Page 71 of The Mistletoe Makeover

“Not just that. You said I need to get out more.”

She narrows her eyes. “And to repair your reputation?”

“It couldn’t hurt.”

She turns to wash off her plate. I reach over to take the plate from her, but she won’t let go. “I have a housekeeper who will clean that.”

“I can do it,” she insists, scrubbing the plate vigorously.

“You know, you should really go out withsomeone,” I tell her. “It might as well be me. Or am I that terrible of a date?”

She lifts a shoulder and drops it. “It’s just weird that you’d want to be seen with me.”

“Why would that be weird? You can set the rules if that makes you feel more comfortable.”

“Like?” she asks, eyes still narrowed.

I run my hand through my hair, my brain scrambling to come up with an arrangement that would make her happy. “Like, we only have to act like a couple when we’re in public.”

“And what does that involve?”

I look away, then back at her. “I didn’t know I’d have to come up with the rules right now.”

She crosses her arms. “I’m not considering it until I know.”

“For example, if someone wants our picture, we play along.”

She bites her lip, thinking this over. “So, some physical contact may be required?”

“Maybe,” I say, shifting. “We have to act like we enjoy being together.”

She lifts an eyebrow. “That might be difficult.”

“Difficult?” I chuckle.

She frowns. “It wouldn’t be difficult for you?”

Not really.“It should be fun.”

I can feel the spark of heat between us, how she’s resisting this idea, even though it’s the answer for both of us.

“I’ll think about it,” she says, turning back to the sink.

“Think about it?” I say, incredulous.

“I take it most women don’t turn you down?” she asks with a smirk.

“Yeah,” I say. “They don’t.”

“Just because you have an effect on most women, don’t think that your persuasion works on me.”

“Oh, so you think I’m persuasive now?” I grin playfully. “Kind of like you think I’m hot?”

She won’t even look at me, just scrubs away at the plate. “I’ll do it. But just so you know, you’re having zero effect on me, Jace Knight.”

Her lips fight a smile, and I feel the thrill of victory. I’m finally getting through.

SEVENTEEN

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