Page 9 of Faking the Shot

“What’s wrong with people thinking that?”

“Because I don’t like him that way. And he’s not a Christian.” His mouth had made that plain. And his roving hands. “And I really feel God is convicting me about going out with non-Christians.” Just like she’d said to Harrison Woods earlier this year when he’d asked Ainsley why Cassie James didn’t want to go out with him. Ainsley’s best guess had turned out to be right, as Cassie had later explained. And her words returned to her often. It was one thing to go out on a date; it was quite another to be seen with someone whose private life might hold questionable things that could turn around and bite someone down the track. She shivered. Like Baden.

“So why not find a Christian guy to go out with?” Dad asked.

“Sure. That’s easy. Do you know how many guys ask me out? None.”

“Oh, honey, that’s because you’re far too pretty for them.”

“It’s because they’re scared of me, Mom. I’ve even had one guy tell me so.” After he’d had one too many shots of Jack Daniels, but still, the fact remained. When people were sloshing alcohol on the table, they were often spilling the truth as well. And apparently, the truth was that she intimidated men. That they couldn’t cope with her fame and her pay checks, their insecurities such that they couldn’t deal with being the lesser-known partner in the relationship. That probably explained why they couldn’t stay in a relationship with her, or why guys didn’t ask her out to begin with. Apparently not all men were intimidated, however, like that sleazy dude who had tried to ask her out last night. He’d obviously had a few too many, which was anotherno, noon her list. Jason had at least proved valuable then.

“Then why did you go with Jason then?” Her father bit into his blueberry muffin.

“I told you yesterday, remember? The studio basically made him, and because Rosie said it’d been too long since I was seen out with a man.” And an actress known for appearing as the lead for romantic movies and TV shows needed to “show” she had a personal life that supported that. And because she always did what her TV bosses and Rosie suggested, right down to consulting her agent before she got her hair cut, thus had begun a series of showmances and fake-dates for events. She’d yet to find a trustworthy guy she could consider as a romantic partner. None of the guys she’d ever genuinely dated in the past had truly cared for her, not really. And after Baden, she’d learned to mistrust the motives of men. So as soon as she’d started sensing they weren’t clicking or had ulterior motives she’d got in first and dumped them. She was the face of the romantic dramaAs The Heart Draws, so she wasn’t about to get her butt handed to her. She’d much prefer to do the butt-serving, thank you.

But Rosie had said there were now rumors circulating that she had so many dates because she was looking for new material. “It’s not quite tracking at Taylor Swift levels, Ainsley, and it’s not as if you’re writing songs about bad breakups. But there are questions about whether you’re using these guys for acting purposes, like to find the romantic rush or help with channeling the pain of a breakup.”

“Are you serious?” She would’ve laughed, if she hadn’t wanted to cry. “Didn’t you tell me that you thought I should be going on dates? So you’re saying I can’t win if I’m going on dates and can’t win if I’m not going on any, is that it?”

“I know. People are dumb—”

And Ainsley often felt like she was the dumbest of all, allowing herself to be meekly led by others’ suggestions.

“—but it doesn’t change what they’re saying on the internet. Ainsley, sweetie, you need to find a guy and settle down. Or at least find someone you can date for longer than a week. Three to six months would be good. A year or two would be better.”

“Are you saying I should date someone simply to stop internet rumors?”

“No! Of course not. Except dating someone long termwouldhelp your career.”

Which meant it would help her agent’s cut of Ainsley’s career.

“Look, I can probably find someone who’d be happy to date you for a few months.”

“Fake-date me, you mean,” Ainsley had clarified.

“Yes, of course. A business arrangement.”

Her heart shriveled. How cold and clinical and awful. What was wrong with her that nobody wanted to date her? Why couldn’t she find anyone who truly cared?

“Ainsley?”

“Sorry.” Her eyes closed. “I’m just not sure that’s a good idea. I’ve found that most guys don’t share similar values to me.”

Rosie had given a small sigh of exasperation, just like she had when Ainsley had first tried to share that her “good girl” persona stemmed from her Christian faith and convictions.

“We can draw up a contract and say this is what they can and can’t do, so it’s clear from the get-go what they can expect.”

“But who would agree to something like that?”

“Plenty of men.” Rosie reeled off a list of names. “All of them would kill for the exposure dating the great Ainsley Beckett would bring.”

Which meant all of them would have dubious motives, which meant they’d likely prove untrustworthy in other ways as well. She’d been stung by guys and their “tell-alls” before. “What’s wrong with me not going out on dates at all?”

“Oh, Ainsley. You’re such an innocent.”

Shehatedwhen she was patronized like that. Condescension always made her feel like someone had pushed her behind the knee, forcing her to stumble. But still, she had to protest a little longer. “If I pretend-date someone that long then I’ll practically be in my mid-thirties by the time a real guy comes along.”

“We’re not talking forever, but it does need to be a few months at least. Six would be ideal.”

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