Dating Games(33)

“I still haven’t agreed to anything,” I remind him.

“I think you just did, baby doll.” He winks.

“I—”

“You could have easily ignored my request. But you didn’t. So that tells me there’s a part of you, however small, that wants Trevor to think we’re together.”

I raise my glass, taking a sip of the full-bodied red, allowing it to warm my stomach. It’s robust with a hint of spice, the perfect pairing for the filet mignon I ordered. If Julian’s treating me to dinner, I may as well take advantage and go for the gold.

“What I want Trevor to think and what he actually does are two different things. Yes, he was jealous when he intercepted the flowers you sent. However, as I pointed out during our conversation, he did accuse me of only dating you to make him jealous. So, regardless of what I agree to, that will always be in the back of his mind. That we’re only together for a juvenile purpose.”

“Juvenile?”

“Yes. Juvenile.” I lean closer, lowering my voice. My expression remains amorous, as if I’m murmuring my deepest desires to this intriguing man. “Even you must admit it’s something you’d do in high school. Your smart, studious, perfect boyfriend breaks up with you, so you get back at him by dating the school flirt. The one who seems to go through women like toilet paper. The one who could get any girl he wants, but he somehow decides to clean up his act with the theater geek. I’ve already seen that movie. Hell, I lived that movie in high school. I’m not sure I’m interested in a sequel.”

Julian’s gaze remains resolute, unaffected by my outburst. When he brings his hands in front of his face, he tents them, his fingers brushing against his lips in quiet contemplation.

“Then perhaps we should forget about my original proposal altogether.”

My mouth grows slack as I cock my head at him. “Forget about it?”

I’m not sure what my end game was, but I didn’t expect him to call it quits before our meals even arrived. And I was really looking forward to that steak. Did I overplay my hand? I wish Chloe and Nora were here to tell me what to do.

I’ve spent the past five years dishing out relationship advice, but I never took any of it seriously. It was more a comedic outlet for my writing, a way for me to poke fun at how crazy and stressful dating could be. No one would think I’d actually advocate starting a collection of your date’s toenail trimmings and present it to them on your first anniversary. At least I hope they wouldn’t.

“Yes, Guinevere. No matter what I say or do, I fear I’ll never be able to convince you this idea is anything but juvenile. And maybe it is. I simply saw it as a way to solve both our problems. I was already on the lookout for someone who might be interested in posing as my girlfriend. When I heard you share your troubles that night at the bar, I thought you’d be perfect. And I still think you’d be perfect for what I need.”

I worry my bottom lip, absorbing his words. “Why me?”

“Why not you?”

“I can list a thousand reasons. I’m sure there are plenty of women who would gladly agree to pretend to be your girlfriend. Hell, you might even get laid, which one would argue would be a nice bonus. You won’t get that with me.”

He leans closer, gazing thoughtfully at me with his penetrating blue eyes. It almost feels like he’s able to peer into my soul.

“Did you ever stop to think that’s exactly why I asked you?”

“Because I won’t sleep with you?” I push out a laugh, then sip my wine. “Most men would probably expect sex from this kind of arrangement. Unless, of course, they were gay…” My breath hitches, wide eyes darting to Julian. “Oh, my god!” I whisper-shout, glancing around the restaurant, ensuring no one’s paying attention. Apart from Trevor’s occasional wandering gaze, no one seems to care about our conversation. “You’re gay, aren’t you? You need me to pretend to date you to keep your sexual orientation a secret so some conservative politician will back whatever project you’re working on. That’s why you didn’t take advantage of me when I was drunk and in your bed.”

He chuckles, his expression brightening with amusement. “I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, but I’ve yet to be accused of being gay.”

“It’s okay if you are. There’s nothing wrong with it. No one cares these days, especially in New York. Are you from a religious family? Is that why—”

“I am not gay. That’s not why I’m looking for someone to pose as my girlfriend. And that’s not why I didn’t take advantage of you. I didn’t take advantage of you because I’m not an asshole. I don’t take advantage of women. Period.” His voice is determined, his eyes steadfast.

At that moment, the waiter approaches with our meals, cutting through the tension. The aroma of garlic and meat invades my senses as my mouth waters from the beautifully prepared steak in front of me. I pick up my knife and slice into it, meeting Julian’s eyes as he cuts into his lamb, the meat falling off the bone.

“Bon appetite,” he says in a perfect French accent, which piques my curiosity, but not enough to press him about it. Not with my steak inches from my mouth.

I take a bite, moaning at the buttery flavor of the impeccably prepared filet.

“You really know how to tease a man, don’t you?”