Page 2 of Fake Christmas Date
"Probably not. Please, humor me?"
"Okay… Five months ago I started a job I really enjoy. It's probably boring to most people – categorizing and archiving specialized medical research – but for me it’s great. I can just be left alone in my office to do my thing, you know?"
He shrugs. "I've never worked in an office, but I get wanting to be left alone. Go on."
“There are five people on my team. My manager Natalie seems to like me. Two other women are pretty indifferent. They keep to themselves. And then there’s Lacey." I sigh deeply. "I have no idea why she hates me so much. But she does, and she’s hell-bent on getting the rest of the department to hate me too."
"I already hateher," Dylan says with a cheeky smile. "And I rarely hate anyone."
I love that he knows nothing about these people but is already on my side. It feels good to have an ally…one with tree trunk arms that could probably lift this entire booth.
"Lacey made a huge deal about tonight's Christmas party. She’s going with her husband, and she was telling anyone who would listen that only people in serious relationships should be allowed to bring a date. Not just to keep the party numbers down to save money or anything. I don't know what her problem is, but she was saying that it’s only worth getting to know people’s partners if it’s a serious relationship. She wouldn’t let it go." I shrug. “What I don’t get is that it’s a fundraiser – more people means more donations, right? I dunno. Maybe she’s worried that somebody will show up with a guy who’s hotter than her husband.”
"So… Your date flaked out on you?" Dylan asks.
"No." It takes everything I have to stop my bottom lip from quivering. "I tried to get a date. Tried to find someone who wouldn't mind pretending that we'd been going out for at least a month or two. But I couldn’t." I hesitate. “And the thought of going there solo and having her judge me, pointing out that I’m totally alone in the world, it’s…unnerving.”
It’s getting harder to keep it together. I amnotgoing to cry in front of a stranger. I’m just not. It's bad enough I'm babbling my life story to this poor man who is probably just listening to be polite. It’s one thing to want to protect a woman if she’s dealing with a bad date who turned out to be a creep. This is just stupid work politics, and it’s embarrassing to admit how much the whole thing has been eating away at me.
My breath hitches as his warm palm settles across the back of my fingers for several seconds. He murmurs in that deep voice, "I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you were too shy to ask very many people, right?"
"How did you know?" I whisper.
"Emma. Will you please look at me?"
When I do, I feel like I'm falling. Having this man’s full attention on me is almost overwhelming.
"You are stunningly beautiful, and I can tell that you're a caring, thoughtful person. Any man would be thrilled to go on a date with you. Even if nothing ever came of it, and it was just a pleasant evening in your company." He leans back a bit. "Trust me on this one. Every man I know would drop everything for one charming date with you."
I shrug. "Wish I ran into you yesterday, I guess."
He glances at his watch. "When does the party start?"
"It already did. Almost half an hour ago."
Dylan slides his fingers underneath mine on the table and takes my hand. It's just a friendly gesture, but it feels… I don'tknow. Engaging? Hypnotic? Wild? Yes! That's it…wild. Like something caged inside me is dying to be let out to run free.
"I just picked up my suit from the cleaners and my dress shoes from being mended. I could change here. May I please be your date tonight?" When he grins, his eyes sparkle and I catch a glimpse of his perfect teeth. "We can either ignore this Lacey bitch completely or find a way to make her face-plant into a cake or something."
I burst out laughing, still enjoying the feel of his hand in mine. “I'm sorry… You don't look the type to be socatty."
"I usually keep that side to myself." His eyebrow raises. "But for you, I'm going to make an exception. Is that a yes?"
My breath catches. "Yes."
He jumps to his feet, dropping some money on the counter as he charges out to the parking lot. He returns momentarily with a suit and a shoulder bag, and passes me with a wink. "Ten minutes, max.”
Claudia comes over and places a cup of tea in front of me. “Peppermint,” she says smoothly. “Drink it quickly. Freshens your breath, and calms the stomach if you’re nervous.” Oh my. She must have overheard everything.
“Thank you.” As she turns to leave, I ask, “Wait. This whole having a stranger pretend to be my date thing. Is it going to blow up in my face?”
She shakes her head, sending her dark ponytail swishing halfway down her back as she flashes me a knowing grin. “No way, Emma. Trust me – this is going to work out.”
2
DYLAN
Do not cut yourself, man.
