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I glance up from the food and meet his dark eyes. In the dim light, he is picture-perfect. His jaw line alone would make me consider purchasing one of those expensive watches he models.
“To hell with logic, Kayla. You have the right to walk away from every date.” He sneaks another mushroom. “I think you should give yourself more credit. You’ll know the signs next time.”
Only if I remain hyper vigilant.
“You’re trying to distract me from the food,” I say.
He nods, his mouth full of stuffed deliciousness. Then he sets his chopsticks down. “You don’t need to worry about finding another guy for a while now that you have me. I’m your perfect date.”
Aside from the no sex rule, I think.
“Who else would order most of the menu?” he adds.
“Honestly, I wasn’t thinking about dating this weekend.” I push the second empty appetizer plate aside and reach for my wine. “I planned to stay in with my dogs and search for teaching positions. Instead, I get to make a list of things to do with my new fiancé.”
Or not do.
I think the little voice in my head is drunk. Half a glass of wine into the evening, and that pesky inner voice wants to break the rules. My conscience is a lightweight. Or maybe that’s my common sense—or both.
“You can work on your plans for Kayla’s Home for Misfit Dogs.” Gavin draws the next plate to his side of the table and helps himself to the assorted pancakes. “Is that why you wanted to return to teaching? To help cover the costs?”
“I liked teaching. But yes, I wanted a job to help turn my idea into a reality. The settlement from the divorce will run out eventually,” I say. “But I don’t need to worry about that anymore thanks to you. What do you think about The Gavin Black Pet Sanctuary?”
He cocks his head and presses the tips of his chopsticks to his lips as if mulling it over. While he’s distracted, I sneak the last leek pancake.
“I like it,” he says finally. “But I think Kayla and Gavin’s Pet Sanctuary is better.”
I set my chopsticks down and reach for my wine glass. “That has a nice ring to it.”
But what happens when the engagement ends?
“You’ll do all the work, of course. I’ll be your financial partner.” He rests his forearms on the table and leans toward me. “I think of it more as a testament to our friendship. One I would have supported even if you hadn’t said yes when I knelt before you and proposed.”
My eyes widened. “Tell me more about how you got down on your knees.”
He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. I’ve held his hand before. I’ve memorized the soft feel of his skin and his firm grip. But the skin-to-skin contact feels different.
This is a fake date. It’s all an illusion. This man was never on his knees in front of me.
Wait. That’s not true. He was on one knee in the vet office. And look what happened. I agreed to pretend to marry him.
He runs his thumb across the back of my hand. The movement draws me back to our intimate dinner. There’s a sinking feeling in my stomach that has nothing to do with dumplings. All my fears come rushing back. And suddenly, sitting barefoot in a New York City restaurant with my billionaire fiancé seems like a disaster waiting to happen.
Gavin’s cell phone vibrates against the wooden table. I quickly withdraw my hand and reach for my chopsticks.
“It’s Margaret,” he murmurs. “Sorry, I need to take this.”
“Might want to hide under the table,” I say. “I’m pretty sure the management here objects to cell phones at the table. They might confiscate all of your electronic devices and leave them with your shoes.”
“Is this an emergency?” Gavin demands, ignoring my warnings about the restaurant rule
s.
The waiter approaches our table and I decide to play offense. “He’ll be off the phone soon. I promise. And those pancakes! Wow, they are amazing. I can’t wait to sample the next item.”
While I babble at our server, Gavin issues a quick, “I understand. We’ll talk more when we get to your office.” Then he slips his cell into the breast pocket of his sports coat just in case the waiter tries to take it. “We’ll need the check and everything else wrapped up to go.”
“Yes, sir,” our server says, and then he rushes off.
