Page 30 of Faking the Shot

“I haven’t been treating them badly.”

“But have you been unselfish?”

Wow. That was a thing? Relationships for him had always been more about the physical rush and, oh… right. “Probably not, no,” he admitted.

“It might seem hard to believe in this world we live in, but we’re able to control our feelings, we don’t have to let them control us. If you’re a Christian, you’ve got the Holy Spirit inside you, who is there to help you when you feel weak. And it might come as a huge shock to lots of people that Zac Parotti might ever feel weak, but I’m going to guess that this is a fight you’re not used to playing, and there will be times when you need some Holy Spirit help to treat Ainsley right. So when you’re in those moments, ask God for help.”

“I already do that.”

“Good. So keep reminding yourself that you’re doing this for her, not for you.”

“She told me not to fall in love with her.”

Chris laughed. “Then make sure you don’t.”

Zac blew out a breath. “This sounds like the complete opposite of everything else you’ve ever said about how to treat your wife.”

“But Ainsley is not your wife, is she? She’s not even your real girlfriend. And she doesn’t want to be. You gotta keep remembering that, and that’ll probably help you deal with your feelings.”

“Man.”

“Yep. Nobody said this was gonna be easy.”

That was for sure.

God, help me.

CHAPTER7

“Thanks for doing this today.”

Ainsley glanced at the man beside her near the back entrance of her apartment building’s lobby. This, their first “official” date, was a kind of taster, a tease, to prove to those stirred up by the media storm that their hand-holding at the café was actually “true.”

Zac shrugged. “I had the time. I was planning a run around the park anyway.”

She held her bike steady. “So the fact it’s a bike ride and not a run is okay?”

“Sure. If it helps you.”

It would help sell the story, anyway. Rosie had suggested a few “accidental” meetings, just to fuel the speculation. Holding hands in a café was one thing. Attending a function together said another. There needed to be something in between to maintain the illusion they just might be dating, and keep the guessing games alive. Hence a bike ride around Stanley Park, where they may or may not be seen together. But given the interest, she was counting on a definite yes.

If nothing else, it might give her some more insights into this man she was supposed to be fake-dating for the next three months. Apart from the fact that a white tee and long black shorts did a lot to showcase his muscles.

“Okay, so you’ll go first,” she gestured to him and his fancy bike that looked three times the cost of hers, “and I’ll meet you outside the Nature House soon, at the top part.”

“You’ll call if there’s a holdup?”

She laughed. “This isn’tAs The Heart Draws.I’m not expecting any bank robbers on the bike path today.”

His lips curved, like he thought she was funny, which made her heart glow a little. “See you soon.”

“Bye.”

Aww. It almost felt like they were a couple. She watched as he exited through the back entrance of her apartment building, just as they’d arranged. She’d noticed a few photographers out the front, which if they spotted him would’ve given the game away. So meeting at the back, away from prying eyes, made more sense.

She hoped today would go as Rosie imagined. Today’s unusually sunny skies at least would make biking a pretty trip. And while she should probably be learning her new lines for the Christmas mysteries shoot, spending time doing this felt like it would be a lot more fun. And the fact that Zac agreed to it proved his good guy status again.

After the requisite five minutes, she wheeled her bike to the back entrance, where Michael opened the door for her. “Thank you.”

---