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“Wow, that’s how you ask a guy out on a date?” I deadpan. “I don’t feel very pretty and special right now, Nadia.”
“Would you stop gloating?” An adorable line forms between her brows when she frowns.
“Gloat, I must. My ego demands it.”
Nadia rolls her eyes. “You really are insufferable.”
“Some say it’s part of my charm,” I tell her with a wink. Then I shift to more important topics. “So, why do you need me to be your plus-one anyway?”
She sighs heavily. “If I tell you, do you promise to do it?”
“Pinky promise.” I wiggle my finger near her face, and she bats it away.
“Okay. Here’s the deal. My ex-boyfriend is apparently a big donor for the charity this year, and that means he’ll no doubt be making an appearance.” She pauses and turns up her cute little nose. “With his new beauty queen girlfriend. I can’t show up to the gala without a date, Harry. I’d be an absolute embarrassment.”
I feel my jaw tightening. My chest, too. I don’t like the idea of some asshole making Nadia feel bad about herself. Fuck that. But I’m walking on thin ice with her as it is. I can’t blow this out of proportion and show my crazy. So I try to keep my cool.
“So, I’d have to pretend to be your boyfriend or something like that?”
“Something like that,” she responds with a cringe. “But it’s all for charity. For a really, really good cause.”
Blowing out a breath, I tear off my ball cap and run my fingers through my hair. “Well, this won’t make a very romantic story to tell our future kids.”
“What?!” Her eyes widen.
“Our future kids,” I explain with a shrug. Am I an asshole for milking this situation? Maybe. But I can’t help myself. “You know, when they ask the story of how mommy asked daddy out on the first date and—”
“Thisisn’ta date,” Nadia interrupts, panicked.
“Damn right, it is,” I say, my self-assurance suddenly turned up to the max.
“This would be for charity.” She glowers at me. “For a really, really good cause. Don’t you care about…charity?”
I smirk. “Still a date.”
I mean, yes, I care. Who doesn’t? But the only reason I’d agree to play a part in this charade is because it’d allow me a rare chance to get closer to Nadia. I like helping people as much as the next person, but I like Nadia even more.
She lets out another sigh. “Forget it. I knew this was a bad idea. I’m telling Liam this was a bad idea.”
“Liam?” I question. “The big boss man knows about this?”
“It was his brilliant idea,” she spits out, sarcasm flying around all over the place.
Well, this day just keeps getting better. “You’re telling me we have Liam’s blessing to go out?”
Nadia’s face twists in horror. “Liam’sblessing? Harry, there’s nothing to bless. This is not a date.” She turns hastily for the exit. She’s ready to bolt. “Never mind. I’ll just go by myself.”
I reach out, gently grabbing her wrist. “Hell no, you won’t. We are going to roll into that charity event, arm in arm, making heads turn.”
A skeptical look passes over Nadia’s face. Her eyes dart from my face to the spot where my fingers are gently curled around her wrist. When her gaze meets mine again, I can see her resolve wobbling.
We both know she’d put up arealfight if she wanted to. But she doesn’t.
“Cat’s out of the bag, Dream Girl. You arenotbacking out on me now.”
“There’s no cat. No bag,” she argues, and then mutters to herself. “I’m going to regret this so much.”
“It’s gonna be the best night of your life,” I promise smugly.
