Page 55 of The One You Want

“So, what?” I asked, forcing a smile in an attempt to lighten the mood. “You’ll pretend to be my boyfriend just so you can tell that guyoff?”

“Hell yes,” he said firmly, and I laughed for real. “I will take great pleasure in telling Bradford Rutherford to back off as often asnecessary.”

I studied him for a long moment, trying to decide if I would be crazy to let him do this. The picture he painted didn’t sound all that bad. We would hang out more. Maybe hold hands sometimes. The fact that the thought of holding his hand sent another flutter through my belly should have been a warningsign.

But I ignored that sign. “Are you sure? You really don’t have to dothis.”

“I’m sure,” he insisted. “You’re my friend, Jenny. I want to helpyou.”

“But I don’t have anything to offer you,” I pointedout.

He shrugged. “I’m sure I’ll come up with something Iwant.”

Don’t read into it, I ordered myself.Don’t pretend you heard any innuendothere.

Before I could question it anymore, Grant straightened in his chair and held his hand out across thetable.

“Deal?”

I stared at his extended hand for a long moment. Holy crap. Was I really going to do this? Had I gone completelyinsane?

Apparently I had, because I reached out and took his hand, shaking it in mine. “Deal.”