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I don’t like violence but I find it kind of hot that he was able to fight off an attacker.
“How’d you know how to do that?”
“Do what?”
“Fight like that.”
He shrugs. “I grew up doing martial arts. I did it for fun but it can be used as a weapon if needed.”
“I should tell Jesse that.” I sip my coffee.
“The garage guy?”
“Yeah. It might keep him from doing something stupid. I think he sees you as a threat. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to fight you.”
“Why? Because he thinks I’m trying to take his girl?”
“Are you?” I cock my head in a flirtatious way.
“Since when are you his girl?”
“I’m not. But he thinks I am.” I set my coffee down. “You’re an expert at not answering questions, you know that?”
He looks down, then back up. “I can’t get involved with someone right now.”
I nod, trying to hide my disappointment. “Makes sense. You’re not staying here. It wouldn’t be right to—”
“No. It wouldn’t. Like I told you last night, it’s not fair to either of us to start something we can’t finish.” He pauses. “But if you want to use me to get Jesse to leave you alone…” He doesn’t finish the thought.
“You’d pretend to go out with me?”
He shakes his head. “Never mind. It’s a bad idea.”
“Actually, it’s brilliant.” I move my coffee mug aside and rest my arms on the table. “If Jesse thought I was with you, he’d stop harassing me at work. It’s not like we’d have to put on a big show. You could just stop by the garage now and then and we could be seen around town a few times.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Just forget it. I shouldn’t have even suggested it.”
“But you did, and it’s agreatidea. It would really help me out. How about if we just pretend to go out one time and see what happens?”
“Where would we go?”
I pause to think. “The fire department is having a fundraiser this weekend. The whole town will be there. You could go as my date. I was going to go with Nina but we can all go together. It’ll be fun! Nina’s a blast. You’ll love her.”
“I’m trying to keep a low profile here. Do the whole reclusive writer thing. I don’t think going to a town function is a good idea.”
“It’s just one night and I promise it won’t be that bad. If it is, we’ll leave. And if you do this for me, I’ll make you grilled cheese every night for a week.”
He smiles. “Well, that might’ve just sealed the deal.”
“So you’ll do it?”
“Okay, I’ll do it. But if it doesn’t go well, we’re not staying.”
“Agreed.” I hold my hand out and we shake on it.
“Do we need to come up with some kind of story before Saturday? About how we met or when we started dating?”
“Hmm. We probably should. People will ask questions and we need to have the same answers.” I tap my hand on the table as I think. “Why not just tell them the truth?”
