Page 43 of Faking the Shot

“I do have to do that, because I said I would, and I think it’s important to keep my word.”

“Me too.”

She knew he was a good guy. “And for the record, I am fully aware that this is a business arrangement and I don’t want you feeling like I’ve got you doing things you don’t want to do. I’ve never wanted to be a woman who makes a man feel like he’s got to take care of her.”

“But isn’t that what a boyfriend is supposed to do?”

“I don’t know. I don’t do real boyfriends. I haven’t for years.”

The words dropped into the space between them, sounding a little more raw than she’d intended. Did saying she’d had no boyfriends—none for years, anyway—make her sound pathetic? Probably. Not that it mattered. Regardless of how nice Zac was, she had to keep the boundary lines drawn.

“Well, as your fake boyfriend, I would consider it my duty to be seen to be taking care of you. And I’m sorry if that doesn’t fit in with your views, but you asked earlier what some of my rules might be, and I think that would be one of them.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, if you want me to be considered your boyfriend, real or fake, then I’d be wanting to take care of you and have others see that.”

Her heart squeezed. No man had ever expressed anything like that to her before. He sounded like he was quoting a line from a movie. “Did you hear that in a movie?”

“What?”

“That line you just said. About wanting to take care of me.”

“That wasn’t a line, Ainsley. That was real. And something I would’ve thought you’d know. Friends look out for each other.”

Friends. That’s right. Whoa, for moment, she thought—No. She wouldn’t think that. This was a fake relationship. Even if the friendship felt like it was nudging toward real.

* * *

“Is that good?”Zac gestured to the salad bowl Ainsley was wolfing into.

She peered up, a tiny smear of honey-mustard dressing next to her lips. He swallowed a smile. “Sogood.”

“Told you it would be.” He gestured to beside his mouth.

“Oh.” She copied his action and used a napkin to wipe it away. “All good?”

“Perfect.”

She blushed. “I’ve never had squeaky cheese before.”

“You obviously have had a very sheltered life if you haven’t had Halloumi.”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “I still can’t believe you managed to get these guys to keep their place open.”

“I think they’ll think it was worth it just because they got a photo of you.” One to add to the wall of celebrities who had eaten at this place. He was guessing that it wasn’t the first time this place had opened thanks to a special request. The privacy was perfect, even for a non-date like this.

“So how did you come across this place?” she asked.

He toyed with his salad. Beef, lettuce, tomato, sesame seeds, with a tangy Asian slaw. “I like to eat clean and healthy. My trainer recommended it so I’ve been coming here ever since I first joined the team.”

“Which was when?”

“Five years ago.”

“But you’re a local boy, right?”

“Born and raised in Surrey, before I got drafted and spent some time on the east coast before I got traded back here.”

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