Page 10 of Love On and Off Set

“Oh well, I’m always down for a delightful conversation about my molars.”

He glared. “I’m telling you this so you can be on alert. Lucille is always looking for a good story.”

I made a mental note to look up a few of her exposés so I could get a feel for exactly what to expect. “You’re worried she might ferret out the truth.”

“It’s a possibility.”

I waved off his concern. “I’m an actor. We should sit down and discuss our history as well as learn more about each other.”

“Yes.” He nodded vigorously. Kind of out of character for him—from what I knew. “And we’ll arrange to have a few pictures taken.”

I grabbed my phone, rose from the table, and came around to him.

“What are you…?”

“Selfie.” Within just a moment, I had the camera on the phone set up. I tucked my head against his shoulder. “Smile.”

After a long moment, he obeyed.

I snapped several pictures. Selecting the best one, I posted it to my account for the world to see. Fortunately, I hadn’t put any other guys on the feed. Just hadn’t met someone I was willing to introduce to the world as my boyfriend.

But I was willing with Horatio.

I spent the rest of the evening pondering that.

Chapter Five

Horatio

“Stop fidgeting.”

To my shock, Dade placed his hand on my jiggling knee.

I stilled.

“You’re going to be fine. We’re going to be fine.”

His words penetrated, but only did so much to soothe my rattled nerves. As we sat in the back of a limousine, headed to the ritzy event, my mind circled. What if he does something that gives us away? What if I do something that gives us away? What if Lucille Forbes ferrets out the truth? This whole fake relationship was a bad idea. “We should’ve just said we were dates, and not in a relationship.”

He eyed me, slowly shaking his head. “That would make you look…flighty.”

“Flighty?” I snickered. “How do you figure?”

“That you’re just grabbing the first guy you can. I’d say, generally, an important night like tonight is not the place for a first date.”

He’s right. You know he’s right. “And we’re not going to tell people that you’re my future grandnephew.”

“Step-grandnephew. And no, that’s off the table. I know your nephew as an acquaintance through mutual friends at the university. That makes me sound smarter than I am.”

“What?” My stomach sank. “You’re smart, Dade. I don’t know what would make you think—”

“I can’t even hold down a job.”

“We’re saying you’re in the sales industry. Which is essentially true. You just happen to sell yourself.”

His unpleasant laugh hit me hard.

“Have you heard from Vigilante Justice?”