Spying Under the Mistletoe (Love Undercover #2) - Stina Lindenblatt Page 0,31
the winter holidays.”
“I guess we’ll find out tomorrow,” he says in an equally mysterious tone. “Anyway, back to the girlfriend-boyfriend thing. Will you be okay with that?”
I swallow down more whiskey. The burn is still there, but not as strong as before. “Do I have a choice?”
“Not really, but I thought I’d ask.”
I roll my eyes. “How considerate of you.”
He chuckles. “If there’s one thing you’ll learn about me, it’s that I’m a considerate man.”
Somehow, I don’t believe that.
“Well, I’m going to give the plan a hard pass,” I say. “Like I said, no one will believe I’m dating you.”
“Why not?”
“Because the entire time I’ve been teaching at the school, I haven’t once gone on a date.”
“You changed your mind when you met me.” He says it so simply, like he really does believe that would be possible.
“No one will believe that either.”
“So make them believe it. Consider it a matter of life or death.”
“I’m not a good actress,” I counter. Clearly, I’m also not a good lawyer. I can convince kindergarteners to not run around the classroom, but I can’t persuade Landon that his plan is nuttier than peanut butter.
“You don’t need to be. I’m not asking you to make out with me in the middle of the staff room…unless you want to. I wouldn’t be opposed to it if you do.” He winks at me.
I can’t help but laugh at that. “So how do we do this? Just waltz into school tomorrow and declare that we’re dating?”
He leans back against the couch. “I have no idea. I’m kind of rusty when it comes to having a girlfriend.”
Oh, goodie. An amateur.
Not that I’m a pro or anything when it comes to having a boyfriend—beyond the two-year relationship that left me with a broken heart.
“But you have had one?” I ask, a little surprised by his revelation. Rusty generally means the person has had experience with the given situation.
“I did in college, and then a more serious relationship after that. She was my last and only girlfriend.”
“Only? What happened to turn you off dating?” She must have really broken his heart or screwed with his brain.
“That’s nothing you have to concern yourself with. My past relationships have nothing to do with my ability to be your fake boyfriend.”
“I don’t know about that. Maybe you were a crappy boyfriend, and you’ll be an even crappier fake boyfriend.” My mouth tilts to one side in a challenge.
His smile matches it. “I’m sure I’ll be a quick study.”
“Hmm” is the only retort I have left in me. I down the contents of my glass in one go and hold it out for him to refill again.
He flashes me a doubtful expression.
“The last one, I promise.”
With an all-right-it’s-your-funeral glance in my direction, he picks up the half-empty bottle and pours the liquid into both glasses.
“How’s this living-together thing gonna work?” I waggle my index finger between us. There’s a slight slur to my words, but nothing to worry about. “Are we taking turns staying at each other’s homes? Maybe alternating nights and weekends?”
“You’ll be moving in with me.” He says it so matter-of-factly, like there was never a question of this being the case.
“Maybe I don’t want to move in here.” I give an unsteady wave of my hand to his living room.
It’s a lie.
Well, a partial lie.
I love what I’ve seen of his place so far. It looks like it’s been recently renovated, and even though the decorations are all masculine in design and color, the interior really is gorgeous.
“I like my apartment,” I say. “Why can’t you move in with me?”
“For several reasons. First, you have no security in your building. Anyone can easily get inside and have access to you.”
All right, he has me there.
“And what’s the other reason?”
“Your building doesn’t allow pets, and I have Whiskey to consider.”
I frown. “How do you know my building doesn’t allow pets?” He’s right, though. It doesn’t.
“Because we’ve already looked into it.”
“ ‘We’? Is this the royal ‘we’?”
“ ‘We,’ as in myself and my colleagues.”
None of this should surprise me. They’re associated with my cousin, after all. He’s one of those individuals who would never leave a stone unflipped. To do so would be sloppy.
Our grandfather taught us that.
I glance down at Whiskey and gently stroke his soft head. That would be one perk of staying here. I’d get to have this sweet puppy in my life for a spell.
“How long are we talking about when it comes to us living together?” I ask.