Page 20 of Faking the Shot

“And you, Zac?”

The waiter knew Zac? Well, she’d now learned that everyone in Vancouver—and much of North America—knew the man whose face apparently lined billboards, but not everyone would call him by his first name. That seemed pretty forward.

“My usual, thanks, Jake.”

The waiter nodded, smirking at Ainsley, before pivoting away.

“You come here?”

He shrugged. “My apartment is only a block that way.” He thumbed toward Stanley Park.

“Mine is one block that way.” Closer to Coal Harbour. Her smile flashed. “How bizarre that we live so close and visit the same café but have never met before.”

“What are the chances?”

Insane. Yet also, strangely, right.

She couldn’t find words for a moment, wondering if perhaps this was some Divine setup beyond her frail machinations. But that couldn’t work. Besides, she still had a job to do.

Which reminded her. She had work tomorrow, he had a game, and it was getting late. She needed to get to the point, and soon.

Their teas arrived—who knew a man like him drank herbal tea, too?—and she sipped hers and prayed for courage.

“So, about this invitation.” He settled back in his booth, watching her, his slate blue eyes intense.

But not scary intense, more like warmly intense, if that was a thing. Like he was curious about her, just like she was about him. Her chest tightened. What was her face giving away?

She blinked, refocused, lifted her chin. “So, you saw some articles about me, and I’m fairly sure if you saw more than three, then you probably saw me described as something like a one-date wonder, or words to that effect.”

He dipped his chin.

Great. “Well, it’s been brought to my attention lately that I need to project a different image. My, uh, agent has said it’s not a good look for a romance actress to never have a partner at functions or be seen going out on dates, but the men I’ve been partnered with have not been genuine or have made me feel uncomfortable at times.” Ugh. Why was she saying all this? This man was a virtual stranger. He could never understand.

“So your co-star isn’t your boyfriend?” he asked.

“No! Of course not. No, that was for promoting my new TV show. None of the guys I’ve gone out with in recent years have been real boyfriends, even though the celebrity gossip sites might suggest otherwise.” She frowned at him. “I would never agree to an invitation to meet another man if I had a boyfriend.”

He eyed her for a long moment then nodded. “Okay.”

Heat flared in her chest. He didn’t believe her?

Then he smiled. “Sorry, judging from your face I’m gonna guess that probably didn’t come out right. I meant to say, okay, that’s good to know. I saw you two at the White Night together and assumed you were together.”

“Everyone does. And that’s part of the deal with being famous. A picture can tell a thousand words but it doesn’t mean those words are true.”

“I hear you.”

Her earlier indignation died. “Has that happened to you?”

He nodded. “People make up stories about me all the time.”

“Like?”

He shrugged. “Apparently I have a secret family in Alabama.” His lips twisted. “I don’t, just so you know.”

Her cheeks heated. That was a relief. “Apparently I date so many guys because I’m using my experiences for my roles. I don’t, just so you know.”

Amusement pushed from him in a deep chuckle. “I might’ve heard that one.”

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