Page 5 of Masked Love

“What? It could happen.”

“It could, indeed. But… let’s tone down the‘sweeping me off my feet’part. I don’t get swept away easily.”

“Deal. How long have we been dating?”

“Two months, which is as long as you’ve been working for me to help keep it mostly the truth.”

“Good call.”

“Plus, the last time I saw Matthew was three months ago, and he knew I wasn’t seeing anyone at the time.”

After we worked out the rest of the details and told each other some personal information, we were ready, or so I hoped. Matthew wasn’t one who backed away easily, especially whenGrandfather meddled. Hopefully, our ruse would be enough to deter him, which would get Grandfather off my back for a while.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded dating Matthew if he hadn’t been such an arrogant dick. All my grandfather saw was a monetarily perfect match. He had never been big on love and romance. At least he never gave a shit about my sexuality and helped start up my business, so I couldn’t be too upset with him, the pushy bastard.

“This will be fun,” I told myself quietly. God, when was the last time I had fun? I’d been building this business from the ground up for six years now without much of a personal life. No wonder Grandfather was so pushy. I’d never find anyone at this rate.

I could do this.I could be my hot boss’s fake boyfriend. Sure, easy as pie.Pie.Great, now I’m hungry.

Boy, that wine sure was strong. Could wine be strong? Huh. Something to think about. This wasn’t me being nervous at all. Nope, not me. I had all my shit together. I wasn’t worried about losing my job if all went to hell. Not one bit.

When the driver pulled up in front of the old building, bright with soft lighting, he got out of the SUV and opened the door for us, and suddenly, that wine turned into vinegar in my gut.

“Showtime,” Mr. Hayes muttered. “And don’t forget to call me Xander. No one calls me Alex or Alexander.”

“Okie dokie.”

He climbed out of the car first and held out his hand. I hesitated, then took it. His grip was firm, and his hands soft. Despite the delicateness of his skin, his strength exuded confidence when he threaded our fingers together, sending zings through my body.

“Ready, my dear Watson?”

I looked up at him, feeling super small right next to his six-foot-two frame. Sure, I wasn’t that short at five-foot-ten, but still, he was just bigger all around. “Ready,” I squeaked. I quickly covered it up with a cough and repeated it in a deeper, more manly, and confident voice.

He leaned close to me as we walked toward the entrance, and I could smell the fresh, peppery spice from his skin that had filled the car earlier. “Thanks for doing this.”

I swallowed and simply nodded, not wanting to do any more squeaking. How did he suddenly revert me to a hormonal teen?

We stepped up to the door, where an attendant took our tickets and gave us orange wristbands so we could come and go freely throughout the evening. We walked inside to‘Monster Mash’playing over the numerous speakers, but it was a modern rendition of it with an upbeat tempo. The lighting was dim,and the ceiling was covered in Halloween-colored balloons of orange, yellow, black, and purple. The old building had been modernized inside while keeping in line with its historic roots of the French Quarter with exposed brick walls, wrought iron trim along the stairs, and a wooden bar.

A woman stepped up to us carrying a digital camera. “Pictures?”

“Sure,” Mr. Hayes said.

He tugged me by the hand until we stepped up to a green screen. She took a few pictures of us, and when we wrapped it up, she handed him a card and explained where to get our photos at the end of the night.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

“Yeah, I could use some food.”

Still holding my hand, which I was quickly getting used to and enjoying entirely too much, almost like we were a real couple, he led us to a long table covered in assorted finger foods. He let go of my clammy hand and passed a plate to me, which I loaded up with as much food as I could, creating a tower of tasty treats. I held the plate steadily as the tower trembled precariously.

“You know, youareallowed to come back for more,” he chuckled.

“Oh…” I shrugged and smiled sheepishly. “I’m a sucker for finger foods.”

“Apparently.”

My face heated, but I hauled my ungodly high pile of food to a nearby empty table. When I sat down, Mr. Hayes… No.Xandersat down next to me. Like,rightnext to me and close enough that we were touching knees. My stomach twisted in a good way. Maybe it was a bad way, considering I was already liking this fake dating thing too much, despite my reservations.

---