“Then I don’t think she’d see it. I mean, if she isn’t looking for it, probably not. Honestly, I don’t know.”
“What if I could find some reason to go to Destin and kind of get to know her…without telling her the truth and breaking your promise to her?”
She pressed her hand on her chest. “I’m not sure I could handle that kind of subterfuge. I almost had a heart attack when she walked in and caught me looking you up on Instagram. I dropped my phone and she looked right at you.”
“But no recognition?” he asked.
Shaking her head, she smiled. “No. But I had to lie and I hate that. I really, really hate lying.”
“What did you tell her?”
She felt a flush rise as she recalled the exchange. “I said I was on a dating app and…you know.”
“Oh?” He chuckled. “Way to think fast, Lacey. I like that.”
“It was awful,” she told him. “She stared at you and saw your name. Her own…son.”
“What did she say?”
“That you’re cute.”
He smirked and pressed his finger into his cheek and twisted an imaginary dimple. Then his smile faded. “Well, I guess we have a solution to the dilemma, then.”
Her fork froze midway to her mouth. She was not following at all. “We do?”
“I can meet her as your new, uh, boyfriend. Or Tinder date. Or whatever you call it.”
The blood whooshed out of her head, leaving her a little dizzy. “Excuse me?”
“Timing’s perfect,” he said as casually as if they were discussing the weather. “I’m free until training starts in Jacksonville. I’m just chilling in Satellite Beach with my parents for the off-season. Which is sad, I know, but they basically live in heaven and I love hanging with them. I can easily find a rental. And I can meet Tessa, get to know her, and?—”
“No!”
He flinched at her vehement reaction. “Why not?”
“Because it’s totally dishonest,” she said. “I can’t tell her or anyone that! And, please, who would believe that you, an autograph-giving celebrity athlete, would be on the apps and wantme?”
Tipping his head, he looked dismayed. “Why not? You’re a doll.”
Adoll? She wasn’t sure how she should take that, but the butterflies in her stomach certainly liked it.
“I mean, I’d love to go out with you,” he added. “Assuming you really are single.”
“I am.”
“So am I,” he said, leaning in over the table. “Let’s date.”
She searched his face, speechless and lightheaded. “I can’t lie like that. I’ve already broken a promise, but that would be a complete betrayal.”
“Not if we’re really dating.” A half-smile lifted the corner of his lips. “We’ll just make it real. Then you’ll be telling the truth.”
“You’re crazy.” She pointed at him. “Out of your ever-lovin’ mind. Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. Completely?—”
He put a hand over her pointed finger and lowered it to the table, his palm just rough enough to be incredibly masculine, his touch light enough to make her whole body react. But it was the look in his eyes that nearly did her in.
“I want to meet her,” he said. “I don’t want you to ruin your relationship with her, I don’t want to totally upset her apple cart, and I don’t want either of us to lie.”
“Well, you’ll…” She tried to think straight, but it was hard. Impossible, actually. “You’ll have to think of some other ruse. I’m not going to be part of it.”
