Page 58 of Just One Fake Date

Ty had the definite sense that if he let her slip away today, he might never find her again. There was something elusive about Shannyn. “I’ll give you a ride to meet Derek. That’ll save you time over the subway. I found a tapas bar in Brooklyn, maybe it’s near your place...”

“You already checked out restaurants?”

“I like to plan ahead,” he reminded her. He told her the name of the restaurant and saw that she was tempted.

“It’s supposed to be good,” she ceded.

Ty hadn’t nearly won this one so he pressed on. “What if I promise to have you home by nine?”

Her smile flashed. “You really do want to make this happen.”

“I really do.”

“Why did you choose a tapas place?”

“Because it takes a while, and that encourages conversation. We could go across the street and grab a hot dog but we’d be done in fifteen minutes and would still know almost nothing about each other.”

“Plus hot dogs.” She made a face.

“Plus hot dogs,” Ty agreed.

“And so, the diabolical plan becomes clear.”

“It’s not diabolical!”

“I know, but you do like to manage things. I consider it my duty to all womankind to mess with your schemes.”

“They’re not schemes.”

“I could argue that we know things about each other already.”

“I don’t think the trick to making you come with enthusiasm would be good dinner conversation at the wedding.”

Her cheeks turned pink. “Wait. Did you make a reservation already?”

Ty was wary. “No. Should I?”

To his surprise, she laughed. “You’re learning. How about I mix things up this time and say maybe instead of no?”

“Works for me.”

“You’re being easy to get along with. That makes me suspicious.”

“I’m just content with some incremental victory.”

She laughed again. “Where’s your car?”

“There’s a guy with a garage next door.” Ty knew it would be a bad idea to let his relief show, but he felt triumphant. No doubt about it: winning was sweeter when he had to work for it. “I just have to call and he’ll have it at the door in five.”

“Then let’s do it,” Shannyn said and Ty couldn’t stop himself from tossing his keys in the air and catching them.

Finally, things were on track.

“This is your car?”Shannyn asked, surveying the silver Porsche idling at the curb. It was polished to a gleam, so shiny that it could have just arrived from the dealer’s lot. She could see her reflection in the windows. Tyler’s pride in it was obvious but it couldn’t have been a more potent indication of how perfectly they didn’t fit together.

It was a timely reminder, too. He was charming her way too easily. She’d be dragging him home after dinner for wild sex if this kept up. When he smiled at her, it was hard to remember why that was a bad thing—and that self-defense was a noble plan.

“Yes.” Ty opened the passenger door with a flourish. The interior was spotless. It had black leather upholstery and even smelled like a new car.

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