Page 4 of Just One Fake Date

“I did, but the reprieve is at an end.”

“I thought technically she was still around.”

Ty nodded. “Every time she lands at JFK, I get a message.”

“Haven’t you broken off with her?”

“Repeatedly with no effect.” Ty braced his hands on his hips. “I need a date for my sister’s wedding, and I need it as soon as possible, or the matchmaking will go into overdrive.”

“You could ask Giselle.”

“No. I’m not going to encourage her.”

“Because it’s a wedding date?” Kyle was gleeful. “Isn’t that pretty much a proposal in itself?”

“Don’t remind me.” Ty turned on his laptop and started to pull files out of his briefcase.

Kyle spun slightly in his chair, his mood more buoyant than Ty’s. “What is this obsession your family has with matrimony?”

“What is this obsession your family has with divorce?” Ty countered and Kyle laughed.

He leaned forward, elbows braced on his knees and his gaze intent. “So, keep it simple. Ask Cassie. She’d step up for you.”

Cassie was one of the other partners in the club, and Ty had known for a long time—well, always—that she was interested in him. Ty liked Cassie but only as a friend. Just Kyle’s suggestion made him twitch at the prospect of more expectations.

“See our earlier comments about a wedding date pretty much being a proposal.”

“Cassie would be totally on board with that.”

“It would be mean,” Ty said, punctuating his words with a warning look.

“There is that. Lovelorn is better than heartbroken.” Kyle shuddered. “She might cry.” He pouted and made sad eyes, which was a wildly improbable reaction from Cassie.

“She’d be more likely to try to kick my ass.”

“True.” Kyle looked thoughtful. “There’s a whole gym full of gorgeous women here. Ask one out.”

Ty was skeptical. “That has so many potential implications, never mind the conflict of interest of a partner approaching a club member...”

Kyle shook his head. “You make me grateful that I have no principles.”

“It could be misconstrued...”

“Right,” Kyle interrupted him. “We have to always be cautious and think things through. Impulse is bad. Risk is worse.” He waved a hand at Ty. “Don’t worry, I know your mantra after all this time.”

“It’s not a mantra. I’m not that uptight,” Ty argued, annoyed that Kyle made him sound like a grump. He heard women’s voices in the office and assumed that Jax was talking to Sonia before she left for the day.

“You’re nice and despite all my efforts to the contrary, you remain nice.” Kyle shook his head and sighed. “It’s tragic.”

“It’s not tragic! I just think about my sisters and how I’d like them to be treated. What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing, but it makes me glad I don’t have sisters.” Kyle continued before Ty could remind him again that his sisters were off-limits forever. “Make a deal then,” he suggested. “One duty date for another. Two against the world. Safety in numbers. A fake date, even to a wedding, isn’t that complicated and negotiationisin your skill set.”

“Thank you very much.” Ty glanced up suddenly from his laptop screen, which was filled with the financial reports for the club, as he considered Kyle’s suggestion. “Should I be frightened that makes sense?”

“Don’t tell me he’s trying to lead you astray,” Sonia interjected from the doorway.

“That’s definitely a possibility,” Ty agreed.

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