to play the part.
Plus, this dress did look pretty great on me.
Shepherd was waiting for me near the front door. He’d changed into a different suit—this one deep blue with a coordinating tie. The color made his eyes pop.
His eyebrows lifted ever so slightly as I approached with my coat draped over my arm. “You look… very nice.”
“Thank you,” I said with a smile.
I heard voices in the other room—Richard and Svetlana—and it sounded like they were heading our direction. Shepherd and I locked eyes and gave each other the subtlest of nods.
Shepherd took my coat and stepped in close to help me put it on. He was so imposing when he stood near me like this. So tall and undeniably masculine. Moving slowly, he guided each sleeve over my arms, drawing out the process while Richard and Svetlana came into view.
With gentle hands, Shepherd swept my hair out of the collar of my coat, his eyes on my face. I couldn’t stop staring at him. At his fierce eyes and square jaw. This close, his scent was almost intoxicating. How could a man smell so good all the time? Honestly, did he have a single flaw?
There was the part where he was a robot with no feelings. At least, that was what I tried to tell myself as I fell prey to his hypnotic gaze and man-heaven scent.
He traced a thumb down the side of my face, his touch sending a zap of electricity through my veins. Why was he… Did he just… Where was I?
Richard cleared his throat, snapping me out of my stupor. Right. They were watching. This was part of the act.
“Sorry to interrupt such a tender moment,” Richard said.
Svetlana’s features were carefully neutral, her jaw relaxed. But her eyes were once again shooting daggers at me. Swords, even. Or maybe laser beams. I had to stifle a giggle at the momentary image of Svetlana with glowing red eyes.
“It’s fine, Dad,” Shepherd said. “We were just leaving.”
“Date night?” Richard asked, his eyes crinkling with a smile.
“Indeed,” Shepherd said, draping a possessive arm around my shoulders. “You?”
“Casual night in,” Richard said.
I wondered if Svetlana had known they weren’t going out before she’d come over. She wasn’t dressed for a night in—at least not by my standards. She wore a form-fitting blouse with a plunging neckline with a pair of flowy pants and gold stilettos.
I decided to pretend she’d expected an expensive dinner—likely what I was getting—and gave them both a sweet smile. “That sounds fun. Have a good night, you two. Don’t wait up.” I winked at Richard.
He grinned back at me. “Have a great time.”
With his arm still around my shoulders, Shepherd steered me out into the hallway. As soon as the door closed behind us, he let go and shifted so there were several inches of space between us.
Right. Faking it. Our audience was gone.
I took a deep breath to center myself as we walked to the elevator. Maybe it was catty of me, but the fact that Shepherd was taking me out to a nice dinner—treating me to something Svetlana likely wanted—gave me warm fuzzies.
Shepherd was quiet on the ride down the elevator to the parking garage. He didn’t say much on the way to the restaurant, either. I was used to that. And being with Shepherd like this—outside of work—had grown increasingly comfortable. I didn’t feel the need to fidget, or try to make conversation as we drove. I sat with my legs crossed, admired my cute heels once or twice, and watched the bright lights of the city twinkle in the evening darkness.
We pulled up to the curb and a valet opened my door and helped me out of the car. Shepherd was there a second later, offering me his arm. That was interesting. This date was only to maintain the charade that we were indeed dating, but there wasn’t anyone out here who knew us. We didn’t have to act too couple-ish. But maybe he figured we were better safe than sorry.
I took his arm and we walked into the dimly lit restaurant. El Gaucho was beautiful, with glamorous retro decor and live piano music in the background. Shepherd helped me out of my coat, then pulled out my chair for me before taking his own.
We got menus and ordered drinks. A martini for me—gin, with a twist—and a Manhattan for him.
“Do you know what you’d like?” he asked.
I pursed my lips as I perused the menu. “Probably the fish. Definitely