“I need to be with you at all times outside of work, and it needs to be plausible. So if I’m not your assistant, I could be, I don’t know, a relative visiting from out of town? That’s not too far off.”
When Xander screwed his nose up, I ran through several other scenarios in my head until I finally landed on one I knew would be perfect, but also the hardest to sell.
Oh well, it wasn’t like he could want to kill me anymore than he already did. Here goes nothing.
“Or if you don’t like that, I could always pretend to be your boyfriend.”
5
Xander
“MY BOYFRIEND? YOU?” I took a step back, and when my legs hit Sean’s recliner and I fell down into it, I decided that seemed like the best place for me.
Tonight had taken one strange turn after another, and honestly, this was the strangest of all. There was no way what he was suggesting could work. No way Sean could actually pull it off—me either, for that matter.
Sean and I barely tolerated each other under the best of circumstances. The idea of pretending to be a couple was just…just… “That is the most absurd idea I’ve ever heard.”
“Why?”
“Because it is. You can’t pretend to be my boyfriend. For one, you’re straight.”
Sean eyed me as he shoved a hand into his jeans pocket. “That’s why I’m going to pretend. It’s a job, Xander. Nothing more, nothing less.”
How in the world Sean was suddenly the clearheaded, rational person in this discussion was beyond me. But while I sat there trying to wrap my head around what he’d just proposed, Sean was off and running with it.
“If you think about it, it actually makes the most sense. And it’s not like we don’t know each other.”
Okay, forget that. He wasn’t rational. He’d lost his damn mind. “Sean, I know you’ve done this whole undercover thing before, but this is different. I’m not sure you could pull this off. Hell, I’m not even sure I could.”
Sean scoffed. “How hard could it be? I stick close to you, I open a few doors here and there—”
“You’re going to have to do more than that to make people think we’re dating.” I rubbed my temple, where I could feel a headache forming. “They actually have to believe you are sleeping with a man. You understand that, right? That’s what you’re suggesting we pretend. That you like touching a man, kissing one.” I glanced at the hand by his side and brushed my fingers over his. When Sean immediately pulled it away, I raised an eyebrow. “Yes, I can see you’ll be very convincing.”
A deep V formed between Sean’s brows. “You caught me off guard, that’s all. I didn’t realize we were starting this instant.”
“Bullshit.” Getting to my feet, I shook my head. “This isn’t going to work. A person can’t change their behavior overnight, and you flinching every time I touch you is not going to convince anyone that you’re sleeping with me.”
“That’s what I’m trying to convince them? I thought it was that we were dating.”
“And you don’t think we’d be having sex?”
Sean ran his eyes over me, and I couldn’t quite tell what was going on behind that stare. He looked deep in thought, almost contemplative. Then he stepped in close to me and reached for my hand.
As the warmth of his touch penetrated my skin, he grazed his thumb over the back of my knuckles and something alarming happened—my pulse began to race.
“What are you doing?”
A smile that I’d never seen before slowly curved Sean’s lips as he continued to massage the back of my hand. “What does it feel like I’m doing?”
It felt like he was touching me in a way he never had, which was disconcerting, to say the least. Not to mention that teasing smile. Where the hell had that come from?
Clearing my throat, I went to pull my hand away, but Sean tightened his grip.
“Okay, Sean. You can stop now.”
“Stop what?”
“This.” I tugged our hands up between us and looked at the way his large fingers enveloped mine. It was a sure hold, a firm one, and the most intimate contact I’d ever had with him. “You made your point. You can let go of my hand now.”
“Why? Is it making you uncomfortable?”
“No. Of course not.” Although it was, very much so.
“Good, because if we’re going to pull this off, you’re actually going to have to look like you enjoy touching me, kissing me. You know, a man?”
As Sean’s smile turned smug, I relocated my brain and shoved him in the arm, yanking my hand free. “Are you done?”
Sean laughed, and any odd reactions I’d been having a second ago were replaced with irritation.
“Yeah. Just proving a point. When I’m in character, I’m in character. I think I can pull off pretending to like you to save your life.”
“How reassuring.”
“All I’m saying is, it’s hardly a stretch. We’re already friends, so it’s not like we aren’t used to being around each other. I’m sure we can put on a good show.”
I’m glad he was so sure, because I still wasn’t convinced. This was Sean, Bailey’s annoying older brother. How in the hell did he expect me to stop thinking of him like that?
“I don’t know, Sean…”
“Do you trust me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you trust me to look after you? Do you trust me with your life? Because that’s the main question here.”
As I stared into his earnest eyes, I knew this was one area in which I had no doubts. I did trust Sean. He was one of the most dedicated detectives in the CPD. He was ruthless, brash, and rougher than sandpaper around the edges. But I knew he’d never let anything or anyone hurt me if I was under his protection.
“Yes, I trust you. More than I would anyone else.”
“Okay. Then whatever it is that’s making you hesitate, get the fuck over it.”
And there was the Sean I understood and could deal with.
“I don’t have a problem pretending to like dick, so you shouldn’t have a problem pretending to like—”
“A dick?” I interrupted, thinking of Henri’s nickname for Detective Dick here.
“Don’t think I don’t know what Boudreaux calls me behind my back.”
“You’ve got to admit, it kind of fits.”
“Hey, if I’m a dick it’s because it helps get the job done. I work with criminals most of the time, and asking nicely isn’t always the best approach.”
“Do you ever ask nicely for anything?”
Sean’s lips quirked at the side. “Sometimes.”
When he didn’t elaborate, I decided my best bet was to let it go and move on. Sean was in an odd mood, and it was making my brain hurt. “So let’s pretend I say yes to this asinine idea of yours. Then what?”
“Then I pack a bag and come home with you.”
“Right now?”
“Well, I’m not about to let you walk out the door by yourself after what you told me, and I’m going to have to move in anyway.”