Fake Marriage Box Set

It was enough to get her blushing, though, and shyly ducking her head. “Thanks,” she said, her eyes lingering on my suit. “You look pretty handsome, yourself.”

I grinned. “Yeah, I figured I'd get a new suit for the occasion. Tailored just this afternoon. Cost a little bit of extra money to get the thing done on such short notice, but I figured you were probably worth it.”

Gretchen grimaced a little. “Honestly, I don't know what to say in response to that.”

I shrugged a little and flipped open the menu. “Have you ever been here before?” I asked. “My driver recommended it.”

“I usually go out to places that are a bit more relaxed than this,” Gretchen said, looking around. She gave a little nervous laugh. “Don't get me wrong, it's kind of thrilling to be here and all dressed up and everything, but this is just…wow.”

Good, she's impressed with it.

I wasn't sure why that mattered so much.

“Pick anything you want,” I said, waving toward her menu. “Don't worry. I'm paying.”

“Um, thanks,” Gretchen said, biting her lower lip as she looked through the menu. “Gosh, this place is fancy. I don't even know what half the things on the menu are!”

I snorted. “Yeah, there is a lot of French on here,” I agreed. “Which seems kind of silly since we're in Hawaii, but I guess maybe that's the kind of crowd they're trying to draw in.”

The waiter came over, and we placed our orders. I frowned when Gretchen ordered a simple seafood pasta, one of the cheapest dishes on the menu. “I told you, I'm paying,” I reminded her. “You can get something fancier than that.”

Gretchen gave me a look. “I don't want something fancier than that,” she said.

I rolled my eyes. “The one time in your life that you get to go to a fancy place like this, you're going to stick to some plain-Jane pasta dish? You could go for a good steak, or-”

Gretchen stood up, frowning down at me. “Look, I thought you seemed nice when I met you before, but you were kind of a pompous ass. And if that's how you're going to be, then honestly, I don't think I should be here.”

She turned and stalked out of the restaurant, her floral dress fluttering after her. I could only stare after her for a moment, totally flummoxed, and then I got up as well, running after her.

“Wait,” I said, catching at her arm. It was a strange sort of role-reversal from what I was used to. Usually, the girl was running after me, rather than this. I should feel embarrassed. Instead, I just felt uncertain about what had happened.

Gretchen turned toward me, her hands on her hips. “I'm sure you can find ten different women in that restaurant who will be impressed by your money and connections and whatever else,” she said.

I frowned at her. “Yeah,” I agreed. “But there's a reason I asked you on a date.”

Gretchen snorted. “I'm sure there are at least five women in that restaurant who will be impressed with your money and who will also come home with you at the end of the night,” she said. “I appreciate that you're just trying to get laid, but-”

“That's

not it,” I interrupted. I frowned deeper and shook my head. “Gretchen, you know I normally don't ask women out on dates.”

“So, what, I should feel special?” she asked, disbelief clear in her voice.

“That's not what I'm saying,” I told her impatiently.

“So, what are you trying to say?” Gretchen challenged.

I took a deep breath and then plunged into it. “You know this island better than me, right? You take me out someplace. I'll still pay, of course. But let's go someplace and get some decent food and just enjoy one another's company.”

Gretchen gave me a doubtful look and then shrugged, laughing a little. “Okay,” she said. “Come on. But your suit is going to look weird at this place.”

I snorted. “Better to be overdressed than underdressed,” I told her. “Plus, it'll just be like prom, round two.”

“I'm not going home with you at the end of the night,” Gretchen warned me, then clapped a hand over her mouth, looking mortified at the words that had just come out of it.

“Okay,” I said easily. “You seem more like a three-date girl anyway.” I winked over at her.

“Five dates,” she managed. “You take me out for five dates, and I'll go home with you.” She looked embarrassed to have said that as well, and I couldn't help laughing.