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I nod, feeling conflicted about this arrangement. “How long do we have to pretend?”
He tilts his head, his gaze unwavering. “You decide the timeline. I’ll work around it.”
“Until the end of summer.” Which means he won’t be dating anyone but me. A shiver of excitement runs down my spine. Even if it’s all pretend, at least I have something to look forward to.
He thinks about this for a second. “We can make that work.” Then he stands and heads for the door, and I suddenly don’t want him to leave.
“One more question,” I say, tagging after him. “Why are you doing this for me?”
He places his hand on the doorknob and pauses. “What do you mean? Having you as my assistant is mutually beneficial.”
“It seems very selfless of you to help a poor waitress who needs a job. What if I can’t fix the system? What if I fail?”
He laughs, then shoves his hands into his pockets. “You won’t. If anything, I’m the one who’s selfish. I want you on my staff. That’s because I see something in you that’s special. I don’t want to share you with anyone else.”
His words ripple through me. Lucas wants me.
He holds out a hand, like we’re making a business deal instead of agreeing to a secret relationship.
“What do you say?” His lips curl into that adorable grin. I don’t know how I’ll say no to that face. “I need your superpower. Will you choose to be part of Team Lucas? Please say yes, because I’m not good at losing.”
“I’d love to,” I say, his warm grip sending a shiver down my spine. “I choose Team Lucas.”
I’m pretty sure the only loser here will be me.
Because I’m about to lose my heart to the hottest chef in town.
Chapter Three
“You remember what I told you?” Lucas asks as I walk across the employee parking lot with him. He agreed to meet me right before my first shift back to work, coaching me on our fictional dating history. I can’t tell him my stomach is tied in knots, the same paralyzing feeling I’ve had ever since agreeing to this. I’m a pathetic actress, not only afraid of failing for Lucas’s sake but terrified that Lucas will suspect I have a huge crush on him.
“I remember everything about our dating history,” I reply.
Lucas has asked me this question at least twice already. Perhaps he’s nervous, but he doesn’t show it. He clenches his jaw. “And for the love, avoid Henrique at all costs.”
“But what if he corners me?”
“Send him to me,” he says, flashing a protective look that makes my heart jackrabbit across the floor. “I won’t let him boss you around. That’s my job.” His mouth quirks on one side.
“I love your bossy side,” I say. “You’re so intense when you go alpha on me.”
He laughs. “Do you like intense guys?”
I shrug. “Maybe. Does it matter? You’re only my pretend boyfriend.”
“Well, I’m intense even if we aren’t pretending,” he says. “It’s how I am. When I’m committed to something, I go all in.” His eyes lock on mine and my stomach flip-flops.
All in. That’s the type of guy I’m going to marry someday. If this is how Lucas reacts to a relationship that’s not even real, I can only imagine how much more intense he’d be about love.
As I reach to open the employee door, Lucas yanks my hand away. “Let me. I’d be a jerk to let you open your own door.”
“Nobody is even out here,” I say. “We don’t have to pretend.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he says, his eyes locked on mine. “We’re a united front every time we walk in together. Understand?”
I nod, already under his spell. A girl could get used to this. But I better not get too used to this.
As I enter the kitchen, Lucas doesn’t even wait for me to unzip my jacket. He whistles for the staff’s attention like a gym teacher. “Everyone, listen up. Gianna’s been hired as my new kitchen assistant. You’ll treat her with the utmost respect or you’ll have to deal with me. Because we’re…” He pauses. “Together.”
