’t know that Gina fully understands that. She seems like she doesn’t know that world very well, but I don’t want to scare her or make her nervous. Maybe I’ll explain tonight that there is a possibility that we could be in the papers.
“I saw you working out at the gym earlier,” my grandfather says, looking me up and down. “You’re regaining muscle.”
“I try,” I say. “One day at a time, right?”
“One day at a time,” he says, nodding slowly. “I’m proud of you, Hunter. You’ve been through a lot.”
“Well, nothing I couldn’t get through without my family.” I reach over and squeeze his arm. “Thank you for everything, Granddad.”
His eyes are a fire as he stares at me. “We will always be here to support you.” He pauses. “Does Gina know about Sophia?” His words trail off as I feel myself stiffen at the mention of her name. Her face flashes in my mind for a few moments, and I feel nothing.
“No. She doesn’t know.” I shake my head slowly.
“And are you going to tell her?”
“I don’t really see a reason for that,” I say, looking away.
“Okay.” He looks like he’s about to say something else when the door opens, and I turn to see who is leaving now. My jaw drops when I notice that it is Gina. She looks absolutely gorgeous, standing there in a red, slinky dress with a slit thatis high and tantalizing. The top also leaves nothing to the imagination as it clings to her in all the right places, with a low V neckline that shows me the bare skin of her ample bosom. Her long dark hair hangs down her back, and her eyes are wide and beautiful, glittering in the early evening light.
“I hope this will do,” she asks, looking shy. I want to tell her she looks like dynamite on a stick, but then my grandfather is still here, and I don’t want him getting any ideas, especially considering the conversation that we just had.
“It will do.” I nod and grab my car keys. My words are underwhelming, but I don’t dare tell her how gorgeous and sexy she looks. Or how badly I want her. That my cock is twitching at the thought of just being by her side.
“Now, now, Hunter,” my grandfather says, shaking his head. “Is that the best compliment you can give the girl? You look very nice, dear.”
“Hi, Mr. Waverly,” she says, looking slightly nervous. “Thank you.”
“It’s okay. He knows about our arrangement,” I tell her.
“Oh. Okay.” She looks surprised.
“There are no secrets between my grandfather and me.”
“Oh, good,” she says, running her fingers through her hair. “I’ve never played a fake girlfriend before. I hope I do the job well.”
“Every man there tonight will be jealous that he has you on his arm,” my grandfather says with a warm smile. “You are very stunning, Gina.”
“Thank you.” She blushes slightly and looks down.
“Don’t you agree, Hunter?” My grandfather looks at me with a twinkle in his eye.
“You look beautiful, Gina,” I say perfunctorily, even though the words I actually want to use are stunning, sexy, gorgeous,and bed-worthy. But I will not say that to her, especially not in front of my grandfather.
“Well, you enjoy your dinner tonight. You’re going to the Lobster House?” My grandfather asks, and I nod.
“Is that okay with you?” I ask her.
“Wow. Yeah, I’ve never been there before. It’s like the most prestigious restaurant in town.” She grins. “I could kind of get used to being your fake girlfriend. That’s a perk I hadn’t expected.”
“Maybe there will be some other perks,” I say, winking at her.
“Now, now. I think I will see myself to the study. There is an audiobook I’ve been listening to that I quite want to get back to.” My grandfather immediately shifts and makes his way back to the door.
“Oh, anything interesting?” Gina asks him.
“It is a murder mystery by Agatha Christie,” he says. “She’s my favorite crime writer, and, well, it’s a book I have not read before.”
