some couples were.” She waves away the idea. “But we’d have to tell people you’re my new boyfriend.”
“I don’t mind. Besides, being your boyfriend comes with some awesome benefits.” I wink to lighten the mood.
“But I don’t want to lie to my viewers. I can’t break their trust.”
“Then consider me your ten-day boyfriend.” But I’m hoping by then she’ll remove the expiration date on our relationship and want to stay.
“We’d have to act really smitten.”
“Not a problem.”
“And strangers might dig into your life. It could turn into a whole thing.”
I’m a big boy. I also don’t have a lot of social media, so anyone looking for dirt on me won’t come up with much. Besides, it seems like a small price to pay if I can persuade Masey to stay with me beyond ten days. “I appreciate the warning, but I don’t care. I want to do this with you.”
“Are you sure? Eventually, we’d have to publicly break up.”
“If you feel you owe these people an explanation about your romantic life, you could eventually tell them I was the rebound guy or that we live in different states…or whatever works.” But I’m hoping she doesn’t have to say anything.
“You would do that for me?”
“Sure.”
“Why?”
She can’t guess at all?
“Would it make you happy, honey?”
Masey nibbles on her lip. “Yeah. It probably sounds silly since it’s not a trending hashtag anymore. But I never got to participate and…”
She felt left out, sure. More than anything, she felt as if Thom didn’t love her. Probably because he didn’t.
“You wanted to. So that’s why I’m volunteering to do it.”
“Just because you want me to be happy?” She looks as if she can’t decide whether that should make her smile or cry.
That expression reaches right into my chest and squeezes my heart. “Yeah.”
Finally, she smiles. “How much do you know about makeup application?”
“Almost nothing.”
“Perfect. It will be a complete train wreck.”
And she sounds thrilled about it. Is that the point?
“More than likely, yes.”
“When do you work next?”
“Wednesday night. Sunset cruise. A regular of mine is going to propose to his girlfriend.”
“That sounds really romantic.” A wistful note fills her voice for just a moment before she’s all business again. “Mind if we film Tuesday, then?”
“Works for me.”
“Fabulous.” She saves the video she’s working on, then closes the laptop lid and sets the device aside. “I want to get two videos filmed this evening, so I need to get busy. This product release has to come first.” She picks up a sleek silver rectangle. The packaging is shiny and looks as if the manufacturer spent some money on it. “I also received some other recently or soon-to-be-launched items, so I’ll make this a new products first impressions video. Let me make sure I’ve got everything ready. Products are here…” She looks around at the pile of makeup in front of her. “Yes, I have everything for a full face. Clean brushes, check. Bottle of water, check. Damp sponge, check. Lighting is good. SD card is empty. Microphone is on standby…” She looks my way. “Anything else?”
I shake my head. “Not that I know of, but you’re the expert here.”
She shrugs. “I do my best.”
“You want me to take my little guy and go?”
She bites her lip. “I’d love to have you both stay. But you can be unexpectedly loud,” she coos at Ranger, who grins at her. “Yes, I’m talking about you, handsome.” Then she glances at me. The hint of mischief in her eyes kick-starts my libido. “And you’re distracting.”
“You mean you don’t want me to get comfortable”—I peel off my shirt, stretching and flexing to give her the best view—“and hang around to watch how sexy you are?”
Masey covers her eyes with her hand…and peeks at me through her parted fingers. “Personally, I would love that. But it would lead to other things, and I’d never get any filming done.”
“We could always film that.” I raise a brow at her.
“I can’t film us having sex and post that online.” She tsks at me.
“Who said anything about sex?” I play innocent. “I meant you gawking at me. But your mind went right to the gutter, honey. Whose fault is that?”
She picks up some powder puff thing and throws it at me with a laugh. “Yours. I never thought about sex until you.”
“Never?”
“Not really.” She gets quiet and frowns. “No.”
She’s already admitted that her heart wasn’t wholly in the relationship. Maybe it knew Thom was an asshat and a half, just like her body seemed to.