Page 41 of Faking the Shot

“—but I can’t afford to.”

“Because?”

“Because the camera adds ten pounds.”

“You can afford to add ten pounds.”

Her forehead creased. No Botox there. Unlike some women he’d known. “Are you saying I’m too skinny?”

“You look perfect. But if perfect means you’re always hungry, then that’s not a healthy way to be, so that’s not perfect, is it?”

“I’m fine.” She turned and lifted a hand, then moved off to air-kiss a friend, leaving him to make small talk about hockey with some company director he couldn’t recall meeting, who apparently remembered him from some hockey meet and greet last year.

And while he did his best to follow the conversation, his gaze kept track of Ainsley. He noticed how she might pick up a canapé but never eat it, passing it on to the next waiter in a napkin, with what looked like an apology and a smile. It was enough to make him wonder more about her eating habits, and whether there were some cracks behind the perfect picture she liked to portray. And if there were cracks, then what other secrets might this beautiful clever actress keep tucked away?

CHAPTER9

Ainsley exhaled and closed her eyes, leaning her head against the Porsche headrest. “I’m so glad that is over.”

“Why did you go if you didn’t want to?”

“I did want to go. But now I’m tired.” And hungry. Not that she’d admit that in front of him. She could’ve sworn he was concerned about her, which was taking the whole fake boyfriend thing a little too far.

“You want to get something to eat?” he asked.

Shoot. She’d said she would buy him dinner to make up for only being served canapés tonight. “Um, sure. I promised you food, right?”

“Healthy food,” he reminded her.

Darn. She’d kill for a burger. She opened her eyes, saw he was studying her. She pasted on a smile. “What is it?”

“Are you okay?”

“Of course! Why do you ask?” She hid a wince. Now that was a dumb thing to say, because he really looked like he was about to answer. Still, she could take it.

“I don’t know. You seem a little… off, or something.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t mean in a bad way. I’m just checking you’re okay.”

Oh. That was kind. And thoughtful.

“I noticed that you didn’t eat much—”

She bit back a sigh.

“—which is why I figured you must be hungry now.”

“Well, that is sweet of you to notice but I’m okay.”

“If you say so.”

That didn’t sound like he believed her. And she still owed him food. She didn’t want to be the kind of woman who didn’t keep her promises. Especially to someone who’d gone out of his way to help her. Where could she take him for a meal that would be private enough, and they could eat fast, so she could quickly be released from the sense of obligation?

Within moments he’d pulled up outside her apartment.

“What are you doing? Weren’t we going to get something to eat?”

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