My Fake Fling

REESE

“You look nice,” I said when Thea answered her door.

“Thank you,” she said. “You look the same as always—handsome. And dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” I said. “How do I look dangerous?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know,” she teased.

I walked her to my car and opened the passenger door for her. “I don’t think I do.”

When I climbed into the car that sat very low to the ground, she looked over at me. “The shy thing doesn’t work for me. I mean, it might for other ladies, but I know you. I know you know you’re hot. You go to great lengths to make sure everyone else knows as well. Humble is not your thing.”

“Damn,” I said. “I’m not sure if I’m offended or flattered.”

“Do they have to exclude each other?” she shot back.

“Alright, alright, please stop with the flattery,” I said. “I’m not sure how many more of your compliments my ego can handle.”

I drove to the tower and couldn’t resist laughing at the expression on her face. “This is your idea of a date? Work? Are we eating for free in one of the restaurants? Sheesh, I don’t remember you being cheap.”

“Are you done?” I asked dryly.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “I’m just really not sure.”

I rolled my eyes and got out of the car. I opened her door and took her hand to help her out. “I don’t think you’re going to be disappointed.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

“I don’t remember you being so pretentious and demanding,” I teased. “Since when did you demand five-star restaurants?”

“Since I was promised a good dinner,” she replied. “And a date. Going to a restaurant in your building is not really a date. Am I going to be expected to leave a glowing review to help bump up your Yelp rating?”

I didn’t remember her being so feisty. I liked it. I liked that she could speak her mind without hesitation. It was sexy. “That wouldn’t be a terrible idea.”

I was joking, but she didn’t get it. She shot me a dirty look. “No wonder you’re still single,” she muttered under breath. “Obviously, your looks aren’t enough anymore.”

I laughed at the mild insult and escorted her into the building. Instead of going to the restaurant like she was expecting, I walked her to the elevator. The building was still relatively empty. Some of the tenants had moved in, but I didn’t think anyone was living here fulltime just yet. We kept the restaurants and lounge staffed in case outsiders wanted to check things out. Of course, there were brochures available at every table. I was taking advantage of every opportunity to sell the units.

The few security guards nodded as we waited for the elevator. “Didn’t we miss the restaurants?” she asked.

“We did.”

“If you plan on seducing me in one of these fancy apartments, let me save you the trouble,” she said. “I came out with you to eat. That’s it. I’m not going to turn down a free meal, even if it’s you that’s offering.”

“You’re cranky.”

“I’m disappointed,” she said.

I wasn’t worried about her disappointment. She was about to have her socks knocked off—so to speak. The elevator opened on the rooftop. When the building was full, this would be a hotspot for residents. For now, it was all ours. Security was making sure we would be alone.

She stopped walking and looked at me with her mouth hanging open. “What is this?”

“You doubted me?” I said.

“I did.”

“Shame on you,” I replied. I escorted her to the table set up with a white tablecloth and flameless candles. Lights were strung in crisscross patterns overhead. There was a lot of comfortable seating around the rooftop, along with lounge chairs and even a bar for those rooftop parties we expected to be thrown when the place filled up.