Page 47 of Just One Fake Date

There was a pause, as if she’d startled him. “Point to you,” he ceded. “How did you guess?”

“That kitchen of yours looks like it’s in a model home or a hotel. I knew with one look that you didn’t cook.”

“I didn’t realize I was so transparent.”

Shannyn laughed. She couldn’t help it. The suggestion that Tyler was easily read was absurd. “You’re not.”

“I thought you had side hustles. Doesn’t that mean you work a lot?”

“But that’s because I don’t have nearly enough money and want to keep this house. I’m motivated, but I’m hoping it’s a short-term thing. Life isn’t just about work, you know.” She gasped in mock outrage. “Oh! No, you don’t know that. You’ll have to trust me, then.”

His voice dropped to become all growly. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with financial security.”

“I’m not adverse to it either. I just want to have some fun, too.”

“What kind of fun?”

“I don’t know.” She paused, then decided to throw him a bone. “Impulsive sex on a random Tuesday night, maybe.”

“That was definitely a good choice.” His voice was so warm with approval that Shannyn wanted to close her eyes and purr.

“Yes. It rained in the Sahara and now the cactus are blooming.” Why was she telling him all this?

“What does that even mean?”

“That I’d had a little dry spell. We ended it with style.” She paused then figured she might as well say it. “Thanks.”

“It was your idea,” he reminded her.

“An inspired one. I’ll have to try it again sometime.”

“We could....”

Shannyn sat up straight, realizing a bit too late that she’d led the conversation exactly where she didn’t want to go. “Nuh, uh, uh. We have a deal, and the whole point is sticking to the terms.”

She could hear him thinking, then Tyler changed the subject. “You sound like you’re in a good mood tonight. Have a good day?”

“I had a great day,” she said quickly, hoping he wouldn’t guess the truth, that she was happy just because he’d called her.

“There’s a blow to my pride. I was hoping you were just glad to hear from me.”

Shannyn’s heart jumped. “Why? So, you can pursue the quest of convincing me that you’re a nice guy?”

“Iama nice guy.”

“That’s your story and you’re sticking to it.”

Tyler chuckled a little. She imagined him standing in his apartment, looking out the windows toward Brooklyn. No fire tonight, just the light of the city illuminating him. She opened that picture of him looking at the rock wall and made it fill her screen, just for inspiration.

Time to give him a nudge before she got soft.

“I had anexcellentday,” she said. “Good work and good conversation.”

“We’ve only just started.”

“Not you! My roommate from college and best friend in the entire world called.”

“The math teacher,” he guessed and Shannyn was surprised that he remembered.

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