“What if I have a solution for our problems?” he said, his voice lowering the nearer he got to her. “We could face them together.” He leaned closer. “You could be mine.”
“Your… what?” Her voice went girlishly high as goosebumps rippled over her skin.
“My girlfriend—for the night.” His eyes glittered wickedly as he laughed. “Come with me to the dinner and make it fun.”
Her heart skipped too many beats, sending her brain into a dizzy spin—because lord, wouldn’t that be good? “That’s ridiculous. We don’t know the first thing about each other.”
Girlfriend? Had the guy really said that?
“I have to dine with my aunt this evening.” He looked woeful, but she was sure it was a put-on.
“That’s your duty date?” His aunt?
“It’s tougher than it sounds.” He rested his hand on the glass cabinet between them. “I don’t want to have to deal with questions and pressure.”
She didn’t believe him, his eyes had that twinkle. “You’re afraid of a little old lady?”
“She’s a lot more than little and old. Having a girlfriend to distract her would deflect a lot of heat for me.”
What, like he needed some kind of bodyguard? As if. She had no doubt that a guy like him could handle dozens of little old ladies—he’d charm them in a second with a simple smile. But she couldn’t help but be curious. “Would she be expecting you to have a girlfriend?” she asked cautiously.
He laughed, but to her amazement he gave a guilty wince at the same time. “I’ve told my family I’m involved with someone and that it’s serious.” He pulled his lips in as he waited for her reaction.
Good grief. He’d “told” them that—but it actually wasn’t true? “But you’re not?” Not involved with anyone? Really?
“I’m not.”
Oh. She breathed. Hoped her pulse would settle after its happy skip. “So why tell them that?” Curiosity chained her now.
“To stop them asking all the time.” After a long pause, he sighed and gave her more. “Because my family would like me to return to Spain and I want them to understand that my home is here in London. I’m settled here and not moving. If they thought I was seriously involved with someone here, they might accept that.”
So he wasn’t usually “seriously involved”? She shouldn’t feel so joyous about that—but man, she so did. “What were you going to tell her when you turned up alone tonight?”
“That my girlfriend was working.” His shoulders lifted easily. “But it would be better if she was there. If you were there.”
Stunned, Nina took a moment to digest the idea.
“Do you think I ought to get one of these bracelets for my aunt?” He’d moved closer—to glance into the cabinets.
“Possibly,” she said warily.
“You’re paid on commission?”
What was he implying? Nina straightened her spine. “I’m not sure what kind of woman you usually keep company with, but my company cannot be bought.”
“And you only window shop yourself, is that right?” He was smiling again, drat him. It made certain things irresistible—namely, the way her body, and will, melted before him.
“Very occasionally,” she answered with as much dignity as possible. Because she so didn’t do any kind of shopping.
“And you don’t wear one of these bracelets.” He looked at her arms.
“I don’t want to be burdened by bling baggage.” No baggage at all—certainly not boy baggage. The plan was to travel and have that “solo girl abroad” fun.
“You’d prefer something simpler?” He gazed at the picture of the cords of silver strung with colored rings—jewels, glass, plaited gold.
She too looked at the display pictures and the gleaming cabinets filled with hundreds of shimmering beads. “Yes,” she admitted.
“Something less heavy?”
She nodded.
“Mmm,” he said. “I don’t think my aunt would wear these either.”
“And clearly your aunt matters,” Nina said dryly. “Given you’re too scared to spend time alone with her.”
He chuckled, his shoulders lifting. “I’m tired,” he said. “If I didn’t tell her there was someone, she’d parade a string of suitable senoritas before me.”
He had to be kidding. “And would that be so bad?” Nina asked sarcastically.
“Si.” He snapped back the blunt answer.
Nina laughed, not believing him at all. “She wants to see you happy—isn’t that nice?”
“No,” he said with a laugh. “It’s not about me. It’s about me providing an heir.”
Really? That was even more unbelievable. “And you’re not willing to oblige?”
He shook his head and the momentary stark expression told her it all—this was one “No commitment/no kids” man.
Nina narrowed her eyes. “Do you need the fake girlfriend because you’re actually gay? It’s okay to be gay, you know.”
“I do know. But I’m not. You know I’m not.”
He met her eyes with a heated look—a look that had her thinking of big beds and long nights.
Awareness didn’t shiver through her, but steamrolled its way over every cell, smashing her feeble resistance to his mad plan. But she still couldn’t believe he really wanted this.
“You can get any woman you want as your date. You don’t need me,” she said, her voice stupidly raspy again. No way would a man this fine have an aunt hunting down suitable dates—he’d have his pick already.
“It’s nice of you to say that, but I don’t want any woman as my date tonight. I want you.”
She couldn’t be flattered by that. Because the fact was, if this guy got her in his bed, he’d be so disappointed. She didn’t need her soul destroyed any more than it had been already. “And you’re used to getting what you want.” She crossed her arms, hiding the way her boobs had switched on their “take me” signal.
He cocked his head, his gaze sharpening. “You think I am?”
“Yes. You have a car come collect you every morning. Your life is easy.”
“Easy?” He
