Page 45 of Just One Fake Date

Meesha nodded. “They set up fantasy dates for you all.”

Kyle, predictably, was intrigued. “Who’d I get?”

Meesha worked through a number of screens, some of the choices making the guys laugh. Theo had been paired with movie stars and local celebrities who had made appearances at the club, Kyle with various instructors, Damon typically with his students but also with Sonia, and then Meesha displayed the most popular pairing—Cassie and Ty.

Ty pushed a hand through his hair and looked a lot less thrilled than Cassie felt. “I’m not sure I needed to know that,” he said under his breath.

“And some hardcore members even plan your weddings.” Meesha said, scrolling through more screens. Even if the guys ignored the images and comments, the sheer number of posts was impressive. “I think you should own this. I think you should work it. Actively date. Get photographed doing it. Feed the mill and be glamorous about it.”

“I’m so up for this,” Kyle said. “I can start now. What are you doing in about an hour, Meesha?”

She laughed at him.

“But we’re not movie stars,” Damon argued.

Meesha tapped the table. “You’re superstars right here. The point is that you can shape the narrative and influence results, if you take charge of this.” She smiled. “And if you hire me. And a photographer who does great candid shots.”

There was a beat of silence.

“You’ve given us a lot to think about,” Ty said. “Thank you, Meesha, and thanks Cassie for setting this up. Cassie’s got all your contact information, and Theo has your credentials so we’ll be in touch.”

The guys stood up and each shook hands with Meesha, then she gathered her laptop and left, walking a lot taller than when she’d come in.

Sadly, the image of Ty and Cassie together went with her.

“Tragic lack of confidence,” Kyle said with a sigh.

“Takes one to know one,” Damon countered.

Kyle pointed at him. “You should go first, with your Friday night thing, whatever it is. Who is she? How serious is it? Meesha needs all the details.”

“You just want all the details.”

“Of course, I do. It’s not natural to avoid taking a shift at the dance club, which is filled with writhing, glistening, gorgeous bodies, all swaying to the beat. The pheromones in there are enough to stun the uninitiated...”

“Natasha,” Damon muttered, probably sliding out the confession in the middle of Kyle’s soliloquy in the hope that he’d miss it.

Cassie could have told him it was a long shot.

“Natasha!” Kyle nearly dove across the conference table. “What does she look like?”

“Of course, that’s the item of interest for Kyle,” Theo said.

“With his profound interest in character,” Ty agreed and they fist-bumped.

“What does she do? Where did you meet her?” Kyle asked. “I want pictures!”

“You’re out of luck.” Damon was grim.

“But most importantly, when do we meet her?”

“Never,” Damon said with finality, biting off the word.

It was an unexpectedly hard answer and the room was quiet for a beat.

Then Ty cleared his throat. “If we consider Meesha’s plan, members have to be able to opt-out,” he said. “We need to make sure the club remains a place where members feel safe.” There was general agreement to that and he nodded. “Let’s move on. The alumni magazine is sending someone Saturday to take some photographs for the article. They want candid shots so Kyle suggested a game of pick-up on Saturday morning, if we can all be in around eleven, then we can do a more formal shot later...”

A photographer. Cassie didn’t know anything about one coming in. How did Ty know? Did this have something to do with his change of tone earlier?

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