Page 84 of Just One Fake Date

“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“And the one thing you think is most important is that he doesn’t find out that you’re falling.”

“He could use it against me.”

“For what?” Kirsten scoffed. “To convince you to have more great sex?”

“Once was enough. I’m not going there again.”

“I thought you were the one living in the moment and surrendering to impulse.”

“I did that. I’m moving on.”

“Uh huh. Okay. Our first rule is no more sex, then.”

“Excellent rule.”

“What would undermine that rule?”

“A kiss,” Shannyn admitted. “He kisses like he invented it.”

Kirsten laughed again. “And there is no yearning in that comment. I can tell that you don’t want to go there again.”

“It’s not smart to go there again.”

“That is different. Number two: no kisses. What else weakens your resolve?”

“Phone calls in the middle of the night,” Shannyn said immediately.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. It’s intimate. Sexy. It feels like a guilty pleasure.”

“I can feel that shiver from here,” Kirsten said. “Is he likely to call you again?”

“I don’t know. He might text first.”

“Don’t answer your texts or your phone at night.”

“Then I wouldn’t be talking to you.” They laughed together then Shannyn agreed. “No sex, no kisses, no late night phone calls.”

“How about no more connections?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t be drawn into just one more thing. Make a line in the sand.”

“But there’s this job at the club. I applied for it.”

“And you don’t think he’ll make sure you get it?”

“He promised he wouldn’t. It’s a nice bit of work, a steady trickle.”

“What else?” Kirsten demanded and Shannyn sighed.

“You know me too well.”

“I can smell it when you have an idea.”

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