“I’m sure your dog and I will get along great,” she gushes.
I’m less sure, but I’ll give Nora this. She’s good at getting what she wants from people.
Just like she’s about to get what she wants from me.
Maybe this isn’t such a bad thing, though. My father asked me to be nice to her, and I’d do anything to get out of this room…
“Okay,” I tell Nora, holding out my hand for a shake. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
The wattage of her face somehow increases further, and I’m surprised by how much it lightens my own mood to see her happy like this, knowing I played a part in it. Even if it was by agreeing to a ridiculous lie.
“You’ll pretend you’re my secret boyfriend in exchange for dog-sitting? Hell, yes.” She slips her small hand in mine. Her middle finger is slightly crooked, arcing to the right by a few millimeters, and I crush the urge to trace it as I give her hand a firm shake.
“So this is what it feels like to make a deal with the devil,” I say.
She just smiles at me—a softer smile than usual—and before I leave her office, I smile back like the idiot I am.
CHAPTER FOUR
NORA
When Pansy sees me taking a seat next to Cormac, she waves to me with her cupped palm presented outward, as if she thinks she’s the Queen of England. The wedding-party table is, unfortunately, a long, horizontal table aligned with the bar, facing the smaller round tables, putting us on display for the other guests. At least we’re seated next to Hannah and Travis. Our parents are supposed to be seated to my left, but they haven’t entered the tasting room yet. My cousin Hazel and her mother are on the other side of the bride and groom’s empty chairs, along with Dottie Hendrickson and her longtime romantic partner, Bear. Our other friends, Liam and Briar, and Sophie and Rob, are sitting at the same table as Pansy and José.
Oh, God. I’ll have to tell José about this mess, won’t I?
Or, actually…
Maybe it would be better if he thinks I’m genuinely dating Cormac. That way he won’t have to keep lying to Pansy, something I know he struggled with in the whole Marco-fifteen-kids deception.
Pansy’s still staring at me, so I lean my shoulder against Cormac to give her a little thrill.
“Is something wrong with you?” he asks, glancing at me with a furrow between his brows.
“Dating lesson one,” I whisper, trying not to speak loudly enough to be overheard by Hannah, who is deep in conversation with Travis. “Don’t ask women if there’s anything wrong with them.”
He looks annoyed as he says, “What if I see a woman having convulsions?”
“Call the doctor.”
I sip my ginger beer, smiling at Pansy, who leans in to whisper something into José’s ear. He does a double take, then glances back at me, giving me awhat the fuck?look if I’ve ever seen one. I give him that Queen of England wave back.
Huh, it feels pretty good.
“Why are you doing that?” Cormac asks pointedly.
“Pansy gave me the weird Queen of England wave, and I decided to try it out. It’s pretty fun.”
He shrugs and does the Queen of England wave with me, prompting José to frown.
“Whisper something to me,” I hiss to Cormac.
“If we were in a secret relationship, I’d be more subtle than that,” he says softly, leaning in so the words are for my ears only.
I arc my head up slightly to smile at him. “Hey, that was pretty smooth. Put that line in your back pocket.”
“In case this exact scenario should repeat itself?”
“You never know.”
